The most popular shareware games
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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Ken's Labyrinth
DOS1993freeware3.5/5
Blades of Exile
Windows 3.xMac OSWindows XP/98/951997freeware4.1/5 Spiderweb Software
Amazing Maze
DOS19833.2/5
The Aethra Chronicles
DOS19943.9/5
The Aethra Chronicles is not a well know fantasy RPG, but it deserves some praise. It was developed by only one person (Micheal Lawrence) and, as the title implies, was intended to be the first volume of a saga. Unfortunately, volume two and three were never made. For a shareware game, Aethra was pretty solid and is still loved by the ones who play...
Rise of the Triad: Dark War
DOS1994protected3.9/5 Apogee Software
Rockstar!
DOS19894/5 Wizard Games
Blake Stone 1: Aliens of Gold
DOS1993protected4.1/5 JAM Productions
Xixit
DOS19954/5 Optik Software
Major Stryker
DOSWindows XP/98/951993freeware4/5 Apogee Software
Moraff's Revenge
DOS19883.7/5 Moraffware
Kingdom of Kroz
DOS1988freeware3.7/5 Apogee Software
Last Half of Darkness
DOS19893.9/5 SoftLab Laboratories
Gateworld
DOS19933.1/5 HomeBrew Software
Invasion of the Mutant Space Bats of Doom
DOS19953.8/5 Pop Software
Commander Keen 4: Secret of the Oracle
DOS1991protected4/5 id software
Cosmo's Cosmic Adventures
DOS1992protected4.1/5 Apogee Software
Legend of the Red Dragon
DOS19893.5/5 Robinson Technologies
Dark Ages Volume I - Prince of Destiny
DOS1991freeware4/5 Scenerio Software
Monopoly
DOS19853.9/5
Hexxagon
DOS19934.1/5 Argo Games
LineWars 2
DOS19944/5 Safari Software
Escape from delirium
DOS19953.9/5 Virtual X-Perience
Jumpman Lives!
DOS1991remake4/5 Apogee Software
Aquanoid
DOS1992remake3.8/5
Commander Keen 3: Keen Must Die!
DOS1990protected4.2/5 id software
Secret Agent
DOS1992protected3.9/5 Apogee Software
Cap Man
Windows XP/98/9519993.7/5
Batalia
DOS19862.8/5 The Right Brothers
Chain Reaction
DOS19964.1/5 Webfoot Technologies
Mario Bros VGA
DOS1990remake3.9/5
Mario Bros VGA is a fan made remake of the original Mario Bros by Nintendo, the game that popularized the character of Mario, the Italian plumber that first appeared in Donkey Kong. Mario Bros VGA is a fixed-screen platform arcade game that truly shines when played in co-op with a friend.