Abandonware DOS title

The best abandonware strategy games

Games based on strategy allow for reasoning and planning of one’s moves and actions. The gameplay may be based on player’s turns (Turn-based Strategy) or it may be in real time (Real-Time Strategy, RTS). These games focus on strategy and tactics rather than action, sometimes with the addition of financial or logistic features.
checkers-for-windows-01

Checkers for Windows

Windows 3.x1997 board game
emperor-fading-suns-04

Emperor of the Fading Suns

Windows XP/98/951996 4x
kingsbounty-1

King's Bounty

DOSMac OS1990 turn-based tactics
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...
starcommand-4

Star Command

DOS1988protected space exploration, turn-based tactics
desert-rats-03

Desert Rats

DOS1986 turn-based tactics, wargame
global-thermo-war-02

Global Thermo War

DOS1985 board game
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4Play

Windows XP/98/95Windows 3.x1995NSFW board game
4Play was a risqué trivia and multi-player board-style game released in the mid-1990s. Designed as a party game, it combined trivia questions, mini-games, and challenges that often leaned toward suggestive or adult themes. It was intended to be played in social settings, often among friends or couples, with the goal of breaking the...
dark-legions-7

Dark Legions

DOS1994protected board game
chess-psion-02

Psion Chess

DOSMac OS1985 chess
combat-chess-02

Combat Chess

Windows XP/98/951997protected chess
over-the-reich-07

Over the Reich

Windows XP/98/95Windows 3.x1996 wargame
cultures1-02

Cultures

Windows XP/98/952000protected sandbox strategy, real-time strategy
ante-up-02

Ante-Up at The Friday Night Poker Club

DOS1990 cards
In Ante-Up at The Friday Night Poker Club, you’re not saving the world or slaying dragons — you’re just trying to win a few bucks from a room full of poker-faced digital strangers. Released in 1990, it’s peak DOS-era card gaming: no frills, no flash, just you, a basic table interface, and a cast of delightfully trash-talking...
bang-bang-04

Bang! Bang!

Windows 3.x1990 artillery
warzone-2100-01

Warzone 2100

Windows XP/98/95LinuxMac OS1999freeware real-time strategy
power-doll-01

Power Dolls

DOS1994 real-time tactics
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Dark Reign: The Future of War

Windows XP/98/951997protected real-time strategy, real-time tactics
laser-squad-07

Laser Squad

DOS1992 turn-based tactics
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.
metal-marines-01

Metal Marines

Windows 3.x1993 turn-based tactics
battle-isle-93-03

Battle Isle 93: The Moon of Chromos

DOS1993 turn-based tactics
carrier-strike-south-pacific-04

Carrier Strike: South Pacific 1942-44

DOS1992protected wargame, turn-based tactics
dominus-03

Dominus

DOS1994 real-time tactics, real-time strategy
v4victory-4

V for Victory: D-day Utah Beach

DOS1991protected wargame, turn-based tactics
battle-for-atlantis-02

Battle for Atlantis

DOS1990 board game
la-grande-armee-03

La Grande Armee

DOS1991 wargame, turn-based tactics
kasparovgambit-3

Kasparov's Gambit

DOS1993 chess