Abandonware action games sorted by release date
Action video games are a genre of video games that emphasize physical challenges, hand-eye coordination, and reaction time. These games typically involve fast-paced gameplay, where players control a character who must navigate through a dynamic environment filled with obstacles, enemies, and other challenges. The primary focus is on the player's ability to react quickly and make split-second decisions.
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The Blues Brothers
DOS1991 platform
The Blues Brothers is a platformer that follows the adventures of Jake and Elwood Blues as they try to put their band back together. The player controls one of the Blues Brothers through various levels, each filled with obstacles, enemies, and puzzles. The ultimate goal is to collect musical notes and instruments to assemble the band. develope...
The Lost Patrol
DOS1991 shooting gallery
The Lost Patrol is an abandoned multi-type action game set in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam war. The Lost Patrol was developed by Astros Productions (DOS version) and released by Ocean Software in 1991 for DOS, Amiga and Atari ST.
The Neverending Story 2: The Arcade Game
DOS1991 platform
The Rocketeer
DOS1991 racing: unusual vehicles, shoot 'em up
The Simpsons
DOS1991 beat 'em up
The Simpsons Arcade Game, developed and published by Konami, is a classic side-scrolling beat-'em-up that became highly popular in arcades during the early '90s. Players take on the roles of the Simpson family members: Homer, Marge, Bart, and Lisa. Players navigate through levels filled with enemies, rescuing Maggie, who has been kidnappe...
Tristan Pinball
DOS1991 pinball
Volfied
DOS1991
Volfied is an arcade game developed and released by Taito Corporation in 1989. It's a puzzle game that gained popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The game is named after the fictional planet "Volfied", where the gameplay is set.In Volfied, players control a small spaceship called "Challenger" and must eliminate 80% or more of the playfiel...
Wreckers
DOS1991
ZZT
DOS1991freeware maze, action puzzle
ZZT (1991, DOS) looks like it was drawn by an enthusiastic ASCII artist with too much time and not enough colors. And yet, it’s brilliant. Part action game, part puzzle adventure, part game creation tool, ZZT is the reason some people grew up to become game developers instead of astronauts. Built by a teenage Tim Sweeney (yes, the Unreal Engi...
Aquanoid
DOS1992remake block breaker
Aquanoid (1992) takes the classic Breakout formula and throws it underwater, because bricks are apparently much more intimidating when they're wet. You control a paddle, you bounce a ball, you try to pretend you're not just playing a glorified version of Pong with a marine biology twist. Bonus points for the soundtrack, which sounds like a Casio ke...
Barbie
DOS1992 platform
Released in 1992, Barbie for DOS is what happens when someone asks, “What if pink could be a video game?” You play as Barbie on a quest to collect accessories and win Ken's affection, which probably says more about early '90s gender norms than we’d like to admit. Still, the music is bubbly, the visuals are sparkly, and the fashion...
Batman Returns
DOS1992 beat 'em up
Just like the movie, Batman Returns (1992) is dark, gritty, and full of dudes in clown makeup getting punched in the face. You play as the Caped Crusader in a beat-‘em-up side-scroller that delivers satisfying combos and a surprising amount of bleak holiday cheer. It’s Gotham at its weirdest, Tim Burton style. One moment you’re sw...
Bomberman
DOS1992 maze
It’s Bomberman (1992, DOS), the legendary bomb-dropping game where you play a suspiciously cute guy with an infinite bomb supply and questionable indoor safety habits. You move through grid-like mazes, drop bombs, destroy walls, and try not to blow yourself up (spoiler: you will). It’s simple, it’s brilliant, and it’ll ruin ...
CD-Man v2.0
DOS1992 maze
Clyde's Adventure
DOS1992freeware platform, action puzzle
Commander Keen: Keen Dreams
DOS1992 platform
Cosmo's Cosmic Adventures
DOS1992protected platform
Demon Blue
DOS1992 platform
Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stone
DOS1992 beat 'em up
Electroman
DOS1992freeware platform, run and gun
First Samurai
DOS1992 platform
First Samurai is a classic action-platformer game originally released in 1991. The game was initially available on the Amiga and Atari ST, with later ports to the Commodore 64, DOS, and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). The game follows the journey of a samurai warrior, simply known as the "First Samurai", who seeks revenge against t...
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
DOS1992 platform
Jill of the Jungle
DOS1992 platform
Jill of the Jungle 2: Jill Goes Underground
DOS1992 platform
Jill of the Jungle 3: Jill Saves the Prince
DOS1992 platform
Luigi and Spaghetti
DOS1992 platform
Magic Pockets
DOS1992 platform
Magic Pockets is a platform game developed by The Bitmap Brothers and published by Renegade Software. It was released in 1991 for the Atari ST, Amiga, and MS-DOS platforms. In Magic Pockets, players control a character known as the Bitmap Kid, who possesses magical pockets that can produce a variety of useful items. The game is a side-scrollin...
Manhole
DOS1992
McDonald Land
DOS1992 platform