The most popular text-based games
In the past, lots of games used ASCII characters (text) to represent the game world. These text-only video games may seem primitive and outdated and, in fact, the genre almost died with the fast evolving graphics of modern games.
A few genres traditionally linked to the beautiful world of ascii characters still survives: roguelikes (nethack, angband, etc.) and interactive fiction, for example.
A few genres traditionally linked to the beautiful world of ascii characters still survives: roguelikes (nethack, angband, etc.) and interactive fiction, for example.
Sort by:
Dragonriders of Pern
DOS1987 Everlasting
Return to Doom
DOS1988 Topologika Software
Brimstone
DOS1985 Synapse Software
Ever wanted to fight fire with... even more fire? Brimstone tosses you into a magical mess of spells, dungeons, and monsters who woke up on the wrong side of the crypt. It’s a 1985 RPG that oozes charm and confusion in equal...
Infidel
DOS1983 Infocom
The Astronomy Quiz
DOS1988 Softdisk Publishing
Corporate Raider: The Pirate of Wall Street
DOS1988protected SoftServ
Caverns of Kroz
DOS1989freeware Apogee Software
Rules of Engagement 2
DOS1993 Omnitrend Software
Boggle
DOS1990 HVB Software
It’s Boggle (1990, DOS), the digital version of everyone’s favorite game where you try to spell long words while your friend keeps shouting “DOG” over and over. The game board is a 4x4 grid of letters, and ...
Farenheit 451
DOS1984 Telarium
Suspended
DOS1983 Infocom
Suspect
DOS1984 Infocom
Global Thermo War
DOS1985
Murder by the Dozen
DOS1983 BrainBank
Armchair Quarterback
DOS1985
Armchair Quarterback lets you live the dream of yelling at your TV — but on your DOS machine, and with even less control. It’s part simulator, part quiz show, and all weird. You make play calls, analyze stats, and pray...
Mindshadow
DOSMac OS1985 Interplay Productions
Norton Commander 1.0
DOS1986 Peter Norton Computing
Norton Commander was a file manager and editor application released by Peter Norton Computing for DOS. Norton Commander used a text-based user interface with side-by-side panels and featured copy, delete, editing and preview ...
Ooze: Creepy Nites
DOS1989 Dragonware Games
Forbidden Castle
DOS1985 Angelsoft
Mindwheel
DOS1985 Synapse Software
NewsMaster
DOS1986
Megapede
DOS1992
Data Perfect 2.6
DOS1993
Einstein Writer 7
DOS1985
Dungeon Master's Assistant Vol 2
DOS1989protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Sleuth: A Murder Mystery
DOS1983freeware Norland Software
Star Saga: One - Beyond the Boundary
DOS1987 Masterplay Publishing Corporation
Monopoly (Adam Stevens)
DOS1998
Time and Magik: The Trilogy
DOS1988 Level 9 Computing
Beast
DOS1984
Beast is ASCII horror at its most gloriously minimal. You’re a brave soul (well, a smiley face) trapped in a dungeon with sentient blobs (the titular beasts) that want you very, very dead. Armed only with moving blocks and r...