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 |
4.07
|
02 | Softporn Adventure | adventure |
4.00
|
03 | Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord | rpg |
3.95
|
04 | Chess | strategy |
3.90
|
05 | Akalabeth: World of Doom | rpg |
3.66
|
06 | B-1 Nuclear Bomber | vehicle simulation |
3.64
|
# | 1982 | genre | rating |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Zork I: The Great Underground Empire | adventure |
4.20
|
02 | PC-Man | action |
4.18
|
03 | Microsoft Decathlon | sports |
4.00
|
04 | Paratrooper | shooter |
3.95
|
05 | Car Builder | simulation |
3.90
|
06 | Wizardry 2: The knight of diamonds | rpg |
3.89
|
07 | Executive Suite | simulation |
3.86
|
08 | Deadline | adventure |
3.84
|
09 | BurgerTime | action |
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 | Sleuth: A Murder Mystery | simulation |
4.19
|
06 | Defender | shooter |
4.19
|
07 | Planetfall | adventure |
4.15
|
08 | Frogger | action |
4.10
|
09 | Donkey Kong | action |
4.09
|
10 | J-Bird | action |
4.04
|
# | 1984 | genre | rating |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Alley Cat | action |
4.29
|
02 | King's Quest 1: Quest for the Crown | adventure |
4.27
|
03 | dBASE III | application |
4.26
|
04 | Montezuma's Revenge | action |
4.21
|
05 | Archon: the Light and the Dark | strategy |
4.18
|
06 | Rogue | rpg |
4.18
|
07 | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | adventure |
4.15
|
08 | Soko-Ban | puzzle |
4.12
|
09 | Crime and Punishment | simulation |
4.09
|
10 | DND | rpg |
4.09
|
# | 1985 | genre | rating |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Alice: The Personal Pascal | application |
4.33
|
02 | Ultima 3: Exodus | rpg |
4.16
|
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 |
4.08
|
07 | Spacewar | shooter |
4.06
|
08 | Star Trek: the Kobayashi alternative | adventure |
4.04
|
09 | Silent Service | vehicle simulation |
4.03
|
10 | Sierra Championship Boxing | sports |
3.97
|
# | 1986 | genre | rating |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Gunship | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
02 | Space Quest 1: The Sarien Encounter | adventure |
4.25
|
03 | Wordstar 4 | application |
4.20
|
04 | Conflict in Vietnam | strategy |
4.17
|
05 | Leather Goddesses of Phobos | adventure |
4.15
|
06 | James Bond 007: Goldfinger | adventure |
4.14
|
07 | The Fellowship of the Ring | adventure |
4.14
|
08 | Psi 5 Trading Company | vehicle simulation |
4.13
|
09 | AutoCAD 2.5 | application |
4.12
|
10 | The Chessmaster 2000 | strategy |
4.11
|
# | 1987 | genre | rating |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Leisure Suit Larry 1: In the Land of the Lounge Lizards | adventure |
4.28
|
02 | Driller | action-adventure |
4.27
|
03 | Police Quest 1: In Pursuit of the Death Angel | adventure |
4.26
|
04 | Borland Turbo C v1 | application |
4.22
|
05 | Maniac Mansion | adventure |
4.21
|
06 | Test Drive | racing |
4.18
|
07 | La Abadia del Crimen | action-adventure |
4.16
|
08 | Earl Weaver Baseball | sports |
4.14
|
09 | Mah Jongg Solitaire | puzzle |
4.14
|
10 | Borland Turbo Basic 1.0 | application |
4.13
|
# | 1988 | genre | rating |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Deluxe Paint 2 | application |
4.35
|
02 | Skate or Die | sports |
4.29
|
03 | Battlehawks 1942 | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
04 | World Class Leader Board | sports |
4.23
|
05 | Impossible Mission 2 | action-adventure |
4.23
|
06 | F-19 Stealth Fighter | vehicle simulation |
4.23
|
07 | Battle Chess | strategy |
4.22
|
08 | Star Wars | shooter |
4.21
|
09 | Rampage | action |
4.20
|
10 | Rocket Ranger | action |
4.20
|
# | 1989 | genre | rating |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Pipe Dream | puzzle |
4.29
|
02 | Alien Syndrome | shooter |
