The most popular 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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Bad Blood

DOS1990 Origin Systems

BattleTech: The Crescent Hawks' Revenge

DOS1990 Westwood Studios

BattleTech: The Crescent Hawks' Revenge is a turn-based strategy game developed by Westwood Associates and published by Infocom in 1990. It is the sequel to "Crescent Hawk's Inception" and is set in the BattleTech universe, a fictional universe where noble houses and mercenary groups vie for power using giant robotic vehicles known as BattleMe...

Master of Orion 3

Windows XP/98/95Mac OS2003protected Quicksilver Software

Fidelity Chessmaster 2100

DOS1989 The Software Toolworks

Skullduggery: Adventures in Horror

DOS1986

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...

Panzer General 2

Windows XP/98/951997protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.

Ground Control

Windows XP/98/952000protected Massive Entertainment

Ground Control is a strategy game developed by Massive Entertainment and released by Sierra On-Line in 2000. More precisely Ground Control is a real time tactical game with a sci-fi setting.

Spy Hunter

DOS1984 Midway Manufacturing Company

Laser Squad

DOS1992 Target Games Limited

Laser Squad is an abandoned turn-based strategy/tactical game designed by Julian Gollop (the mind behind the X-COM series). Laser Squad was developed by Target Games Limited and released by MicroLeague Multimedia in 1992 for DOS and other 8-bit systems. Laser Squad is considered as a precursor of X-COM: Ufo Defense.

Clash of Steel

DOS1993protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.

Arrakis

DOS2000

Puzznic

DOS1990 Taito

King's Bounty

DOSMac OS1990 New World Computing

King’s Bounty is a turn-based strategy game with RPG elements, originally released in 1990 by New World Computing. It was created by Jon Van Caneghem, also known for the Might and Magic series. This game is often regarded as the precursor to the Heroes of Might and Magic series, which shares many of its core mechanics and concepts. In Ki...

The Magic Candle 2: The Four and Forty

DOS1991 Mindcraft Software

Capitalism Plus

DOSWindows XP/98/951997protected Enlight Software

AlphaMan

DOS1995

Conquest of Japan

DOS1992 Impressions Games

Settlers of Catan

DOS1998

Atomix

DOS1990 Softtouch

Dark Sun 2: Wake of the Ravager

DOS1994protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.

Warlords

DOS1990 SSG Strategic Studies Group

Hexxagon

DOS1993 Argo Games

ZAngband

Windows 10/11Mac OSDOSLinux1999freeware

Zangband is a variant of the popular roguelike game Angband. Zangband, short for Zelazny Angband, was developed by Chris Weisiger and first released in 1994. The game features a fantasy world with diverse races, classes, and monsters. Players explore dungeons, caves, and other environments in a quest to reach the bottom level of the dungeon, d...

Knights of Legend

DOS1989 Origin Systems

Knights of Legend is a tactical role-playing game (RPG) released by Origin Systems in 1989 for MS-DOS, the Apple II, and the Commodore 64. Known for its complex gameplay and strategic depth, the game provides a turn-based combat experience that requires players to manage characters carefully and strategize battles with attention to detail. Set...