Dawn Raider

Released in 1990, Dawn Raider is one of those obscure DOS shooters that probably spent more time in floppy disk boxes than in actual computers. It’s a vertical shoot-’em-up where you pilot a jet and blow up anything that dares to exist on screen. The graphics are… serviceable, the explosions satisfying enough, and the difficulty curve about as forgiving as a brick wall. Still, there’s an undeniable charm to its no-nonsense design. No story, no pretense—just you, your ship, and an endless parade of enemies. Sometimes mindless blasting is exactly what the doctor ordered.