The best turn based games
In direct contrast with real-time games, turn-based games gameplay is based on the players taking turns to do what needs to be done: move in a dungeon, play cards, attack enemy units.
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Minesweeper
Windows 3.x1992 Microsoft
Microsoft Minesweeper is an iconic puzzle game that has been included with Microsoft Windows operating systems since Windows 3.1. The game's objective is to clear a rectangular board containing hidden mines without detonating any ...
UnReal World v. 3.20
Windows XP/98/95Mac OS1992freeware
Ragnarok
DOS1993freeware Gray Design Associates
Cave Wars
DOS1996
Exile: Escape from the Pit
Windows XP/98/95Mac OSWindows 3.x1995freeware Spiderweb Software
Exile: Escape from the Pit is a turn-based role-playing game (RPG) developed by Spiderweb Software. It is part of the Exile series, originally released in the mid-1990s. This game was later remade and re-released as Avernum: Escap...
The Temple of Elemental Evil
Windows XP/98/952003protected Troika Games
The Temple of Elemental Evil is a computer role-playing game (CRPG) released in 2003 by Troika Games and published by Atari. The game is set in the World of Greyhawk, one of D&D's most famous campaign settings. The story ...
Steel Panthers 3: Brigade Command - 1939-1999
DOS1997protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Gary Grigsby's Pacific War
DOS1992protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Patton vs. Rommel
DOS1987 Electronic Arts
Romance of the Three Kingdoms 3: Dragon of Destiny
DOS1993 KOEI
Galaxy
DOS1981 Microcomputer Games Inc.
Ultimate Soccer Manager 2
DOSWindows 3.x1996 Impressions Games
BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception
DOS1988 Westwood Studios
Released in 1988, BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception is part RPG, part strategy, part “did I just die in the tutorial again?” You’re a young MechWarrior on the run, assembling allies and blowing stuff up w...
Death Knights of Krynn
DOS1991protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire
DOS1990freeware Origin Systems
After the success of Ultima 6: The False Prophet, Origin decided to "create worlds" not part of the popular Ultima series (strictly speaking) using the same engine of Ultima 6. They came up with two games: The Savage Empire and Ma...
Bobby Fisher teaches chess
DOS1994 Mission Studios
Ever wanted to get chess lessons from a genius who could crush your soul with a bishop and a glare? Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess (1994, DOS) is your chance. Based on the classic book, the game patiently walks you through strategies...
John Madden Football
DOS1989 Electronic Arts
John Madden Football was the first of a series of american football sports games sponsored by the coach of the same name. The first John Madden Football is an abandoned game developed and released by Electronic Arts in 1988 for Ap...
Whale's Voyage
DOS1993 neo Software Produktions
Whale's Voyage is an abandoned science fiction first-person view party-based RPG, developed by neo Software Produktions and released by Pro One Software in 1993. Whale's Voyage is currently abandonware and it was published for PC ...
Monopoly Deluxe
DOSWindows 3.x1992 Parker Brothers
Monopoly Deluxe is an abandoned turn-based top-down Monopoly adaptation of the classic board game, developed by Parker Brothers and released by Virgin Interactive in 1992. Monopoly Deluxe was published for DOS, Windows 3.1, ...
Jones in the Fast Lane
DOS1991 Sierra On-Line
Jones in the Fast Lane is the kind of game that you don't see often these days. It's a mix between a digital board game and a modern day life simulation. The goal of the game is to live the life of Jones, making choices about scho...
Warheads
Windows XP/98/951997
Cover Girl Strip Poker
DOS1991NSFW Emotional Pictures
10th Frame
DOS1987 Access Software
Time to hit the lanes in 10th Frame, a bowling simulator so committed to realism it even simulates the wait between turns. You line up your shot, set your spin, and pray the ancient gods of DOS let your pixel ball behave. The grap...
Alpha Centauri
Windows XP/98/95Mac OS1999protected Firaxis Games
Sid Meier took one look at Earth and said, “Let’s leave this dump.” Thus, Alpha Centauri (1999, Windows XP) was born - a 4X strategy game that takes Civilization to space, then adds philosophy, moral dilemmas, an...
Arcade Trivia Quiz
DOS1993
Think you're smart? Arcade Trivia Quiz (1993) is here to humble you with rapid-fire questions about pop culture, history, and whatever else the developers could fit on a floppy disk. It’s like playing Jeopardy! with a host w...
Buck Rogers: Matrix Cubed
DOS1992protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
This sequel takes the same D&D-in-space formula and tries to go bigger, bolder, and... okay, maybe just more complicated. Buck Rogers: Matrix Cubed continues the galactic struggle with improved combat depth and a slightly mess...
Chess88
DOS1984
Conflict
DOS1990 Mastertronic
Dark Designs 2: Closing the Gate
DOS1990 Softdisk Publishing
Empire Deluxe
DOSWindows 3.x1993 White Wolf Productions
Empire Deluxe is a classic turn-based strategy game that was originally released in the early 1990s. Developed by Mark Baldwin and Bob Rakowsky of White Wolf Productions and published by New World Computing, it is a successor...