When Renting Movies Just Wasn't Enough
Apart from renting games, Blockbuster created an entire secret library of games only available through them. Hidden among the regular titles were exclusive releases that couldn't be bought in stores or rented anywhere else. These weren't just demos or slight variations either. They were full-on special versions, tournament cartridges, and completely unique titles. Let’s have a look at 20 such items.
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1. Freestyle Street Soccer
Xbox gamers in 2003 encountered this unusual gem exclusively at Blockbuster rental counters. Acclaim Entertainment's urban soccer title featured exaggerated special moves and physics-defying tricks rather than simulation gameplay. Developer Gusto Games incorporated flashy street-style aesthetics with underground culture vibes.
Urban Freestyle Soccer - GameCube Gameplay (720p60fps) by igcompany
2. Outlaw Golf: 9 More Holes Of X-Mas
Winter-themed courses with festive obstacles defined this raunchy golf expansion that never reached retail shelves. Characters donned Santa hats while special Christmas achievements challenged players to complete unique seasonal scoring feats. The irreverent humor combined with holiday themes made this expansion particularly memorable.
3. Outlaw Volleyball: Red Hot
The voice talents of comedian Dave Attell helped distinguish this risque Blockbuster-exclusive volleyball variant. Released in 2003 for Xbox, Hypnotix developed additional characters and courts that were unavailable in the standard edition. Blockbuster's strategy of securing exclusive content paid off pretty well with this title.
Outlaw Volleyball: Red Hot (Natasha) Original Xbox HD Gameplay by OriginalXboxHD
4. Outlaw Golf: Holiday Golf
The Xbox title arrived at Blockbuster in November 2002, maintaining the series' irreverent humor while adding seasonal flair. American holiday traditions formed the thematic core of this Thanksgiving and Christmas-inspired golf simulator. Hypnotix returned to develop another exclusive offering that retail customers could never experience.
Outlaw Golf Holiday Golf — Xbox Original Gameplay HD — Real Hardware {Component} by ZetaKong
5. NFL Blitz: Special Edition
Simplified rules and exaggerated hits characterized the arcade-style football experience from Midway Games. The 2003 PlayStation 2 Blockbuster exclusive featured updated rosters and stadiums beyond the retail release. The partnership between Midway and Blockbuster crafted this special edition that collectors still search for today.
Nintendo 64 - NFL Blitz Special Edition © 2001 Midway - Gameplay by The VideoGames Museum
6. Razor Freestyle Scooter
During the height of the scooter craze in 2000, this PlayStation title captured the extreme sports zeitgeist. Shaba Games developed special characters and park designs exclusively for Blockbuster renters. Celebrity endorsements within the game connected to the broader extreme sports movement of the era.
Razor Freestyle Scooter ... (PS1) Gameplay by 10min Gameplay
7. Stunt Racer 64
Boss Game Studios never released this title at retail, making it available solely through Blockbuster in 1999. Vehicle customization allowed people to build increasingly capable stunt cars for progressively difficult tracks. The limited distribution channel has converted this formerly common rental into a highly valuable N64 collector's item.
Stunt Racer 64 - Gameplay 1 by Tropixx_XLR
8. Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals
Robot-to-animal transition mechanics defined the gameplay experience formed by Takara in 1999. The Nintendo 64 rental exclusive never saw standard retail distribution in North America. Mid-battle form-changing added strategic depth to combat, while the limited availability has made complete copies extraordinarily rare.
9. Donkey Kong Country Competition Cartridge
Specially timed levels distinguish the Donkey Kong Country Competition Cartridge used in Nintendo PowerFest '94 and Blockbuster competitions. Rare Ltd. modified their acclaimed platformer mainly for timed competitive play with a scoring system. The SNES cartridge had only selected levels from the retail game, reorganized for tournament purposes.
10. Eek! The Cat
Fox Kids cartoon fans could only experience this SNES platformer through Blockbuster's rental program. The adventures of the purple cat trying to save Annabelle from a dogcatcher captured the show's spirit. Apparently, Viacom New Media developed the 1994 title with the cartoon's signature catchphrase, "It never hurts to help!"
11. ClayFighter: Tournament Edition
Interplay's claymation fighter received this specialized competitive variant through Blockbuster channels. The SNES rental-only release in 1994 had tournament-optimized mechanics and character balancing unavailable in the retail version. It is said that fighting game enthusiasts specifically sought out this edition for its refined gameplay.
Clayfighter - Tournament Edition (SNES) by Bizzaro 1 3
12. Mr. Nutz
Few games blended visual charm and tight platforming like Mr. Nutz. Developed by Ocean Software and released mainly in Europe, it reached American gamers briefly through Blockbuster rentals in 1994. Though overlooked, its themed stages and imaginative enemies keep retro fans coming back for more.
Mr Nutz - All Bosses (Snes) by Final Boss Games All Bosses
13. Madden '93 Championship Edition
It was Electronic Arts that created this special version for the official 1993 Blockbuster tournament circuit. The SNES cartridge was made with optimized gameplay in mind, specifically for competitive play rather than casual gaming. Custom tournament rules were also programmed directly into this variant of the popular football franchise.
John Madden Football '93 Championship Edition (Genesis) by Sports Fix
14. ClayFighter: Sculptor's Cut
Four additional characters—High Five, Lady Liberty, Sumo Santa, and Boogerman distinguished this enhanced fighter. The Nintendo 64 parody brawler from Interplay Entertainment arrived in 1998. Distinctive claymation-style animation gave the game a unique visual identity among fighting games. Today, complete copies regularly sell for thousands of dollars.
Nintendo 64 Longplay: ClayFighter: Sculptor's Cut by N64 Archive
15. Blockbuster World Video Game Championship II
Judge Dredd and NBA Jam were among the games in the competition compilation that had been altered for tournament play. About 2,500 copies were made by Acclaim Entertainment for Blockbuster's national competition. Surviving copies are extremely uncommon on the collector market today.
Blockbuster World Video Game Championship II (Sega Genesis) by VideoGaming4U
16. Super Bowling
Limited distribution through Blockbuster rental shelves defined this otherwise overlooked SNES sports title. The American Technos bowling simulation arrived at Blockbuster in 1992 with minimal fanfare. Various bowling styles and physics systems gave the game surprising depth despite its simple premise.
17. Indiana Jones And The Infernal Machine
LucasArts originally developed the game for PC before creating the exclusive N64 port in 1999. The 3D action-adventure followed Indy's quest to discover Babylonian machine parts before Soviet agents. Note that a couple of technical limitations necessitated compromises compared to the PC version.
Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine (PC) Full Game Walkthrough by Videogmz
18. Cruis'n World
The race around the globe began early for Blockbuster customers. This game provided a special demo months before the full retail release in 1997. Limited track selection and vehicle options differentiated this preview from the final game. Despite being a mere demo, the exclusive Blockbuster distribution is loved.
Cruis'n World - Full Cruise (all race tracks) by Nintendo64Movies
19. Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero
Midway's fighting game spin-off received a specialized rental variant for Nintendo 64 players. The Blockbuster version contained exclusive costumes and moves that were not available in the retail release. Sub-Zero's origin story, though critically panned at first, unfolded through side-scrolling action rather than traditional fighting mechanics.
Mortal Kombat Mythologies Sub-Zero HD Remake 1.0 (UE4) with download link by MKA
20. Worms Armageddon
The turn-based combat with humorous weapons never reached retail shelves for Nintendo 64 in North America. European players could purchase retail copies, while Americans could only experience it through rental. Apparently, complete-in-box (CIB) copies and new sealed copies command very high prices.
Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition | Release Date Announce by Team17
