Abandonware DOS title

Best 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
4.20
02 PC-Man action
4.18
03 Microsoft Decathlon sports
3.98
04 Paratrooper shooter
3.93
05 Car Builder simulation
3.89
06 Wizardry 2: The knight of diamonds rpg
3.89
07 Executive Suite simulation
3.88
08 Deadline adventure
3.84
09 The Battle of the Bulge: Tigers in the Snow strategy
3.82
10 BurgerTime action
3.82
# 1983 genre rating
01 Lode Runner action
4.27
02 Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz adventure
4.26
03 Digger action
4.25
04 Battlezone shooter
4.24
05 Sleuth: A Murder Mystery simulation
4.19
06 Defender shooter
4.19
07 Planetfall adventure
4.15
08 Frogger action
4.10
09 Donkey Kong action
4.09
10 J-Bird action
4.04
# 1984 genre rating
01 Alley Cat action
4.30
02 King's Quest 1: Quest for the Crown adventure
4.27
03 dBASE III application
4.26
04 Montezuma's Revenge action
4.21
05 Archon: the Light and the Dark strategy
4.18
06 Rogue rpg
4.18
07 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy adventure
4.15
08 Soko-Ban puzzle
4.12
09 Crime and Punishment simulation
4.09
10 DND rpg
4.09
# 1985 genre rating
01 Alice: The Personal Pascal application
4.34
02 Ultima 3: Exodus rpg
4.16
03 A Mind Forever Voyaging adventure
4.14
04 Rambo First Blood Part 2 adventure
4.14
05 Ultima 4: Quest of the Avatar rpg
4.12
06 Spacewar shooter
4.09
07 9 Princes in Amber adventure
4.08
08 Star Trek: the Kobayashi alternative adventure
4.04
09 Silent Service vehicle simulation
4.00
10 Sierra Championship Boxing sports
3.97
# 1986 genre rating
01 Gunship vehicle simulation
4.25
02 Space Quest 1: The Sarien Encounter adventure
4.24
03 Wordstar 4 application
4.20
04 Conflict in Vietnam strategy
4.17
05 Leather Goddesses of Phobos adventure
4.15
06 James Bond 007: Goldfinger adventure
4.14
07 The Fellowship of the Ring adventure
4.14
08 Psi 5 Trading Company vehicle simulation
4.13
09 The Chessmaster 2000 strategy
4.11
10 AutoCAD 2.5 application
4.11
# 1987 genre rating
01 Leisure Suit Larry 1: In the Land of the Lounge Lizards adventure
4.28
02 Driller action-adventure
4.27
03 Police Quest 1: In Pursuit of the Death Angel adventure
4.26
04 Maniac Mansion adventure
4.21
05 Borland Turbo C v1 application
4.20
06 Test Drive racing
4.18
07 La Abadia del Crimen action-adventure
4.16
08 Earl Weaver Baseball sports
4.14
09 Mah Jongg Solitaire puzzle
4.14
10 Borland Turbo Basic 1.0 application
4.13
# 1988 genre rating
01 Deluxe Paint 2 application
4.34
02 Skate or Die sports
4.29
03 F-19 Stealth Fighter vehicle simulation
4.25
04 World Class Leader Board sports
4.23
05 Impossible Mission 2 action-adventure
4.23
06 Battle Chess strategy
4.22
07 Battlehawks 1942 vehicle simulation
4.22
08 Star Wars shooter
4.21
09 Rampage action
4.20
10 Rocket Ranger action
4.20
# 1989 genre rating
01 Pipe Dream puzzle
4.29
02 Hero's Quest: So you want to be a hero adventure
4.27
03 Operation Wolf shooter
4.27
04 Alien Syndrome shooter
4.25
05 Clue Master Detective strategy
4.25
06 Their Finest Hour: The Battle of Britain vehicle simulation
4.24
07 Rick Dangerous action
4.24
08 F-16 Combat Pilot vehicle simulation
4.24
09 The Duel: Test Drive 2 racing
4.23
10 A-10 Tank Killer vehicle simulation
4.23
# 1990 genre rating
01 The Secret of Monkey Island adventure
4.32
02 Arj application
4.27
03 Panza Kick Boxing sports
4.27
04 Tetris 2.0 puzzle
4.25
05 SimEarth simulation
4.24
06 The Oregon Trail simulation
4.23
07 Norton Editor 2 application
4.23
08 Loom adventure
4.23
09 Das Boot: German U-Boat Simulation vehicle simulation
4.22
10 Prince of Persia action
4.22
# 1991 genre rating
01 QBASIC application
4.39
02 Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe vehicle simulation
4.28
03 Volfied action
4.28
04 Chuck Yeager's Air Combat vehicle simulation
4.27
05 Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge adventure
4.27
06 Gobliiins adventure
4.26
07 Chip's Challenge puzzle
4.26
08 Eye of the Beholder 2: The Legend of Darkmoon rpg
4.26
09 Cisco Heat racing
4.26
10 Gods action
4.25
# 1992 genre rating
01 Virtual Reality Studio 2.0 application
4.39
02 Street Fighter 2 action
4.32
03 Ultima 7 Part 1: The Black Gate rpg
4.32
04 Tetris Classic puzzle
4.32
05 Ugh! action
4.28
06 Links 386 Pro sports
4.27
