Abandonware DOS title

The most popular 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.
corewar-plus-05

Core War Plus

DOS1984 real-time tactics
blackcrown-2

Black Crown

DOS1995 board game
In Black Crown (1995), you play as a prince with a very punchable name, trying to reclaim his rightful throne by solving puzzles and dying a lot. It's one of those DOS-era games where half the difficulty is figuring out which pixe...
cyrus-04

Cyrus

DOS1985 chess
fort-apache-02

Fort Apache

DOS1992 real-time tactics
frontline-v14-01

Frontline

DOS1990 turn-based tactics, wargame
deadlock-08

Deadlock: Planetary Conquest

Windows XP/98/95Windows 3.x1996protected 4x
blitzardennes-2

Blitzkrieg: Battle at the Ardennes

DOS1990 wargame, turn-based tactics
In Blitzkrieg: Battle at the Ardennes, you’re not just playing a wargame — you’re being handed a clipboard, a stack of orders, and a freezing cold battlefield in 1944. This 1990 DOS title lets you relive one of W...
global-conquest-04

Global Conquest

DOS1992 board game
ums-2-07

UMS 2: Nations at War

DOSMac OS1990 wargame, turn-based tactics
caesars-palace-05

Caesars Palace

DOS1989 cards
More smoke-filled backrooms than a noir film and enough slot machines to trigger déjà vu—Caesars Palace is your low-res Vegas getaway. You're given a pile of chips and left to your vices: blackjack, poker, roul...
ancient-art-war-skies-01

The Ancient Art of War in the Skies

DOS1992 real-time strategy, shoot 'em up
battle-for-normandy-02

Battle for Normandy

DOS1983protected wargame, turn-based tactics
Released in 1983, Battle for Normandy plays less like a game and more like a history book that came alive, donned a helmet, and asked for a coffee. This is wargaming at its purest: grid maps, unit stats, and more abbreviations tha...
heatsink-03

Battleship

DOS1983 board game
Released in 1983, this is your grandpa’s Battleship—minus the plastic pegs, but with all the tension of blind naval warfare. There are no fancy graphics, no Hollywood explosions, just good old-fashioned "Is it a hit?" ...
la-grande-armee-03

La Grande Armee

DOS1991 wargame, turn-based tactics
decision_gettysburg-02

Decision at Gettysburg

DOS1990 wargame, turn-based tactics
pacific-general-03

Pacific General

Windows XP/98/951997protected wargame, turn-based tactics
riders-of-rohan-09

J.R.R. Tolkien's Riders of Rohan

DOS1997 real-time tactics
knights-of-the-desert-03

Knights of the Desert

DOS1983protected wargame, turn-based tactics
action-north-atlantic-02

Action in the North Atlantic

DOS1989 naval simulation
If you’ve ever dreamed of commanding a WWII convoy while cold, stressed, and staring at a pixelated radar screen, Action in the North Atlantic (1989, DOS) has you covered. It’s part strategy, part simulation, and all t...
rings-of-medusa-01

Rings of Medusa

DOS1990 real-time strategy, kingdom simulation
Rings of Medusa is a strategy / RPG developed by the German studio Starbyte Software. It was released in 1989 for various platforms including the Commodore 64, Amiga, and MS-DOS. In Rings of Medusa, players assume the role of...
ufo2000-03

UFO 2000

Windows 10/11Linux2004freeware turn-based tactics
dark-reign-2-06

Dark Reign 2

Windows XP/98/952000protected real-time strategy, real-time tactics
kampfgruppe-05

Kampfgruppe

DOS1987protected turn-based tactics, wargame
super-battleship-03

Super Battleship

DOS1988 board game
4-queens-computer-casino-2

4 Queens Computer Casino

DOS1992 cards
This 1992 casino sim for DOS drops you into the neon-soaked carpet jungle of the Four Queens Hotel in Vegas. There’s no plot, no hero’s journey - just you, a digital bankroll, and the cold, soulless eyes of the slot ma...