Abandonware DOS title

Classic Windows XP/98/95 games

At the end of the DOS era, PCs started to use the latest Operative Systems from Microsoft. Starting from version 3.1, Windows became very popular and more and more software houses began to create games for Windows.

The first games for Windows 3.1 weren't very popular; there were solitaire card games, puzzle games and little else. With the release of Windows 95, 98 and Windows XP, the Microsoft OS became central in the development of mainstream video games like Age of Empires and the Civilization series.

Unfortunately, backward compatibility quickly became a problem: run an old game on Windows it's tricky; it's easier to run a game made for DOS using a MS-DOS emulator. The only safe and sure way to play old Windows games on recent PCs is to install them directly on an older version of Windows or, if you know how, install and configure a Virtual Machine.

  • age_of_empires-7
    strategy1997

    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.

  • age-of-empires-2-04
    strategy1999
  • atomic-bomberman-03
    action1997
  • blade-runner-10
    adventure1997

    Blade Runner is one of those point & click adventure games that somewhat manages to fully capture the spirit of a cult movie without copying the original plot. Fans of the Blade Runner movie will enjoy this game, even without Harrison Ford.

  • broken-sword-1-01
    adventure2009
  • capitalism-2-01
    simulation2001

    Capitalism 2 is simulation game designed by Trevor Chan, developed by Ensemble Studios and released by UBI Soft in 2001 for Windows and Macintosh. Capitalism 2 is the quintessential capitalistic simulation and involves stock exchange, business management, marketing, etc.

  • carmageddon-4
    racing1997

    Carmageddon was a controversial and violent vehicular combat / car racing game, where the player must compete against a number of computer controlled opponents. Running over pedestrians and damaging opponents cars grant time bonuses and credits to be spent for upgrades.

  • civilization2-4
    strategy1996

    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 the world and more.

  • commandos-behind-enemy-lines-09
    strategy1998
  • crazy-taxi-01
    racing2002

    Crazy Taxi is an abandoned driving / racing game developed by Sega and released by Activision in 2002 for Windows and other platforms (it's an arcade conversion). Crazy Taxi is set in a city full of potential passengers: get them on your taxi and drive them to various destinations in time.

  • dune2000-splash
    strategy1998

    Dune 2000 is an abandoned science fiction classic real-time strategy game based on the popular Dune franchise. The Dune "universe" took form in the books of science fiction writer Frank Herbert and went on to include movies, a TV series, comics, and of course videogames. Dune 2000 was developed by Westwood Studios and released by Virgin Interactive for PC in 1998.

  • empire-earth-06
    strategy2001
  • gta2-06
    action-adventure1999

    Grand Theft Auto 2 is the second chapter in the successful Grand Theft Auto series. GTA 2 is an abandoned top-down action-adventure / driving hybrid game developed by DMA Design and released by Rockstar Games in 1999 for Windows. In GTA 2 you are a wannabe criminal roaming the streets of a fictional city, stealing and driving vehicles while escaping the law.

  • jagged-alliance-2-04
    strategy1999

    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 component (at least not as extensive as in the X-COM series). The setting is quite unusual to gamers like me, used to fantasy or science fiction: Jagged Alliance 2 takes place on a fictional south american country. I'm sure I'm not the only one that loved Jagged Alliance 2. If you didn't play it yet and you love team-based tactics, go buy it immediately.

  • magic-the-gathering-8
    strategy1997

    Magic: The Gathering is an abandoned strategy game based on the popular collectible card game, developed and released by MicroProse Software for Windows in 1997. MTG is set in the fictional plane of Shandalar. You can play a single-player campaign or simply play duels against computer opponents or against other players in a multi-player mode.

  • midtown-madness-02
    racing1999
  • nox-04
    rpg2000
  • outcast-03
    action-adventure1999
  • pharaoh-sierra-4
    simulation1999
  • railroad-tycoon-2-03
    simulation1998

    Railroad Tycoon 2 is an abandoned train simulation game designed by Phil Steinmeyer, developed by Pop Software and released by Gathering of Developers for Windows, Linux and Mac in 1998. As the title suggests, Railroad Tycoon 2 is the sequel of the acclaimed train management simulation Railroad Tycoon designed by Sid Meier in 1990.

  • road-rash-win-05
    racing1996

    Road Rash is an abandoned motorcycle racing game developed by Papyrus Design Group and released by Electronic Arts in 1996. Road Rash runs on Windows XP/98/95 but was also published for Amiga, Sega Genesis, Sega Master System, 3DO, Game Gear, PlayStation, Saturn, Game Boy. In Road Rash you're a motorcycle racer that needs to win against other racers by any means possibile, including violent ones. Road Rash was quite successful and was followed by a few sequels.

  • simcity2000-1
    simulation1993

    SimCity 2000 is a classic city building simulation, part of the popular SimCity series, developed by Maxis and designed by Will Wright. SimCity 2000 is a huge step up from the 2D predecessor SimCity and boasts improvements like: isometric view, underground, water pipes, subways, new buildings like prisons, schools, libraries, museums, etc.

  • wizardry7-05
    rpg1992

    Wizardry VII: Crusaders of the Dark Savant is a first-person perspective party-based RPG developed and released by Sir-tech Software in 1992 for Windows, Linux and DOS. Wizardry 7 is the seventh chapter in the Wizardry series and it's part of the Dark Savant trilogy, set in a world where sci-fi themes (space travel, androids) are mixed with fantasy themes (weapons and armors, magic).

  • zoo-tycoon-07
    simulation2001