The best 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).

Most popular top down games

Dune 2000

strategyWindows XP/98/95

Civilization 2

strategyWindows XP/98/95

Grand Theft Auto 2

action-adventureWindows XP/98/95

Top down games

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Legacy of the Ancients

DOS19893.9/5 Quest Software
Roadwar Europa

DOS1987protected3.9/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Scavengers of the Mutant World

DOS19883.9/5 Interstel Corporation
V for victory: Velikiye Luki

DOS1992protected3.9/5 Atomic Games
Gemfire

DOS19923.9/5 KOEI
Roadwar 2000

DOS1987protected3.9/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Unnatural Selection

DOS19933.9/5 Maxis
Phantasie 1

DOS1987protected3.9/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Grand Monster Slam

DOS19893.9/5 Golden Goblins
Pinball Magic

DOS19903.9/5 Loriciels
Subtrade: Return to Irata

DOS19933.9/5 Century Interactive

Subtrade: Return to Irata is an abandoned science fiction business simulation game developed by Century Interactive and published by Boeder Software in 1993 for Amiga and later ported to DOS. Subtrade is an updated multiplayer clone of the classic M.U.L.E., set underwater on an oceanic world.
Sexy Droids

DOS1992NSFW3.9/5 Eleven Software
Crusade in Europe

DOS19853.9/5 MicroProse Software
Darklands

DOSLinuxWindows XP/98/95Mac1992protected3.9/5 MicroProse Software

Darklands was a unique historical isometric RPG that mixed real historical data from medieval Germany during the 15th century with a touch of folklore and fantasy. Unfortunately it was also the only Microprose RPG of that kind and beauty. The original game box contained a huge manual with info on european folklore (including the live...
J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. II: The Two Towers

DOS19923.9/5 Interplay Productions

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. II: The Two Towers is an abandoned fantasy top-down DOS RPG game set in the The Lord of the Rings universe. The Lord of the Rings II was developed and released by Interplay Productions in 1992. The Lord of the Rings, Vol. II: The Two Towers is based on the popular The Lord Of The Rings book by J.R.R. Tol...
Moria

DOS1992freeware3.9/5
Daemonsgate

Windows XP/98/95DOSLinuxMac1993protected3.9/5 Imagitec Design
Italy 1990

DOS19903.9/5 Tiertex Design Studios
Ascii Sector

WindowsLinuxDOS2007freeware3.9/5
Austerlitz 1805

DOS19893.9/5 Cornerstone Software
Decisive Battles of the American Civil War: Vol. 2

DOS19893.9/5 SSG Strategic Studies Group
La Grande Armee

DOS19913.9/5 SDJ Enterprises
Command & Conquer: Sole Survivor

Windows XP/98/9519973.9/5 Westwood Studios
Major Stryker

DOSWindows XP/98/951993freeware3.9/5 Apogee Software
Sargon V: World Class Chess

DOS19913.9/5 Activision
A Line in the Sand

DOS1992protected3.9/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Adventure Construction Set

DOS19873.9/5 Electronic Arts

Adventure Construction Set is an abandoned application developed by Stuart Smith and published for DOS, Amiga, Apple II and Commodore 64 by Electronic Arts in 1987. As the name suggests, ACS is a game-building system (we're talking about adventure RPGs) that lets you edit maps, items, creatures, etc. Included with ACS is a complete game called...
Action Fighter

DOS19893.9/5 Sega
Arrakis

DOS20003.9/5
Bobby Fisher teaches chess

DOS19943.9/5 Mission Studios