This Failed Multiplayer Shooter Deserved Better 11 Years Ago

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Honestly, I feel like there are just so many multiplayer shooters these days! They cover all sorts of styles – hero shooters, super competitive ones, big action MMOs – but it gets overwhelming trying to keep up with them all. It’s almost impossible to really get good at any one of them if you also want to play other types of games. Trying to play them all seriously? It just feels like a waste of time, to be honest.

It’s easy to see why so many online shooting games fade into obscurity. From hidden gems to outright failures, these games are often abandoned quickly – almost as fast as PlayStation cancels its ongoing service titles. This happened with Evolve, a surprisingly innovative game that created a new style of gameplay, only to be quickly discontinued and forgotten. I think it’s time Evolve finally gets the appreciation it deserves for its unique approach.

Evolve Was Ahead Of Its Time

I remember when Evolve first came out in 2015 – it was a really cool concept! But honestly, it didn’t stay popular for long. There was a lot of drama around how much the game and its extra content cost, and that really turned people off. They tried to fix things by making it free-to-play as Evolve Stage 2 in 2016, but the developers, Turtle Rock Studios, had to stop updating it soon after. The servers actually went down in 2018, but fans like me begged for them to come back, and amazingly, they did in 2022! Sadly, it wasn’t meant to be, and the servers were finally shut down for good in 2023. It’s a shame, because when it was good, it was really good.

When Evolve launched, everyone – from its publisher, 2K, to the developers and reviewers – was confident it would be a massive hit. They believed it would become a popular esports game and a valuable addition to 2K’s already strong collection of franchises. This optimism stemmed from Evolve’s distinctive gameplay, which made it stand out in a very competitive market and quickly captivated me – I became completely hooked!

Evolve centered around a 4-versus-1 gameplay loop where four Hunters worked together to defeat a single, powerful Monster. Each Hunter had distinct abilities and weapons, and the Monster, chosen from a variety of frightening creatures, grew stronger as the match went on. If the Hunters couldn’t capture and defeat the Monster before it reached its maximum power, they would lose. The core idea behind Evolve was truly brilliant – a concept that, surprisingly, hadn’t been explored much before, and hasn’t been successfully copied often since.

What set Evolve apart as a hidden gem was how incredibly well-made and refined it was. The game’s design was spot-on, from its carefully chosen maps to the way Hunters’ abilities worked together, and even the challenging process of tracking and defeating the Monster. Everything flowed together perfectly, creating uniquely thrilling experiences. It wasn’t just a simple arena shooter; it required teamwork to explore a richly detailed environment in a tense and unpredictable hunt where you always felt outmatched.

More Games Need To Copy Evolve

Since the game Evolve, nothing has quite captured its unique style. While Predator: Hunting Grounds attempted something similar (though it wasn’t well-received), and games like Dead by Daylight offer a comparable asymmetrical experience with a heavier focus on horror, Evolve still stands out. It’s unfortunate that, starting in 2026, playing Evolve is difficult. Unless you originally purchased the game in 2015 or have a physical console copy, you can’t play it – either offline or online. PC keys are no longer available for purchase and are currently selling for over $100.

I’ve been hoping for a game like Evolve ever since I enjoyed playing as characters like Slim, the unique healer, or Maggie with her pet Trapjaw, Daisy. I think this style of gameplay would work brilliantly in a setting like the Alien universe, with a team of Colonial Marines hunting a Xenomorph. Whether it’s a brand new game or set in an existing world – fantasy or sci-fi – this format could really revitalize a genre that’s become predictable.

Shooter games are losing popularity, even the most popular team-based shooters aren’t attracting the same audiences as before. Perhaps it’s time to revisit the unique structure of the game Evolve. I think Evolve was simply released too early. If it came out today, especially with the current trend of cooperative games like Phasmophobia, Lethal Company, and Peak – all focused on intense, collaborative experiences – it would likely have been a much bigger hit.

I still fire up Evolve on my PS5 all the time – even after 11 years! I mostly play offline with bots, and honestly, while it’s not the same as playing with friends, it’s a huge reason why I love the game. It’s amazing to have a mode you can really sink into years later, something we just don’t see much anymore with so many games disappearing after a short time. I really hope another developer takes a look at Evolve and sees how special and unique it was, and tries to build on those ideas. And if you’ll forgive a little wordplay, I think the multiplayer shooter genre is due for an evolution, and Evolve is the perfect place to start.

I’ve been thinking, do we really need more games like Evolve? I’d love to hear what you all think! Let’s chat about it over on the ComicBook Forum – come join the discussion!

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2026-02-07 03:13