Top-down perspective sorted by release date

Top down games were very popular in the 80s and the 90s, when graphic cards were not capable of supporting 3D, and even when 3D started to become popular, 2D games continued to be easier to develop, at least in the infancy of 3D gaming. 2D game offered the player a viewpoint that helped keeping things easily under control (think about top down party-based RPGs or hex-based strategy games).

Sort by:

Star Control 3

DOS1996protected4/5 Legend Entertainment

Star General

Windows XP/98/95DOS1996protected4.1/5 Catware, Inc.

Star General is a turn-based strategy game developed by Catware and published by SSI (Strategic Simulations, Inc.). It was released in 1996 for MS-DOS and later for Windows. The game is set in a science fiction universe where players take command of one of five different factions, each vying for control of the galaxy.In Star General, players comman...

Super Stardust

DOS19964.3/5 Housemarque

Tempest 2000

DOS1996remake4.2/5 Atari

Tempest 2000 is a video game developed by Llamasoft and published by Atari Corporation. It was released in 1994 for DOS, Mac, the Atari Jaguar console, etc. Tempest 2000 is an enhanced remake of the original Tempest, which was released in arcades in 1981.In Tempest 2000, players control a claw-shaped ship that moves around the edges of geometric sh...

Wembley Rugby League

DOS19963/5 Denton Designs

Z

DOS1996protected4.1/5 Bitmap Brothers

Z is a real-time strategy game developed by The Bitmap Brothers and originally released in 1996 for MS-DOS. It's known for its fast-paced gameplay, humorous style, and distinctive art design.In Z, players control a robot army across various battlefields, aiming to conquer territories and defeat enemy forces. The game features a tongue-in-cheek narr...

Aleshar World of Ice

DOS19973.8/5

Atomic Bomberman

Windows XP/98/9519974.2/5 Interplay Productions

Blades of Exile

Windows 3.xMac OSWindows XP/98/951997freeware4.1/5 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...

Capitalism Plus

DOSWindows XP/98/951997protected3.8/5 Enlight Software

Checkers for Windows

Windows 3.x19974.1/5

Command & Conquer: Sole Survivor

Windows XP/98/9519973.7/5 Westwood Studios

Dark Reign: The Future of War

Windows XP/98/951997protected4.1/5 Auran Games

Dungeon Crawl

Windows XP/98/95DOSLinux1997freeware4/5

Dungeon Crawl (also known as Linley's Dungeon Crawl from the name of the original programmer: Linley Henzell) is a classic roguelike: an RPG with permadeath, procedural generation and high replayability. Dungeon Crawl was released on 1997 but it's not maintained anymore. The spiritual successr of Crawl is DCCS (Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup).

Entrepreneur

Windows XP/98/9519974.1/5 Stardock Entertainment

Exile III: Ruined World

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

Grand Theft Auto

DOSWindows XP/98/9519974.1/5 DMA Design

In Grand Theft Auto the player takes the role of a criminal who can freely roam around the city (Liberty City) completing tasks for the local mobs: stealing cars, killing pedestrians, all of it while avoiding the police and the army. The freedom of gameplay and the "I'm the bad guy" appeal of the game made the Grand Theft Auto series very popular.

J.R.R. Tolkien's Riders of Rohan

DOS19974.1/5 Papyrus Design Group

Mageslayer

Windows XP/98/9519974.1/5 Raven Software

Pacific General

Windows XP/98/951997protected4.1/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.

Panzer General 2

Windows XP/98/951997protected4.1/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.

Slash'Em

Windows XP/98/95Linux1997freeware4.1/5

Star Wars: Yoda Stories

Windows XP/98/9519974.2/5 LucasArts

Steel Panthers 3: Brigade Command - 1939-1999

DOS1997protected4/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.

Total Annihilation

Windows XP/98/951997protected4.1/5 Cavedog Entertainment

Vlad Tepes Dracula

Windows XP/98/9519973.3/5 ComputerHouse

Warlords 3: Reign of Heroes

Windows XP/98/9519974.3/5 SSG Strategic Studies Group

Warlords 3: Reign of Heroes is an abandoned turn-based fantasy strategy game designed by Steve Fawkner, developed by SSG Strategic Studies Group and released by Red Orb Entertainment in 1997 for Windows. Warlords 3: Reign of Heroes is part of the Warlords game series and features quite a few multiplayer modes: from LAN to PBEM.