Abandonware strategy games sorted by release date

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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Z

DOS1996protected real-time strategy

Z is a real-time strategy game developed by The Bitmap Brothers and originally released in 1996 for MS-DOS. It's known for its fast-paced gameplay, humorous style, and distinctive art design.In Z, players control a robot army across various battlefields, aiming to conquer territories and defeat enemy forces. The game features a tongue-in-cheek narr...

Age of Empires

Windows XP/98/951997protecteddemo real-time strategy

Age of Empires, published by Microsoft and developed by Ensemble Studios, is one of the most popular historical RTS and started a successful series. The player must guide a civilization from prehistory to the iron age, battling other civilizations, building and gathering resources.

Checkers for Windows

Windows 3.x1997 board game

Combat Chess

Windows XP/98/951997protected chess

Command & Conquer: Sole Survivor

Windows XP/98/951997 real-time strategy

Dark Reign: The Future of War

Windows XP/98/951997protected real-time strategy, real-time tactics

Dungeon Keeper

DOSWindows XP/98/95Mac OS1997protected sandbox strategy, god game, real-time strategy

Dungeon Keeper 2

Windows XP/98/95Mac OS1997protected sandbox strategy, god game, real-time strategy

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

DOS1997 real-time tactics

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 set on the fictional plane of Shandalar. You can play a single-player campaign or simply play duels against computer oppo...

Myth: The Fallen Lords

Windows XP/98/95Mac OS1997 real-time tactics, real-time strategy

NetStorm: Islands at War

Windows XP/98/951997 real-time strategy

Pacific General

Windows XP/98/951997protected wargame, turn-based tactics

Panzer General 2

Windows XP/98/951997protected wargame, turn-based tactics

Steel Panthers 3: Brigade Command - 1939-1999

DOS1997protected wargame, turn-based tactics

Total Annihilation

Windows XP/98/951997protected real-time strategy

Vlad Tepes Dracula

Windows XP/98/951997 real-time strategy, business simulation

Warheads

Windows XP/98/951997 artillery

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 Heroes is part of the Warlords game series and features quite a few multiplayer modes: from LAN to PBEM.

Waterworld

DOS1997 real-time tactics

X-COM: Apocalypse

DOSWindows XP/98/951997protected turn-based tactics

X-COM: Apocalypse is the third installment of the very popular X-COM franchise. After X-COM: Ufo Defence and Terror From the Deep, fans expected another smash hit. Apocalypse is quite different under many aspects, from gameplay to aesthetics. X-COM Apocalypse was designed by Julian Gollop (the same designer that brought the original X-COM to l...

101: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy

Windows XP/98/951998 turn-based tactics

Army Men

Windows XP/98/951998 real-time tactics

Army Men 2

Windows XP/98/951998protected real-time tactics

Axis and Allies

Windows XP/98/951998 board game, wargame

Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines

Windows XP/98/951998protected real-time tactics

Dune 2000

Windows XP/98/951998 real-time strategy

Dune 2000 is an abandoned science fiction classic real-time strategy game based on the popular Dune franchise. The Dune "universe" took form in the books of science fiction writer Frank Herbert and went on to include movies, TV series, comics, and of course video games. Dune 2000 is one of the finest RTS of its era; it was developed by We...