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.

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Arrakis

DOS2000 real-time strategy

Anacreon: Reconstruction 4021

DOS1987freeware 4x

Anacreon: Reconstruction 4021 is one of the first 4x turn-based strategy games, ASCII based. Anacreon is set in space, as most 4x sci-fi games are, and was published by Thinking Machines Associates and designed by George Moromisato who later re-released the game as freeware.

Betrayal

DOS1990protected kingdom simulation

Chess

DOS1981 chess

Decision at Gettysburg

DOS1990 wargame, turn-based tactics

Heirs to the Throne

DOS1992 kingdom simulation

Midwinter 2: Flames of Freedom

DOS1991

Nobunaga's Ambition 2

DOS1989

Ambush at Sorinor

DOS1993 real-time strategy, real-time tactics

Spy vs Spy 3: Arctic Antics

DOS1988

Risk

Windows 3.x1991 board game

War in Middle Earth

DOS1989 real-time tactics, real-time strategy

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...

Star Fleet 1: The War Begins

DOSMac OS1985 space exploration, space simulation

Star Trek: Birth of the Federation

Windows XP/98/951999 4x

Star Trek: Birth of the Federation is a turn-based strategy video game set in the Star Trek universe. The game was developed by MicroProse Software and published by Infogrames for Windows in 1999. Players take on the role of one of five major Star Trek races: the United Federation of Planets, the Klingon Empire, the Romulan Star Empire, the Ca...

Dune Generations

Windows XP/98/952002canceled real-time strategy

Dune Generations was a canceled 3D MMO strategy game set in the Dune universe that was never published. Dune Generations was in development by Cryo Interactive Entertainment, but it was canceled in 2002 when the company filed for bankruptcy. As of 2002 the game was still in the alpha stage; what's left are some screenshots ...