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).

Most popular top down games

Dune 2000

strategyWindows XP/98/95

Civilization 2

strategyWindows XP/98/95

Grand Theft Auto 2

action-adventureWindows XP/98/95

Top down games

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Soko-Ban

DOS19844.1/5 ASCII Corporation
Bomberman

DOS19924.1/5 Hudson soft
Gal Pani X

Windows XP/98/952000freewareNSFW4.1/5

Gal Pani X is an action-puzzle game reminiscent of the classic arcade Qix, developed by D2 and released in 2000 for Windows. Gal Pani X is an adult-themed Doujin game: it was made by fans and wasn't for profit.
Death Rally

DOS1996freeware4.1/5 Remedy Entertainment Ltd.
Uncharted Waters

DOS19904.1/5 KOEI
Tristan Pinball

DOS19914.1/5 Littlewing
Stone Age

DOS19924.1/5
Frogger

DOS19834.1/5 Konami
Sherlock: The Game of Logic

DOS1991protected4.1/5 Everett Kaser Software
Indiana Jones and his Desktop Adventures

Windows 3.xMac19964.1/5 LucasArts
Azalta: Cult of the Raven

DOS19964.1/5
Mine Shaft

DOS19834.1/5 Sierra On-Line
No Greater Glory

DOSMac1991protected4.1/5
Ultima 7 Part 2: Serpent Isle

DOS19934.1/5 Origin Systems

After the well received Ultima 7 The Black Gate, Origin decided that their Ultima engine could be used for one more game. Ultima 7 Part 2: Serpent Isle begins right after The Black Gate ends. This time the Avatar travels to a whole new land, far away from the usual Britannia. Serpent Isle brings its own charm to the series; exploring new lands...
TV Sports: Basketball

DOS1990freeware4.1/5 Cinemaware
SimFarm

DOS19934.1/5 Maxis
Total Annihilation Kingdoms

Windows XP/98/951999protected4.1/5 Cavedog Entertainment
V for victory: Gold-Juno-Sword

DOS1993protected4.1/5 Atomic Games
Ultima 1: The First Age of Darkness

DOS19874.1/5 Origin Systems

This is the first of the very popular RPG saga Ultima. The setting is the land of Sosaria, the enemy to defeat is Mondain. It's a classic cRPG. The wilderness and cities are represented from a top down perspective, while dungeons can be explored in a first person 3d view.
Army Men 2

Windows XP/98/951998protected4.1/5 The 3DO Company
Dark Sun: Shattered Lands

DOS1993protected4.1/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
J.R.R. Tolkien's Riders of Rohan

DOS19974.1/5 Papyrus Design Group
Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament

DOS19954.1/5 Supersonic Software
Phantasie 3: The Wrath of Nikademus

DOS19874.1/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
The Magic Candle

DOS19894.1/5 Mindcraft Software

The Magic Candle: Volume 1 is the first chapter of a series of fantasy old school RPGs. The Magic Candle was developed and released by Mindcraft Software in 1989 for DOS but was also published for Apple II and Commodore 64. The whole Magic Candle series is very similar to some of the early Ultima games in every aspect: turn-based combat, top-down v...
Wild West World

DOS19914.1/5 Software 2000
Gauntlet 2

DOS19894.1/5 Atari
Qix

DOS19894.1/5 Taito
BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception

DOS19884.1/5 Westwood Studios
Fields of Glory

DOS1993protected4.1/5 MicroProse Software