Top abandonware games by year
Abandonware DOS hosts games from the early age of Personal Computer videogaming. I'm referring to a time when some of you weren't even born: the 80s.
The golden age of PC games came in the 90s, with classic games still remembered today. In the new millennium, many small developers struggled to stay afloat in the gaming sea now dominated by leviathan companies that ate one software house after another. The golden age ended and "abandonware" started to be a thing.
Here are the top 10 games for every year of that golden age, according to user's votes.
| # | 1982 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Zork I: The Great Underground Empire | adventure |
3.96
|
| 02 | Paratrooper | shooter |
3.81
|
| 03 | Astro Dodge | shooter |
3.70
|
| 04 | Microsoft Decathlon | sports |
3.67
|
| 05 | PC-Man | action |
3.65
|
| 06 | Executive Suite | simulation |
3.61
|
| 07 | Deadline | adventure |
3.57
|
| 08 | Crossfire | shooter |
3.57
|
| # | 1983 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Galaxian | shooter |
4.11
|
| 02 | Frogger | action |
4.11
|
| 03 | Lode Runner | action |
4.08
|
| 04 | Rogue | rpg |
4.00
|
| 05 | Digger | action |
3.97
|
| 06 | Donkey Kong | action |
3.95
|
| 07 | The Hobbit | adventure |
3.89
|
| 08 | Defender | shooter |
3.85
|
| 09 | Battlezone | shooter |
3.82
|
| 10 | Space Commanders | shooter |
3.75
|
| # | 1984 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Alley Cat | action |
4.09
|
| 02 | Montezuma's Revenge | action |
4.05
|
| 03 | Soko-Ban | puzzle |
4.00
|
| 04 | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | adventure |
3.99
|
| 05 | King's Quest 1: Quest for the Crown | adventure |
3.89
|
| 06 | Jumpman | action |
3.79
|
| 07 | DND | rpg |
3.77
|
| 08 | Pong v.2.1 clone | sports |
3.76
|
| 09 | Styx | action |
3.75
|
| 10 | Zork III: The Dungeon Master | adventure |
3.68
|
| # | 1985 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Rambo First Blood Part 2 | adventure |
4.11
|
| 02 | A mind forever voyaging | adventure |
4.11
|
| 03 | The mist | adventure |
4.00
|
| 04 | 9 Princes in Amber | adventure |
4.00
|
| 05 | James Bond 007: A View to a Kill | adventure |
3.97
|
| 06 | King's Quest 2: Romancing the throne | adventure |
3.94
|
| 07 | Spacewar | shooter |
3.91
|
| 08 | Hacker | simulation |
3.90
|
| 09 | Ultima 4: Quest of the Avatar | rpg |
3.80
|
| 10 | Strip Poker: A Sizzling Game of Chance | strategy |
3.69
|
| # | 1986 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Norton Commander 5.5 | application |
4.14
|
| 02 | Space Quest 1: The Sarien Encounter | adventure |
4.11
|
| 03 | James Bond 007: Goldfinger | adventure |
4.09
|
| 04 | Alter Ego: Female Version | simulation |
4.08
|
| 05 | Turbo Prolog 2.0 | application |
4.06
|
| 06 | Alter Ego: Male Version | simulation |
4.03
|
| 07 | Gunship | vehicle simulation |
4.00
|
| 08 | Conflict in Vietnam | strategy |
3.96
|
| 09 | Starflight | rpg |
3.96
|
| 10 | The Great Escape | adventure |
3.96
|
| # | 1987 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Borland Turbo Basic 1.0 | application |
4.19
|
| 02 | Maniac Mansion | adventure |
4.16
|
| 03 | Leisure Suit Larry 1: In the Land of the Lounge Lizards | adventure |
4.15
|
| 04 | Tetris | puzzle |
4.13
|
| 05 | The Great Giana Sisters | action |
4.12
|
| 06 | Elite | vehicle simulation |
4.09
|
| 07 | Project: Space Station | simulation |
4.09
|
| 08 | Test Drive | racing |
4.06
|
| 09 | Police Quest 1: In Pursuit of the Death Angel | adventure |
4.00
|
| 10 | Sid Meier's Pirates! | strategy |
4.00
|
| # | 1988 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Shadowgate | adventure |
