The most popular shareware games

Shareware games were released for free with limited functionality (for example: no saving, missing levels, time limit), often via a BBS (Bulletin Board System), a floppy disc or a CD included in a printed magazine or by direct download (when internet was in its infancy). If the user liked the shareware product, they could pay to obtain an upgrade and unlock the full game. When digital distribution started to become popular, shareware games slowly faded into oblivion.

Most popular shareware games

Duke Nukem

actionDOS

Heretic

shooterDOS

Quake

shooterDOS, Windows XP/98/95

Shareware games

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Duke Nukem

DOS19914.2/5 Apogee Software

Duke Nukem 1 was released in 1991 by Apogee Software for MS-DOS, and it marked the beginning of the Duke Nukem franchise. Duke Nukem is a side-scrolling action platformer game with a sci-fi theme. In this original game, players control Duke Nukem, a muscular action hero tasked with saving the world from the evil Dr. Proton. Dr. Proton has taken con...
Heretic

DOS1994protected4.3/5 Raven Software
Quake

DOSWindows XP/98/951996protected4.3/5 id software

Quake is a real-time 3D FPS developed by idSoftware and a spiritual successor to the popular Doom series. Quake became very popular and spawned many sequels and fan made mods such as Team Fortress.
Tank Wars

DOS19904.3/5
Duke Nukem 3D

DOS1996protected4.2/5 3d Realms

Duke Nukem 3D is a classic first-person shooter that was developed by 3D Realms (formerly known as Apogee Software) and published by GT Interactive. It was released in 1996 for MS-DOS and later for various other platforms, including Windows, Mac OS, and gaming consoles.
Solar Winds 2: Galaxy

DOS19933.9/5 Stone Interactive Media
Death Rally

DOS1996freeware4.1/5 Remedy Entertainment Ltd.
Spacewar

DOS19854.1/5
Digger

DOS19834.2/5 Windmill Software

Digger is an abandoned action game developed and released by Windmill Software back in 1983 for PC only. Gameplay is a mix of two classics: Dig Dug and Mr. Do!: dig down, get gems, avoid death, reach the next level and so on.
Jill of the Jungle

DOS19924.1/5 Epic MegaGames
Bio Menace Episode 1: Dr. Mangle's Lab

DOS1993freeware4/5 Apogee Software
Astro Fire

DOS1994freewareremake3.9/5 ORT Software
Blood

DOS1997protected4.2/5 Monolith Productions
Wolfenstein 3D

DOSMac1992protected4.1/5 id software

Wolfenstein 3D is the first-person shooter that popularized the whole genre in the early 90s and is considered one of the greatest games ever made. Wolfenstein 3D was designed by John Romero and Tom Hall (id Software) and released as shareware by Apogee Software in 1992 for DOS. Wolfenstein 3D is based on the Wolf3D engine, programmed by John ...
Abuse

DOSLinuxMac1995freeware3.9/5 Crack dot Com
Aldo's Adventure

DOS1987remake3.8/5 Yahoo Software
Scorched Earth

DOS1991protected4.1/5
Tyrian 2000

DOS1999freeware4.1/5 Eclipse Software

Tyrian 2000 is an old DOS science fiction classic shoot'em up, developed by Eclipse Software and designed by Alexander Brandon, Jason Emery, Daniel Cook. Tyrian 2000 is one of the most popular shoot'em ups ever published for DOS and it's still remembered by retro gaming fans to this day.
Blake Stone 1: Aliens of Gold

DOS1993protected4.1/5 JAM Productions
Aquanoid

DOS1992remake3.8/5
Raptor: Call of the Shadows

DOSWindows XP/98/951994protected4.1/5 Mountain King Studios
Captain Comic, The Adventures of

DOS1988freeware3.8/5
Alice in Wonderland

DOS19893.4/5
Commander Keen 6: Aliens Ate my Baby Sitter!

DOS19914.2/5 id software
Aleshar World of Ice

DOS19973.7/5
DND

DOS19844.1/5
One Must Fall 2097

DOS1994freeware4.2/5 Diversions Entertainment
Alien Rampage

DOS19964/5
Blades of Exile

Windows 3.xMacWindows XP/98/951997freeware4.1/5 Spiderweb Software
Xatax

DOS19944/5 Pixel Painters Corporation