Top-down perspective sorted by release date

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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Kaiser

DOS19923.9/5
Laser Squad

DOS19924/5 Target Games Limited

Laser Squad is an abandoned turn-based strategy/tactical game designed by Julian Gollop (the mind behind the X-COM series). Laser Squad was developed by Target Games Limited and released by MicroLeague Multimedia in 1992 for DOS and other 8-bit systems. Laser Squad is considered as a precursor of X-COM: Ufo Defense.
Liverpool: the Computer Game

DOS19923.3/5 Arc Developments
Llamatron 2112

DOS19923.8/5 Llamasoft
Locomotion

DOS19924.2/5 Prestige Softwareentwicklung
Mech War

DOS19924/5
Mega lo Mania

DOS19924.2/5 Sensible Software
Minesweeper

Windows 3.x19924.1/5 Microsoft
Monopoly Deluxe

DOSWindows 3.x19924/5 Parker Brothers

Monopoly Deluxe is an abandoned turn-based top-down Monopoly adaptation of the classic board game, developed by Parker Brothers and released by Virgin Interactive in 1992. Monopoly Deluxe was published for DOS, Windows 3.1, and Macintosh.
Moria

DOS1992freeware3.9/5
NFL Football

DOS19924/5 Distinctive Software
OverKill

DOS1992freeware3.9/5 Tech-Noir
Oxyd

DOS19924/5 Dongleware
Prophecy of the Shadow

DOS1992protected4.1/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Rampart

DOS19924/5 Atari

Rampart is an abandoned mix of strategy and shooter game designed by Dave Ralston and John Salwitz, developed by Atari and released by Electronic Arts in 1992 for DOS. Rampart was converted from the original arcade version to a number of platforms, including Amiga, Atari ST, C64, Game Boy, Genesis, Lynx, NES, SEGA Master System, SNES. Rampart is a ...
Scrabble

DOS19923.2/5 U.S. Gold
Sensible Soccer

DOS19924.2/5 Sensible Software
Sexy Droids

DOS1992NSFW3.9/5 Eleven Software
Siege

DOS19923.9/5 Mindcraft Software
SimLife

DOSMacWindows 3.x19924/5 Maxis

SimLife is an abandoned simulation game focused on managing a ecosystems and experimenting with genetics. SimLife was designed by Ken Karakotsios, developed and released by Maxis in 1992 for DOS and later also published for Macintosh, Amiga, Windows 3.x and Amiga.
Solar hockey league

DOS19923.5/5 Bethesda Softworks
Space Crusade

DOS19924.2/5 Gremlin Graphics / Gremlin Interactive
Speedball 2

DOS19924.1/5 Bitmap Brothers
Star Control 2

DOS1992protected4.2/5 Toys for Bob
Stone Age

DOS19924.1/5
Super ZZT

DOS19923.3/5 Epic MegaGames
Swap

DOS19923.5/5 Microids
Sword Quest 1: The Search

DOS19923/5
The Ancient Art of War in the Skies

DOS19923.7/5 Evryware
The Magic Candle 3

DOS19924/5 Mindcraft Software