Abandonware DOS title

The most popular top down games

Top down games were very popular in the 80s and the 90s, when graphic cards were not capable of supporting 3D, and even when 3D started to become popular, 2D games continued to be easier to develop, at least in the infancy of 3D gaming. 2D game offered the player a viewpoint that helped keeping things easily under control (think about top down party-based RPGs or hex-based strategy games).
xonix-1

Xonix

DOS1984remake4/5
alienbreed-1

Alien Breed

DOS1993protected3.6/5 Team 17
steelpanthers-6

Steel Panthers

DOS19954.2/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Steel Panthers is the first game in the Steel Panthers series. It was released in 1995 by Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI). This initial release laid the foundation for the series and introduced players to the turn-based tactical wargame experience that would be further developed in subsequent titles. The game focused on armored warfare and featur...
jurassic-park-04

Jurassic Park

DOS19934.2/5 Ocean Software
starflight-3

Starflight

DOS19864.1/5 Binary Systems
Starflight is a classic space exploration and role-playing video game released in 1986 by Binary Systems and published by Electronic Arts. It is known for its innovative gameplay, as well as its open-ended approach to space exploration and storytelling.The game is set in a massive, procedurally generated universe with thousands of star systems to e...
dnd_text-02

DND

DOS19844.1/5
magiccandle-1

The Magic Candle

DOS19894/5 Mindcraft Software
The Magic Candle: Volume 1 is the first chapter of a series of fantasy old school RPGs. The Magic Candle was developed and released by Mindcraft Software in 1989 for DOS but was also published for Apple II and Commodore 64. The whole Magic Candle series is very similar to some of the early Ultima games in every aspect: turn-based combat, top-down v...
command-hq-04

Command HQ

DOS19904/5 Ozark Softscape
mspacman-2

Ms. Pac-Man

DOS19833.9/5 Midway Manufacturing Company
timesoflore-4

Times of Lore

DOS19894.1/5 Origin Systems
Times of Lore is an abandoned action RPG designed by Chris Roberts, developed and released by Origin Systems in 1989 for DOS and many more 8 bit and 16 bit platforms. Compared to Ultima (the much more popular franchise also by Origin) Times of Lore is a washed down RPG, more similar to a NES game. In fact, Roberts was inspired by The Legend of Zelda.
it-came-from-the-desert-06

It Came from the Desert

DOS1990freeware4.1/5 Cinemaware
It Came from the Desert is an abandonware action-adventure game developed by Cinemaware and released in 1990 for PC (DOS) and Amiga. It Came From the Desert is an action-adventure game with a peculiar flavor: it's set in the 50s, in the USA, and it's based on those old monster movies like Them! (also involving killer ants).
oubliette-3

Oubliette

DOS19833.3/5
bad-blood-03

Bad Blood

DOS19904.2/5 Origin Systems
nuclearwar-1

Nuclear War

DOS19894/5 New World Computing
Nuclear War is an abandoned turn-based strategy game designed by Eric Hyman and Jon Van Caneghem. Nuclear War was developed and released by New World Computing in 1989 for Amiga and, later, for DOS, and it's loosely based on a card game of the same name. Nuclear War took a satirical approach to the grim possibility of a global nuclear war and succe...
martiandreams-9

Ultima: Worlds of Adventure 2: Martian Dreams

DOS19914/5 Origin Systems
Ultima: Worlds of Adventure 2: Martian Dreams is an abandoned science fiction RPG designed by Jeff George, developed by Origin Systems and released in 1991 for DOS. Martian Dreams uses the Ultima VI engine to depict Mars in a top down perspective.
ambush-at-sorinor-02

Ambush at Sorinor

DOS19933.7/5 Mindcraft Software
mychess-1

Mychess

DOS19843.8/5 The Software Toolworks
centurion-7

Centurion: Defender of Rome

DOS19904.1/5 Bits of magic
Centurion: Defender of Rome is a turn-based strategy game set in ancient Rome times. As a centurion of the Roman Empire, you will fight against the enemies of Rome in real time battles in every corner of Italy and Europe, you'll be a gladiator, race chariots, fight naval battles and more.
cannonfodder-4

Cannon Fodder

DOS1994protected4.2/5 Sensible Software
alien-syndrome-07

Alien Syndrome

DOS19894.3/5 Sega
monopoly-deluxe-virgin-01

Monopoly Deluxe

DOSWindows 3.x19924/5 Parker Brothers
Monopoly Deluxe is an abandoned turn-based top-down Monopoly adaptation  of the classic board game, developed by Parker Brothers and released by Virgin Interactive in 1992. Monopoly Deluxe was published for DOS, Windows 3.1, and Macintosh.
command-conquer-sole-survivor-04

Command & Conquer: Sole Survivor

Windows XP/98/9519973.8/5 Westwood Studios
colorlines-3

Color Lines

DOS19923.8/5 Gamos
warcraft-1

Warcraft: Orcs and Humans

DOS1994protecteddemo4.2/5 Blizzard Entertainment
Warcraft: Orcs & Humans is the first real-time fantasy strategy game from Blizzard Entertainment. Two separate story lines (Orcs and Humans) evolve with 12 scenarios per side telling the tale of the battle for the Kingdom of Azeroth. Players must mine gold and chop wood in order to construct buildings and create units. Each side tries to destro...
starshipinv-6

Command Adventures: Starship

DOS19953.6/5 Future Vision
sherlock-1

Sherlock: The Game of Logic

DOS1991protected4.1/5 Everett Kaser Software
gary-grisby-war-in-russia-08

Gary Grigsby's War in Russia

DOS1993protected3.7/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
savageempire-6

Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire

DOS1990freeware4/5 Origin Systems
After the success of Ultima 6: The False Prophet, Origin decided to "create worlds" not part of the popular Ultima series (strictly speaking) using the same engine of Ultima 6. They came up with two games: The Savage Empire and Martian Dreams. The Savage Empire is set in a stone age-like world and features prehistoric tribes, dinosaurs, insectoid a...
ibm-nine-hole-03

IBM 9-Hole Miniature Golf

DOS19833/5 SoftSide Magazine