Abandonware DOS title

Text-based games: ASCII, etc. sorted by release date

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 These text-only video games may seem primitive and outdated and, in fact, the genre almost died with the fast evolving graphics of modern games.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.
dmassistant2-splash

Dungeon Master's Assistant Vol 2

DOS1989protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
dungeonkroz-splash

Dungeons of Kroz

DOS1989freeware Apogee Software
dungeons_kroz2_003

Dungeons of Kroz 2

DOS1989 Apogee Software
grand-prix-hole-03

Grand Prix

DOS1989 Wizard Games
js-shogun-02

James Clavell's Shogun

DOS1989 Infocom
James Clavell's Shogun, a text adventure game developed by Infocom and released in 1989. Infocom was known for its interactive fiction games, and "James Clavell's Shogun" was one of its later releases.This text adventure game is based on James Clavell's novel "Shogun" and follows the story of John Blackthorne, an English navigator who becomes invol...
legend-of-the-red-dragon-04

Legend of the Red Dragon

DOS1989 Robinson Technologies
mathcad2-01

Math Cad 2.5

DOS1989
meteors-05

Meteors

DOS1989 Apogee Software
myth-ms-02

Myth

DOS1989 Magnetic Scrolls
ooze-01

Ooze: Creepy Nites

DOS1989 Dragonware Games
pkunzip-splash

PKzip

DOS1989protected PKware
rockstar-splash

Rockstar!

DOS1989 Wizard Games
scapeghost-1

Scapeghost

DOS1989 Level 9 Computing
search-titanic-02

Search for the Titanic

DOS1989protected IntraCorp
starfleet2-krellan-01

Star Fleet 2: Krellan Commander

DOS1989 Interstel Corporation
star-saga-2-1

Star Saga: Two - The Clathran Menace

DOS1989 Masterplay Publishing Corporation
foolserrand-2

The Fool's Errand

DOS1989freeware Synergistic Software
The Fool's Errand is a puzzle-adventure computer game created by Cliff Johnson and released in 1987 for Macintosh and later for MS-DOS. The game follows the journey of a nameless fool through a magical land inspired by Tarot cards. The story is whimsical and surreal, presented as a series of interconnected chapters that blend fairytale-like st...
usurper-splash

The Usurper

DOS1989 Sir-tech Software
tasm-02

Turbo Assembler (TASM)

DOSWindows XP/98/951989 Borland Software Corporation
Turbo Assembler and Tools 5.0, often referred to as TASM, is an x86 assembler for MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows. As a key component of Borland's suite of development tools, TASM was packaged alongside Turbo Debugger (TD), forming the Turbo Assembler/Turbo Debugger (TASM/TD) bundle. Turbo Assembler was favored for its speed and compatibilit...
word-perfect-5-02

Word Perfect 5

DOS1989 Corel
arj-1

Arj

DOS1990
ARJ is a file compression utility and file format created by Robert K. Jung. The name "ARJ" stands for "Archived by Robert Jung." It was popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a compression tool for MS-DOS and other systems. ARJ offered high compression ratios and various features, such as archive encryption and error recovery.
at-the-carnival-06

At the Carnival

DOS1990freeware
Step right up to At the Carnival (1990), a puzzle game that mixes traditional brain-teasers with the kind of carnival theming that makes you question whether the developers had ever actually been to one. Brought to you by Cliff Johnson, the mad genius behind The Fool’s Errand, this title blends wordplay, riddles, and visual puzzles in a delig...
boggle-01

Boggle

DOS1990 HVB Software
It’s Boggle (1990, DOS), the digital version of everyone’s favorite game where you try to spell long words while your friend keeps shouting “DOG” over and over. The game board is a 4x4 grid of letters, and your job is to find as many words as you can before the timer runs out—or your brain melts, whichever comes first....
cascade-01

Cascade

DOS1990 PC Solutions
checkit-3-02

CheckIt 3

DOS1990
gumboots-australia-02

Gumboots Australia

DOS1990 Reckon Software
hockey-league-simulator-03

Hockey League Simulator

DOS1990 Bethesda Softworks
kingdom-of-kroz-2-splash

Kingdom of Kroz 2

DOS1990 Apogee Software