Video games have been with us for 35 years. Countless games have come and gone, but some were never replaced. Even in this era of incessant sequels, as some games died their genres died with them. Here's five that don't really have any modern counterparts, for better or worse.

5) Space Rogue (1989, Apple II, Commodore 64)

Space Rogue, like its more famous and even less attractive predecessor Elite, is an opened-ended space sandbox game. Not only did it have space combat, but there was also a story, some RPG elements, all within an open universe. As a player, you start the game trapped on a barely working, and tiny, space ship. It's up to you how to progress from here. You can become a pirate, a trader, a bounty hunter, or if you were like me, wander aimlessly just amazed at how cool it all is.

Open ended space sim games have virtually disappeared from the marketplace. Sure there have been some recent, rather mediocre entries (X3 comes to mind). There's even EVE Online, but I would argue that is a very different experience than Space Rogue.

Modern-ish counterpart: EVE Online

4) Descent (1995, PC, Playstation)

What Descent brought to the table, and what has been largely forgotten by the gaming world, is six degrees of motion. Nearly all first person shooters these days are a person running. Some, like Prey or Portal, add interesting mechanics, but what they all have is gravity. With Descent you could move in any direction you wanted.

It was often nauseating. I can't say I'm lamenting the loss of this sub-genre, more that this level of freedom hasn't been explored since.

Modern-ish counterpart: Assassin's Creed II

3) Archimedean Dynasty (1996, PC)

Have you ever played a submarine flight-sim action game? Sure there are submarine simulators, but those render big, modern, slow moving, hulks. Archimedean Dynasty, and it's follow-ups AquaNox 1 and 2, were action games that had you piloting small, maneuverable attack subs through the soup that is the deep ocean.

Very few games have done anything underwater, and even fewer have been flight sims. The fact that Archimedean Dynasty and it's sequels weren't the greatest games probably didn't help. The sequel AquaNox: The Angels Tears was so bad, it didn't pass Sony's quality assurance test and was subsequently canceled by developer JoWood.

Modern-ish counterpart: Silent Hunter V

2) MechWarrior 4 (2000, PC)

The Mech simulation genre was once really popular, with titles like MechWarrior, Heavy Gear, Shattered Steel, and Metaltech: EarthSiege. The ability to customize gigantic walking mechs, then engage in combat in a first person perspective, is the kind of fun video games were invented for.

But like the space combat sim, this genre has withered and nearly disappeared. There have been a few games, like Chromehounds and Armored Core, but these aren't really simulators, more just action games that happen to take place in mechs. The advanced customization options of the MechWarrior series is sadly missing.

There is talk of a reboot of the MechWarrior franchise by some of those involved in the original games. No release date yet.

Modern-ish counterpart: MechWarrior?

1) X-Wing vs. Tie Fighter (1997, PC)

This is the other half of the space sim game from Space Rogue. The space combat genre used to dominate the PC game world. From Wing Commander to Freespace, there seemed to be a new game every few months. But then, suddenly, they all disappeared. It's hard to say what the last combat space sim game was. I'd argue Tachyon: The Fringe, though Freelancer was almost certainly the last big budget title.

I really have no idea why this genre has disappeared. The decline more or less mirrors the increase in popularity of first person shooters, so that could be part of it. The popularity of EVE Online hints there is still interest, but then again that could just prove there is interest in EVE. Jumpgate Evolution looked promisting, but so far it is MIA.

Modern-ish counterpart: EVE Online, Jumpgate Evolution?

The Future looks to the past?

There are many good reasons for a gaming sub-genre to disappear. Sales are of course the biggest. But with many of these titles there is so little like them in the marketplace, how could anyone say that there isn't an audience for them? Bits for thought.