Abandonware DOS title

Top-down perspective sorted by title, from Z to A

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).
command-and-conquer-06

Command & Conquer

DOS1995freeware Westwood Studios
colorlines-3

Color Lines

DOS1992 Gamos
color-buster-03

Color Buster

DOS1992
colonization-6

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 si...
cobra-mission-title-screens

Cobra Mission

DOS1992NSFW MegaTech Software
clue-master-detective-03

Clue Master Detective

DOS1989 Dalali Software
Clue Master Detective is an abandoned strategy game developed by Dalali Software and released by Leisure Genius in 1989 for DOS, Amiga, Apple II, Atari ST, C64. Clue Master Detective is based on the well known board game Clue (als...
cloud-kingdoms-05

Cloud Kingdoms

DOS1990 Logotron
clash-of-steel-07

Clash of Steel

DOS1993protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
civilization2-4

Civilization 2

Windows XP/98/951996 MicroProse Software
Civilization II is a turn-based strategy game developed by MicroProse and released in 1996. It's the second installment in the "Civilization" series, created by Sid Meier. The game builds upon the concept of its predecessor, Civil...
civ1-7

Civilization

DOSWindows 3.xMac OS1991 MicroProse Software
Civilization is the critically acclaimed strategy game designed by Sid Meier and Bruce Campbell Shelley that became a staple in 4X turn-based strategy. Civilization was developed by MicroProse Software and released in 1991 for DOS...
chips-challenge-win3-01

Chip's Challenge

DOSWindows 3.x1991 Epyx
Chip's Challenge is an abandoned top-down puzzle game designed by Chuck Sommerville, developed and released by Epyx in 1991. Chip's Challenge was released on DOS, Windows 3.x and many other home computers such as Atari ST, Amiga, ...
chessmaster-9000-01

Chessmaster 9000

Windows XP/98/95Mac OS2002 UBI Soft
Chessmaster 9000 is a chess game developed by Ubisoft and released in 2002. It's part of the Chessmaster series, which has been around since the 1980s. Chessmaster 9000 was known for its strong chess engine and comprehensive tutor...
chessmaster3000-05

Chessmaster 3000

DOS1991 The Software Toolworks
chess88-1

Chess88

DOS1984
chess-splash

Chess

DOS1981 International PC Owners
checkers-for-windows-01

Checkers for Windows

Windows 3.x1997
champion-of-the-raj-02

Champion of the Raj

DOS1991 Personal Software Services
champ-ms-pacman-05

CHAMP Ms. Pac-man

DOS1994remake ChamProgramming corp.
challenge-of-the-five-realms-5

Challenge of the Five Realms

DOS1992protected MicroProse Software
centurion-7

Centurion: Defender of Rome

DOS1990 Bits of magic
Centurion: Defender of Rome is a turn-based strategy game set in ancient Rome times. As a centurion of the Roman Empire, you will fight against the enemies of Rome in real time battles in every corner of Italy and Europe, you'll b...
cdman2-splash

CD-Man v2.0

DOS1992 Creative Dimensions
caves-of-thor-05

Caves of Thor

DOS1989 Apogee Software
caverns-of-kroz-2

Caverns of Kroz

DOS1989freeware Apogee Software
cave-quest-05

Cavequest

DOS1985
cave-wars-01

Cave Wars

DOS1996
castle-wolfenstein-04

Castle Wolfenstein

DOS1984 Muse Software
Before Doom and Wolfenstein 3D turned PC gaming into a pixelated bloodbath, there was Castle Wolfenstein. A stealth game in 1984? Believe it. You sneak around a Nazi fortress, steal uniforms, and hope you don’t get caught wh...
castleofthewinds-3

Castle of the Winds

Windows 3.x1993freeware SaadaSoft
Castle of the Winds is a fantasy roguelike role-playing game developed by SaadaSoft in the early 1990s. It was designed for Windows 3.x and is notable for being one of the earliest graphical RPGs for that platform. The game featur...
castle-adventure-04

Castle Adventure

DOS1984freeware
Castle Adventure is what happens when a medieval fantasy RPG gets crammed into a game smaller than your average selfie. ASCII graphics? Check. Typing commands like “GET SWORD”? Oh yes. It’s part game, part digita...
carrier-strike-south-pacific-04

Carrier Strike: South Pacific 1942-44

DOS1992protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
If you ever wanted to command the Pacific fleet without getting wet, Carrier Strike is your game. Set during WWII, it’s a turn-based wargame where numbers, radar, and weather reports matter more than reflexes. You’ll p...
carnage-04

Carnage

DOS1993 Warped Minds
The name Carnage says it all—this top-down racer is less about precision driving and more about smashing into your enemies until they resemble digital roadkill. It’s fast, chaotic, and honestly looks like a game a 14-y...