Abandonware DOS title

The best base building games

Base building is a self-explanatory gameplay activity featured mainly in strategy and simulation games. In the X-Com series, part of the game involves building your base to properly fight an alien invasion. In Dungeon Keeper the goal of the game is to build an underground base and defend it from heroes. Recently some devs took base-building to a whole new level with games such as Dwarf Fortress and Rimworld.

Most popular base building games

Age of Empires
strategyWindows XP/98/95
Zoo Tycoon
simulationWindows XP/98/95
ufo-5

X-COM: Ufo Defense

DOS1994protected4.3/5 MicroProse Software
UFO: Enemy Unknown (or X-COM: Ufo Defense) is a sci-fi tactical strategy game created by Julian Gollop set in a not-to-distant future where aliens are invading the Earth. The gameplay switches between tactical combat, where you fight aliens in a turn-based fashion, and strategic micromanagement, where you manage your X-COM base and personnel.
age-of-empires-2-04

Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings

Windows XP/98/951999protecteddemo4.3/5 Ensemble Studios
age-of-wonders-09

Age of Wonders

Windows XP/98/951999protecteddemo4.2/5 Triumph Studios
age_of_empires-7

Age of Empires

Windows XP/98/951997protecteddemo4.2/5 Ensemble Studios
Age of Empires, published by Microsoft and developed by Ensemble Studios, is one of the most popular historical RTS and started a successful series. The player must guide a civilization from prehistory to the iron age, battling other civilizations, building and gathering resources.
serfcity-6

The Settlers

DOS1993protected4.2/5 Blue Byte Software
free-enterprise-07

Free Enterprise

Windows XP/98/9519964.2/5 Tsunami Media
Dehumanizing offices? Check. Depressing environment? Check. No windows in the whole place? Check. Good, I'm ready to exploit my workers and become great entrepreneur. All of this thanks to Free Enterprise, a simulation for Windows by Tsunami Media, published in 1996.
castles2-3

Castles 2: Siege and Conquest

DOSMac OS1992protected4.2/5 Quicksilver Software
xcom2-7

X-COM: Terror from the Deep

DOS1995protected4.2/5 MicroProse Software
X-COM: Terror from the Deep is a DOS science fiction tactical strategy game and the sequel to one of the most popular DOS games in history, X-COM: UFO Defense. Terror from the Deep was designed by Stephen Goss (the original X-COM was designed by Julian Gollop) and was published by MicroProse Software in 1995. Terror from the Deep doesn't change the...
xcom3-09

X-COM: Apocalypse

DOSWindows XP/98/951997protected4.1/5 Mythos Software
X-COM: Apocalypse is the third installment of the very popular X-COM franchise. After X-COM: Ufo Defence and Terror From the Deep, fans expected another smash hit. Apocalypse is quite different under many aspects, from gameplay to aesthetics. X-COM Apocalypse was designed by Julian Gollop (the same designer that brought the original X-COM to l...
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Zoo Tycoon

Windows XP/98/9520014.1/5 Blue Fang Games
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SimFarm

DOSWindows XP/98/95Mac OS19934.1/5 Maxis
SimFarm is a simulation video game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts in 1993. In SimFarm, players take on the role of a farmer and manage various aspects of running a farm, including planting crops, raising livestock, and dealing with natural disasters.Players start with a basic farm and a limited amount of resources, and they mus...
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Dungeon Keeper

DOSWindows XP/98/95Mac OS1997protected4.1/5 Electronic Arts
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...
age-of-wonder-2-05

Age of Wonders 2: The Wizard's Throne

Windows XP/98/952002protecteddemo4.1/5 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 the original Age of Wonders. The game is set in a fantasy world where players take on the role of a leader, either as a wizard or a warlord, and compete for control of the...
castles-5

Castles

DOS1991protected4.1/5 Quicksilver Software
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Yoot Tower

Windows XP/98/9519994/5 OPeNBooK Co.
themehospital-2

Theme Hospital

DOSWindows XP/98/951997protecteddemo4/5 Bullfrog
reunion-05

Reunion

DOS19944/5 Dinamic Multimedia
rampart-3

Rampart

DOS19924/5 Atari
Rampart is an abandoned mix of strategy and shooter game designed by Dave Ralston and John Salwitz, developed by Atari and released by Electronic Arts in 1992 for DOS. Rampart was converted from the original arcade version to a number of platforms, including Amiga, Atari ST, C64, Game Boy, Genesis, Lynx, NES, SEGA Master System, SNES. Rampart is a ...
dungeon-keeper-2-09

Dungeon Keeper 2

Windows XP/98/95Mac OS1997protected4/5 Bullfrog
dungeon_keeper_3

Dungeon Keeper 3: War for the Overworld

Windows2000canceled3.9/5 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.
themepark-3

Theme Park

DOS1994protected3.9/5 Bullfrog
settlers-2-04

The Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici

DOSMac OS1996protected3.9/5 Blue Byte Software
dinopark-1

Dinopark Tycoon

DOS19933.6/5 Manley Associates
moonbase-03

Moonbase

DOS19903.5/5 Wesson International
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