Abandonware DOS title

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).
indenture-02

Indenture

DOS1995remake
Indenture is a small, relatively obscure DOS adventure that thrives on mood rather than complexity. Set in a bleak, oppressive world, it uses minimalistic visuals and text-driven s...
machiavelli-1

Machiavelli the Prince

DOS1995protected Holistic Design
Becoming a Renaissance ruler is complicated enough without everyone around you plotting something. Machiavelli the Prince transforms politics into an engaging strategy game where d...
micromachines2-splash

Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament

DOS1995 Supersonic Software
mirror-magic-2-02

Mirror Magic

Windows XP/98/95Linux1995freeware
mordor-dephts-dejanol-07

Mordor: The Depths of Dejenol

Windows 3.x1995protected
Mordor: The Depths of Dejenol is fantasy RPG game released in 1995 for Windows 3.x, but it runs flawlessy even Windows XP (see this faq if you want to play Mordor in a virtual...
mortal-pong-02

Mortal Pong

DOS1995freeware
mspacpc-1

Ms Pac PC

DOS1995remake Magicom Multimedia
nectaris-splash

Nectaris

DOS1995 Hudson soft
nhl_96-07

NHL 96

DOS1995 Electronic Arts
pacpc-04

Pac PC

DOS1995freewareremake
pinball-illusions-02

Pinball Illusions

DOS1995 Digital Illusions
pinball-world-05

Pinball World

DOS1995 Spidersoft Limited
psychopinball-splash

Psycho Pinball

DOS1995 Codemasters
Released in 1995, Psycho Pinball is what happens when traditional pinball eats too much sugar and loses its mind. It’s loud, colorful, and gleefully unhinged, with four disti...
civnet-win-04

Sid Meier's CivNet

Windows XP/98/95Windows 3.x1995 MicroProse Software
CivNet is a multiplayer adaptation of the original Sid Meier's Civilization game, released in 1995. It was developed and published by MicroProse for MS-DOS and Windows. This versio...
steelpanthers-6

Steel Panthers

DOS1995 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Steel Panthers is the first game in the Steel Panthers series. It was released in 1995 by Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI). This initial release laid the foundation for the series...
superspeed-04

Super Speed

DOS1995
thecivilwar-empire-02

The Civil War

DOS1995 Dagger Interactive Technologies
definitive-wargame-ssi-03

The Definitive Wargame Collection

DOS1995 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
uncharted-waters-2-05

Uncharted Waters 2: New Horizons

DOS1995 KOEI
Uncharted Waters 2: New Horizons takes everything its predecessor attempted and refines it into something richer and more engaging. Released in 1995, it expands the scope with mult...
virtual-pool-02

Virtual Pool

DOS1995 Celeris
warcraft2tides-4

Warcraft 2: Tides of Darkness

DOS1995protected Blizzard Entertainment
zoop-03

Zoop

DOS1995 Hookstone
Imagine if Tetris, Columns, and a pack of highlighters had a baby. That’s Zoop. You’re in the center of the screen, and colorful shapes are marching toward you from all...
adom1.1-05

Ancient Domains of Mystery (ADOM) v1.1

Windows XP/98/95DOSLinux1996freeware
ADOM is what happens when a rogue, a wizard, and a hungry troll walk into a dungeon and never come out. Released in 1996, this roguelike classic is brutal, brilliant, and unapologe...
aspetra-jrpg-02

Aspetra

DOS1996
Welcome to Aspetra, a 1996 DOS game that tried to cram an epic sci-fi RPG into your beige box PC — and mostly succeeded! Think “Star Trek meets budget constraints.&rdqu...
azalta-03

Azalta: Cult of the Raven

DOS1996
Azalta: Cult of the Raven is what happens when a lone developer says, “I can make an RPG better than Ultima!” and sort of does. Released in 1996, this DOS dungeon crawl...
battlestar-05

Battlestar

Windows 3.x1996freeware
No, not that Battlestar. Battlestar (1996) is more obscure than a reboot that never happened. Set in deep space with a top-down view and UI only a Windows 3.x user could love, it m...
birthright-win-05

Birthright: The Gorgon's Alliance

Windows XP/98/951996 Synergistic Software
Ever wanted to manage a kingdom, lead armies, go dungeon-crawling, and attend budget meetings? Birthright: The Gorgon’s Alliance makes all your fantasy micromanagement dreams...
blood-and-magic-04

Blood & Magic

DOS1996 Tachyon Studios
From the people who brought you Dungeons & Dragons, here's Blood & Magic (1996), the RTS that nobody remembers but definitely deserves a second glance. You summon golems fr...
cave-wars-01

Cave Wars

DOS1996
If you’ve ever looked at a cave and thought, “Yes, this is where I’ll build my empire,” then Cave Wars is your jam. Released in 1996, this strategy game thr...