Abandonware DOS title

The best space simulation games

Space simulation games, as the name suggests, are all about flying a starship in the vastness of space. The gameplay usually involves one or more of the following activities: space combat, space exploration, trading commodities, taking missions, piracy, crafting, mining asteroids, etc. Some of the most popular space sim series are Wing Commander, Elite and X-Wing / Tie Fighter.
wing-commander-3-04

Wing Commander 3

Windows XP/98/95DOSMac OS1994protected Origin Systems
starglider-2-01

Starglider 2

DOSMac OS1989 Argonaut Games
xiphos-02

Xiphos

DOS1990
deepspace-2

Deep space: Operation Copernicus

DOS1986 Lerner Research
In this 1986 DOS game, you're piloting a spacecraft in the year 2123, defending the United Planets from the Andromedan Hegemony. It's like being the captain of a starship, but with...
starfleet1-battle-begins03

Star Fleet 1: The War Begins

DOSMac OS1985 Interstel Corporation
iron-seed-02

Iron Seed

DOS1994freeware
Released in 1994, Iron Seed is a DOS space sim that tried to be both philosophical and technical. You’re leading a fledgling human colony across the stars, tinkering with dip...
bab5-found-her-03

Babylon 5: I've Found Her

Windows XP/98/952003freeware Space Dream Factory
Released in 2003 for Windows XP, Babylon 5: I've Found Her is the kind of fan-made game that makes you question whether it’s actually fan-made or secretly a pilot for a new s...
battlecruiser3000ad-03

Battlecruiser 3000AD

DOSWindows XP/98/951996 Take-Two Interactive
Battlecruiser 3000AD (1996) is less a game and more a test of faith. Ambitious beyond reason, it promised total control of a massive starship—crew management, planetary landi...
line-wars-2-01

LineWars 2

DOS1994 Safari Software
wingcomacademy-3

Wing Commander Academy

DOS1993protected Origin Systems
starglider-1

Starglider

DOS1986 Argonaut Games
iwar-1-02

Independence War

Windows XP/98/951997protected Particle Systems
lightspeed-01

Lightspeed

DOS1990 MicroProse Software
noctis-03

Noctis

DOSWindows XP/98/952000
Noctis is less of a "game" and more of a meditative ritual performed through DOS interface, with fonts so pixelated they might just be ancient runes. You play as a silent explorer ...
starlord-02

Starlord

DOS1987
millennia-3

Millennia: Altered Destinies

DOS1995 Take-Two Interactive
startrekfinalfront-splash

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

DOS1989 Mindscape
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier takes the least-loved movie in the franchise and turns it into a game — which is bold, maybe even illogical. Released in 1989 for DOS, it trie...
space-max-01

Space MAX

DOS1992 Starbyte Software
eye-of-the-storm-04

Eye of the Storm

DOS1993 Rebellion Developments
Released in 1993, Eye of the Storm is an action-oriented game that embraces speed and spectacle. You’re thrust into fast-paced scenarios where reflexes matter more than long-...