Abandonware DOS title

The most popular hex based games

Many old turn-based wargames took place on a map represented with identical hexagons. These hex-based games are not common these days (Civilization V is a rare exception), but were well known to C64, DOS PC and Spectrum owners.
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Heroes of Might and Magic

DOSWindows XP/98/951995 New World Computing
Heroes of Might and Magic offers a strategic playground where armies march, heroes grow stronger, and time seems to disappear without warning. It has that classic “just one more ...
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Crusade in Europe

DOS1985 MicroProse Software
Crusade in Europe is a detailed World War II strategy game that lets you take command of the Allied or Axis forces during some of the war’s most famous campaigns. It’s ...
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Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia

Windows XP/98/951999protected New World Computing
Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia is often spoken of with a certain reverence, and it is not hard to see why. Everything comes together with a confidence th...
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Bandit Kings of Ancient China

DOS1989 KOEI
Based on a classic Chinese novel, Bandit Kings of Ancient China combines strategy, RPG elements, and about 800 names you’ll never remember. You play one of 108 outlaws trying...
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Age of Wonders 2: The Wizard's Throne

Windows XP/98/952002protecteddemo Triumph Studios
Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne is a turn-based strategy game developed by Triumph Studios and published by Gathering of Developers. It was released in 2002 as a sequel to t...
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Gary Grigsby's War in Russia

DOS1993 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
With Gary Grigsby’s War in Russia, the scale somehow gets even bigger, and the margin for error even smaller. This is strategy at its most unforgiving, where moving a unit on...
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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...
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Age of Wonders

Windows XP/98/951999protecteddemo Triumph Studios
Mix one part turn-based strategy, one part fantasy novel, add a dash of dragon, and you get Age of Wonders (1999). This is the game where wizards rule, elves sulk in forests, and y...
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Desert Rats

DOS1986 Cases Computer Simulations
Released in 1986, Desert Rats is a strategy game that puts you in charge of the North African campaign of World War II. Don’t let the cute title fool you—there are no a...
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V for victory: Velikiye Luki

DOS1992protected Atomic Games
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Fantasy General

DOS1996protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Fantasy General, released in 1996, takes the structure of classic wargames and wraps it in a richly illustrated fantasy skin. Battles are turn-based and highly tactical, emphasizin...
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Panzer General

DOS1994protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Panger General is a turn based strategy wargame developed by SSI set in World War 2. The player can choose Axis or Allies and fight against the AI or another human player in more t...
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Heroes of Might and Magic II

DOSWindows XP/98/951996protected New World Computing
Heroes of Might and Magic II takes the foundation of its predecessor and polishes it with the care of someone who genuinely loved the original. The visuals are richer, the mechanic...
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Nobunaga's Ambition

DOS1988 KOEI
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The Perfect General

DOS1991 White Wolf Productions
Strategy fans, sharpen your wits: The Perfect General (1991, DOS) marches onto the battlefield with hex-based tactics, satisfyingly crunchy mechanics, and a strict “no button...
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Emperor of the Fading Suns

Windows XP/98/951996 Holistic Design
Emperor of the Fading Suns is a grand strategy game that looks at you and assumes you’ve cleared your schedule. Politics, religion, warfare, economics—it’s all he...
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Carrier Strike: South Pacific 1942-44

DOS1992protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
If you ever wanted to command the Pacific fleet without getting wet, Carrier Strike is your game. Set during WWII, it’s a turn-based wargame where numbers, radar, and weather...
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Panzer General 2

Windows XP/98/951997protecteddemo SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
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Decision in the Desert

DOS1985 MicroProse Software
Before Gettysburg, there was Decision in the Desert (1985), which simulates WWII’s North African campaign. Expect hex maps, endless sand, and the occasional tank battle that ...
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Battle Isle

DOS1991protected Blue Byte Software
Turns out war is a lot tidier when it’s turn-based. Battle Isle (1991) gives you neat little hexagons to move your units on, like a very angry board game. It’s got stra...
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Blitzkrieg: Battle at the Ardennes

DOS1990 Command Simulations
In Blitzkrieg: Battle at the Ardennes, you’re not just playing a wargame — you’re being handed a clipboard, a stack of orders, and a freezing cold battlefield in ...
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Battle Isle 2200

DOS1994protected Blue Byte Software
With Battle Isle 2200 (1994), the series goes full 3D cinematic—with cutscenes so dramatic you’d think they were auditioning for a soap opera in space. The gameplay is ...
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A Line in the Sand

DOS1992protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
A Line in the Sand (1992) is what happens when a board game about modern Middle Eastern warfare gets turned into a DOS strategy title with all the subtlety of a cold war memo. You ...
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Conflict: Korea

DOS1992protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Step into the Korean War with Conflict: Korea, where you command UN forces and discover that even in strategy games, North Korea is a problem. It follows the same system as the res...
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Pacific General

Windows XP/98/951997protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
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Mech War

DOS1992
Mech War (1992) takes the concept of giant robot combat and turns it into a fast-paced tactical showdown. Instead of commanding from afar, you’re directly involved in the act...
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Battle for Normandy

DOS1983protected Tactical Design Group
Released in 1983, Battle for Normandy plays less like a game and more like a history book that came alive, donned a helmet, and asked for a coffee. This is wargaming at its purest:...
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Clash of Steel

DOS1993protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
If Risk and Excel had a baby during WWII, it would be Clash of Steel. You command nations, move armies, manage production, and try to stop history from repeating itself—usual...
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Panzer Battles

DOS1990 SSG Strategic Studies Group
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5th Fleet

DOS1994
This 1994 naval strategy game for DOS is based on the board game of the same name, which means you’ll spend more time squinting at menus than blowing up ships. It’s cer...