The most popular top down games

Top down games were very popular in the 80s and the 90s, when graphic cards were not capable of supporting 3D, and even when 3D started to become popular, 2D games continued to be easier to develop, at least in the infancy of 3D gaming. 2D game offered the player a viewpoint that helped keeping things easily under control (think about top down party-based RPGs or hex-based strategy games).

Sort by:

Pacific General

Windows XP/98/951997protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.

People's General

Windows XP/98/951998protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.

Battle Isle 93: The Moon of Chromos

DOS1993 Blue Byte Software

A game with a name like Battle Isle 93: The Moon of Chromos clearly means business. Released in 1993, it’s an expansion-slash-standalone with new missions, harder AI, and an even more hostile moon. You’ll manage resour...

Tangled Tales

DOS1989 Origin Systems

Highway Hunter

DOS1994 Safari Software

Mad Mix

DOS1988 Topo Soft

Ogre

DOS1986 Origin Systems

Azalta: Cult of the Raven

DOS1996

Azalta: Cult of the Raven is what happens when a lone developer says, “I can make an RPG better than Ultima!” and sort of does. Released in 1996, this DOS dungeon crawler features deep customization, open-ended quests,...

Bravo Romeo Delta

DOS1993

If you ever wanted to simulate being a helicopter pilot without leaving your MS-DOS comfort zone, Bravo Romeo Delta has you covered. This 1993 sim throws acronyms, radar screens, and very pixelated aircraft at you with military gu...

Trivial Pursuit

DOS1989

Trivial Pursuit is a popular trivia board game that was adapted into a computer game for various platforms, including DOS. In the game, players answer trivia questions from various categories in order to collect pie pieces th...

Joan of Arc

DOS1989 Chip

Bubble Trouble

Windows XP/98/951998

Here comes another bubble game—but this one packs a punch. Bubble Trouble is a frantic shoot-’em-up where you pop evil bouncing bubbles before they bounce you out of existence. It’s part arcade mayhem, part refle...

Robot Rascals

DOS1987 Ozark Softscape

The Civil War

DOS1987 Avalon Hill

Color Buster

DOS1992

ICON: Quest for the Ring

DOS1984 Macrocom

Batalia

DOS1986 The Right Brothers

Batalia (1986) is what happens when war games and spreadsheet programs fall in love. This early DOS strategy title throws you into tactical battles with graphics that would struggle to impress a calculator. But don’t be fool...

Block O Mania

DOS1989 Crystal Shard

Block O Mania is what happens when a Rubik’s Cube and a sliding puzzle fall in love during a rave. Released in 1989 for DOS, this game will twist your brain into shapes it wasn’t designed for. The goal? Push blocks. Lo...

Nobunaga's Ambition

DOS1988 KOEI

Chess

DOS1981 International PC Owners

Pac Gal

DOS1982

Storm

DOS1987 Mastertronic

Merchant Prince

DOS1993 Holistic Design

ZZT

DOS1991freeware Epic MegaGames

ZZT (1991, DOS) looks like it was drawn by an enthusiastic ASCII artist with too much time and not enough colors. And yet, it’s brilliant. Part action game, part puzzle adventure, part game creation tool, ZZT is the reason s...

Bobby Fisher teaches chess

DOS1994 Mission Studios

Ever wanted to get chess lessons from a genius who could crush your soul with a bishop and a glare? Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess (1994, DOS) is your chance. Based on the classic book, the game patiently walks you through strategies...