Abandonware DOS title

The best text-based games

In the past, lots of games used ASCII characters (text) to represent the game world. These text-only video games may seem primitive and outdated and, in fact, the genre almost died with the fast evolving graphics of modern games.
A few genres traditionally linked to the beautiful world of ascii characters still survives: roguelikes (nethack, angband, etc.) and interactive fiction, for example.
president-elect-06

President Elect: 1988 Edition

DOS1987protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
President Elect: 1988 Edition is a political simulation game developed by Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) and released in the mid-1980s. The game simulates U.S. presidential elections and allows players to take on the role of campaign managers in an effort to help their candidate win the election. Players can simulate U.S. presidential elect...
mathcad2-01

Math Cad 2.5

DOS1989
hacker-2-doomsday-papers-3

Hacker 2: The Doomsday Papers

DOS1986 Activision
Hacker II: The Doomsday Papers is a video computer game developed by Steve Cartwright and published by Activision. It was released in 1986 and is a sequel to the original Hacker game. The game was available for various home computer systems of the time, including the Apple II, Commodore 64, and MS-DOS.In Hacker II: The Doomsday Papers, players take...
wishbringer-splash

Wishbringer

DOS1985 Infocom
classic-hangman-05

Classic Hangman

DOS1983 Norland Software
alphaman-02

AlphaMan

DOS1995
Ever wondered what would happen if a roguelike and a B-movie had a radioactive baby? AlphaMan is the answer. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where mutant banana slugs might be your best friend—or your worst enemy—you play a survivor with a bad attitude and worse fashion sense. The goal? Stop the evil Doomsday Bomb. The method? Whatever ...
caves-of-thor-05

Caves of Thor

DOS1989 Apogee Software
freedos-shell-01

FreeDOS Shell

DOS2002freeware
holy-grail-04

Holy Grail

DOS1984
kingdomkroz-splash

Kingdom of Kroz

DOS1988freeware Apogee Software
legend-of-the-red-dragon-04

Legend of the Red Dragon

DOS1989 Robinson Technologies
doslynx-01

Lynx

DOS1992freeware
pac-girl-splash

Pac-girl

DOS1982 Magicom Multimedia
rules-of-engagement-02

Rules of Engagement

DOS1991 Omnitrend Software
scapeghost-1

Scapeghost

DOS1989 Level 9 Computing
starcross-01

Starcross

DOS1982 Infocom
b1nuclear-3

B-1 Nuclear Bomber

DOS1981 Avalon Hill
Ever wanted to be responsible for ending the world in fewer than ten keypresses? B-1 Nuclear Bomber (1981) gives you that chance, wrapping global annihilation in glorious monochrome and a user interface that feels like it was designed during a lunch break. You're the pilot of a strategic bomber, flying missions that are less Top Gun and more Cold W...
dungeons_kroz2_003

Dungeons of Kroz 2

DOS1989 Apogee Software
starsaga-splash

Star Saga: One - Beyond the Boundary

DOS1987 Masterplay Publishing Corporation
monopoly-04

Monopoly

DOS1985
caverns-of-kroz-2

Caverns of Kroz

DOS1989freeware Apogee Software
essex-02

Essex

DOS1985 Synapse Software
newsmaster-01

NewsMaster

DOS1986
silicon-dreams-02

Silicon Dreams

DOS1986 Level 9 Computing
Silicon Dreams by Level 9 Computing is a trilogy of interactive fiction (text adventure) games released in the mid-1980s. The trilogy includes three separate games: Snowball, Return to Eden, and The Worm in Paradise. Each game combines elements of science fiction with puzzle-solving and exploration. All three games are text-based, relying on d...
dungeonkroz-splash

Dungeons of Kroz

DOS1989freeware Apogee Software
javelin-spreadsheet-01

Javelin

DOS1985
amuletyendor-4

Amulet of Yendor

DOS1985 Keypunch Software
Before there were AAA games with 100GB installs, there was Amulet of Yendor, a rogue-like so old-school it might as well come with a floppy disk and a sandwich bag of D&D dice. Your goal? Find the legendary amulet. Your method? Die. A lot. This game is brutal, random, and completely addicting. ASCII graphics give it the visual appeal of a tax f...