Abandonware DOS title

The best grid-based movement games

Grid-based movement in video games refers to a movement system where characters or objects can only move along a predefined grid or set of discrete positions. The game world is divided into a grid, composed of squares or tiles, and the movement is typically restricted to the cardinal directions (up, down, left, and right).

Grid-based movement has been widely used in various types of games, including turn-based strategy games, role-playing games (RPGs), and tactical games. This movement system allows for precise positioning and strategic planning, as the player must consider the grid layout and plan their movements accordingly.
One of the advantages of grid-based movement is that it simplifies navigation and collision detection, as the game engine can easily determine valid movement paths and detect collisions with other objects on the grid.

Most popular grid-based movement games

Civilization 2
strategyWindows XP/98/95
Civilization
strategyDOS, Windows 3.x, Mac OS
X-COM: Ufo Defense
strategyDOS
tomenet-04

TomeNET

Windows XP/98/95Linux2003freeware4.3/5
ufo-5

X-COM: Ufo Defense

DOS1994protected4.3/5 MicroProse Software
UFO: Enemy Unknown (or X-COM: Ufo Defense) is a sci-fi tactical strategy game created by Julian Gollop set in a not-to-distant future where aliens are invading the Earth. The gameplay switches between tactical combat, where you fight aliens in a turn-based fashion, and strategic micromanagement, where you manage your X-COM base and personnel.
eotb2-4

Eye of the Beholder 2: The Legend of Darkmoon

DOS1991protecteddemo4.3/5 Westwood Studios
Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon is a first-person party-based role-playing game (RPG) developed by Westwood Associates and published by Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI). It was released in 1991 as a sequel to the successful "Eye of the Beholder" game.Set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, specifically the Forgotten Realms ...
civ2-test-of-time-02

Civilization II: Test of Time

Windows XP/98/951999remake4.3/5 Atari
Civilization II: Test of Time is an abandoned turn-based strategy game developed by Atari and released by MicroProse Software in 1999 for Windows. Civilization II: Test of Time is a remake of the cult classic Civilization 2, without the involvement of Sid Meier (the creator of the Civilization franchise). Test of Time includes fantasy and science f...
ZAngband-02

ZAngband

WindowsMac OSDOSLinux1999freeware4.3/5
Zangband is a variant of the popular roguelike game Angband. Zangband, short for Zelazny Angband, was developed by Chris Weisiger and first released in 1994. The game features a fantasy world with diverse races, classes, and monsters. Players explore dungeons, caves, and other environments in a quest to reach the bottom level of the dungeon, d...
eotb1-4

Eye of the Beholder

DOS1991protected4.2/5 Westwood Studios
pools-of-darkness-06

Pools of Darkness

DOSMac OS1991protected4.2/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Pools of Darkness is a computer role-playing game (CRPG) developed and published by Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI). It is the fourth entry in the "Gold Box" series of Dungeons & Dragons games, which are based on the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D) ruleset. The game was released in 1991 for MS-DOS and later ported to other platform...
civ1-7

Civilization

DOSWindows 3.xMac OS19914.2/5 MicroProse Software
Civilization is the critically acclaimed strategy game designed by Sid Meier and Bruce Campbell Shelley that became a staple in 4X turn-based strategy. Civilization was developed by MicroProse Software and released in 1991 for DOS, Windows 3.x, Amiga, Atari ST, Mac, etc. Civilization was followed by sequels, the last one being published recently. T...
dungeonhack-2

Dungeon Hack

DOS1993protecteddemo4.2/5 DreamForge Intertainment
Dungeon Hack is a dungeon-crawling role-playing game (RPG) developed by DreamForge Intertainment and published by Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI). It was released in 1993 for MS-DOS and is known for its randomly generated levels, making each playthrough a unique experience. The game is set in a first-person perspective, and players explore dungeo...
civilization2-4

Civilization 2

Windows XP/98/9519964.2/5 MicroProse Software
Civilization II is a turn-based strategy game developed by MicroProse and released in 1996. It's the second installment in the "Civilization" series, created by Sid Meier. The game builds upon the concept of its predecessor, Civilization, and expands on its gameplay mechanics, graphics, and depth.In Civilization II, players take on the role of a le...
wizardry7-05

