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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Welltris
DOS1989 Sphere
Welltris is a puzzle video game designed by Alexey Pajitnov, the creator of Tetris. Released in 1989, Welltris offers a fresh take on the block-dropping mechanics of Tetris, expanding the gameplay into a 3D environment. Similar to Tetris, geometric pieces fall into the well. However, instead of stacking vertically, the blocks slide down the wa...
Ancient Domains of Mystery (ADOM) v1.1
Windows XP/98/95DOSLinux1996freeware
Rockford: The Arcade Game
DOS1987protected Arcadia Systems
Steel Panthers 3: Brigade Command - 1939-1999
DOS1997protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Bicycle Bridge
DOS1992
Gauntlet
DOS1986 Mindscape
Times of Lore
DOS1989 Origin Systems
Times of Lore is an abandoned action RPG designed by Chris Roberts, developed and released by Origin Systems in 1989 for DOS and many more 8 bit and 16 bit platforms. Compared to Ultima (the much more popular franchise also by Origin) Times of Lore is a washed down RPG, more similar to a NES game. In fact, Roberts was inspired by The Legend of Zelda.
Frogger
DOS1983 Konami
Alien Breed
DOS1993protected Team 17
Dark Sun: Shattered Lands
DOS1993protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Star Control 2
DOS1992protected Toys for Bob
Operation: Inner Space
Windows 3.x1994protecteddemo Software Dynamics
Castle Adventure
DOS1984freeware
IBM 9-Hole Miniature Golf
DOS1983 SoftSide Magazine
Gary Grigsby's War in Russia
DOS1993protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Spy Hunter
DOS1984 Midway Manufacturing Company
Night Mission Pinball
DOS1982 subLOGIC
The Magic Candle 2: The Four and Forty
DOS1991 Mindcraft Software
L'Empereur
DOS1991 KOEI
Aleshar World of Ice
DOS1997
Mech War
DOS1992
Archon: the Light and the Dark
DOS1984 Free Fall Associates
Archon: The Light and the Dark is an abandoned DOS fantasy blend of strategy and action game, developed by Free Fall Associates and published for DOS by Electronic Arts in 1984. Archon and its sequels are a unique mix of chess-like turn-based strategy and arcade action games. Take chess and add the fact that every time two pieces land on the same s...
V for victory: Market-Garden
DOS1993protected Atomic Games
House of Cards
DOS1989
Squarez Deluxe!
DOS1993freeware Adept Software
Birthright: The Gorgon's Alliance
Windows XP/98/951996 Synergistic Software
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 earlier title, "California Games". Ski or Die features a collection of winter sports events: downhill blitz, acro aerials, s...
Pinball Dreams 2
DOS1994protected 21st Century Entertainment
Ambush at Sorinor
DOS1993 Mindcraft Software
Amberstar
DOS1992 Thalion
Amberstar is a fantasy old school RPG very similar to Ultima 6 that uses a top-down view for interiors and small locations and a first person pseudo 3D view for everything else. Unfortunately, the sequel (called Ambermoon) was available for Amiga only and no version existed for DOS or Windows. Amberstar was developed and published by Thalion for DO...