4.15
|
| 02 | Star Goose! | shooter |
4.14
|
| 03 | Alternate Reality: The City | rpg |
4.10
|
| 04 | Bad Dudes VS Dragon Ninja | action |
4.09
|
| 05 | Star Wars | vehicle simulation |
4.09
|
| 06 | Life & Death | simulation |
4.09
|
| 07 | Arkanoid | action |
4.08
|
| 08 | F-19 Stealth fighter | vehicle simulation |
4.07
|
| 09 | Ultima 5: Warriors of Destiny | rpg |
4.07
|
| 10 | Autoduel | racing |
4.04
|
| # | 1989 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Quest for glory 1: So you want to be a hero | adventure |
4.22
|
| 02 | SimCity | simulation |
4.15
|
| 03 | Indianapolis 500 | racing |
4.15
|
| 04 | Dungeon Master | rpg |
4.13
|
| 05 | Stunt Car Racer | racing |
4.12
|
| 06 | 007: License to Kill | shooter |
4.12
|
| 07 | A-10 Tank Killer | vehicle simulation |
4.11
|
| 08 | Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade | adventure |
4.11
|
| 09 | Ferrari Formula 1 | racing |
4.11
|
| 10 | Starflight 2: Trade routes of the Cloud Nebula | rpg |
4.10
|
| # | 1990 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Bad Blood | rpg |
4.26
|
| 02 | Ninja Gaiden 2: The Dark Sword of Chaos | action |
4.26
|
| 03 | Loom | adventure |
4.24
|
| 04 | Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire | rpg |
4.19
|
| 05 | Midwinter | strategy |
4.17
|
| 06 | The Secret of Monkey Island | adventure |
4.17
|
| 07 | Prince of Persia | action |
4.13
|
| 08 | Rick Dangerous 2 | action |
4.13
|
| 09 | Centurion: Defender of Rome | strategy |
4.12
|
| 10 | Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday | rpg |
4.11
|
| # | 1991 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe | vehicle simulation |
4.45
|
| 02 | Magnetic Scrolls Collection | adventure |
4.17
|
| 03 | Eye of the Beholder 2: The Legend of Darkmoon | rpg |
4.15
|
| 04 | Golden Axe | action |
4.15
|
| 05 | Commander Keen 6: Aliens Ate my Baby Sitter! | action |
4.14
|
| 06 | Another World | adventure |
4.12
|
| 07 | Civilization | strategy |
4.12
|
| 08 | Eye of the Beholder | rpg |
4.11
|
| 09 | Duke Nukem | action |
4.11
|
| 10 | Chuck Yeager's Air Combat | vehicle simulation |
4.10
|
| # | 1992 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Castles 2: Siege & Conquest | strategy |
4.19
|
| 02 | Star Control 2 | strategy |
4.15
|
| 03 | Heroes of the 357th | vehicle simulation |
4.14
|
| 04 | Ultima 7 Part 1: The Black Gate | rpg |
4.14
|
| 05 | Mech war | strategy |
4.14
|
| 06 | Street Fighter 2 | action |
4.13
|
| 07 | Aces of the Pacific | vehicle simulation |
4.13
|
| 08 | Alone in the Dark | adventure |
4.12
|
| 09 | Angband | rpg |
4.12
|
| 10 | Titus the Fox | action |
4.10
|
| # | 1993 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Buzz Aldrin's Race into Space | vehicle simulation |
4.39
|
| 02 | Championship Manager Italia | sports |
4.36
|
| 03 | Innocent Until Caught | adventure |
4.23
|
| 04 | Police Quest: Open Season | adventure |
4.22
|
| 05 | Doom | shooter |
4.20
|
| 06 | The Incredible Machine | puzzle |
4.18
|
| 07 | The Lost Vikings | action |
4.17
|
| 08 | The Settlers | strategy |
4.15
|
| 09 | Master of Orion | strategy |
4.15
|
| 10 | Mortal Kombat | action |
4.14
|
| # | 1994 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Fleet Defender | vehicle simulation |
4.30
|
| 02 | X-COM: Ufo Defense | strategy |
4.20
|
| 03 | Master of Magic | strategy |
4.14
|
| 04 | Micro Machines | racing |
4.14
|
| 05 | Colonization | strategy |
4.13
|
| 06 | 1942: The Pacific air war | vehicle simulation |
4.13
|
| 07 | One Must Fall 2097 | action |
4.12
|
| 08 | Panzer General | strategy |
4.12
|
| 09 | Mortal Kombat 2 | action |
4.11
|
