A Deep Dive in to Every Fable Game - Big, Small and Forgotten
Lionhead Studios was founded in July 1997 by Peter Molyneux, Mark Webley, Tim Rance and Steve Jackson - the majority of whom were former Bullfrog Productions employees and left shortly after it was acquired by Electronic Arts to form Lionhead. The studio was named after Mark's hamster that sadly passed away a week prior to them forming. Despite their debut being the 2001 real-time strategy with a God-game twist "Black & White", which saw an official sequel four years later alongside the film industry simulator "The Movies", Lionhead Studios aren't known for much besides the Fable franchise, the first of which was
The History of Bullfrog & How Their Games Began
Bullfrog Productions, founded in 1987 in England, United Kingdom by Peter Molyneux and Les Edgar are well known across the world as pioneers of the God Game genre and creators of charming, humorous and overall wonderfully designed games. Very few developers from the United Kingdom offered so much to the gaming industry in the 80s and 90s outside of the likes of Rebellion, Rare, Team17 and Psygnosis.So much talent was in the company that following its closure by Electronic Arts in 2001, many new development studios emerged from ex-employees that went on to create new titles and spiritual successors that held
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DarkChocobo
What a classic!
The fact I discovered in the public library of my city and rented the game when I was little. Because I didn't had internet and the rental was a couple days, I made an ISO file with Nero Burner to play the game when I pleased.
I was also lucky that I bought games in computer magazines(ComputerHoyJuegos) and Quiosks. Like having: Commandos 2, PcFútbol2001, Grouch(Rocko's Quest), S.W.A.T 3/4, Patrician III, Imperium III(Viriathus campaign being hard AF), Ground Control, NYR - New York Race, Age of Empires I & II + expansions + Mythology(+Titans), etc...
I was the lucky few that managed to buy this game before being delisted on Steam for a few €uros.
BTW if you are looking for "dead games" or want to contribute on a wiki useful for the consumers of the future, the Stop Killing Games community made a wiki with all the games that are being delisted, unplayable or in risk on dying soon:
July 22, 2026 -
Laurel Ann
It was still in the back of my mind, too, right up until I spied this upcoming article (I am SO behind in so much I've been wanting to write ).
But I don't think I could have done a better job - I'd already had my amazing experience with Prey well over a decade before and, though I probably could have done it some amount of justice then, I think I'd be too far distanced from it now.
I guess it worked out for the best though, since now we have this tribute - and more to look forward to!
I'm definitely glad you've listed some options for people who want to play.
I have a few other games I still think about and wish I could replay (from that awkward era of Windows 95).
I keep thinking I should just put together a dedicated machine with either Windows 95 or 98 so I can immerse myself in nostalgia, but I keep getting distracted with other things.
July 07, 2026 -
SlipSlot
I did wonder if you'd avoid mentioning that part, but to be honest, that's not even the main twist, and I think a story in which Tommy actually manages to defeat the aliens and save everyone just sounds generic and would put people off, so I feel you struck a good balance with what you shared and what you left for people to experience themselves.
July 06, 2026 -
SlipSlot
I NEARLY added Deadpool as my 10th suggestion, but then my sick mind thought of Ride to Hell, and I couldn't stop myself!
That and it's kind of a mainstream delisted game that has come back multiple times - still worthy of an article one day though I feel.July 06, 2026 -
Vexwryn
I couldn't pick a better home to have it, so thank YOU for the opportunity. I absolutely couldn't think of a better title to kick it off with, and it was an absolute blast the whole way through.
There was just SO much to cover here, and while I know some might say that mentioning Enisis death was a spoiler, I felt it was enough of a "lead up to a core mechanic" that I felt ok mentioning it. But by the time I got to the end of the game, I felt I needed to really just set the stage and keep the rest under wraps, because I absolutely had no clue what to expect. I wanted to be sure that anyone else who finds a way to play this (Thanks for mentioning some additional ways!) would have the same first-time experience. Because honestly, and I think you might agree: you only get it once. And I can't say I've ever had a game absolutely put me out to dry like this one did, in SO many ways. I didn't want to ruin it for ANYONE.
Thank you for giving us a place to make ideas like this a reality.July 06, 2026 -
Vexwryn
I absolutely do, and you have a few of them mentioned here!
Deadpool didn't make the list!?
A few of these I didn't have on my list, but I'll put them down as well!
I have another mini series brewing as well (PSX Grindhouse Horror) - so I'm trying to decide if I alternate, or I do a few back and forth.July 06, 2026 -
Vexwryn
Thank you so much for your insight, and allowing me to harken back to your article!
I can't thank you enough! It was a great help to have another set of eyes and input!July 06, 2026 -
SlipSlot
Also, I'm sure you have some of your own ideas, so just take this as inspiration for later entries.
Recommendations for Delisted:
- Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay
- Overkill's The Walking Dead
- Wolfenstein (2009)
- Driver: San Francisco
- Spec Ops: The Line
- Blur
- Saw 1 / 2
- Clive Barker's Jericho
- Battlefield: Bad Company 1 / 2
- Ride to Hell: Retribution
July 06, 2026