4.28
|
03 | Hero's Quest: So you want to be a hero | adventure |
4.27
|
04 | Operation Wolf | shooter |
4.27
|
05 | F-16 Combat Pilot | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
06 | Clue Master Detective | strategy |
4.25
|
07 | Rick Dangerous | action |
4.24
|
08 | A-10 Tank Killer | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
09 | The Duel: Test Drive 2 | racing |
4.23
|
10 | Bubble Bobble | action |
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 | Tetris 2.0 | puzzle |
4.25
|
05 | Das Boot: German U-Boat Simulation | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
06 | SimEarth | simulation |
4.23
|
07 | The Oregon Trail | simulation |
4.23
|
08 | Norton Editor 2 | application |
4.23
|
09 | Jetfighter 2: Advanced Tactical Fighter | vehicle simulation |
4.23
|
10 | Loom | adventure |
4.23
|
# | 1991 | genre | rating |
---|---|---|---|
01 | QBASIC | application |
4.39
|
02 | Volfied | action |
4.28
|
03 | Chuck Yeager's Air Combat | vehicle simulation |
4.28
|
04 | Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe | vehicle simulation |
4.28
|
05 | Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge | adventure |
4.27
|
06 | Gobliiins | adventure |
4.26
|
07 | Chip's Challenge | puzzle |
4.26
|
08 | Eye of the Beholder 2: The Legend of Darkmoon | rpg |
4.26
|
09 | Cisco Heat | racing |
4.26
|
10 | Maupiti Island | adventure |
4.25
|
# | 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 | Links 386 Pro | sports |
4.27
|
06 | Comanche: Maximum overkill | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
07 | Pacific Islands | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
08 | Heroes of the 357th | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
09 | WaxWorks | adventure |
4.25
|
10 | F-15 Strike Eagle III | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
# | 1993 | genre | rating |
---|---|---|---|
01 | NeoPaint 3.2 | application |
4.45
|
02 | Lemmings 2: The Tribes | puzzle |
4.28
|
03 | Mortal Kombat | action |
4.28
|
04 | Space Hulk | strategy |
4.27
|
05 | Lotus: The ultimate challenge | racing |
4.27
|
06 | Tornado | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
07 | Bio Menace Episode 2: The Hidden Lab | action |
4.25
|
08 | Sid & Al's Incredible Toons | puzzle |
4.25
|
09 | Police Quest: Open Season | adventure |
4.25
|
10 | Tom and Jerry | action |
4.24
|
# | 1994 | genre | rating |
---|---|---|---|
01 | The Incredible Machine 2 | puzzle |
4.32
|
02 | X-COM: Ufo Defense | strategy |
4.30
|
03 | Micro Machines | racing |
4.29
|
04 | Doom 2: Hell on Earth | shooter |
4.28
|
05 | Heretic | shooter |
4.27
|
06 | Colonization | strategy |
4.25
|
07 | Overlord | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
08 | Fleet Defender | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
09 | 1942: The Pacific Air War | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
10 | Super Mariio Bros | action |
4.23
|
# | 1995 | genre | rating |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Whiplash | racing |
4.30
|
02 | Star Wars: Dark Forces | shooter |
4.27
|
03 | NHL 96 | sports |
4.27
|
04 | Screamer | racing |
4.26
|
05 | Transport Tycoon Deluxe | simulation |
4.25
|
06 | Grand Prix 2 | racing |
4.25
|
07 | Albion | rpg |
4.24
|
08 | Psycho Pinball | action |
4.23
|
09 | Extreme Pinball | action |
4.23
|
10 | Steel Panthers | strategy |
4.22
|
# | 1996 | genre | rating |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Battle Arena Toshinden | action |
4.33
|
02 | Master of Orion 2: Battle at Antares | strategy |
4.30
|
03 | Super Street Fighter 2 | action |
4.27
|
04 | The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall | rpg |
4.26
|
05 | F-22 Lightning 2 | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
06 | Road Rash | racing |
4.25
|
