Shareware: a business model
Shareware is a type of software distribution model that allows users to try a program before purchasing it. It's a marketing strategy and distribution method that was particularly popular in the early days of personal computing, primarily during the 1980s and 1990s.
Shareware games were released for free with limited functionality (for example: no saving, missing levels, time limit), often via a BBS (Bulletin Board System), a floppy disc or a CD included in a printed magazine or by direct download (when internet was in its infancy). If the user liked the shareware product, they could pay to obtain an upgrade and unlock the full game. When digital distribution started to become popular, shareware games slowly faded into oblivion.
Recently added and trending shareware games
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DOS19913.5/5 Moraffware -
DOS1992remake3.8/5 Argo Games -
DOS1994freeware4.1/5 Diversions Entertainment -
DOS19923.8/5 New Era SoftwareOne-Nil Soccer Manager is a text-based soccer management simulation game that was popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was developed for various home computer systems, including DOS, Commodore 64 and Amiga. In One-Nil Soccer Manager, players take on the role of a soccer team manager, making strategic decisions to guide their team to s...
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DOS19864.1/5 -
DOS1992freeware4/5 Tech-Noir -
DOS19904.1/5 Micro F/X Software -
DOSWindows XP/98/951996protected4.3/5 id softwareQuake is a real-time 3D FPS developed by idSoftware and a spiritual successor to the popular Doom series. Quake became very popular and spawned many sequels and fan made mods such as Team Fortress.
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DOS19954.1/5 -
DOSWindows XP/98/95Mac1994protecteddemo4.1/5 Cygnus StudiosRaptor: Call of the Shadows is a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up video game developed by Cygnus Studios and published by Apogee Software. The game was first released in 1994 for MS-DOS and later ported to other platforms. In Raptor, players control a fighter jet through various levels filled with enemy aircraft, ground targets, power-ups and boss...
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DOS19934/5 Frontline Software -
DOS19933.3/5 ImagiSoft -
DOS1990freeware3.1/5 Apogee Software -
DOS1994protected3.9/5 Apogee Software -
DOS19833.8/5 Williams Entertainment -
DOS19894/5 Wizard Games -
DOS19862.7/5 -
Windows XP/98/95DOSLinux1993freeware3.6/5 Panda Entertainment Technology Co. -
DOS1991protected4.1/5 -
DOS1992protected3.9/5 Apogee Software -
DOS19963.8/5 PhreAk Software -
DOS19964.2/5 Safari SoftwareSeek and Destroy was a shoot'em up published by the well known Epic Megagames in 1996 that tried to change the usual shoot'em up gameplay for the better. Instead of wave after wave of enemies to shoot down, you are given short missions to accomplish with your helicopter or your tank (yes, you can choose). At first, missions could seem a bit repetit...
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DOS1997protected3.9/5 3d Realms -
DOS1991protected4.1/5 Everett Kaser Software -
DOS19903.7/5 Arcanum Computing -
DOS1993freeware4.2/5 Bluemoon Interactive -
DOS1994freeware3.4/5 Bluemoon Interactive -
DOS19934.1/5 -
DOSWindows XP/98/95Mac1996freeware3.8/5 -
DOS1981freewareNSFW4/5 Sierra On-Line