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...
Star Control 2
DOS1992protected Toys for Bob
Kick off 2
DOS1990 Anco Software