Abandonware DOS title

Dystopian games sorted by release date

A dystopia is the lesser-known counterpart to utopia, representing an undesirable or nightmarish society. Dystopian societies often suffer from various negative aspects such as environmental degradation, oppressive governments, rampant despotism, extreme inequality, or social decay.

Cyberpunk and post-apocalyptic games serve as prime examples of dystopian themes. Cyberpunk worlds often depict high-tech, low-life futures where corporate control, surveillance, and societal breakdown are rampant. Post-apocalyptic games, on the other hand, explore the aftermath of catastrophic events, where humanity is struggling to survive in a ruined, lawless world. Both genres reflect dystopian fears about the future, technology, and society.

Most popular dystopia games

farehneith451-04

Farenheit 451

DOS1984 Telarium
_amfv_002

A Mind Forever Voyaging

DOSMac OS1985 Infocom
If you ever wanted to play a video game that doubles as a philosophical think piece, A Mind Forever Voyaging (1985) is your ride. Released for DOS and Macintosh, this is one of Infocom’s most ambitious works - a text adventu...
auto-duel-05

Autoduel

DOS1985 Origin Systems
What do you get when you mix Mad Max, Car Wars, and a fondness for vehicular homicide? You get Autoduel (1985, DOS), a top-down driving RPG where your car is your castle and your guns are your diplomatic policy. Part racing game, ...
roadwar2000-3

Roadwar 2000

DOS1987protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
roadwareuropa-1

Roadwar Europa

DOS1987protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
manhunter-new-york-4

Manhunter: New York

DOS1988 Evryware
scavengersmutant-splash

Scavengers of the Mutant World

DOS1988 Interstel Corporation
wasteland-splash

Wasteland

DOS1988protected Interplay Productions
archipelagos-title

Archipelagos

DOS1989 Astral Software
Archipelagos is like a fever dream after watching too much Myst. You’re dropped onto strange, floating islands inhabited by stone monoliths and evil terrain-infecting sludge. Your job? Purify the land by destroying said mono...
chamberpsi-1

Chamber of the Sci-Mutant Priestess

DOS1989protected ERE Informatique
deathtrack-spalsh

Deathtrack

DOS1989 Dynamix
Deathtrack is an abandoned racing vehicular combat game set in a post-apocalyptic North America. Deathtrack is a mix of high-speed racing and combat and was developed by Dynamix and released by Activision in 1989 for DO...
interphase-01

Interphase

DOS1989 The Assembly Line
manhunter2-1

Manhunter 2: San Francisco

DOSMac OS1989 Evryware
meanstreets-splash

Mean Streets

DOS1989protected Access Software
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Neuromancer

DOS1989 Interplay Productions
The Neuromancer video game, released in 1988 by Interplay Productions, is an adventure/role-playing game loosely based on William Gibson's seminal cyberpunk novel Neuromancer (1984). It combines elements of science fiction, hackin...
robocop-2

Robocop

DOS1989 Data East
Robocop is an abandoned beat 'em up / run and gun shooter game developed and released by Data East in 1989 for a number of platforms, including DOS. Robocop is a conversion from an arcade game released by Data East in 1988 an...
bad-blood-03

Bad Blood

DOS1990 Origin Systems
Set in a post-apocalyptic world where leather vests are apparently immune to radiation, Bad Blood lets you wander the wasteland deciding whether to be a brute, a brainiac, or a mutant with questionable fashion sense. Dialogue-heav...
circuitsedge-2

Circuit's Edge

DOS1990 Westwood Studios
Circuit's Edge is a cyberpunk-themed role-playing game developed by Westwood Associates and published by Infocom. It was released in 1990 for MS-DOS. Set in a dystopian future, Circuit's Edge takes place in the fictional city of R...
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Fountain of Dreams

DOS1990 Electronic Arts
narcopolice-1

Narco Police

DOS1990 Iron Byte
Narco Police is a tactical action game developed by Dinamic Software and released in 1990. It was available on various platforms, including MS-DOS, Amiga, Atari ST, and ZX Spectrum. The game is set in a dystopian near-future world...
ranx-2

Ranx: The Video Game

DOS1990 UBI Soft
Ranx is a 1990 action-adventure video game based on the Italian cyberpunk comic RanXerox, created by artist Tanino Liberatore. The game was developed by Ubisoft and released for the Amiga, Atari ST, and MS-DOS platforms. The ...
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Rise of the Dragon

DOS1990 Dynamix
Rise of the Dragon is a point-and-click adventure game developed and published by Dynamix in 1990. It was originally released for MS-DOS and later ported to other platforms such as the Amiga and Sega CD. The game is set in a cyber...
martianmemo-2

Martian Memorandum

DOS1991protecteddemo Access Software
Martian Memorandum is a point-and-click adventure game developed and published by Access Software. It was released in 1991 and is the sequel to the game Mean Streets. The game is set in a dystopian future on Mars, where players ta...
terminator2judgement-1

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

DOS1991 Syntetic Dimensions
Terminator 2: Judgment Day is one of the many adaptations of the Terminator franchise. This one is based on the movie of the same name, but it's not as good as the movie, according to critics. Terminator 2 is an action game develo...
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Cybercon III

DOS1992 The Assembly Line
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Space Crusade

DOS1992 Gremlin Graphics / Gremlin Interactive
bloodnet-4

BloodNet

DOS1993protected MicroProse Software
BloodNet combines vampires, cyberspace, and noir in a cocktail so strange it probably shouldn’t work but somehow does. You are a hacker who just got bitten by a vampire and now you must juggle your thirst for blood with your...
syndicate-5

Syndicate

DOSWindows XP/98/95Mac OS1993protecteddemo Bullfrog
Syndicate is a cyberpunk-themed tactical action game developed by Bullfrog Productions and published by Electronic Arts in 1993. The game is set in a dystopian future where corporations, called syndicates, have replaced government...
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The Terminator: Rampage

DOS1993 Bethesda Softworks
transarctica-06

Transarctica

DOS1993 Silmarils