Games set in the 19th century

The 19th century was the age of steam, railroads and remarkable discoveries. It was the age of literary masterpieces like the Sherlock Holmes novels and Jules Verne's sci-fi stories. It's easy to see why some developers chose the 19th century as the setting for their games.

Most popular 19th century games

Railroad Tycoon 2

The Oregon Trail

North and South

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1869

DOS1992 Max Design

If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming a 19th-century merchant sailing the high seas with a suspiciously optimistic outlook on international trade, 1869 is your jam. It throws you into the age of clipper ships, where profit marg...

1893: A World's Fair Mystery

Windows XP/98/95Mac OS2003

1893: A World's Fair Mystery is an interactive fiction game developed by the American studio Illuminated Lantern and released in 2002. Set during the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, the game combines historical ficti...

20000 Leagues under the sea

DOS1988 Coktel Vision

Based loosely on Jules Verne’s famous tale, this game lets you live your steampunk submarine dreams with all the elegance of a DOS interface. You command the Nautilus, explore the ocean depths, and encounter strange sea crea...

221B Baker Street

DOS1986 Datasoft

You are Sherlock Holmes, and someone has committed a crime, possibly because they couldn’t handle the game’s UI. 221B Baker Street is a detective board game where your mind is your only weapon. And also a notepad, beca...

Austerlitz

DOS1989protected Tactical Design Group

Battle of Antietam

DOS1985protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.

Civil War buffs, rejoice. Battle of Antietam (1985) lets you relive one of the bloodiest days in American history... via pixelated dots and turn-based tension. There’s no flash here—just raw, old-school strategy where ...

Champion of the Raj

DOS1991 Personal Software Services

Colonialism meets turn-based strategy in Champion of the Raj, where you attempt to conquer India with charm, cunning, and the occasional elephant race. It’s part political simulator, part RPG, and part historical fever dream...

Colorado

DOS1990 Silmarils

Colorado (1990, DOS) drops you into the buckskin boots of a rugged frontiersman navigating the Wild West with guns, canoes, and questionable hygiene. Equal parts action and exploration, it feels like someone mashed together Oregon...

Crossbow: The Legend of William Tell

DOS1990

In Crossbow: The Legend of William Tell, you’re not just a heroic archer—you’re a babysitter for an entire group of reckless companions who have an uncanny talent for walking directly into danger. The game is a s...

Decision at Gettysburg

DOS1990 TigLon Software

If adrenaline-fueled car chases aren’t your thing, maybe meticulous Civil War simulations are. Decision at Gettysburg (1990) is a detailed, turn-based strategy game that lets you relive one of America’s most famous bat...

Decisive Battles of the American Civil War: Vol. 1

DOS1988 SSG Strategic Studies Group

Released in 1988, Decisive Battles of the American Civil War: Vol. 1 is as straightforward as its title. You get historical accuracy, a serious strategy engine, and about as many graphical flourishes as a tax form. Yet the depth i...

Decisive Battles of the American Civil War: Vol. 2

DOS1989 SSG Strategic Studies Group

By 1989, SSI doubled down with Vol. 2, offering more battles, more maps, and the same demanding mechanics. If you enjoyed the first, you’ll feel right at home; if you didn’t, this won’t change your mind. The seri...

Decisive Battles of the American Civil War: Vol. 3

DOS1992 SSG Strategic Studies Group

By 1992, Vol. 3 wrapped up the trilogy with even more complex scenarios. At this point, the series had become less of a game and more of an interactive textbook—though that’s not a criticism if you’re the type wh...

Dracula in London

DOS1988 SDJ Enterprises

Fields of Glory

DOS1993protected MicroProse Software

Fort Apache

DOS1992 Impressions Games

Freddy Pharkas: Frontier Pharmacist

DOSWindows XP/98/95Windows 3.xMac OS1993protecteddemo Sierra On-Line

Freddy Pharkas: Frontier Pharmacist is a humorous point-and-click adventure game from 1993 developed by Sierra On-Line and co-designed by Al Lowe (creator of Leisure Suit Larry) and Josh Mandel. Set in the Old West, Freddy Pharkas...

Gold Rush!

DOS1988protected Sierra On-Line

Great Napoleonic Battles

DOS1991 Impressions Games

Jack the Ripper

DOS1995 Intergalactic Development

Jinxter

DOS1988 Magnetic Scrolls

Journey to the Center of the Earth

DOS1988 Chip

L'Empereur

DOS1991 KOEI

Lost Dutchman Mine

DOS1989 Magnetic images

Lost in Time

DOS1993 Coktel Vision

North and South

DOS1990 Infogrames

Railroad Tycoon 2

Windows XP/98/95LinuxMac OS1998 Pop Software

Railroad Tycoon 2 is an abandoned train simulation game designed by Phil Steinmeyer, developed by Pop Software and released by Gathering of Developers for Windows, Linux and Mac in 1998. As the title suggests, Railroad Tycoon 2 is...

Scrooge

DOS1991 Leisuresoft

Scrooge is an abandoned interactive fiction graphic adventure game developed and released by Leisuresoft in 1991 for DO. Scrooge is based on the popular Christmas tale of the same name.