Abandonware DOS title

Abandonware DOS retro gaming spotlight

  • Pharaoh: city building in ancient Egypt

    Pharaoh: city building in ancient Egypt

    9th March 2024simulation, strategy
    Pharaoh is a city building strategy game that is part of a group of games that uses the same interface and the same gameplay style: Pharaoh, the Caesar series and Zeus. Here's a couple of excerpt from reviews of old video game magazines.
  • GameSpy's 25 Favorite PC Games of the '90s

    GameSpy's 25 Favorite PC Games of the '90s

    24th February 2024action, adventure, puzzle, racing, RPG, shooter, strategy, top games and awards
    "The 1990s were landmark years for PC gaming, giving rise to three of the most deeply ingrained genres on the platform, and delivering memorable classics in the role-playing and adventure genres that the PC had long been known for. To celebrate this monumental decade we've put together some reflections ...
  • GameSpy Greatest PC Games of All Time: The '80s

    GameSpy Greatest PC Games of All Time: The '80s

    27th January 2024action, adventure, RPG, simulation, sports, strategy, top games and awards
    This is a special feature of the popular (and old!) video games site GameSpy. These games were handpicked by the GameSpy staff to be part of the best PC games published in the 80s. GameSpy Online, often referred to as GameSpy, was a division of IGN Entertainment that provided a ...
  • The shareware business model

    The shareware business model

    6th January 2024action, adventure, puzzle, racing, RPG, shooter, simulation, sports, strategy
    Shareware is a type of software distribution model that allows users to try a program before purchasing it. It's a marketing strategy and distribution method that was particularly popular in the early days of personal computing, primarily during the 1980s and 1990s.Shareware games were released for free with limited ...
  • God games: from Populous to Black and White

    God games: from Populous to Black and White

    2nd December 2023simulation, strategy
    A god game is a genre of video games where the player assumes the role of a deity or god and has control over various aspects of the game world. In these games, players typically have god-like powers and influence over the environment, characters, and events within the game. The ...
  • CODiE Awards 1999: Starcraft, Unreal, Lego Loco

    CODiE Awards 1999: Starcraft, Unreal, Lego Loco

    25th November 2023shooter, sports, strategy, top games and awards
    In 1999 we surpassed 6 billion inhabitants in the whole world. In Europe, the new currency - called EURO - replaces national currencies. In the USA, Napster is released, and if you don't remember it, go looking for it on Wikipedia! Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 5 (five!).Movies released in 1999: Star Wars: The ...
  • Dune 2: The Building of a Dynasty

    Dune 2: The Building of a Dynasty

    28th October 2023remakes and sequels, strategy
    Dune II, released in 1992, is a pioneering real-time strategy game developed by Westwood Studios. Set in the world of Frank Herbert's Dune, players command noble houses in a battle for control over the planet Arrakis. With base-building, resource management, and tactical combat, the game introduced key elements of the genre ...
  • Crusader: No Regret

    Crusader: No Regret

    21st October 2023RPG, strategy
    PC PowerPlay (1996) wrote: "The creators of the game obviously had a great time with the concept and as such have produced a very polished final product. For those people who have played the first game there will be no disappointment in the sequel, and for those who have not previously ...
  • Sid Meier was a pirate

    Sid Meier was a pirate

    30th September 2023adventure, remakes and sequels, simulation, strategy
    Pirates! Gold is an open world game designed by Paul Murphy, developed and released by MicroProse Software in 1993 for DOS, Windows 3.x, Mac and also Sega Genesis and Amiga CD32. Pirates! Gold is a remake of the game Pirates, created by Sid Meier in 1987. Pirates! Gold gameplay is a unique ...
  • StarCraft: RTS by Blizzard

    StarCraft: RTS by Blizzard

    24th June 2023strategy, top games and awards
    StarCraft is a classic RTS (Real-Time Strategy) game developed by Blizzard Entertainment and released in 1998 for Windows and Macintosh. StarCraft takes the Warcraft experience to a sci-fi setting with an interesting story, three very different races (the militaristic Humans, the alien Zerg and the religious Protoss) and one of the ...
  • Classic game spotlight: Laser Squad

    Classic game spotlight: Laser Squad

    28th April 2023strategy
    Laser Squad is an abandoned turn-based strategy/tactical game designed by Julian Gollop (the mind behind the X-COM series). Laser Squad was developed by Target Games Limited and released by MicroLeague Multimedia in 1992 for DOS and other 8-bit systems. Laser Squad is considered as a precursor of X-COM: Ufo Defense....
  • Populous 2 Trials of the Olympian Gods: the perfect god-game?

    Populous 2 Trials of the Olympian Gods: the perfect god-game?

    11th March 2023simulation, strategy
    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 ...
  • BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception

    BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception

    14th January 2023RPG, strategy
    According to Infocom, the game is designed for the 13 to 19 year old market and we agree. It could also be used to introduce younger kids into role-playing on the computer. BattleTech is made to be solved in about 35 hours, but it can easily be finished in around 20. It depends on ...
  • Jagged Alliance 2: like X-Com in South America

    Jagged Alliance 2: like X-Com in South America

    30th November 2022RPG, strategy
    I'm a fan of the original X-COM. I think it's one of the best turn-based tactics games ever released for DOS. Unfortunately, games like X-COM are not many. Jagged Alliance 2 has a similar tactical component: you give turn-based orders to a team of mercenaries, mission after mission. There's no management ...
  • X-COM Apocalypse: a different X-COM

    X-COM Apocalypse: a different X-COM

    27th August 2022remakes and sequels, simulation, strategy
    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 ...
  • The first Civilization

    The first Civilization

    13th August 2022strategy
    I clearly remember the first time I played Civilization. It was, perhaps, the first time I played a 4X game (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate). It took me a fair amount of time to learn the mechanics, understand the pace of the game, the gameplay and to finally beat the computer ...
  • Hooligans: one of the most controversial games ever released

    Hooligans: one of the most controversial games ever released

    6th August 2022strategy
    Apparently, Hooligans is one of the most controversial games ever made. I say apparently simply because I've never played Hooligans back then. A few weeks ago I spent half an hour playing the tutorial mission and I have to admit that I felt uncomfortable walking around thrashing benches and beating ...
  • Powermonger, by Bullfrog

    Powermonger, by Bullfrog

    9th July 2022simulation, strategy
    Powermonger is a real time strategy game where the player must defeat the opponents by conquering towns and tipping the balance of power in his/her favor. This is done by giving orders to soldiers and captains and by accumulating enough resources (food and equipment) to survive and ultimately win.
  • Colonization: a Civilization spin-off

    Colonization: a Civilization spin-off

    11th June 2022simulation, strategy
    Colonization is a turn based strategy 4x game. The setting is the European colonization of the new world. Colonization gameplay and interface are similar to Civilization, another Sid Meier game. However, there are some differences between Civilization and Colonization: playable nations (the European powers of the time), resources and commodities, ...
  • Civilization 2: an improved sequel

    Civilization 2: an improved sequel

    19th March 2022strategy
    Civilization 2, later renamed Sid Meier's Civilization II, is a turn based 4X strategy game developed and published by MicroProse in 1996. The gameplay is similar to the first Civilization, many aspects were improved and new features were introduced: a new isometric perspective, hit points for units, new civilizations, new wonders of ...