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).

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Ultima 7 Part 2: Serpent Isle

DOS1993 Origin Systems

After the well-received Ultima VII: The Black Gate, Origin decided to reuse their impressive Ultima engine for one more game. Ultima VII: Part Two – Serpent Isle picks up right where The Black Gate leaves off. This time, the Avatar travels to an entirely new land, far removed from the familiar landscapes of Britannia. Serpent Isle brings its ...

Unnatural Selection

DOS1993 Maxis

Unnecessary Roughness

DOS1993 Accolade

V for victory: Gold-Juno-Sword

DOS1993protected Atomic Games

V for victory: Market-Garden

DOS1993protected Atomic Games

Warriors of Legend

DOS1993 Synergistic Software

When Two Worlds War

DOS1993 Impressions Games

5th Fleet

DOS1994

Al-Qadim: The Genie's Curse

DOS1994protected Cyberlore studios

Alien Breed: Tower Assault

DOS1994protected Team 17

Alien Olympics

DOS1994 Dark Technologies

Ant Attack!

DOS1994freeware Dataware

Astro Fire

DOS1994freewareremake ORT Software

Battle Isle 2200

DOS1994protected Blue Byte Software

Bobby Fisher teaches chess

DOS1994 Mission Studios

Cannon Fodder

DOS1994protected Sensible Software

Cannon Fodder, released by Sensible Software in 1993, is a military-themed action game that cleverly blends strategy with real-time tactics. Players control a small squad of soldiers through various missions, facing enemies and obstacles in a top-down perspective. The game's distinctive style is marked by its dark humor and satirical take on war, m...

CHAMP Ms. Pac-man

DOS1994remake ChamProgramming corp.

Colonization

DOSWindows 3.xLinuxMac OS1994protected MicroProse Software

Colonization is a turn-based strategy 4x game developed and published by MicroProse in 1994 for DOS, Windows 3.1, Linux and Mac. The setting is the European Colonization of the New World. Colonization gameplay and interface are similar to Civilization, another Sid Meier game. However, there are some differences between Civilization and Colonization...

D-Day: The Beginning of the End

DOS1994 Impressions Games

Dark Legions

DOS1994protected Silicon Knights

Dark Sun 2: Wake of the Ravager

DOS1994protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.

Disciples of Steel

DOS1994

Dreamweb

DOS1994freeware Creative reality

Dreamweb is a top-down point and click adventure set in a dark, cyberpunk city. You play as Ryan who has strange, violent, dreams. A top down perspective and the sheer number of items your character can pick up are just two of the peculiarities of this game. Dreamweb was developed by Creative Reality and published by Empire Interactive for DOS in 1...