| 10 | Warcraft: Orcs and Humans | strategy |
4.11
|
| # | 1995 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Screamer | racing |
4.20
|
| 02 | Stonekeep | rpg |
4.20
|
| 03 | Star Wars: Dark Forces | shooter |
4.15
|
| 04 | FIFA Soccer 96 | sports |
4.14
|
| 05 | The Dig | adventure |
4.13
|
| 06 | Grand Prix 2 | racing |
4.12
|
| 07 | X-COM: Terror from the Deep | strategy |
4.12
|
| 08 | Frontier: First Encounters | vehicle simulation |
4.11
|
| 09 | Warcraft 2: Tides of Darkness | strategy |
4.11
|
| 10 | Witchaven | shooter |
4.09
|
| # | 1996 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Discworld 2: Mortality Bytes! | adventure |
4.36
|
| 02 | Master of Orion 2: Battle at Antares | strategy |
4.21
|
| 03 | Civilization 2 | strategy |
4.16
|
| 04 | Duke Nukem 3D | shooter |
4.15
|
| 05 | Great Naval Battles vol. 5: Demise of the Dreadnoughts 1914-18 | vehicle simulation |
4.13
|
| 06 | Heroes of Might and Magic II | strategy |
4.13
|
| 07 | Command & Conquer: Red Alert | strategy |
4.13
|
| 08 | The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall | rpg |
4.11
|
| 09 | Crusader: No Regret | shooter |
4.11
|
| 10 | Deadlock: Planetary Conquest | strategy |
4.11
|
| # | 1997 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Dungeon Keeper | strategy |
4.21
|
| 02 | Virtua Cop 2 | shooter |
4.15
|
| 03 | Championship Manager: Season 97/98 | sports |
4.14
|
| 04 | Magic: The Gathering | strategy |
4.13
|
| 05 | Age of Empires | strategy |
4.12
|
| 06 | Panzer General 2 | strategy |
4.11
|
| 07 | Blade Runner | adventure |
4.10
|
| 08 | Fallout | rpg |
4.09
|
| 09 | Carmageddon | racing |
4.09
|
| 10 | Total Annihilation | strategy |
4.09
|
| # | 1998 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Dune 2000 | strategy |
4.15
|
| 02 | House of the Dead | shooter |
4.13
|
| 03 | Mega Man X3 | shooter |
4.12
|
| 04 | Axis and Allies | strategy |
4.09
|
| 05 | Railroad Tycoon 2 | simulation |
4.09
|
| 06 | Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines | strategy |
4.04
|
| 07 | 101: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy | strategy |
4.03
|
| 08 | Dope Wars | simulation |
4.03
|
| 09 | Avalon | rpg |
3.95
|
| 10 | Fatal Relations | adventure |
3.93
|
| # | 1999 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Tyrian 2000 | shooter |
4.14
|
| 02 | System Shock 2 | shooter |
4.13
|
| 03 | Three Sisters' Story | adventure |
4.09
|
| 04 | Pharaoh | simulation |
4.08
|
| 05 | Age of Wonders | strategy |
4.06
|
| 06 | Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings | strategy |
4.05
|
| 07 | Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia | strategy |
4.05
|
| 08 | Star Trek: Starfleet Command | vehicle simulation |
4.03
|
| 09 | Commandos: Beyond the Call of Duty | strategy |
4.00
|
| 10 | Yoot Tower | simulation |
3.88
|
| # | 2000 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Zeus: Master of Olympus | simulation |
4.06
|
| 02 | Arrakis | strategy |
4.04
|
| 03 | Patrician 2: Quest for Power | simulation |
3.95
|
| 04 | 3D Ultra Lionel Traintown | puzzle |
3.80
|
| # | 2001 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds | strategy |
4.11
|
| 02 | Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura | rpg |
4.05
|
| 03 | Empire Earth | strategy |
3.83
|
| 04 | Mario and Luigi | action |
3.80
|
| # | 2002 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | DOSBox | application |
4.10
|
| 02 | Sid Meier's SimGolf | sports |
4.10
|
| 03 | Syberia | adventure |
4.03
|
| 04 | Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 | simulation |
3.87
|
| 05 | Icewind Dale 2 | rpg |
3.74
|
| 06 | Industry Giant 2 | simulation |
3.73
|
