Abandonware DOS title

Applications for DOS and other legacy systems

Abandonware DOS isn’t just about games. Those of us who grew up loving the classic games of the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s will likely remember using non-gaming software at some point for a variety of purposes. These applications were an integral part of the computing experience of that era, and for many, they hold a special nostalgic charm.

Whether it was graphic editing tools like Paint Shop, music trackers like the iconic Fast Tracker for composing chiptunes and electronic music, or word processors such as WordStar and WordPerfect for writing and documentation, these programs left their mark. Developers, too, relied on groundbreaking tools like Turbo Assembler and Turbo Pascal to create software and explore the art of coding.

And who could forget utility programs that became essential companions for navigating the early PC environment? Norton Commander, with its distinctive dual-pane file manager, revolutionized file organization and made complex tasks approachable for everyday users. These tools were more than just software; they were gateways to creativity, productivity, and learning, shaping how we interacted with computers in a pre-Internet world.

The best applications on Abandonware DOS

neopaint3-03

NeoPaint 3.2

#1 Top application!application1993 4.37/5
- / -
tasm-02

Turbo Assembler (TASM)

#2 Top application!application1989 4.35/5
Borland Software Corporation / Borland Software Corporation
Turbo Assembler, often referred to as TASM, is an x86 assembler for MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows. As a key component of Borland's suite of development tools, TASM was packaged alongside Turbo Debugger (TD), forming the Turbo Assembler/Turbo Debugger (TASM/TD) bundle. Turbo Assembler was favored for its speed and compatibility with the popular x86 architecture, which was widely used in personal computers of the time. Borland was a software company known for its development tools during the 1980s and 1990s.
3d-construction-kit-2-08

Virtual Reality Studio 2.0

#3 Top application!application1992 4.32/5
Incentive Software / Domark Software
turbo-pascal-7-01

Turbo Pascal 7

application1992 4.31/5
Borland Software Corporation / Borland Software Corporation
ibm-visicalc-1-01

VisiCalc 1.0

application1979 4.29/5
Software Arts / Software Arts
qbasic71-01

QBASIC

application1991 4.28/5
Microsoft / Microsoft
deluxe-paint-2-04

Deluxe Paint 2

application1988 4.27/5
Electronic Arts / Electronic Arts
borland--dbase-5-02

Borland DBase 5

application1994 4.27/5
Borland Software Corporation / Borland Software Corporation
norton-utilities-01

Norton Utilities 8

application1994 4.25/5
Peter Norton Computing / Peter Norton Computing
nortoncommander-5

Norton Commander 5.5

application1998 4.21/5
Peter Norton Computing / Peter Norton Computing
dbase3-02

dBASE III

application1984 4.21/5
Ashton-Tate / Ashton-Tate
melody-maker-3-01

Melody Maker 3

application1992 4.20/5
- / -
arj-1

Arj

application1990 4.19/5
- / -