Abandonware DOS title

Games based on a novel sorted by release date

Many classic games were based on books, whether novels or short stories. This literary influence brought rich narratives and intricate worlds to the gaming medium. Some notable examples include "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien, which inspired numerous games that explore Middle-earth's epic battles and complex lore. "Rendezvous with Rama" by Arthur C. Clarke provided a foundation for games that delve into the mysteries of space exploration and alien encounters. "The Mist" by Stephen King led to atmospheric horror games that capture the suspense and terror of the original story.
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Frankenstein

DOS1994 Junkyard
Frankenstein (1994) leans into its gothic inspiration with an earnest devotion to atmosphere. Drawing from Mary Shelley’s tale, it combines adventure elements with a somber m...
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Return to Ringworld

DOS1994 Tsunami Media
The sequel to Ringworld: Revenge of the Patriarch, Return to Ringworld throws you back into Larry Niven’s vast sci-fi universe—except this time, the puzzles are tougher...
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Discworld

DOS1995 Perfect Entertainment
If you like your point-and-click adventures served with a side of absurd British humor, Discworld (1995, DOS) is a feast. Based on Terry Pratchett’s beloved universe, the gam...
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I have no Mouth and I Must Scream

DOS1995protecteddemo The Dreamers Guild
Released in 1995, I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream is the cheerful little tale of humanity being tortured by an all-powerful AI for eternity. In other words, not exactly a feel-g...
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Prisoner of Ice

DOS1995protected Chaosium Inc.
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Shannara

DOS1995protected Legend Entertainment
Shannara (1995, DOS) adapts the beloved fantasy world into a point-and-click adventure steeped in prophecy, magic, and earnest heroism. Drawing from the novels by Terry Brooks, it ...
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William Shatner's TekWar

DOS1995 Capstone Software
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Zorro

DOS1995 Capstone Software
From the dusty archives of 1995 DOS gaming comes Zorro, a side-scrolling platformer that asks the question: what if the legendary masked hero had the reflexes of a hungover sloth? ...
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Discworld 2: Mortality Bytes!

DOS1996 Perfect Entertainment
Released in 1996, Discworld 2: Mortality Bytes! continues the misadventures of Rincewind, who once again proves that cowardice can be a powerful survival tool. This time, Death has...
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Callahan's Crosstime Saloon

DOS1997 Legend Entertainment
Imagine Cheers met Quantum Leap and got weirdly philosophical. That’s Callahan’s Crosstime Saloon, a narrative adventure based on Spider Robinson’s sci-fi stories...
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J.R.R. Tolkien's Riders of Rohan

DOS1997 Papyrus Design Group
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Dune 2000

Windows XP/98/951998 Westwood Studios
Dune 2000 is an abandoned science fiction classic real-time strategy game based on the popular Dune franchise. The Dune "universe" took form in the books of science ficti...
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American McGee's Alice

Windows XP/98/95Mac OS2000 Rogue Entertainment
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Arrakis

DOS2000
No relation to Dune (except for being a total rip-off), Arrakis is a homebrew strategy game that feels like a tribute to the sandiest planet in sci-fi. You mine spice, fight vaguel...
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Stormbringer: Elric of Melnibone

Windows XP/98/952000canceled
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Dragon Riders: Chronicles of Pern

Windows XP/98/952001 UBI Soft
In Dragon Riders: Chronicles of Pern, you don’t just ride dragons—you babysit them, talk to them, and occasionally save the world while trying not to fall off mid-fligh...
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Dune Generations

Windows XP/98/952002canceled Cryo Interactive Entertainment
Dune Generations was a canceled 3D MMO strategy game set in the Dune universe that was never published. Dune Generations was in development by Cryo Interactive ...