Wizardry 7: Crusaders of the Dark Savant

Windows XP/98/95LinuxDOS1992protected4.2/5 Sir-tech Software
Wizardry VII: Crusaders of the Dark Savant is a first-person perspective party-based RPG developed and released by Sir-tech Software in 1992 for Windows, Linux and DOS. Wizardry 7 is the seventh chapter in the Wizardry series and it's part of the Dark Savant trilogy, set in a world where sci-fi themes (space travel, androids) are mixed with fantasy...
might-and-magic-swords-of-xeen-3

Might and Magic: Swords of Xeen

DOS19954.2/5 Catware, Inc.
bardstale3-2

The Bard's Tale 3: Thief of Fate

DOS19904.2/5 Interplay Productions
archon-3

Archon: the Light and the Dark

DOS19844.2/5 Free Fall Associates
Archon: The Light and the Dark is an abandoned DOS fantasy blend of strategy and action game, developed by Free Fall Associates and published for DOS by Electronic Arts in 1984. Archon and its sequels are a unique mix of chess-like turn-based strategy and arcade action games. Take chess and add the fact that every time two pieces land on the same s...
rogue-1

Rogue

Windows XP/98/95DOSLinuxMac OS19844.2/5 Artificial Intelligence Design
Rogue is one of the first RPGs in the history of video gaming. It's a text-based dungeon crawler in which you have to fight your way in the dungeon to recover the Amulet of Yendor. Rogue became popular around 1980 on mainframes and later ported to various platforms, including DOS in 1984. Rogue is simply the father of all the roguelike games that c...
ultima3-2

Ultima 3: Exodus

DOSMac OS19854.2/5 Origin Systems
Ultima III: Exodus is a role-playing video game developed by Richard Garriott and published by Origin Systems. It was released in 1983 for the Apple II and later ported to various other platforms such as the Commodore 64, MS-DOS, and NES.The game is set in the fantasy world of Sosaria, where the player controls a party of adventurers on a quest to ...
dungeonmaster-3

Dungeon Master

DOS19924.2/5 FTL
Dungeon Master, released in 1987 by FTL for Atari ST and later for Amiga and DOS, is a classic dungeon-crawling role-playing game (RPG) that holds a special place in the hearts of many nostalgic gamers. Dungeon Master is considered the father of first-person, 3D, grid-based dungeon crawlers.
buckcountdown-04

Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday

DOS1990protected4.2/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
crystals-of-arborea-07

Crystals of Arborea

DOS19904.2/5 Silmarils
ultima5-1

Ultima 5: Warriors of Destiny

DOS19884.2/5 Origin Systems
spacecrusade-1

Space Crusade

DOS19924.2/5 Gremlin Graphics / Gremlin Interactive
ums-2-07

UMS 2: Nations at War

DOSMac OS19904.1/5 Intergalactic Development
xcom2-7

X-COM: Terror from the Deep

DOS1995protected4.1/5 MicroProse Software
X-COM: Terror from the Deep is a DOS science fiction tactical strategy game, the sequel of one of the most popular DOS games in history X-COM Ufo Defense. Terror from the Deep was designed by Stephen Gross (the X-COM original being designed by Julian Gollop) and was published by MicroProse Software back in 1995. Terror from the deep doesn't change ...
ultima4-2

Ultima 4: Quest of the Avatar

DOS1985freeware4.1/5 Origin Systems
Ultima IV is remembered as one of the best Ultima games ever released, designed as usual by Richard Garriott. Garriott took the Ultima series to a whole new level by introducing the eight virtues: honesty, compassion, valor, justice, sacrifice, honor, spirituality, humility. Ultima IV started the trilogy known as "Age of Enlightenment".
wizardry-6-4

Wizardry 6: Bane of the Cosmic Forge

DOSLinuxMac OS1990protected4.1/5 Sir-tech Software
secret-silver-blades-03

Secret of the Silver Blades

DOSMac OS1990protected4.1/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Secret of the Silver Blades is a fantasy RPG set in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons universe, developed and released by SSI Strategic Simulations Inc. in 1990 for DOS, Macintosh, Amiga and Commodore 64 systems. Secret of the Silver Blades is part of the Pool of Radiance series and uses the same "GoldBox" engine with isometric turn-based combat ...
prophecy-shadow-02

Prophecy of the Shadow

DOS1992protected4.1/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
dark-queen-of-krynn-08

Dark Queen of Krynn

DOS1992protected4.1/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
empire2-art-war-05

Empire II: The Art of War

DOSWindows XP/98/9519954.1/5 White Wolf Productions
fountain-of-dreams-01

Fountain of Dreams

DOS19904.1/5 Electronic Arts