Best abandonware games by year
Abandonware DOS hosts games from the early age of Personal Computer videogaming. I'm referring to a time when some of you weren't even born: the 80s.
The golden age of PC games came in the 90s, with classic games still remembered today. In the new millennium, many small developers struggled to stay afloat in the gaming sea now dominated by leviathan companies that ate one software house after another. The golden age ended and "abandonware" started to be a thing.
Here are the top 10 games for every year of that golden age, according to user's votes.
| # | 1981 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Galaxy | strategy |
4.09
|
| 02 | Softporn Adventure | adventure |
4.00
|
| 03 | Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord | rpg |
3.93
|
| 04 | Chess | strategy |
3.91
|
| 05 | Akalabeth: World of Doom | rpg |
3.65
|
| 06 | B-1 Nuclear Bomber | vehicle simulation |
3.64
|
| # | 1982 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | PC-Man | action |
4.18
|
| 02 | Zork I: The Great Underground Empire | adventure |
4.16
|
| 03 | Microsoft Decathlon | sports |
4.00
|
| 04 | Paratrooper | shooter |
3.95
|
| 05 | Car Builder | simulation |
3.90
|
| 06 | Executive Suite | simulation |
3.88
|
| 07 | Deadline | adventure |
3.84
|
| 08 | BurgerTime | action |
3.82
|
| 09 | Wizardry 2: The knight of diamonds | rpg |
3.82
|
| 10 | The Battle of the Bulge: Tigers in the Snow | strategy |
3.80
|
| # | 1983 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lode Runner | action |
4.27
|
| 02 | Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz | adventure |
4.26
|
| 03 | Digger | action |
4.25
|
| 04 | Battlezone | shooter |
4.24
|
| 05 | Defender | shooter |
4.20
|
| 06 | Sleuth: A Murder Mystery | simulation |
4.19
|
| 07 | Planetfall | adventure |
4.15
|
| 08 | Frogger | action |
4.12
|
| 09 | J-Bird | action |
4.07
|
| 10 | Donkey Kong | action |
4.05
|
| # | 1984 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Alley Cat | action |
4.29
|
| 02 | King's Quest 1: Quest for the Crown | adventure |
4.29
|
| 03 | dBASE III | application |
4.27
|
| 04 | Montezuma's Revenge | action |
4.21
|
| 05 | Castle Adventure | action-adventure |
4.20
|
| 06 | Archon: the Light and the Dark | strategy |
4.18
|
| 07 | Rogue | rpg |
4.18
|
| 08 | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | adventure |
4.16
|
| 09 | Soko-Ban | puzzle |
4.13
|
| 10 | Crime and Punishment | simulation |
4.09
|
| # | 1985 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Alice: The Personal Pascal | application |
4.33
|
| 02 | Ultima 3: Exodus | rpg |
4.18
|
| 03 | A Mind Forever Voyaging | adventure |
4.14
|
| 04 | Rambo First Blood Part 2 | adventure |
4.14
|
| 05 | Ultima 4: Quest of the Avatar | rpg |
4.12
|
| 06 | 9 Princes in Amber | adventure |
4.11
|
| 07 | Spacewar | shooter |
4.06
|
| 08 | Star Trek: the Kobayashi alternative | adventure |
4.04
|
| 09 | Silent Service | vehicle simulation |
4.03
|
| 10 | King's Quest 2: Romancing the Throne | adventure |
3.98
|
| # | 1986 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Space Quest 1: The Sarien Encounter | adventure |
4.26
|
| 02 | Gunship | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
| 03 | Wordstar 4 | application |
4.20
|
| 04 | Conflict in Vietnam | strategy |
4.17
|
| 05 | Leather Goddesses of Phobos | adventure |
4.15
|
| 06 | The Fellowship of the Ring | adventure |
4.14
|
| 07 | James Bond 007: Goldfinger | adventure |
4.14
|
| 08 | AutoCAD 2.5 | application |
4.14
|
| 09 | The Chessmaster 2000 | strategy |
4.13
|
| 10 | Psi 5 Trading Company | vehicle simulation |
4.13
|
| # | 1987 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Driller | action-adventure |
4.29
|
| 02 | Leisure Suit Larry 1: In the Land of the Lounge Lizards | adventure |
4.28
|
| 03 | Police Quest 1: In Pursuit of the Death Angel | adventure |
4.25
|
| 04 | Maniac Mansion | adventure |
4.21
|
| 05 | Test Drive | racing |
4.16
|
| 06 | La Abadia del Crimen | action-adventure |
4.16
|
| 07 | Borland Turbo C v1 | application |
4.14
|
| 08 | Earl Weaver Baseball | sports |
4.14
|
| 09 | Borland Turbo Basic 1.0 | application |
4.13
|
| 10 | Phantasie 3: The Wrath of Nikademus | rpg |
4.13
|
| # | 1988 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Deluxe Paint 2 | application |
4.30
|
| 02 | Skate or Die | sports |
4.29
|
| 03 | Battlehawks 1942 | vehicle simulation |
