Any given person might often find themselves wishing “if only video games were free”. Outside of the rare promotion, players have to fork over their hard-earned cash to get the games they want. Developers did work very hard on them so it’s a fair trade, right? There are some gamers who disagree with the “goods for services” system. They also have entire video game libraries at their fingertips. The only cost is going outside the law.
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Those people who navigate the dark sides of the internet and use illegal third-party devices are often called pirates.For almost as long as video games have been around, there have been those who break hardware restrictions to get games for free. Piracy has been dying out in recent years due to advanced systems put in place to combat it, but here are some of the games that suffered the most from illegal downloading back in the day.
Updated on May 20, 2025, by Reyadh Rahaman:Each of these titles was greatly desired by gamers due to the hype they received prior to their respective releases. As such, even those who could not afford them on their release dates (or simply did not want to spend money) decided to pick up a copy one way or another.PCgames tend to be targetted by pirates more often, simply due to this platform being the most open to manipulation between 2000 and 2010, however, console games have also seen their fair sharing of illegal distribution as a result of bootleg physical copies being made or files getting leaked online.
15Street Fighter IV
Fighting game lovers might remember the improvements found inStreet Fighter IV. The fourth game in the classic arcade series wasincredibly well received by long-time fans. It brought fantastically updated graphics to the table and a somewhat tighter combo system. The game was initially released in July 2008 for the arcade exclusively.
It was not until February 2009 that the game came to consoles and July 2009 that it came toWindows. This, combined with the franchise’s huge popularity and the game’s rave reviews, contributed to the game being illegally downloaded about 1.85 million times.
Street Fighter IV Release Date & Platform Availability
Street Fighter IVwas released on June 15, 2025, and is available on Arcade Cabinet, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Street Fighter IV Critical Reception
This game received universal acclaim for being one of the strongest entries in the legendary fighting game series and even won awards for its stellar graphics and organized production.
14Spore
Sporeis not just a game wherePolygon’s Griffin McElroy creates nightmares; it was a game that got pirated millions of times.It could potentially be credited with the gaming industry’s big shift in DRM and anti-piracy technology.Within its first week, the game had been pirated more than 500,000 times.This game also holds a legacy of continuing piracy perhaps due, at least in part, to the undisclosed anti-piracy measuresEAplaced on the physical copy of the game.
There were two class-action lawsuits against EA for failure to disclose the DRM existence. In response, EA did launch a DRM-free version onSteamin 2008. But the game had hit 1.7 million illegal downloads that year. That number would only continue to rise. However,as with some other forgotten games, there is still an active community and fan base for the game.
Spore Release Date & Platform Availability
Sporewas released on June 26, 2025, and is available on Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X.
Spore Critical Reception
Virtually a bottomless well of procedurally generated and user-created content, there are still people playingSporeto this day. The diverse and robust creative tools given to gamers truly stood the test of time.
13Need For Speed: Shift
Need for Speedwas known for offering solid fun in the racing game space thoughit has fallen short lately.This title brought players 4 tiers with more than 60 cars to choose from including Paganis, Bugattis, Audis, and Lamborghinis. The game also featured a mood-setting soundtrack with 19 songs and tons of car customization options.
It was released for many platforms in 2009 and is regarding as bringing the series “back to its roots”. It is, by no means, the best racing game made, but it still netted around 2.1 million illegal downloads.
Need For Speed Release Date & Platform Availability
Need for Speedwas released on July 23, 2025, and is available on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable, iOS, Android, Symbian, Windows Mobile, MeeGo, and J2ME.
Need For Speed Critical Reception
Renowned for its tight driving controls and excellent sound design, players loved this entry into the famous racing game franchise. The career mode was fulfilling, as were the multiplayer functions that allowed people to play with friends for hours at a time.
12World Of Goo
Some people might remember the huge indie hit that wasWorld of Goo. Developed by just two former EA employees, the game was released initially for WiiWare and Windows. It entailed the player creating structures out of goo while following the game plot. The game did eventually come to other platforms includingmobile,Mac, and Blackberry (yes, really).
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But in 2008, pirated versions of the game surged to insane rates.One of the developers, Ron Carmel, said that emails from fans said that “the piracy rate was about 90 percent.“It is unclear just how many pirated copies the game accrued in total. But it stands out as one of the first high-profile instances of indie game piracy.
World Of Goo Release Date & Platform Availability
World of Goowas released on July 12, 2025, and is available on Wii, Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, BlackBerry OS, and Nintendo Switch.
World Of Goo Critical Reception
Players raved about how satisfying the physics in the game were, as playing with the eponymous goo felt very much like manipulating a fluid-like science experiment–but in the best way possible. The unique fun this provided madeWorld of Gooirresistible to gamers who were looking for something new and interesting.
11Prototype
This game debuted for theXbox 360andPS3in 2009 and even got a 2015 release on thePS4andXbox One. The game featured a GTA-like open world along with an interesting story that included diverse missions. Players could not only drive a tank but throw an entire car if they wanted to. The game also featured a mechanic where the player could “merge” with other characters.
