The best top down games

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).

Sort by:

Psycho Pinball

DOS1995 Codemasters

The Perfect General

DOS1991 White Wolf Productions

The Perfect General is a turn-based strategy military game developed by White Wolf Productions and released in 1991 by Quantun Quality Production. The Perfect General gameplay is quite simple compared to other wargames, but it's b...

The Taking of Beverly Hills

DOS1991 Off The Wall Productions

Xenon 2: Megablast

DOS1990 Bitmap Brothers

Xenon 2: Megablast is a classic shoot'em up developed by Bitmap Brothers and released by Image Works in 1990 for DOS and for a plethora of other systems. Xenon was good, Xenon 2 was far better. Compared to today standards Xenon 2 ...

Ultima 5: Warriors of Destiny

DOS1988 Origin Systems

Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny is a role-playing video game developed and published by Origin Systems in 1988. It is the fifth installment in the highly influential Ultima series, created by Richard Garriott. Initially release...

Starflight

DOS1986 Binary Systems

Starflight is a classic space exploration and role-playing video game released in 1986 by Binary Systems and published by Electronic Arts. It is known for its innovative gameplay, as well as its open-ended approach to space explor...

Panzer General

DOS1994protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.

Panger General is a turn based strategy wargame developed by SSI set in World War 2. The player can choose Axis or Allies and fight against the AI or another human player in more than 30 scenarios on a classic hex based map.

Populous: The Beginning

Windows XP/98/951998protected Bullfrog

MicroProse Soccer

DOS1988protected Sensible Software

MicroProse Soccer is an abandoned action-oriented soccer game, developed by Sensible Software and released by MicroProse Software in 1988. The appeal of MicroProse Soccer was its simplicity and the smooth controls. In the United S...

Rockford: The Arcade Game

DOS1987protected Arcadia Systems

101: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy

Windows XP/98/951998 Empire Interactive

So you think you're ready to storm Normandy? Think again. 101: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy drops you into the chaos of World War II with all the grace of a paratrooper landing in a barn. This is a tactical strategy game that...

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 b...

Settlers of Catan

DOS1998

Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday

DOS1990protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.

In the 25th century, bureaucracy is still awful—but now you also have laser guns. Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday is a surprisingly solid sci-fi RPG that blends space opera drama with crunchy tactical combat. Think Dungeo...

PC-Man

DOS1982remake Orion Software

PC-Man is an abandoned top-down Pac-Man clone in every regard: from the shape of the protagonist, to the cute ghosts. PC-Man was designed by Greg Kuperberg, developed by Orion Software and released in 1982 for DOS. As PC-Man, you ...

Block O Mania

DOS1989 Crystal Shard

Block O Mania is what happens when a Rubik’s Cube and a sliding puzzle fall in love during a rave. Released in 1989 for DOS, this game will twist your brain into shapes it wasn’t designed for. The goal? Push blocks. Lo...

Star Wars: Yoda Stories

Windows XP/98/951997 LucasArts

The Chessmaster 2000

DOS1986 The Software Toolworks

Star Wars 2

DOS1989

Indiana Jones and his Desktop Adventures

Windows 3.xMac OS1996demo LucasArts

Steel Panthers

DOS1995 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.

Steel Panthers is the first game in the Steel Panthers series. It was released in 1995 by Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI). This initial release laid the foundation for the series and introduced players to the turn-based tactical...

Carnage

DOS1993 Warped Minds

The name Carnage says it all—this top-down racer is less about precision driving and more about smashing into your enemies until they resemble digital roadkill. It’s fast, chaotic, and honestly looks like a game a 14-y...

Soko-Ban

DOS1984 ASCII Corporation

Sokoban is a classic puzzle game first released in 1982 by Hiroyuki Imabayashi for the NEC PC-8801 in Japan and later ported to a number of platforms, including DOS, as Soko-Ban. The name "Sokoban" translates to "warehouse keeper"...

Heroes of Might and Magic II

DOSWindows XP/98/951996protected New World Computing

Ys: The Vanished Omens

DOS1989 Nihon Falcom

Welcome to the Ys series, where you swing swords by running headfirst into enemies. The Vanished Omens introduces Adol Christin, red-haired hero extraordinaire, as he embarks on a journey filled with ancient ruins, awkward transla...