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).
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Fooblitzsky
DOS1986 Infocom
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 States it was known as Keith Van Eron's Pro Soccer.
NFL Football
DOS1992 Distinctive Software
NHL Hockey
DOS1993 Electronic Arts
Othello
DOS1986
Railroad Tycoon Deluxe
DOS1993 MicroProse Software
Sorcerer Lord
DOS1987 Personal Software Services
Soviet
DOS1990 Opera Soft
Stone Age
DOS1992
Uncover It
DOS1994NSFW
Xenon 2000: Project PCF
Windows XP/98/952000remake Bitmap Brothers
Xenon 2000: Project PCF is a vertical-scrolling shoot 'em up video game and originally released in 2000. It is a sequel to the earlier game "Xenon 2: Megablast," which was developed by The Bitmap Brothers and released in 1989.In Xenon 2000, players control a spaceship and engage in fast-paced shooting action as they face off against waves of enemy ...
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.
Indiana Jones and his Desktop Adventures
Windows 3.xMac OS1996demo LucasArts
Cannon Fodder
DOS1994protected Sensible Software
Cannon Fodder, released by Sensible Software in 1993, is a military-themed action game that cleverly blends strategy with real-time tactics. Players control a small squad of soldiers through various missions, facing enemies and obstacles in a top-down perspective. The game's distinctive style is marked by its dark humor and satirical take on war, m...
Conflict in Vietnam
DOS1986 MicroProse Software
Soko-Ban
DOS1984 ASCII Corporation
Princess Maker 2
DOS1993 Gainax
Princess Maker 2 is a life simulation anime-style game developed by Gainax in 1993. In Princess Maker 2, the player is the father of a young princess and must tutor and raise her to the age of 18 by scheduling jobs, school classes and programming other activities. The princess is defined by attributes (strength, cooking, etc.) that will change depe...
Face Off!
DOS1989 MindSpan
Face Off! is an abandoned hockey sports game developed by MindSpan (known for their Hardball series) and released by Gamestar in 1989 for DOS and also for Commodore 64. Face Off supports multiplayer in competitive or cooperative modes.
Total Annihilation
Windows XP/98/951997protected Cavedog Entertainment
High Command: Europe 1939-45
DOS1992 Colorado Computer Creations
Prophecy of the Shadow
DOS1992protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
WinRisk
Windows 3.x1992
SimAnt: The Electronic Ant Colony
DOS1991 Maxis
SimAnt is a life simulation and strategy game developed by Maxis, released in 1991, and part of the "Sim" series. Created by Will Wright, SimAnt focuses on simulating the life of an ant colony. In SimAnt, you play as the black ant colony in a backyard and household environment, competing against the red ants, environmental hazards, and even hu...
Speedball 2
DOS1992 Bitmap Brothers
Frogger
DOS1983 Konami
Command & Conquer
DOS1995freeware Westwood Studios
Epidemic!
DOS1983protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Fields of Glory
DOS1993protected MicroProse Software
Fountain of Dreams
DOS1990 Electronic Arts
Nebulus
DOS1988 Hewson Consultants
Nebulus, also known as Tower Toppler in some regions, is a classic video game released in the 1980s. It was developed by John M. Phillips and published by Hewson Consultants. The game was initially released for various home computer systems, including the Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, and others. It later saw ports to different platforms. Neb...