Top-down perspective

Top down games were very popular in the 80s and the 90s, when graphic cards were not capable of supporting 3D, and even when 3D started to become popular, 2D games continued to be easier to develop, at least in the infancy of 3D gaming. 2D game offered the player a viewpoint that helped keeping things easily under control (think about top down party-based RPGs or hex-based strategy games).

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Carnage

DOS1993 Warped Minds

Carrier Strike: South Pacific 1942-44

DOS1992protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.

Castle Adventure

DOS1984freeware

Castle of the Winds

Windows 3.x1993freeware SaadaSoft

Castle of the Winds is a fantasy roguelike role-playing game developed by SaadaSoft in the early 1990s. It was designed for Windows 3.x and is notable for being one of the earliest graphical RPGs for that platform. The game features a top-down perspective and incorporates elements of dungeon crawling, exploration, and character development.The game...

Castle Wolfenstein

DOS1984 Muse Software

Cave Wars

DOS1996

Cavequest

DOS1985

Caverns of Kroz

DOS1989freeware Apogee Software

Caves of Thor

DOS1989 Apogee Software

CD-Man v2.0

DOS1992 Creative Dimensions

Centurion: Defender of Rome

DOS1990 Bits of magic

Centurion: Defender of Rome is a turn-based strategy game set in ancient Rome times. As a centurion of the Roman Empire, you will fight against the enemies of Rome in real time battles in every corner of Italy and Europe, you'll be a gladiator, race chariots, fight naval battles and more.

Challenge of the Five Realms

DOS1992protected MicroProse Software

CHAMP Ms. Pac-man

DOS1994remake ChamProgramming corp.

Champion of the Raj

DOS1991 Personal Software Services

Checkers for Windows

Windows 3.x1997

Chess

DOS1981 International PC Owners

Chess88

DOS1984

Chessmaster 3000

DOS1991 The Software Toolworks

Chessmaster 9000

Windows XP/98/95Mac OS2002 UBI Soft

Chessmaster 9000 is a chess game developed by Ubisoft and released in 2002. It's part of the Chessmaster series, which has been around since the 1980s. Chessmaster 9000 was known for its strong chess engine and comprehensive tutorial features, making it popular among both beginners and advanced players. The software also included annotated gam...

Chip's Challenge

DOSWindows 3.x1991 Epyx

Chip's Challenge is an abandoned top-down puzzle game designed by Chuck Sommerville, developed and released by Epyx in 1991. Chip's Challenge was released on DOS, Windows 3.x and many other home computers such as Atari ST, Amiga, C64, ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC.

Civilization

DOSWindows 3.xMac OS1991 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...

Civilization 2

Windows XP/98/951996 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...

Clash of Steel

DOS1993protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.

Cloud Kingdoms

DOS1990 Logotron

Clue Master Detective

DOS1989 Dalali Software

Clue Master Detective is an abandoned strategy game developed by Dalali Software and released by Leisure Genius in 1989 for DOS, Amiga, Apple II, Atari ST, C64. Clue Master Detective is based on the well known board game Clue (also known as Cluedo). Clue can be played in single player, but the best gaming experience come from the multi-player mode.

Cobra Mission

DOS1992NSFW MegaTech Software

Colonization

DOSWindows 3.xLinuxMac OS1994protected MicroProse Software

Colonization is a turn-based strategy 4x game developed and published by MicroProse in 1994 for DOS, Windows 3.1, Linux and Mac. The setting is the European Colonization of the New World. Colonization gameplay and interface are similar to Civilization, another Sid Meier game. However, there are some differences between Civilization and Colonization...