Abandonware DOS title

Turn-based tactical games sorted by release date

Turn-based tactical video games are a genre of strategy games where gameplay is divided into turns, during which players take sequential actions with their units or characters. In turn-based tactical games, players typically control a group of units, such as soldiers, heroes, or specialized characters, and navigate them across a grid-based map or environment. Each turn, players can move their units, attack enemies, use special abilities, or perform other actions within the game's mechanics and rules.

The turn-based nature of these games allows players to carefully consider their options and plan their moves strategically, taking into account factors like terrain, unit strengths and weaknesses, and the overall objectives of the game. Typically, the outcome of battles or encounters is determined by a combination of factors such as unit statistics, positioning, and sometimes random chance. Some well-known examples of turn-based tactical games include the XCOM series, Heroes of Might and Magic series, Final Fantasy Tactics, and Jagged Alliance. 

Most popular turn-based tactics games

Jagged Alliance 2
strategyWindows XP/98/95, Linux, Mac
X-COM: Ufo Defense
strategyDOS
tigersinsnow-4

The Battle of the Bulge: Tigers in the Snow

DOS1982protected3.8/5 Tactical Design Group
battle-for-normandy-02

Battle for Normandy

DOS1983protected3.8/5 Tactical Design Group
knights-of-the-desert-03

Knights of the Desert

DOS1983protected3.8/5 Tactical Design Group
battleformidway-1

Midway Campaign

DOS19834/5 Microcomputer Games Inc.
battleantietam-1

Battle of Antietam

DOS1985protected3.6/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
crusade-in-europe-01

Crusade in Europe

DOS19853.9/5 MicroProse Software
decision_desert-05

Decision in the Desert

DOS19853.8/5 MicroProse Software
conflictvietnam-4

Conflict in Vietnam

DOS19864.2/5 MicroProse Software
desert-rats-03

Desert Rats

DOS19863.9/5 Cases Computer Simulations
gulf-strike-04

Gulf Strike

DOS19864.2/5 Microcomputer Games Inc.
kampfgruppe-05

Kampfgruppe

DOS1987protected3.6/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
mech-brigade-03

Mech Brigade

DOS1987protected4.1/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
pattonvsrommel-1

Patton vs. Rommel

DOS19874/5 Electronic Arts
roadwar2000-3

Roadwar 2000

DOS1987protected4/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
roadwareuropa-1

Roadwar Europa

DOS1987protected3.9/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
sorcerer-lord-01

Sorcerer Lord

DOS19874/5 Personal Software Services
civilwar-1

The Civil War

DOS19873.3/5 Avalon Hill
arnhem-01

Arnhem: The Market Garden Operation

DOS19882.8/5 Cases Computer Simulations
decisive-civil-war-1-03

Decisive Battles of the American Civil War: Vol. 1

DOS19884/5 SSG Strategic Studies Group
firezone-04

Firezone

DOS19883.1/5 Arcadia Systems
starcommand-4

Star Command

DOS1988protected4/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
ums-1

UMS: The Universal Military Simulator

DOSMac19884.1/5 Intergalactic Development
UMS, short for Universal Military Simulator, is a computer-based wargame simulation developed by Rainbird Software in 1988. It was designed with the intention of providing players with a comprehensive and realistic military simulation experience.The game allows players to engage in strategic and tactical warfare across various scenarios and battlef...
vulcan-04

Vulcan: The Tunisian Campaign

DOS19883.8/5 Cases Computer Simulations
battleausterlitz-2

Austerlitz 1805

DOS19893.9/5 Cornerstone Software
conflict-europe-07

Conflict: Europe

DOS19894.2/5 Personal Software Services
Conflict Europe is an abandoned turn-based top-down strategy game set in Europe. The game was developed by Personal Software Services and released by Mirrorsoft in 1989 for DOS, Amiga and Atari ST.
decisive-civil-war-2-08

Decisive Battles of the American Civil War: Vol. 2

DOS19893.9/5 SSG Strategic Studies Group
joan-of-arc-03

Joan of Arc

DOS19894/5 Chip
sword-of-aragon-05

Sword of Aragon

DOS1989protected4.2/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
waterloo-02

Waterloo

DOS1989protected4.1/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
blitzardennes-2

Blitzkrieg: Battle at the Ardennes

DOS19903.5/5 Command Simulations