Blog- Grand Theft Auto: Top 10 Most Delayed Games in History
Grand Theft Auto: Top 10 Most Delayed Games In History
Grand Theft Auto 6 is finally coming, but not until 26 May 2026. Fans have been waiting since GTA V launched in 2013, and while Rockstar originally hinted at 2025, the new date confirms we still have a few more months to go.
But here’s some perspective: as painful as that might feel, it’s far from the longest wait in gaming history. Some games took decades to see the light of day, with release gaps so massive they became legends.
So while we count down the months to GTA VI, let’s look at the 10 most delayed games ever, starting with a 14-year wait and ending with a jaw-dropping 39-year saga.
Honorable Mentions: The Almost-top Delays
Before diving into the biggest monsters of delays, it’s worth tipping our hat to a few other notorious waits that just miss the cut.
13 years after the cult original, Remedy’s sequel was stalled by Microsoft passing on it, forcing the studio to focus on Quantum Break and Control. Once Epic stepped in, Remedy pivoted the design toward true survival horror. Persistence paid off. Alan finally got his haunting comeback.
11 years after Diablo II, this one nearly burned in development hell. Blizzard North’s version was scrapped after a studio shake-up, and Irvine had to rebuild the game from scratch, reworking systems and art styles multiple times. The decade-long forge produced a rocky launch, but expansions redeemed it.
13 years after Episode Two, Valve finally broke its silence. Multiple Half-Life 3 prototypes were canned, Source 2 took years to build, and Valve got sidetracked with Steam and VR hardware. The result? A VR prequel that proved the wait wasn’t for nothing.
10. Duke Nukem Forever – 14 Years
- Announced: 1997
- Released: 2011
- Delay: 14 years
The punchline of gaming’s development hell. For over a decade, Duke Nukem Forever was the subject of memes, promises, and endless reboots. When it finally arrived, it felt hopelessly outdated.
Worth the wait? No. But its infamy will never be forgotten.
9. Black Mesa – 15 Years
- Announced: 2005 (fan remake of Half-Life)
- Released: 2020
- Delay: 15 years
Started as a passion project, Black Mesa grew into a professional-grade remake of Half-Life, with Valve’s blessing. Development dragged on, but the final product was worth it.
Worth the wait? Absolutely. A love letter to one of the greatest shooters ever ❤️.
8. Metroid Dread – 16 Years
- Concept: 2005 (Nintendo DS)
- Released: 2021 (Switch)
- Delay: 16 years
Long rumoured as a cancelled Nintendo DS project, Metroid Dread became the stuff of legend before finally being unveiled on Switch. The result? A polished, modern Metroid that thrilled fans.
Worth the wait? Definitely. It became a Switch must-have.
7. Chip’s Challenge 2 – 18 Years
- Announced: 1996
- Released: 2015
- Delay: 18 years
Finished in the ’90s but locked away due to licensing issues, Chip’s Challenge 2 was trapped for nearly two decades before finally being released digitally.
Worth the wait? Yes. It gave puzzle fans exactly what they’d been dreaming of since the original.
6. Grimoire: Heralds of The Winged Exemplar – 20 Years
- Announced: 1997
- Released: 2017
- Delay: 20 years
Developed almost entirely by one person, Grimoire became legendary for its endless missed release dates. When it finally arrived, it was quirky, dense, and divisive.
Worth the wait? Only for hardcore old-school RPG fans.
5. Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution – 22 Years
- Announced: 2002 (Game Boy Advance)
- Released: 2024
- Delay: 22 years
Originally meant to continue the cult-hit Shantae series on the GBA, this game was abandoned when publishers backed out. Two decades later, WayForward revived and completed it.
Worth the wait? For Shantae fans, it’s a dream come true.
4. Star Fox 2 – 24 Years
- Announced: 1995 (SNES)
- Released: 2017 (SNES Classic)
- Delay: 24 years
Completed in the mid-’90s but cancelled to avoid competing with the N64, Star Fox 2 became legendary among ROM collectors. Nintendo finally gave it an official release with the SNES Classic.
Worth the wait? Yes. It’s a fascinating “lost game” that still feels fresh.
3. American Hero – 26 Years
- Announced: Mid-1990s (Atari Jaguar CD)
- Released: 2021
- Delay: 26 years
A cheesy FMV interactive movie canned when the Jaguar CD failed, American Hero was restored decades later. It plays like a B-movie you can control. Campy, dated, and hilarious.
Worth the wait? For retro fans, yes. For everyone else, a fun curiosity.
2. Clockwork Aquario – 29 Years
- Announced: 1992
- Released: 2021
- Delay: 29 years
This colourful arcade platformer was shelved in the ’90s, only to be rediscovered and completed nearly 30 years later. It feels like a perfectly preserved time capsule 👾.
Worth the wait? Absolutely. Pure retro joy.
1. Swordquest: Airworld – 39 Years
- Announced: Early 1980s
- Released: 2022
- Delay: 39 years
The ultimate long-delayed game. Cancelled after the 1983 video game crash, Airworld was meant to complete Atari’s Swordquest series. It finally emerged almost four decades later in Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration.
Worth the wait? Historically, yes. It’s closure to a story that lingered for generations.
Grand Theft Auto 6: A Short Wait By Comparison
Compared to these monsters of delay, GTA VI’s timeline doesn’t look so bad. By the time it arrives on 26 May 2026, it will have been 13 years since GTA V. A long gap, but not record-breaking.
Rockstar has delayed major titles before (Red Dead Redemption 2, GTA V itself), but always in the name of polish. History shows those delays pay off with generation-defining games.
So while waiting for GTA VI feels painful, remember: at least we’re not stuck in Swordquest: Airworld’s 39-year purgatory. And if you want something to scratch that GTA-style itch in the meantime, check out our Mafia Casino review. An online casino built with the same gritty, crime-themed aesthetic that Rockstar made iconic.
Want to share your own story of gaming delays and cancellations that drove you mad? Join the discussion in this Reddit thread where players are reliving the waits that tested their patience the most.
