Retro games and abandonware spotlight
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CODiE Awards 1999: Starcraft, Unreal, Lego Loco
In 1999 we surpassed 6 billion inhabitants in the whole world. In Europe, the new currency - called EURO - replaces national currencies. In the USA, Napster is released, and if you don't remember it, go looking for it on Wikipedia! Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 5 (five!).Movies released in 1999: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, The Sixth Sense, American Pie, American Beauty, The Matrix.The 1999 CODiE awards went to one of the best ... -
GOG Black Friday sale 2023
21st November 2023deals and free gamesGood Old Games is hosting a Black Friday sale. It's call Black Friday, but it lasts a whole week! And there are giveaways too. Some of the bestsellers are Heroes of Might and Magic 3, Empire Earth, The Elder Scrolls Morrowind GOTY, etc. -
Roller Coaster Tycoon 2: a classic simulation
18th November 2023simulationRoller Coaster Tycoon 2 is a simulation game developed by Chris Sawyer Productions and published by Infogrames. It was released in 2002 as the sequel to the original classic Roller Coaster Tycoon. In Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 players take on the role of an amusement park manager and are tasked with designing, building, and managing their own theme park.This is one of the favourite games of my childhood. Scrap that, ... -
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
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". -
Metroidvania: half Metroid, half Castlevania
Metroidvania is a subgenre of action-adventure video games that combines elements from two popular game series: "Metroid" and "Castlevania" The name "Metroidvania" itself is a portmanteau of these two titles. This subgenre is characterized by several key gameplay and design features: exploration, non-linear progression, upgrades and abilities, storytelling and boss battles. Metroid is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. The first installment in the ...
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Block breaker: Dragons: A Challenge in Chivalry
Block breaker is a term often used to describe a type of video game that involves breaking or destroying blocks or bricks within the game environment. These games are typically characterized by a paddle or platform at the bottom of the screen that the player controls, and a wall of blocks at the top of the screen that the player must eliminate. The player uses the paddle to bounce a ball or projectile into the blocks, and when the ball hits a block, it destroys or "breaks" the block.
One of the most iconic block breaker games is Breakout which was created by Atari and released in 1976. Arkanoid is another well-known block breaker game that was released in the 1980s. -
God game: Dungeon Keeper
A god game is a genre of video games where the player assumes the role of a deity or god and has control over various aspects of the game world. In these games, players typically have god-like powers and influence over the environment, characters, and events within the game. The genre is characterized by its focus on simulation, strategy, and management elements.
God games typically involve managing or influencing the inhabitants of the game world, whether they are virtual people, creatures, or civilizations. Many god games offer a sandbox mode where players can experiment and create without specific objectives or limitations.
To abandonware or not?
Where does the love for old abandoned games comes from? Our childhood, perhaps. What's left of that age? What do we miss so much? The long afternoons spent walking in the worlds of Ultima or the hours passed impersonating Duke Nukem. Here we are now, slightly aged, eager to pay homage to all those wonderful DOS games.
After all, it's about the passion for old games and a little bit of nostalgia.
The games listed on Abandonware DOS are no longer supported by their respective developers (as far as I know... I often check sites like Steam and GOG). If you find out that a game is still on sale or "protected", please let me know and I'll remove it from Abandonware DOS as soon as possible.
How to run DOS games on Windows?What does abandonware mean?
Abandonware is a word that describes a software (game or application) no longer supported by its developers or its publishers and is no longer available for sale in any form (digital or retail).
When we talk about abandonware we usually refer to old games for systems no longer available to the public such as DOS, Commodore 64, Amiga, Spectrum, etc.
Some "abandoned" games are still on sale, that's why you will find games tagged as "protected" on Abandonware DOS.
How to run old Windows games on Windows 10?Is abandonware safe?
There's a misconception about abandonware: since it's about old games, there's no security involved. It's not like that, al least not on Abandonware DOS. Every single Windows and DOS game on this site was personally tested. Every game was played on a computer with all kinds of tools: antivirus, antispam, etc.
That said, there's the possibility of a false positive: your software tells you there's a virus but there's no such thing. I can't speak for other abandonware sites, but I can assure you that I take all the necessary measures to keep the games on Abandonware DOS safe.