07 | Free Enterprise | simulation |
4.24
|
08 | Pray for Death | action |
4.24
|
09 | Conquest of the New World (Deluxe Edition) | strategy |
4.24
|
10 | Quake | shooter |
4.24
|
# | 1997 | genre | rating |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Warlords 3: Reign of Heroes | strategy |
4.28
|
02 | Broken Sword 2: The Smoking Mirror | adventure |
4.26
|
03 | Interstate '76 | racing |
4.24
|
04 | Virtua Cop 2 | shooter |
4.24
|
05 | Lucky Luke | action |
4.23
|
06 | Dilbert's Desktop Games | action |
4.21
|
07 | Carmageddon | racing |
4.21
|
08 | Blood | shooter |
4.20
|
09 | Age of Empires | strategy |
4.20
|
10 | Magic: The Gathering | strategy |
4.18
|
# | 1998 | genre | rating |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Caesar 3 | simulation |
4.25
|
02 | People's General | strategy |
4.25
|
03 | Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines | strategy |
4.24
|
04 | Populous: The Beginning | strategy |
4.21
|
05 | Dune 2000 | strategy |
4.21
|
06 | Railroad Tycoon 2 | simulation |
4.21
|
07 | Norton Commander 5.5 | application |
4.21
|
08 | Mega Man X3 | shooter |
4.20
|
09 | 101: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy | strategy |
4.18
|
10 | Axis and Allies | strategy |
4.17
|
# | 1999 | genre | rating |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Jagged Alliance 2 | strategy |
4.32
|
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 | Might and Magic 7: For Blood and Honor | rpg |
4.20
|
07 | Midtown Madness | racing |
4.20
|
08 | Roller Coaster Tycoon | simulation |
4.19
|
09 | Pharaoh | simulation |
4.19
|
10 | Axis and Allies: Iron Blitz | strategy |
4.19
|
# | 2000 | genre | rating |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Nox | rpg |
4.20
|
02 | Zeus: Master of Olympus | simulation |
4.17
|
03 | Deus Ex | rpg |
4.15
|
04 | Patrician 2: Quest for Power | simulation |
4.13
|
05 | Ground Control | strategy |
4.10
|
06 | Gal Pani X | action |
4.07
|
07 | Dark Reign 2 | strategy |
4.03
|
08 | 3D Ultra Lionel Traintown | puzzle |
4.02
|
09 | Fairy Nights | adventure |
4.00
|
10 | Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn | rpg |
3.96
|
# | 2001 | genre | rating |
---|---|---|---|
01 | ScummVM | application |
4.30
|
02 | Empire Earth | strategy |
4.28
|
03 | Capitalism 2 | simulation |
4.27
|
04 | Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura | rpg |
4.16
|
05 | Anachronox | rpg |
4.14
|
06 | Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds | strategy |
4.11
|
07 | Zoo Tycoon | simulation |
4.09
|
08 | Independence War 2: Edge Of Chaos | vehicle simulation |
4.08
|
09 | Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel | strategy |
4.08
|
10 | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone | action-adventure |
4.08
|
# | 2002 | genre | rating |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Chessmaster 9000 | strategy |
4.19
|
02 | Hooligans: Storm Over Europe | strategy |
4.17
|
03 | Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 | simulation |
4.16
|
04 | Crazy Taxi | racing |
4.13
|
05 | The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind | rpg |
4.13
|
06 | Sid Meier's SimGolf | sports |
4.11
|
07 | Syberia | adventure |
4.05
|
08 | DOSBox | application |
4.04
|
09 | Industry Giant 2 | simulation |
4.00
|
10 | Icewind Dale 2 | rpg |
3.88
|
# | 2003 | genre | rating |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Master of Orion 3 | strategy |
4.16
|
02 | Yu-Gi-Oh! Power of Chaos - Yugi the Destiny | strategy |
4.08
|
03 | Van Buren (Fallout 3) | rpg |
4.07
|
# | 2004 | genre | rating |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Spider-Man 2: The Game | action-adventure |
4.22
|
02 | Dark Horizons Lore: Invasion | vehicle simulation |
4.20
|
03 | UFO 2000 | strategy |
4.20
|
04 | Blues Brothers RPG | rpg |
3.89
|