Shareware: a business model

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.

Most popular shareware games

Tyrian 2000

shooterDOS

Bio Menace Episode 2: The Hidden Lab

actionDOS

Monopoly

strategyDOS

Shareware games

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Digger

DOS19834.2/5 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
Duke Nukem

DOS19914.2/5 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

DOS1996protected4.2/5 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

DOS19893.7/5
Dungeons of Kroz

DOS1989freeware3.6/5 Apogee Software
EGA Trek

DOS1988remake2.7/5
EGA-Roids

DOS1986freewareremake3.7/5 Designer Software
Electranoid

DOS19954.1/5 Pixel Painters Corporation
Epic Baseball

DOS19953.7/5 MicroLeague Multimedia
Epic Pinball

DOS1993protected3.7/5 Digital Extremes
Escape from delirium

DOS19954/5 Virtual X-Perience
Exile II: Crystal Souls

Windows XP/98/95MacWindows 3.x1996freeware3.8/5 Spiderweb Software
Exile III: Ruined World

Windows XP/98/95MacWindows 3.x1997freeware3.8/5 Spiderweb Software
Exile: Escape from the Pit

Windows XP/98/95MacWindows 3.x1995freeware4.1/5 Spiderweb Software
Flightmare

DOS1984freeware3.6/5
Flying Tigers

DOS19944.3/5
Flying Tigers 2

DOS19943.5/5
Gateworld

DOS19933.1/5 HomeBrew Software
God of Thunder

DOSWindows XP/98/951993freeware4.1/5 Adept Software

God of Thunder is a free computer role-playing game designed by Ron Davis, developed by Adept Software and released by Software Creations in 1993 for DOS and Windows platforms. God of Thunder is an action oriented RPG (sort of...) with strong puzzle elements with a norse mythology theme.
Grand Prix

DOS19893.7/5 Wizard Games
Heretic

DOS1994protected4.3/5 Raven Software
Hexxagon

DOS19934.1/5 Argo Games
Hexxagon 2

DOS19934.1/5 Argo Games
Hocus Pocus

DOS1994protected4.2/5 Apogee Software
Hugo 2: Whodunit?

DOS1991protected3.5/5 Gray Design Associates
Hugo 3: Jungle of Doom

DOS1992protected3.8/5 Gray Design Associates
Hugo's House of Horrors

DOS1990protected3.9/5 Gray Design Associates
In Search of Dr. Riptide

DOS19943.7/5 MindStorm Software
In the Dead of Night

DOS19953.6/5 Trecision