07 Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis adventure
4.25
08 Pacific Islands vehicle simulation
4.25
09 WaxWorks adventure
4.25
10 Aces of the Pacific vehicle simulation
4.25
# 1993 genre rating
01 NeoPaint 3.2 application
4.45
02 Lemmings 2: The Tribes puzzle
4.28
03 Mortal Kombat action
4.28
04 3D Studio 3 application
4.27
05 Space Hulk strategy
4.27
06 Aces Over Europe vehicle simulation
4.27
07 Strike Commander vehicle simulation
4.26
08 Lotus: The ultimate challenge racing
4.26
09 Bio Menace Episode 2: The Hidden Lab action
4.25
10 Sid & Al's Incredible Toons puzzle
4.25
# 1994 genre rating
01 The Incredible Machine 2 puzzle
4.32
02 X-COM: Ufo Defense strategy
4.30
03 Micro Machines racing
4.29
04 Doom 2: Hell on Earth shooter
4.28
05 Heretic shooter
4.27
06 Colonization strategy
4.25
07 Dawn Patrol vehicle simulation
4.24
08 Super Mariio Bros action
4.23
09 Disney's Aladdin action
4.23
10 Pinball Fantasies action
4.23
# 1995 genre rating
01 Whiplash racing
4.30
02 Star Wars: Dark Forces shooter
4.27
03 NHL 96 sports
4.27
04 Grand Prix 2 racing
4.26
05 Screamer racing
4.26
06 Transport Tycoon Deluxe simulation
4.25
07 Albion rpg
4.25
08 EF 2000 vehicle simulation
4.25
09 Psycho Pinball action
4.23
10 Extreme Pinball action
4.23
# 1996 genre rating
01 Master of Orion 2: Battle at Antares strategy
4.29
02 Battle Arena Toshinden action
4.28
03 Super Street Fighter 2 action
4.27
04 The Smurfs action
4.26
05 The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall rpg
4.26
06 Road Rash racing
4.26
07 F-22 Lightning 2 vehicle simulation
4.24
08 Pray for Death action
4.24
09 Free Enterprise simulation
4.24
10 Conquest of the New World (Deluxe Edition) strategy
4.24
# 1997 genre rating
01 Warlords 3: Reign of Heroes strategy
4.28
02 Broken Sword 2: The Smoking Mirror adventure
4.26
03 Virtua Cop 2 shooter
4.24
04 Interstate '76 racing
4.24
05 Lucky Luke action
4.21
06 Dilbert's Desktop Games action
4.20
07 Age of Empires strategy
4.20
08 Carmageddon racing
4.20
09 Blood shooter
4.20
10 Total Annihilation strategy
4.20
# 1998 genre rating
01 Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines strategy
4.25
02 Caesar 3 simulation
4.25
03 People's General strategy
4.25
04 Mega Man X3 shooter
4.24
05 Dune 2000 strategy
4.21
06 Norton Commander 5.5 application
4.21
07 Railroad Tycoon 2 simulation
4.21
08 Populous: The Beginning strategy
4.19
09 101: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy strategy
4.18
10 Dope Wars simulation
4.17
# 1999 genre rating
01 Jagged Alliance 2 strategy
4.32
02 Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings strategy
4.26
03 Outcast action-adventure
4.26
04 Civilization II: Test of Time strategy
4.25
05 Age of Wonders strategy
4.21
06 Might and Magic 7: For Blood and Honor rpg
4.20
07 Midtown Madness racing
4.20
08 Pharaoh simulation
4.18
09 Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia strategy
4.18
10 Roller Coaster Tycoon simulation
4.18
# 2000 genre rating
01 Nox rpg
4.20
02 Zeus: Master of Olympus simulation
4.19
03 Deus Ex rpg
4.15
04 Patrician 2: Quest for Power simulation
4.13
05 Ground Control strategy
4.10
06 Gal Pani X action
4.07
07 Dark Reign 2 strategy
4.03
08 3D Ultra Lionel Traintown puzzle
4.02
09 Fairy Nights adventure
3.97
10 Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn rpg
3.96
# 2001 genre rating
01 ScummVM application
4.37
02 Empire Earth strategy
4.27
03 Capitalism 2 simulation
4.27
04 Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura rpg
4.16
05 Anachronox rpg
4.14
06 Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds strategy
4.10
07 Zoo Tycoon simulation
4.10
08 Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel strategy
4.08
09 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone action-adventure
4.08
10 Mario and Luigi action
4.08
# 2002 genre rating
01 Hooligans: Storm Over Europe strategy
4.20
02 The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind rpg
4.20
03 Chessmaster 9000 strategy
4.18
04 Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 simulation
4.16
05 Crazy Taxi racing
4.12
06 DOSBox application
4.11
07 Sid Meier's SimGolf sports
4.10
08 Syberia adventure
4.05
09 Industry Giant 2 simulation
4.00
10 Icewind Dale 2 rpg
3.88