The most popular abandonware strategy games
Games based on strategy allow for reasoning and planning of one’s moves and actions. The gameplay may be based on player’s turns (Turn-based Strategy) or it may be in real time (Real-Time Strategy, RTS). These games focus on strategy and tactics rather than action, sometimes with the addition of financial or logistic features.
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Yu-Gi-Oh! Power of Chaos - Yugi the Destiny
Windows XP/98/952003 collectible card game, cards
This is the game where Yugi Moto teaches you how to duel—and then proceeds to obliterate you with Dark Magician. Yugi the Destiny is slick, nostalgic, and full of cards you'll remember from the anime. The music is intense, t...
Yu-Gi-Oh! Power of Chaos - Joey the Passion
Windows XP/98/95Windows 10/112004 cards, collectible card game
Yu-Gi-Oh! Power of Chaos: Joey the Passion, released by Konami in 2004, is a PC video game that brings the popular Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game to life. This game is the third and final installment in the "Power of Chaos" series.&n...
Magic: The Gathering
Windows XP/98/951997 collectible card game, cards
Magic: The Gathering (sometimes also referred as Shandalar) is an abandoned strategy game based on the popular collectible card game Magic: The Gathering, developed and released by MicroProse Software for Windows in 1997. MTG is s...
Command & Conquer: Red Alert
DOS1996freeware real-time strategy
Command & Conquer: Red Alert is a real-time strategy (RTS) video game developed by Westwood Studios and published by Virgin Interactive in 1996. It is part of the Command & Conquer series and is set in an alternate history...
Warhammer 40000: Chaos Gate
Windows XP/98/951998protected turn-based tactics
Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings
Windows XP/98/951999protecteddemo real-time strategy
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is a landmark real-time strategy (RTS) game developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft. Released in 1999, it is the second installment in the Age of Empires series and remains one ...
Civilization
DOSWindows 3.xMac OS1991 4x
Sid Meier’s Civilization is the game that tricked an entire generation into loving history, city planning, and the occasional world domination. Starting with a tribe of stick-wielding settlers, you gradually evolve into a nu...
Civilization 2
Windows XP/98/951996 4x
Civilization II is a turn-based strategy game developed by MicroProse and released in 1996. It's the second installment in the "Civilization" series, created by Sid Meier. The game builds upon the concept of its predecessor, Civil...
Romance of the Three Kingdoms 2
DOS1990
Romance of the Three Kingdoms II is a turn-based strategy game developed and published by Koei. It was released in 1989 for various platforms, including the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), MS-DOS.In Romance of the Three Kingd...
Age of Empires
Windows XP/98/951997protecteddemo real-time strategy
Released in 1997, Age of Empires is what happens when ancient history gets drunk and decides to party. You start in the Stone Age, bashing wild boars and clubbing trees, and before you know it, you’re building temples and fl...
Hooligans: Storm Over Europe
Windows XP/98/952002 real-time tactics
Dune 2000
Windows XP/98/951998 real-time strategy
Dune 2000 is an abandoned science fiction classic real-time strategy game based on the popular Dune franchise. The Dune "universe" took form in the books of science fiction writer Frank Herbert and went on to include mov...
Master of Orion 2: Battle at Antares
DOSWindows XP/98/951996protected 4x
Master of Orion II is a 4X turn-based sci-fi strategy game set in space. Master of Orion 2 gives the player an empire to run by controlling food and production, managing economy and researching new technology. The player can wage ...
9 Poker
DOS1989 cards
Ah, 9 Poker. Released in 1989 for DOS, this game is less a glamorous casino sim and more a smoky backroom full of pixelated cards and questionable programming. You get nine variants of poker to lose fake money in, which is both ge...
Yu-Gi-Oh! Power of Chaos - Kaiba the Revenge
Windows XP/98/95Windows 10/112004 cards, collectible card game
X-COM: Ufo Defense
DOS1994protected turn-based tactics
UFO: Enemy Unknown (or X-COM: Ufo Defense) is a sci-fi tactical strategy game created by Julian Gollop set in a not-to-distant future where aliens are invading the Earth. The gameplay switches between tactical combat, where you fi...
Dune II: The building of a dynasty
DOS1992 real-time strategy
Dune II, released in 1992, is a pioneering real-time strategy game developed by Westwood Studios. Set in the world of Frank Herbert's Dune, players command noble houses in a battle for control over the planet Arrakis. With base-bu...
Army Men
Windows XP/98/951998 real-time tactics
Army Men lets you live out your childhood fantasy of plastic soldier warfare without the hassle of crawling under the couch. You control Sarge, a green-tinted war machine with a stiff upper lip and an affinity for melting tan enem...
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
DOS1989
Mick's Strip Poker
Windows XP/98/95Windows 3.x1999NSFW cards
Command & Conquer
DOS1995freeware real-time strategy
Dune
DOS1992 real-time strategy
Dune, released in 1992, is a game developed by Cryo Interactive and published by Virgin Games. It's based on the iconic science fiction novel of the same name by Frank Herbert. In Dune, players assume the role of Paul Atreides, th...
Empire Earth
Windows XP/98/952001protected real-time strategy
Empire Earth is a real-time strategy (RTS) game developed by Stainless Steel Studios and released by Sierra Entertainment in 2001. It's often compared to the "Age of Empires" series due to its similar gameplay mechanics and histor...
The Settlers
DOS1993protected sandbox strategy, real-time strategy
Jagged Alliance 2
Windows XP/98/95LinuxMac OS1999protected turn-based tactics
Jagged Alliance 2 is a turn-based tactical role-playing strategy game developed by Sir-Tech and released in 1999 for Windows. It is the sequel to the original Jagged Alliance and has earned a reputation as one of the best games in...
Black & White
Windows XP/98/952001 god game
Black & White (2001) is what happens when a god game gets a bit too literal. You play as a deity, complete with a giant hand, an enormous ego, and a giant pet that poops on villagers. Will you be kind and benevolent, or a flam...
Populous
DOS1989 sandbox strategy, god game, real-time strategy
Populous is an abandoned strategy game designed by the video game celebrity Peter Molyneux, developed by Bullfrog. Populous was released by Electronic Arts in 1989 for DOS and for a long list of other 16-bit and 8-bit systems, bot...
4Play
Windows XP/98/95Windows 3.x1995NSFW board game
4Play was a risqué trivia and multi-player board-style game released in the mid-1990s. Designed as a party game, it combined trivia questions, mini-games, and challenges that often leaned toward suggestive or adult the...
Strip Poker Professional
DOS1994NSFW cards