Shareware: a business model

Shareware is a type of software distribution model that allows users to try a program before purchasing it. It's a marketing strategy and distribution method that was particularly popular in the early days of personal computing, primarily during the 1980s and 1990s.
Shareware games were released for free with limited functionality (for example: no saving, missing levels, time limit), often via a BBS (Bulletin Board System), a floppy disc or a CD included in a printed magazine or by direct download (when internet was in its infancy). If the user liked the shareware product, they could pay to obtain an upgrade and unlock the full game. When digital distribution started to become popular, shareware games slowly faded into oblivion.

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Dark Designs 2: Closing the Gate

DOS19904/5 Softdisk Publishing

Death by Backgammon

DOS19903.3/5

Death Rally

DOS1996freeware4.1/5 Remedy Entertainment Ltd.

Defender of Boston: The Rock Island Mystery

DOS19923.2/5

Digger

DOS19834.3/5 Windmill Software

Digger is an abandoned action game developed and released by Windmill Software back in 1983 for PC only. Gameplay is a mix of two classics: Dig Dug and Mr. Do!: dig down, get gems, avoid death, reach the next level and so on.

DND

DOS19844.1/5

Doom

DOS1993protecteddemo4.2/5 id software

Doom was released by id Software in 1993. It is widely regarded as one of the most influential and groundbreaking video games of all time, particularly within the first-person shooter (FPS) genre.Set in the future on the moons of Mars, the game follows the player-controlled character, known as the "Doom Marine", as they battle through a research fa...

Duke Nukem

DOS19914.1/5 Apogee Software

Duke Nukem 1 was released in 1991 by Apogee Software for MS-DOS, and it marked the beginning of the Duke Nukem franchise. Duke Nukem is a side-scrolling action platformer game with a sci-fi theme. In this original game, players control Duke Nukem, a muscular action hero tasked with saving the world from the evil Dr. Proton. Dr. Proton has taken con...

Duke Nukem 3D

DOS1996protecteddemo4.2/5 3d Realms

Duke Nukem 3D is a classic first-person shooter that was developed by 3D Realms (formerly known as Apogee Software) and published by GT Interactive. It was released in 1996 for MS-DOS and later for various other platforms, including Windows, Mac OS, and gaming consoles.

Dungeons of Kairn

DOS19893.6/5

Dungeons of Kroz

DOS1989freeware3.6/5 Apogee Software

EGA Trek

DOS1988remake3.3/5

EGA-Roids

DOS1986freewareremake3.7/5 Designer Software

Electranoid

DOS19954.1/5 Pixel Painters Corporation

Epic Baseball

DOS19953.8/5 MicroLeague Multimedia

Epic Pinball

DOSMac1993protected3.7/5 Digital Extremes

Escape from delirium

DOS19953.9/5 Virtual X-Perience

Exile II: Crystal Souls

Windows XP/98/95MacWindows 3.x1996freeware3.9/5 Spiderweb Software

Exile III: Ruined World

Windows XP/98/95MacWindows 3.x1997freeware3.9/5 Spiderweb Software

Exile: Escape from the Pit

Windows XP/98/95MacWindows 3.x1995freeware3.9/5 Spiderweb Software

Flightmare

DOS1984freeware3.6/5

Flying Tigers

DOS19944.1/5 Ticsoft

Flying Tigers is an abandoned vertical-scrolling sci-fi themed shoot 'em up game developed and released by Ticsoft in 1994 for MS-DOS only. Flying Tigers is the first chapter of the two parts Flying Tigers video game series.

Flying Tigers 2

DOS19943.3/5

Galactix

DOS19923.3/5 Cygnus Studios

Gateworld

DOS19933.1/5 HomeBrew Software

God of Thunder

DOSWindows XP/98/951993freeware4/5 Adept Software

God of Thunder is a classic computer game developed by Adept Software and released in 1993. It's a puzzle platformer with a fantasy theme. In the game, you control Thor, the Norse god of thunder, on a quest to save Midgard (Earth) from the evil god Loki and his minions.The gameplay involves navigating through various levels filled with obstacles, e...