4.26
|
| 04 | Impossible Mission 2 | action-adventure |
4.25
|
| 05 | World Class Leader Board | sports |
4.23
|
| 06 | F-19 Stealth Fighter | vehicle simulation |
4.22
|
| 07 | Battle Chess | strategy |
4.22
|
| 08 | Star Wars | shooter |
4.21
|
| 09 | Rampage | action |
4.20
|
| 10 | Speedball | sports |
4.20
|
| # | 1989 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Pipe Dream | puzzle |
4.29
|
| 02 | Operation Wolf | shooter |
4.28
|
| 03 | Alien Syndrome | shooter |
4.27
|
| 04 | A-10 Tank Killer | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
| 05 | Rick Dangerous | action |
4.25
|
| 06 | Clue Master Detective | strategy |
4.25
|
| 07 | Hero's Quest: So you want to be a hero | adventure |
4.24
|
| 08 | The Duel: Test Drive 2 | racing |
4.24
|
| 09 | Bubble Bobble | action |
4.23
|
| 10 | Their Finest Hour: The Battle of Britain | vehicle simulation |
4.22
|
| # | 1990 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Secret of Monkey Island | adventure |
4.32
|
| 02 | Arj | application |
4.27
|
| 03 | Panza Kick Boxing | sports |
4.27
|
| 04 | Das Boot: German U-Boat Simulation | vehicle simulation |
4.26
|
| 05 | Jetfighter 2: Advanced Tactical Fighter | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
| 06 | LadyLove | action |
4.24
|
| 07 | The Oregon Trail | simulation |
4.24
|
| 08 | SimEarth | simulation |
4.23
|
| 09 | F-14 Tomcat | vehicle simulation |
4.23
|
| 10 | Norton Editor 2 | application |
4.23
|
| # | 1991 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | QBASIC | application |
4.34
|
| 02 | Chuck Yeager's Air Combat | vehicle simulation |
4.29
|
| 03 | Volfied | action |
4.28
|
| 04 | Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge | adventure |
4.27
|
| 05 | Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe | vehicle simulation |
4.27
|
| 06 | Eye of the Beholder 2: The Legend of Darkmoon | rpg |
4.26
|
| 07 | Cisco Heat | racing |
4.26
|
| 08 | Maupiti Island | adventure |
4.25
|
| 09 | Eye of the Beholder | rpg |
4.25
|
| 10 | Chip's Challenge | puzzle |
4.24
|
| # | 1992 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Virtual Reality Studio 2.0 | application |
4.39
|
| 02 | Street Fighter 2 | action |
4.32
|
| 03 | Ultima 7 Part 1: The Black Gate | rpg |
4.32
|
| 04 | Tetris Classic | puzzle |
4.32
|
| 05 | Stunt Island | vehicle simulation |
4.27
|
| 06 | ATAC: The Secret War Against Drugs | vehicle simulation |
4.27
|
| 07 | Links 386 Pro | sports |
4.27
|
| 08 | F-15 Strike Eagle III | vehicle simulation |
4.27
|
| 09 | Pacific Islands | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
| 10 | WaxWorks | adventure |
4.25
|
| # | 1993 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | NeoPaint 3.2 | application |
4.45
|
| 02 | Lemmings 2: The Tribes | puzzle |
4.31
|
| 03 | Mortal Kombat | action |
4.29
|
| 04 | Bio Menace Episode 3: Master Cain | action |
4.27
|
| 05 | Bio Menace Episode 2: The Hidden Lab | action |
4.27
|
| 06 | Space Hulk | strategy |
4.27
|
| 07 | Dogfight: 80 Years of Aerial Warfare | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
| 08 | Sid & Al's Incredible Toons | puzzle |
4.25
|
| 09 | Police Quest: Open Season | adventure |
4.25
|
| 10 | Lotus: The ultimate challenge | racing |
4.24
|
| # | 1994 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | X-COM: Ufo Defense | strategy |
4.30
|
| 02 | The Incredible Machine 2 | puzzle |
4.28
|
| 03 | Doom 2: Hell on Earth | shooter |
4.27
|
| 04 | Fleet Defender | vehicle simulation |
4.26
|
| 05 | Micro Machines | racing |
4.26
|
| 06 | Heretic | shooter |
4.26
|
| 07 | Colonization | strategy |
4.25
|
| 08 | Little Big Adventure | action-adventure |
4.24
|
| 09 | 1942: The Pacific Air War | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 10 | Disney's Aladdin | action |
4.23
|
| # | 1995 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Whiplash | racing |
4.29
|
| 02 | Screamer | racing |
4.26
|
| 03 | Grand Prix 2 | racing |
4.25
|
| 04 | Star Wars: Dark Forces | shooter |
4.25
|
| 05 | Transport Tycoon Deluxe | simulation |
4.25
|
| 06 | Albion | rpg |
4.25
|
| 07 | Psycho Pinball | action |
4.23
|
| 08 | Extreme Pinball | action |
4.23
|
| 09 | Steel Panthers | strategy |
4.22
|
| 10 | Virtual Pool | sports |
4.22
|
| # | 1996 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Master of Orion 2: Battle at Antares | strategy |
4.29
|
| 02 | Super Street Fighter 2 | action |
