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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Panzer General 2

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

Commander Keen 2: The Earth Explodes

DOS1990protected id software

The Chessmaster 2000

DOS1986 The Software Toolworks

Sensible Golf

DOS1994 Sensible Software

Sensible Golf is a golf video game developed by Sensible Software and published by Virgin Interactive Entertainment. It was released in 1994 for Amiga and MS-DOS.Unlike traditional golf simulations of its time, "Sensible Golf" fea...

Operation: Inner Space

Windows 3.x1994protecteddemo Software Dynamics

Dogs of War

Windows XP/98/951996demo Software Engineering

Super Pac-Man

DOS1982 Namco

Capitalism Plus

DOSWindows XP/98/951997protected Enlight Software

Before there was Capitalism 2, there was Capitalism Plus, which basically took the original and added a few bells, whistles, and ways to fail spectacularly. It’s like being handed a multi-billion dollar toy box and told &ldq...

Ski or Die

DOS1990 Electronic Arts

Ski or Die is a winter sports-themed video game that was originally released in 1990 for various platforms, including the Commodore 64, Amiga, and MS-DOS. The game was developed by Electronic Arts and was a follow-up to their earl...

Kasparov's Gambit

DOS1993 Heuristic software

Bombuzal

DOS1989 Image Works

Part puzzle, part platformer, part “what is even happening,” Bombuzal (1989, DOS) is a game where your job is to blow up every bomb on the screen—while not accidentally turning yourself into pixel confetti. Each ...

Pinball Dreams

DOS1993protected Digital Illusions

V for victory: Velikiye Luki

DOS1992protected Atomic Games

Star Control 3

DOS1996protected Legend Entertainment

The Ancient Art of War at Sea

DOS1987 Evryware

Command HQ

DOSMac OS1990 Ozark Softscape

Command HQ was developed by Microplay Software. It was one of the early real-time strategy (RTS) games and focused on global warfare, allowing players to control armies, fleets, and economies in various historical and futuristic s...

The Grandest Fleet

DOS1994 Quantum quality productions

Ogre

DOS1986 Origin Systems

Warlords 3: Reign of Heroes

Windows XP/98/951997 SSG Strategic Studies Group

Warlords 3: Reign of Heroes is an abandoned turn-based fantasy strategy game designed by Steve Fawkner, developed by SSG Strategic Studies Group and released by Red Orb Entertainment in 1997 for Windows. Warlords 3: Reign of Heroe...

Outbound

Windows XP/98/952001freeware

MegaTraveller 2: Quest for the Ancients

DOS1991 Paragon Software

MegaTraveller 2: Quest for the Ancients is the sequel to MegaTraveller 1: The Zhodani Conspiracy. It is a science fiction role-playing game (RPG) released in 1991, developed by Paragon Software. Like its predecessor, MegaTraveller...

Dark Legions

DOS1994protected Silicon Knights

Battle Isle

DOS1991protected Blue Byte Software

Turns out war is a lot tidier when it’s turn-based. Battle Isle (1991) gives you neat little hexagons to move your units on, like a very angry board game. It’s got strategy, sci-fi flair, and just enough AI ruthlessnes...

Commander Keen 1: Marooned on Mars

DOS1990 id software

Commander Keen 1: Marooned on Mars is a platform video game developed by id Software and published by Apogee Software in 1990 as shareware for MS-DOS. The game follows the adventures of an eight-year-old genius named Billy Bl...

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.

Aleshar World of Ice

DOS1997

Aleshar: World of Ice is what happens when someone says, “Let’s make an RPG, but crank the realism to 11.” Set in a cold, brutal land where your sword arm is only as strong as your calorie intake, this 1997 DOS c...

World tour golf

DOS1985 Electronic Arts

007: License to Kill

DOS1989 Quixel

Before James Bond was saving the world with cinematic flair, he was crashing pixelated helicopters in 007: License to Kill. This top-down action game takes the movie and crams it into six bite-sized missions of explosions, awkward...