Abandonware DOS title

Sandbox strategy games sorted by year, newest first

There's something magical in sandbox strategy games. You can do literally what you want without the typical constraints of games that tell you what to do. SimCity is the perfect example: play at your own pace, set your own goals and just play. On Abandonware DOS games are listed as sandbox even if the sandbox gameplay is just a small part of the whole (i.e. "play in sandbox mode").

Most popular sandbox strategy games

Sid Meier's SimGolf
sportsWindows XP/98/95
SimCity 2000
simulationDOS, Windows 3.x, Windows XP/98/95
Pharaoh
simulationWindows XP/98/95
lincity-03

Lincity NG

WindowsLinuxMac2005freeware3.7/5
Lincity-NG is an open-source city simulation game and a continuation of the original Lincity game. The "NG" stands for "New Generation." The game is designed to be a city-building and management simulation where players take on the role of a city manager and must balance various factors such as population growth, resource management, environmental ...
roller-coaster-tycoon-2-05

Roller Coaster Tycoon 2

Windows XP/98/952002protected4.2/5 Chris Sawyer Productions
Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 is a simulation game developed by Chris Sawyer Productions and published by Infogrames. It was released in 2002 as the sequel to the original  classic Roller Coaster Tycoon. In Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 players take on the role of an amusement park manager and are tasked with designing, building, and managing their own th...
sim-golf-05

Sid Meier's SimGolf

Windows XP/98/9520024.1/5 Firaxis Games
Sid Meier's SimGolf is a golf simulation developed by Firaxis Games in 2002, different from other golf games. In SimGolf, the player is tasked with running a golf course, designing holes, taking care of golfers and even playing. It's an underrated game that deserves a place among the best of its genre.
cultures1-02

Cultures

Windows XP/98/952000protected3.9/5 Funatics Software
dungeon_keeper_3

Dungeon Keeper 3: War for the Overworld

Windows2000canceled4.1/5 Bullfrog
Dungeon Keeper 3 was a cancelled dungeon management strategy game being developed by Bullfrog that was never released. Dungeon Keeper 3 was cancelled in 2000 and the Dungeon Keeper franchise ended without a third chapter.
zeus-poseidon-08

Zeus: Master of Olympus

Windows XP/98/952000protected4.2/5 Impressions Games
pharaoh-sierra-4

Pharaoh

Windows XP/98/951999protected4.2/5 Impressions Games
roller-coaster-tycoon-1-07

Roller Coaster Tycoon

Windows XP/98/951999protected4.2/5 Chris Sawyer Productions
simcity3000-03

SimCity 3000

Windows XP/98/951999protected4/5 Maxis
yoot-tower-07

Yoot Tower

Windows XP/98/9519994/5 OPeNBooK Co.
caesar-3-09

Caesar 3

Windows XP/98/95Mac1998protected4.3/5 Impressions Games
populous-beginning-03

Populous: The Beginning

Windows XP/98/951998protected4.2/5 Bullfrog
dungeon-keeper-02

Dungeon Keeper

DOSWindows XP/98/95Mac1997protected4.1/5 Electronic Arts
dungeon-keeper-2-09

Dungeon Keeper 2

Windows XP/98/95Mac1997protected4/5 Bullfrog
holiday-island-4

Holiday Island

Windows 3.x19964/5 Sunflowers Interactive Entertainment Software
settlers-2-04

The Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici

DOSMac1996protected3.9/5 Blue Byte Software
caesar2-3

Caesar 2

DOS19954.2/5 Impressions Games
transport-tycoon-deluxe-02

Transport Tycoon Deluxe

DOS19954.3/5 Chris Sawyer Productions
Transport Tycoon Deluxe is a business simulation game that puts the player at the head of a transport company to compete against rival companies. The player can build stations, airports, railroads to transport passengers, mail and various goods using trucks, trains and planes. The game became a cult and a few talented fans created some of the best ...
sim-tower-5

SimTower

Windows 3.x19944.1/5 OPeNBooK Co.
SimTower is an old Windows 3.x (1994) building and business simulation game where the player is tasked with the management of a skyscraper nonetheless. Raise floors, build apartments, shops, offices and try to avoid bankruptcy if you can. SimTower spawned some similar games for mobile devices, most notably the wonderful Tiny Tower, It's surprisingl...
transporttycoon-2

Transport Tycoon

DOS19944.2/5 MicroProse Software
Transport Tycoon is a business simulation game that puts the player at the head of a transport company to compete against rival companies. The player can build stations, airports, railroads to transport passengers, mail and various goods using trucks, trains and planes. The game became a cult and a few talented fans created some of the best remakes...
populos2-4

Populous 2: Trials of the Olympian Gods

DOSMac1993protected4.2/5 Bullfrog
Populous 2: Trials of the Olympian Gods is an old sandbox strategy god-game. As the title suggests, the setting is more of less ancient Greek mythology and you're a god (hence the god-game label). Populous 2 is the sequel of the much acclaimed Populous, designed by Peter Molineaux. Populous 2 was developed by Bullfrog and published by Electronic Ar...
simcity2000-1

SimCity 2000

DOSWindows 3.xWindows XP/98/951993protected4.2/5 Maxis
SimCity 2000 is a classic city building simulation, part of the popular SimCity series, developed by Maxis and designed by Will Wright. SimCity 2000 is a huge step up from the 2D predecessor SimCity and boasts improvements like: isometric view, underground, water pipes, subways, new buildings like prisons, schools, libraries, museums, etc.
serfcity-6

The Settlers

DOS1993protected4.2/5 Blue Byte Software
caesar1-4

Caesar

DOS19923.9/5 Impressions Games
simlife-2

SimLife

DOSMacWindows 3.x19924/5 Maxis
SimLife is an abandoned simulation game focused on managing a ecosystems and experimenting with genetics. SimLife was designed by Ken Karakotsios, developed and released by Maxis in 1992 for DOS and later also published for Macintosh, Amiga, Windows 3.x and Amiga.
sim-earth-3

SimEarth

DOSWindows 3.x19904.2/5 Maxis
SimEarth is a simulation in which you can shape and mold a planet in almost every way you can imagine. In SimEarth our planet is simulated as a whole: life, climate, atmosphere are all aspects of a single Gaia-like Earth. SimEarth can be played in two modes: game and experimental. In game mode, you have to to develop (and preserve) Earth with limit...
populous-5

Populous

DOS19893.9/5 Bullfrog
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, both console and PCs. Populos is a really unique game: it gave the name to the the whole god-game genre since, well, in the...
simcity-6

SimCity

DOSWindows 3.xWindows XP/98/951989protected4.1/5 Maxis
SimCity (or SimCity Classic) is a popular city building simulation in which you, the mayor of a city, have to build a metropolis from the ground up. You can build police and fire departments, assign industrial, residential or commercial areas, manage power distribution, build ports and airports. Grow your city from village to metropolis and try to ...
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