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).

Sort by:

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 flying, and questionable hit detection. You’ll drive, swim, fly, and die - a lot. The controls are about as smoot...

Hard Nova

DOS1990 Malibu Interactive

Hard Nova is a sci-fi role-playing game (RPG) developed by Malibu Interactive and published by Electronic Arts. Released in 1990, it is available on platforms such as the DOS, Amiga, Atari ST. Hard Nova is set in a distant future where players navigate through various star systems. The player takes on the role of a mercenary leader in charge of a s...

Bobby Fisher teaches chess

DOS1994 Mission Studios

Lost Adventures of Kroz

DOS1990freeware Apogee Software

Puzznic

DOS1990 Taito

Puzznic is a tile-matching puzzle video game originally developed and published by Taito in 1989 for arcade systems. The goal of Puzznic is to clear a series of levels by aligning matching tiles (blocks) to make them disappear. When two or more identical tiles touch, they vanish. Puzznic was ported to various platforms, including:NES, Gam...

Operation: Inner Space

Windows 3.x1994protecteddemo Software Dynamics

Knights of Legend

DOS1989 Origin Systems

Knights of Legend is a tactical role-playing game (RPG) released by Origin Systems in 1989 for MS-DOS, the Apple II, and the Commodore 64. Known for its complex gameplay and strategic depth, the game provides a turn-based combat experience that requires players to manage characters carefully and strategize battles with attention to detail. Set...

Minesweeper

Windows 3.x1992 Microsoft

Microsoft Minesweeper is an iconic puzzle game that has been included with Microsoft Windows operating systems since Windows 3.1. The game's objective is to clear a rectangular board containing hidden mines without detonating any of them. The player clicks on a square to reveal what's underneath, and numbers are displayed to indicate how many mines...

Gauntlet

DOS1986 Mindscape

Speedball

DOS1988 Bitmap Brothers

Nebulus

DOS1988 Hewson Consultants

Nebulus, also known as Tower Toppler in some regions, is a classic video game released in the 1980s. It was developed by John M. Phillips and published by Hewson Consultants. The game was initially released for various home computer systems, including the Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, and others. It later saw ports to different platforms. Neb...

The Battle of the Bulge: Tigers in the Snow

DOS1982protected Tactical Design Group

Block O Mania

DOS1989 Crystal Shard

Nobunaga's Ambition

DOS1988 KOEI

Star Control

DOS1990protected Toys for Bob

Reunion

DOS1994 Dinamic Multimedia

Pizza Tycoon

Windows XP/98/95DOSLinuxMac OS1994protected Software 2000

War in Middle Earth

DOS1989 Synergistic Software

War in Middle-earth is a real-time strategy game developed by Synergistic Software and published by Melbourne House. It was released in 1988 for various platforms including the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and Amstrad CPC.The game is based on J.R.R. Tolkien's epic fantasy world of Middle-earth, specifically focusing on the events depicted in "The Lor...

Bush Buck: Global Treasure Hunter

DOS1991 Pc globe

Sleuth: A Murder Mystery

DOS1983freeware Norland Software

Blasteroids

DOS1989 Atari

Blasteroids is a video game developed and released by Atari, Inc. in 1987. It's a sequel to the classic arcade game Asteroids, which was released in 1979. In Blasteroids, players control a spaceship tasked with destroying asteroids and enemy ships while avoiding collisions and enemy fire. The game features updated graphics and gameplay mechanics co...