Abandonware DOS title

Shareware: a business model sorted by release date

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.

squarez-deluxe-04

Squarez Deluxe!

DOS1993freeware Adept Software
xargon-sh-03

Xargon

DOS1993freeware Epic MegaGames
antattack-splash

Ant Attack!

DOS1994freeware Dataware
astrofire-3

Astro Fire

DOS1994freewareremake ORT Software
blake-stone-planet-strike-05

Blake Stone 2: Planet Strike

DOS1994protected JAM Productions
boppin-4

Boppin

DOS1994freeware Accursed Toys
champ-ms-pacman-05

CHAMP Ms. Pac-man

DOS1994remake ChamProgramming corp.
flying-tigers-1-03

Flying Tigers

DOS1994 Ticsoft
Flying Tigers is an abandoned vertical-scrolling sci-fi themed shoot 'em up game developed and released by Ticsoft in 1994 for MS-DOS only. Flying Tigers is the first chapter of the two parts Flying Tigers video game series.
flying-tigers-2-04

Flying Tigers 2

DOS1994
heretic-1

Heretic

DOS1994protecteddemo Raven Software
hocuspocus-splash

Hocus Pocus

DOS1994protected Apogee Software
drriptide-splash

In Search of Dr. Riptide

DOS1994 MindStorm Software
jazzjackrabbit-7

Jazz Jackrabbit

DOS1994protected Epic MegaGames
jazz-jackrabbit-holiday-hare-06

Jazz Jackrabbit Holiday Hare

DOS1994protected Epic MegaGames
line-wars-2-01

LineWars 2

DOS1994 Safari Software
nitemare-3d-02

Nitemare 3D

DOSWindows 3.x1994protected Gray Design Associates
Nitemare 3D is a first-person shooter video game developed and published by David P. Gray under the Gray Design Associates label. It was released in 1994 as a follow-up to the earlier adventure games in the "Hugo" series. The protagonist, Hugo, embarks on a mission to rescue his girlfriend, Penelope, who has been kidnapped by the evil Dr. Hame...
onemustfall2097-2

One Must Fall 2097

DOS1994freeware Diversions Entertainment
One Must Fall: 2097 is a fighting game released in 1994 by Epic MegaGames. Set in a futuristic world, the game features giant humanoid robots known as HARs (Human-Assisted Robots) controlled by human pilots. The storyline revolves around a tournament organized by the multinational corporation WAR (World Aeronautics and Robotics), where pilots compe...
raptor-1

Raptor: Call of the Shadows

DOSWindows XP/98/95Mac OS1994protecteddemo Cygnus Studios
Raptor: 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...
riseofthetriad-splash

Rise of the Triad: Dark War

DOS1994protected Apogee Software
skyroads-xmas-03

Skyroads: Xmas Special

DOS1994freeware Bluemoon Interactive
aethra_game_006

The Aethra Chronicles

DOS1994
The Aethra Chronicles is not a well know fantasy RPG, but it deserves some praise. It was developed by only one person (Micheal Lawrence) and, as the title implies, was intended to be the first volume of a saga. Unfortunately, volume two and three were never made. For a shareware game, Aethra was pretty solid and is still loved by the ones who play...
trafficdepartment-4

Traffic department 2192

DOS1994freeware P Squared
tubular-worlds-04

Tubular Worlds

DOS1994
xatax-splash

Xatax

DOS1994 Pixel Painters Corporation
abuse-05

Abuse

DOSLinuxMac OS1995freeware Crack dot Com
ackack-attack-03

Ack-Ack Attack!

DOS1995remake PLBM Games
alphaman-02

AlphaMan

DOS1995
clyde-revenge-04

Clyde's Revenge

DOS1995freeware Moonlite Software