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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Dark Designs 2: Closing the Gate
DOS1990 Softdisk Publishing
Grand Prix
DOS1989 Wizard Games
Jumpman Lives!
DOS1991remake Apogee Software
LineWars
DOS1990 Safari Software
Monster Bash
DOS1993protected Apogee Software
Realms of Chaos
DOSMac OSLinux1995protected Apogee Software
Reaping The Dungeon
DOS1993 Frontline Software
Softporn Adventure
DOS1981freewareNSFW Sierra On-Line
Stargunner
DOS1996 GT Interactive Software
Subhunt
DOS1997
Terminal Velocity
Windows XP/98/95DOSLinuxMac OS1995protected Terminal Reality
Xixit
DOS1995 Optik Software
Abuse
DOSLinuxMac OS1995freeware Crack dot Com
The year is 1995, and Abuse brings us one of the slickest, darkest run-and-gun shooters ever to crawl out of a DOS/Linux/Mac basement. You play a guy in prison for a crime he didn’t commit (sure, pal), armed to the teeth and...
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, p...
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)...
OverKill
DOS1992freeware Tech-Noir
Dark Ages Volume I - Prince of Destiny
DOS1991freeware Scenerio Software
Crystal Caves
DOS1991protected Apogee Software
Shadow Warrior
DOS1997protected 3d Realms
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-Ni...
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, vol...
Dark Designs 1: Grelminar's Staff
DOS1990 Softdisk Publishing
Jazz Jackrabbit Holiday Hare
DOS1994protected Epic MegaGames
Rise of the Triad: Dark War
DOS1994protected Apogee Software
Snood
DOSWindows XP/98/95Mac OS1996freeware
Solar Winds 2: Galaxy
DOS1993 Stone Interactive Media
Astro Fire
DOS1994freewareremake ORT Software
Astro Fire (1994) is the illegitimate love child of Asteroids and a particularly angry fireworks show. You pilot a tiny ship with a death wish through an endless barrage of asteroids, enemies, and power-ups that may or may not be ...
Legend of the Silver Talisman
DOS1996freeware Inter-Active Arts