Remakes and ports of abandoned games
Games developed for DOS date back to the XX century and, well, there’s no other way you can define them - they’re just old. Graphics, user experience, and sound vastly progressed over the years: today’s games belong to an entirely different world.
Quite a few of the old DOS games have been recreated from scratch to varying degrees of faithfulness, whether by the hands of big gaming companies or indie developers. Some of these remakes are available to download as free games, while others can only be played online, and some are available for purchase.
Action
Action video games are all about speed, fast moves and dexterity. The main action varies according to the kind of game, which can include jumping from platforms (platform games), beating other players or computer controlled adversaries (beat'em up, fighting games) or simply exploring a maze.
Action-adventure
Action adventure games combine features from both action and adventure games. The name itself is quite generic, as it includes a large number of different games. Normally, action adventures require quickness and dexterity when it's about the action, and careful thinking for the adventure part.| Original game | Original release | Remakes and ports | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Cadaver | 1990 | Cadaver remake |
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Castle Adventure | 1984 | Castle: a rewrite of Castle Adventure |
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La Abadia del Crimen | 1987 | Abadia del Crimen remake |
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System Shock | 1994 | System Shock reboot |
Adventure
Adventure games focus on cracking enigmas and exploring and contemplating the game world in a narrative-driven scenario. In order to progress within the story arc, the player has to interact with different items, the environment itself, and other non-playing characters (NPC in short).
Puzzle
Puzzle games are about solving logical or strategic puzzles, jigsaws, mathematical brain teasers, and quizzes. The player can control one or more characters (as in Lemmings) or interact with static or moving objects (as in Tetris).| Original game | Original release | Remakes and ports | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Atomix | 1990 | WAtomic, a remake for Windows |
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Bombuzal | 1989 | Bombzuka |
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Lemmings | 1991 | Lemmigs remake |
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Puzznic | 1990 | Puzztrix remake |
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Rockford: The Arcade Game | 1987 | Hunters |
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Sherlock: the Game of Logic | 1991 | Sherlock Free for Android |
Racing
Racing and driving games simulate driving races by putting the player in a variety of driving seats, like Formula 1 cars, motorbikes, all-terrain racing cars, or futuristic vehicles. The goal is usually winning a race against other vehicles in environments of varying degrees of realism. Some games push it to the limits by adding weapons or dispensing with the racing aspect altogether, allowing the player to drive freely.| Original game | Original release | Remakes and ports | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Death Rally | 1996 | Death Rally Remedy remake |
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Street Rod | 1989 | Street Rod online |
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Street Rod 2: The Next Generation | 1991 | Street Rod online |
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Stunts | 1990 | Ultimate Stunts, a remake |
RPG
In a Role-Playing Game, players control one or more characters in a fictional world, be it fantasy-oriented, contemporary, sci-fi, etc. RPGs follow up on traditional tabletop role-playing games features, including narrative threads full of obstacles and enigmas, character development, combat systems, or complex inventories.
Shooter
Shooter video games are all about shooting targets and avoiding being shot down. The kind of game is often defined by the player perspective (FPS stands for First Person Shooter, TPS stands for Third Person Shooter), or by gameplay: shoot'em up, run and gun, shooting gallery.| Original game | Original release | Remakes and ports | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Armor Alley | 1991 | Armor Alley web remake |
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Blasteroids | 1989 | Superverse |
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Defender | 1983 | Defendguin |
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Descent | 1995 | DXX - Rebirth Into Cerberon for Doom3 |
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Duke Nukem 3D | 1996 | JonoF's Duke 3D Duke Nukem 3D High resolution pack |
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Magic Carpet | 1994 | Ogrian carpet |
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R-Type | 1989 | R-Type Dimensions EX |
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Radix: Beyond the Void | 1995 | RAD |
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Rise of the Triad: Dark War | 1994 | Birgers WinROTT page |
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Tyrian 2000 | 1999 | OpenTyrian port |
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Virus | 1988 | Ajax port of Virus |
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Wizball | 1987 | Wizball remake |
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Xenon | 1988 | Xenon 1 - a remake |
Simulation
Simulation games are designed to convey realism in every aspect, from gameplay to visuals. Simulation games have a number of sub-genres according to their main goals, for example building cities, managing business companies, leading a social life, or campaigning for president.| Original game | Original release | Remakes and ports | |
|---|---|---|---|
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A-Train | 1992 | Free Train |
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Alter Ego: Female Version | 1986 | Alter Ego Female version online |
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Alter Ego: Male Version | 1986 | Alter Ego male version online |
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Dope Wars | 1998 | DopeWars 1.5 DopeWars classic for Andoid |
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Jones in the Fast Lane | 1991 | Tycoon Jones: a remake |
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Mad TV | 1991 | Tvgigant RottzTV |
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Santa Paravia en Fiumaccio | 1988 | SP2003 Paravia: play online |
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SimTower | 1994 | OpenSkyscraper remake |
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The Clue! | 1994 | Clou! Open Source Project |
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Theme Hospital | 1997 | CorsixTH |
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Transport Tycoon | 1994 | OpenTTD Simutrans, a remake |
Sports
Sports games follow real-life rules either by creating a detailed and realistic simulation of physical sports, or by focusing on quickness and dexterity. Simulated sports can be real ones (American football, baseball, soccer) or fictional (like fantasy or futuristic sports).| Original game | Original release | Remakes and ports | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Sensible Soccer | 1992 | Sociable Soccer |
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Speedball 2 | 1992 | Speedball 2 Evolution Speedball 2 HD |
Strategy
Games based on strategy allow for reasoning and planning of one’s moves and actions. The gameplay may be based on player’s turns (Turn-based Strategy) or it may be in real time (Real-Time Strategy, RTS). These games focus on strategy and tactics rather than action, sometimes with the addition of financial or logistic features.
Vehicle simulation
Vehicle simulation games put the player right in the pilot’s seat, for an immersive and realistic game experience. Vehicles can be cars, airplanes, spaceships, or tanks. Simulation is often based on details in order to augment realism, like full-features dashboards, controls, gauges, and indicators.| Original game | Original release | Remakes and ports | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Wing Commander | 1990 | Wing Commander 1 Remake |
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Wing Commander: Armada | 1994 | PiArmada: a clone |
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Wing Commander: Privateer | 1993 | Gemini Gold |