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).

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Epic Pinball

DOSMac OS1993protected Digital Extremes

EGA-Roids

DOS1986freewareremake Designer Software

Cosmic Crusader

DOS1982 Funatics Software

Frogger Jr.

DOS1984

Hard Nova

DOS1990 Malibu Interactive

Hard Nova is a sci-fi role-playing game (RPG) developed by Malibu Interactive and published by Electronic Arts. Released in 1990, it is available on platforms such as the DOS, Amiga, Atari ST. Hard Nova is set in a distant future where players navigate through various star systems. The player takes on the role of a mercenary leader in charge of a s...

Crossfire

DOS1982 Sierra On-Line

Pinball Magic

DOS1990 Loriciels

Ant Attack!

DOS1994freeware Dataware

Released in 1994 (long after it originally debuted on other platforms), Ant Attack! is what you get when you mix isometric graphics, giant ants, and questionable urban planning. You play a brave soul navigating a crumbling city to rescue someone — while being constantly menaced by mutant ants the size of Volkswagens. It’s surprisingly t...

Decision in the Desert

DOS1985 MicroProse Software

Gengis Khan

DOS1989 KOEI

Akalabeth: World of Doom

DOS1981freeware California Pacific Computer

Ah yes, the game that crawled so Ultima could run. Akalabeth is a wireframe dungeon crawl where you descend into monster-infested labyrinths with the elegance of a lost spreadsheet. The graphics are so old school they could legally collect retirement. You pick a class, fight enemies like "rotworms" and "skeletons," and try not to die of confusion. ...

Mines of Titan

DOS1989 Westwood Studios

Mines of Titan (also known as Mars Saga for other platforms) is an abandoned single-player RPG with a sci-fi setting (you're going to Mars!). Mines of Titan was developed by Westwood Studios and released by Infocom in 1989 for DOS, Apple II and Commodore 64.

AlphaMan

DOS1995

Ever wondered what would happen if a roguelike and a B-movie had a radioactive baby? AlphaMan is the answer. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where mutant banana slugs might be your best friend—or your worst enemy—you play a survivor with a bad attitude and worse fashion sense. The goal? Stop the evil Doomsday Bomb. The method? Whatever ...

Battle of Antietam

DOS1985protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.

Civil War buffs, rejoice. Battle of Antietam (1985) lets you relive one of the bloodiest days in American history... via pixelated dots and turn-based tension. There’s no flash here—just raw, old-school strategy where every misstep feels like a historical footnote. Think of it as digital Gettysburg reenactment, minus the itchy uniforms....

Caves of Thor

DOS1989 Apogee Software

Decker

Windows 10/112002freeware

Fire Power

DOS1988 Silent Software

Fleet Command

DOS1999protected Sonalysts

Gone Fishing

DOS1989 Interstel Corporation

Great Napoleonic Battles

DOS1991 Impressions Games

Kingdom of Kroz

DOS1988freeware Apogee Software

La Colmena

DOS1992NSFW Opera Soft

Moraff's Morejongg

Windows XP/98/951992 Moraffware

Operation Market Garden