Abandonware DOS title

The best 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).
minesweeper-04

Minesweeper

Windows 3.x19924/5 Microsoft
Microsoft Minesweeper is an iconic puzzle game that has been included with Microsoft Windows operating systems since Windows 3.1. The game's objective is to clear a rectangular board containing hidden mines without detonating any of them. The player clicks on a square to reveal what's underneath, and numbers are displayed to indicate how many mines...
motor-city-1

Motor City

DOS19944/5 Max Design
navy-seal-02

Navy Seal

DOS19894/5 Cosmi Corporation
pango-02

Pango

DOS1983remake4/5
piratesg_006

Pirates! Gold

DOSWindows 3.xMac OS1993protectedremakedemo4/5 MicroProse Software
Pirates! Gold is an open world game designed by Paul Murphy, developed and released by MicroProse Software in 1993 for DOS, Windows 3.x, Mac and also Sega Genesis and Amiga CD32. Pirates! Gold is a remake of the game Pirates, created by Sid Meier in 1987. Pirates! Gold gameplay is a unique mix of action, strategy, pirate life simulation, ...
reaping-the-dungeon-06

Reaping The Dungeon

DOS19934/5 Frontline Software
socrates-chess-03

Socrates

DOS19934/5
sorcerer-lord-01

Sorcerer Lord

DOS19874/5 Personal Software Services
star-general-combo-02

Star General

Windows XP/98/95DOS1996protected4/5 Catware, Inc.
Star General is a turn-based strategy game developed by Catware and published by SSI (Strategic Simulations, Inc.). It was released in 1996 for MS-DOS and later for Windows. The game is set in a science fiction universe where players take command of one of five different factions, each vying for control of the galaxy.In Star General, players comman...
birth-of-the-federation-05

Star Trek: Birth of the Federation

Windows XP/98/9519994/5 MicroProse Software
Star Trek: Birth of the Federation is a turn-based strategy video game set in the Star Trek universe. The game was developed by MicroProse Software and published by Infogrames for Windows in 1999. Players take on the role of one of five major Star Trek races: the United Federation of Planets, the Klingon Empire, the Romulan Star Empire, the Ca...
taking-of-beverly-hills-02

The Taking of Beverly Hills

DOS19914/5 Off The Wall Productions
traders-02

Traders

DOS19924/5 Linel
uncover-it-02

Uncover It

DOS1994NSFW4/5
pizza-tycoon-5

Pizza Tycoon

Windows XP/98/95DOSLinuxMac OS1994protected4/5 Software 2000
angband-03

Angband

Windows XP/98/95DOSLinux1992freeware4/5
dungeon-crawl-dos-03

Dungeon Crawl

Windows XP/98/95DOSLinux1997freeware4/5
Dungeon Crawl (also known as Linley's Dungeon Crawl from the name of the original programmer: Linley Henzell) is a classic roguelike: an RPG with permadeath, procedural generation and high replayability. Dungeon Crawl was released on 1997 but it's not maintained anymore. The spiritual successr of Crawl is DCCS (Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup).
wizcrown-6

Wizard's Crown

DOS1987protected4/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
simlife-2

SimLife

DOSMac OSWindows 3.x19924/5 Maxis
SimLife is an abandoned simulation game focused on managing a ecosystems and experimenting with genetics. SimLife was designed by Ken Karakotsios, developed and released by Maxis in 1992 for DOS and later also published for Macintosh, Amiga, Windows 3.x and Amiga.
keen4-1

Commander Keen 4: Secret of the Oracle

DOS1991protected4/5 id software
escapefromhell-1

Escape from Hell

DOS19904/5 Electronic Arts
lordsoftherealm-1

Lords of the Realm

DOSWindows XP/98/951994protected4/5 Impressions Games
Lords of the Realm is top-down kingdom simulation game set in medieval Europe (England and Germany), designed by Christopher J. Foster and David Lester, developed by Impressions Games and released 1994 for DOS, Windows and Amiga.
nectaris-5

Nectaris

DOS19954/5 Hudson soft
rampart-3

Rampart

DOS19924/5 Atari
Rampart is an abandoned mix of strategy and shooter game designed by Dave Ralston and John Salwitz, developed by Atari and released by Electronic Arts in 1992 for DOS. Rampart was converted from the original arcade version to a number of platforms, including Amiga, Atari ST, C64, Game Boy, Genesis, Lynx, NES, SEGA Master System, SNES. Rampart is a ...
starcommand-4

Star Command

DOS1988protected4/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
chess88-1

Chess88

DOS19844/5
siege-06

Siege

DOS19924/5 Mindcraft Software
roadwar2000-3

Roadwar 2000

DOS1987protected4/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
amberstar-08

Amberstar

DOS19924/5 Thalion
Amberstar is a fantasy old school RPG very similar to Ultima 6 that uses a top-down view for interiors and small locations and a first person pseudo 3D view for everything else. Unfortunately, the sequel (called Ambermoon) was available for Amiga only and no version existed for DOS or Windows. Amberstar was developed and published by Thalion for DO...
highwayfighter-2

Highway Fighter

DOS19954/5 Safari Software