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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Pacific General
Windows XP/98/951997protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Rotox
DOS1991 Creative Materials
Speedball
DOS1988 Bitmap Brothers
Starflight 2: Trade routes of the Cloud Nebula
DOS1989 Binary Systems
Fantasy General
DOS1996protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Fantasy General is a hex-based turn-based strategy fantasy wargame. The player can duel either against a computer or a human opponent or even take part in a longer campaign. There are two sides to chose from, one good and one evil, each with unique and colorful units.
L'Empereur
DOS1991 KOEI
Atomic Bomberman
Windows XP/98/951997 Interplay Productions
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 features a top-down perspective and incorporates elements of dungeon crawling, exploration, and character development.The game...
Conflict: Europe
DOS1989 Personal Software Services
Conflict Europe is an abandoned turn-based top-down strategy game set in Europe. The game was developed by Personal Software Services and released by Mirrorsoft in 1989 for DOS, Amiga and Atari ST.
Warlords 3: Reign of Heroes
Windows XP/98/951997 SSG Strategic Studies Group
Warlords 3: Reign of Heroes is an abandoned turn-based fantasy strategy game designed by Steve Fawkner, developed by SSG Strategic Studies Group and released by Red Orb Entertainment in 1997 for Windows. Warlords 3: Reign of Heroes is part of the Warlords game series and features quite a few multiplayer modes: from LAN to PBEM.
Commander Keen 1: Marooned on Mars
DOS1990 id software
Commander Keen 1: Marooned on Mars is a platform video game developed by id Software and published by Apogee Software in 1990 as shareware for MS-DOS. The game follows the adventures of an eight-year-old genius named Billy Blaze, who uses his homemade spaceship to travel to various alien planets to save the Earth from alien invaders known as V...
Merchant Colony
DOS1991 Impressions Games
X-Men 2: The Fall of the Mutants
DOS1991 Paragon Software
Birthright: The Gorgon's Alliance
Windows XP/98/951996 Synergistic Software
101: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy
Windows XP/98/951998 Empire Interactive
Knights of Legend
DOS1989 Origin Systems
Knights of Legend is a tactical role-playing game (RPG) released by Origin Systems in 1989 for MS-DOS, the Apple II, and the Commodore 64. Known for its complex gameplay and strategic depth, the game provides a turn-based combat experience that requires players to manage characters carefully and strategize battles with attention to detail. Set...
Free Enterprise
Windows XP/98/951996 Tsunami Media
Dehumanizing offices? Check. Depressing environment? Check. No windows in the whole place? Check. Good, I'm ready to exploit my workers and become great entrepreneur. All of this thanks to Free Enterprise, a simulation for Windows by Tsunami Media, published in 1996.
Archon: the Light and the Dark
DOS1984 Free Fall Associates
Archon: The Light and the Dark is an abandoned DOS fantasy blend of strategy and action game, developed by Free Fall Associates and published for DOS by Electronic Arts in 1984. Archon and its sequels are a unique mix of chess-like turn-based strategy and arcade action games. Take chess and add the fact that every time two pieces land on the same s...
TV Sports: Basketball
DOS1990freeware Cinemaware
People's General
Windows XP/98/951998protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
ZZT
DOS1991freeware Epic MegaGames
Space Crusade
DOS1992 Gremlin Graphics / Gremlin Interactive
Master of Magic
DOSWindows XP/98/951994protected SimTex
Master of Magic is a turn based 4x strategy game developed by SimTex and published by the well know Microprose, very similar to Civilization, with a fantasy twist. You play as a wizard and your objective is to evolve your race from a small settlement to a bursting empire. To do so, you can produce military units to fight other computer controlled p...
Dogs of War
Windows XP/98/951996demo Software Engineering
Castle Adventure
DOS1984freeware
Mega lo Mania
DOS1992 Sensible Software
Mega lo Mania, also known as Mega-Lo-Mania: The Battle for Elysium in some regions, is a real-time strategy (RTS) video game developed by Sensible Software and published by Image Works. It was originally released in 1991 for various platforms, including the Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS, and later on other systems like the Sega Genesis (Mega Drive). The ...
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 (also known as Cluedo). Clue can be played in single player, but the best gaming experience come from the multi-player mode.
Black Moon Chronicles
DOS1999protected Cryo Interactive Entertainment
It Came from the Desert
DOS1990freeware Cinemaware
It Came from the Desert is an abandonware action-adventure game developed by Cinemaware and released in 1990 for PC (DOS) and Amiga. It Came From the Desert is an action-adventure game with a peculiar flavor: it's set in the 50s, in the USA, and it's based on those old monster movies like Them! (also involving killer ants).
Populous: The Beginning
Windows XP/98/951998protected Bullfrog