The best 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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Grand Prix

DOS1989 Wizard Games

Jazz Jackrabbit Holiday Hare

DOS1994protected Epic MegaGames

Jumpman Lives!

DOS1991remake Apogee Software

LineWars 2

DOS1994 Safari Software

Monster Bash

DOS1993protected Apogee Software

Realms of Chaos

DOSMac OSLinux1995protected Apogee Software

Reaping The Dungeon

DOS1993 Frontline Software

Stargunner

DOS1996 GT Interactive Software

Terminal Velocity

Windows XP/98/95DOSLinuxMac OS1995protected Terminal Reality

Xixit

DOS1995 Optik Software

Softporn Adventure

DOS1981freewareNSFW Sierra On-Line

Bio Menace Episode 1: Dr. Mangle's Lab

DOS1993freeware Apogee Software

Abuse

DOSLinuxMac OS1995freeware Crack dot Com

Blades of Exile

Windows 3.xMac OSWindows XP/98/951997freeware Spiderweb Software

Blades of Exile is a classic role-playing video game developed by Spiderweb Software. It's the third installment in the "Exile" series. The game was released in 1997 for Mac OS, and later for Windows in 1998.In Blades of Exile, players control a party of adventurers who explore the underground world of Exile/Avernum, a vast network of caves and dun...

CHAMP Ms. Pac-man

DOS1994remake ChamProgramming corp.

Major Stryker

DOSWindows XP/98/951993freeware Apogee Software

God of Thunder

DOSWindows XP/98/951993freeware 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...

OverKill

DOS1992freeware Tech-Noir

Dark Ages Volume I - Prince of Destiny

DOS1991freeware Scenerio Software

Shadow Warrior

DOS1997protected 3d Realms

The Aethra Chronicles

DOS1994

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...

Dark Designs 1: Grelminar's Staff

DOS1990 Softdisk Publishing

Rise of the Triad: Dark War

DOS1994protected Apogee Software

One-Nil Soccer Manager

DOS1992 New Era Software

One-Nil Soccer Manager is a text-based soccer management simulation game that was popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was developed for various home computer systems, including DOS, Commodore 64 and Amiga. In One-Nil Soccer Manager, players take on the role of a soccer team manager, making strategic decisions to guide their team to s...