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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Strip Poker Deluxe
DOS1994NSFW cards
Hooligans: Storm Over Europe
Windows XP/98/952002 real-time tactics
Bush Buck: Global Treasure Hunter
DOS1991 board game
If Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego had a caffeinated younger cousin, it would be Bush Buck: Global Treasure Hunter. You race around the globe chasing clues, dodging rivals, and learning just enough geography to impress your ...
Pacific General
Windows XP/98/951997protected wargame, turn-based tactics
Warlords 3: Reign of Heroes
Windows XP/98/951997 4x, wargame
Warlords 3: Reign of Heroes is an abandoned turn-based fantasy strategy game designed by Steve Fawkner, developed by SSG Strategic Studies Group and released by Red Orb Entertainment in 1997 for Windows. Warlords 3: Reign of Heroe...
Waterloo
DOS1989protected turn-based tactics, wargame
L'Empereur
DOS1991 wargame, turn-based tactics
North and South
DOS1990 wargame
Age of Empires
Windows XP/98/951997protecteddemo real-time strategy
Released in 1997, Age of Empires is what happens when ancient history gets drunk and decides to party. You start in the Stone Age, bashing wild boars and clubbing trees, and before you know it, you’re building temples and fl...
Dogs of War
Windows XP/98/951996demo wargame, board game
Black Moon Chronicles
DOS1999protected real-time tactics
Based on a French comic series, Black Moon Chronicles (1999) is what you'd get if a fantasy novel and a real-time strategy game had a slightly awkward baby. The art is dark, the tone is darker, and the gameplay is surprisingly com...
Jagged Alliance: Deadly Games
DOS1996protected turn-based tactics
Birthright: The Gorgon's Alliance
Windows XP/98/951996 board game, kingdom simulation
Ever wanted to manage a kingdom, lead armies, go dungeon-crawling, and attend budget meetings? Birthright: The Gorgon’s Alliance makes all your fantasy micromanagement dreams come true. Released in 1996 for Windows XP (yes, ...
Conflict: Europe
DOS1989 turn-based tactics
Conflict Europe is an abandoned turn-based top-down strategy game set in Europe. The game was developed by Personal Software Services and released by Mirrorsoft in 1989 for DOS, Amiga and Atari ST.
Conflict: Korea
DOS1992protected wargame, turn-based tactics
Chessmaster 9000
Windows XP/98/95Mac OS2002 chess
Chessmaster 9000 is a chess game developed by Ubisoft and released in 2002. It's part of the Chessmaster series, which has been around since the 1980s. Chessmaster 9000 was known for its strong chess engine and comprehensive tutor...
Magic: The Gathering
Windows XP/98/951997 collectible card game, cards
Magic: The Gathering (sometimes also referred as Shandalar) is an abandoned strategy game based on the popular collectible card game Magic: The Gathering, developed and released by MicroProse Software for Windows in 1997. MTG is s...
Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines
Windows XP/98/951998protected real-time tactics
Archon: the Light and the Dark
DOS1984 board game
Before Battle Chess, there was Archon. Imagine a board game where pawns and knights settle disputes not with rules, but with full-on gladiatorial combat. Archon gives you light versus dark, spellcasters versus golems, and battles ...
Mega lo Mania
DOS1992 god game, real-time strategy
Mega lo Mania, also known as Mega-Lo-Mania: The Battle for Elysium in some regions, is a real-time strategy (RTS) video game developed by Sensible Software and published by Image Works. It was originally released in 1991 for vario...
People's General
Windows XP/98/951998protected wargame, turn-based tactics
StarCraft
Windows XP/98/95Mac OS1998protecteddemo real-time strategy
StarCraft is a classic RTS (Real-Time Strategy) game developed by Blizzard Entertainment and released in 1998 for Windows and Macintosh. StarCraft takes the Warcraft experience to a sci-fi setting with an interesting story, three ...
Space Crusade
DOS1992 turn-based tactics
The Settlers
DOS1993protected sandbox strategy, real-time strategy
Axis and Allies: Iron Blitz
Windows XP/98/951999 wargame, board game
Now with 27% more diplomacy and 300% more frustration! Axis and Allies: Iron Blitz (1999) takes everything from the original game and throws in extra scenarios, improved AI, and more ways to accidentally cause a Cold War. Want to ...
Master of Magic
DOSWindows XP/98/951994protected kingdom simulation, 4x
Master of Magic is a turn based 4x strategy game developed by SimTex and published by the well know Microprose, very similar to Civilization, with a fantasy twist. You play as a wizard and your objective is to evolve your race fro...
Clue Master Detective
DOS1989 board game
Clue Master Detective is an abandoned strategy game developed by Dalali Software and released by Leisure Genius in 1989 for DOS, Amiga, Apple II, Atari ST, C64. Clue Master Detective is based on the well known board game Clue (als...
X-COM: Terror from the Deep
DOS1995protected turn-based tactics
X-COM: Terror from the Deep (also known as X-COM 2) is a DOS science fiction tactical strategy game and the sequel to one of the most popular DOS games in history, X-COM: UFO Defense. Terror from the Deep was designed by Step...
Army Men
Windows XP/98/951998 real-time tactics
Army Men lets you live out your childhood fantasy of plastic soldier warfare without the hassle of crawling under the couch. You control Sarge, a green-tinted war machine with a stiff upper lip and an affinity for melting tan enem...
Jagged Alliance
DOS1994protected turn-based tactics