4.27
|
| 03 | Road Rash | racing |
4.25
|
| 04 | The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall | rpg |
4.24
|
| 05 | Pray for Death | action |
4.24
|
| 06 | Quake | shooter |
4.24
|
| 07 | Free Enterprise | simulation |
4.24
|
| 08 | Jane's Combat Simulations: Advanced Tactical Fighters | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 09 | Battle Arena Toshinden | action |
4.23
|
| 10 | F-22 Lightning 2 | vehicle simulation |
4.23
|
| # | 1997 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Warlords 3: Reign of Heroes | strategy |
4.29
|
| 02 | Interstate '76 | racing |
4.25
|
| 03 | Virtua Cop 2 | shooter |
4.24
|
| 04 | Broken Sword 2: The Smoking Mirror | adventure |
4.23
|
| 05 | Carmageddon | racing |
4.22
|
| 06 | Blood | shooter |
4.20
|
| 07 | Dilbert's Desktop Games | action |
4.19
|
| 08 | Age of Empires | strategy |
4.19
|
| 09 | Blade Runner | adventure |
4.18
|
| 10 | Magic: The Gathering | strategy |
4.18
|
| # | 1998 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Darius Gaiden | shooter |
4.29
|
| 02 | People's General | strategy |
4.25
|
| 03 | Caesar 3 | simulation |
4.24
|
| 04 | Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines | strategy |
4.23
|
| 05 | Norton Commander 5.5 | application |
4.21
|
| 06 | Populous: The Beginning | strategy |
4.21
|
| 07 | Railroad Tycoon 2 | simulation |
4.21
|
| 08 | Dune 2000 | strategy |
4.21
|
| 09 | Mega Man X3 | shooter |
4.20
|
| 10 | 101: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy | strategy |
4.19
|
| # | 1999 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Jagged Alliance 2 | strategy |
4.30
|
| 02 | Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings | strategy |
4.26
|
| 03 | Civilization II: Test of Time | strategy |
4.25
|
| 04 | Outcast | action-adventure |
4.24
|
| 05 | Age of Wonders | strategy |
4.21
|
| 06 | Roller Coaster Tycoon | simulation |
4.20
|
| 07 | Pharaoh | simulation |
4.20
|
| 08 | Might and Magic 7: For Blood and Honor | rpg |
4.20
|
| 09 | Axis and Allies: Iron Blitz | strategy |
4.19
|
| 10 | Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia | strategy |
4.18
|
| # | 2000 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Zeus: Master of Olympus | simulation |
4.16
|
| 02 | Nox | rpg |
4.13
|
| 03 | Patrician 2: Quest for Power | simulation |
4.13
|
| 04 | Gal Pani X | action |
4.08
|
| 05 | Fairy Nights | adventure |
4.06
|
| 06 | Ground Control | strategy |
4.02
|
| 07 | Deus Ex | rpg |
4.02
|
| 08 | 3D Ultra Lionel Traintown | puzzle |
4.01
|
| 09 | Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn | rpg |
3.96
|
| 10 | Dark Reign 2 | strategy |
3.93
|
| # | 2001 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | ScummVM | application |
4.33
|
| 02 | Empire Earth | strategy |
4.29
|
| 03 | Capitalism 2 | simulation |
4.25
|
| 04 | Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura | rpg |
4.16
|
| 05 | Anachronox | rpg |
4.14
|
| 06 | Zoo Tycoon | simulation |
4.09
|
| 07 | Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds | strategy |
4.08
|
| 08 | Independence War 2: Edge Of Chaos | vehicle simulation |
4.08
|
| 09 | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone | action-adventure |
4.07
|
| 10 | Mario and Luigi | action |
4.06
|
| # | 2002 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Hooligans: Storm Over Europe | strategy |
4.19
|
| 02 | Chessmaster 9000 | strategy |
4.19
|
| 03 | Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 | simulation |
4.16
|
| 04 | The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind | rpg |
4.13
|
| 05 | Crazy Taxi | racing |
4.13
|
| 06 | Sid Meier's SimGolf | sports |
4.11
|
| 07 | DOSBox | application |
4.07
|
| 08 | Syberia | adventure |
4.05
|
| 09 | Industry Giant 2 | simulation |
4.00
|
| 10 | Icewind Dale 2 | rpg |
3.88
|
| # | 2003 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Master of Orion 3 | strategy |
4.18
|
| 02 | Yu-Gi-Oh! Power of Chaos - Yugi the Destiny | strategy |
4.06
|
| 03 | Van Buren (Fallout 3) | rpg |
3.93
|
| 04 | ResidualVM | application |
3.75
|
| 05 | Baldur's Gate III: The Black Hound | rpg |
3.35
|
| # | 2004 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Dark Horizons Lore: Invasion | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 02 | Spider-Man 2: The Game | action-adventure |
4.19
|
| 03 | UFO 2000 | strategy |
4.19
|
| 04 | Blues Brothers RPG | rpg |
3.89
|