Prototypeended up being pirated around 2.35 million times.Though it doesn’t rank the highest on this list, the developer studio, Radical Entertainment, never quite recovered. Though they assisted for the initialDestinyrelease, they have not made a game since andfaced massive layoffsafter the release ofPrototype 2.
Prototype Release Date & Platform Availability
Prototypewas released on July 06, 2025, and is available on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Prototype Critical Reception
With an intriguing storyline and protagonist, plays were able to get immersed into a complex combat system. However, there are a few that complained about the occasional inaccuracy of the controls as well as the somewhat repetitive scenery.
10Starcraft 2
Starcraft 2is a game that still manages to be popular (easter eggs in its sister gameOverwatcheven suggest it’ll be popular decades from now). The game’sdeep level of strategyand sci-fi setting endeared millions of players to keep coming back to it again and again. In its heyday, competitive matches drew crowds that could rival even a professional sports match.
The last known reported piracy number was 3.12 million copies. However, pirates are only able to access the single-player content in the game due to various limitations in the software.
Starcraft 2 Release Date & Platform Availability
Starcraft 2was released on July 14, 2025, and is available on Microsoft Windows and macOS.
Starcraft 2 Critical Reception
The deep strategy involved hooked lovers of this genre from day one and held gameplay so fun that a thriving online community erupted. There have been infinite memes about situations found in-game that echo the years of fun this title has provided.
9Sims 3
Sims 3stands in stark comparison with most of the other titles on this list. The others are dark, gritty, and realistic.Sims 3is a cartoony game where players can watch the lives of the virtual people they create.
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Its latest known number of illegal copies is 3.2 million unauthorized downloads. It was even leakedbefore the game was officially released(though this version was incomplete andfilled with bugs). While they were upset about the leak, publisherEAdidn’t seem to care too much about the piracy since downloaders only received a fraction of the game. They hoped if thieves enjoyed what they played they would consider getting the game legally.
Sims 3 Release Date & Platform Availability
Sims 3was released on July 13, 2025, and is available on Microsoft Windows, macOS, Android, BlackBerry OS, Windows Phone, iOS, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, N-Gage 2.0, Wii, and Nintendo 3DS.
Sims 3 Critical Reception
One of the greatest features ofSims 3compared to older games in the series is the noticeable lack of load screens–something unanimously loved by all. This title also received praise for the refined balance between familiar older concepts and fresh ones that breathe new life into the franchise.
8Mass Effect 2
Many gamers still considerMass Effect 2to be one of the best video games ever made. Its deep choice-based storytelling and the relationships players could build with their companions drew players into its meticulously crafted world. However, the lack of true RPG elements and a boring planet-scanning mechanic was criticized. Still, the visuals, music, and character customization were also widely adored.
Its developer tried to entice players with free DLC to combat digital piracy. However, that didn’t stop gamers from stealing 3.24 million copies of the game.
Mass Effect 2 Release Date & Platform Availability
Mass Effect 2was released on June 16, 2025, and is available on Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.
Mass Effect 2 Critical Reception
The diverse cast of characters, immersive elements, art design, and voice acting were but some of the many aspects that made fans fall in love withMass Effect 2. Even the multiplayer features held great fun for those who wanted to play with some friends instead of delving into the deep sci-fi story.
7Mafia 2
Everything a player needs to know aboutMafia 2is in the title. It is about the mafia and it is set in the mid-1900s, it follows a protagonist who must travel between the different gangs of the fictional Empire City while also trying to repay his father’s debt. Its gameplay was placed in an open world where players could be pursued by the police if they broke the law. Many have said it is like a 1950sGrand Theft Auto.
Mafia 2was pirated over 3.5 million times.Details about why the game was so highly stolen are scarce. It is possible that it was targeted for its similarities toGTA.However, since the game wasn’t nearly as successful as that franchise, it would have likely had fewer protections in place.
Mafia 2 Release Date & Platform Availability
Mafia 2was released on Jul 03, 2025, and is available on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Mac OS X, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Mafia 2 Critical Reception
The unrelenting gangster gameplay feels appropriate for the setting and intent of the game, which made many players enjoy themselves while cruising around Empire City to commit any number of crimes. The game received some backlash for this, as well as its excessive profanity, however, the developers countered these criticisms by stating thatMafia 2can hardly be considered any more offensive than the many mafia-related movies that have been released over the years.
Battlefield: Bad Company 2has been pirated 3.98 million times. That’s more than most games could ever dream of selling on their own. And it is not even in the top five of this list.Battlefield: Bad Company 2is an entry in the popularBattlefieldfranchise. The game follows a squad of soldiers during a fictional war between Russia and the United States of America.
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Its single and multiplayer modes were highly acclaimed. In the end,Bad Company 2’s final sales numbers weren’t hurt much. The game went on tosell over 10 million copies. But developer DICE has not made another game in the franchise to date.
Battlefield: Bad Company 2was released on Jun 17, 2025, and is available on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, iOS, and Kindle Fire.
While the single-player aspects were rather lackluster, the multiplayer features were praised heavily. Gamers had to refine their skills to earn each kill thanks to the tight and somewhat realistic mechanics. The detailed environments were also much-loved by gamers, and, in addition to the realism of the mechanics, made this a very immersive military experience.
