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.
| # | 1981 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Galaxy | strategy | 4.05/5 |
| 02 | Softporn Adventure | adventure | 3.98/5 |
| 03 | Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord | rpg | 3.94/5 |
| 04 | Chess | strategy | 3.83/5 |
| 05 | Akalabeth: World of Doom | rpg | 3.66/5 |
| 06 | B-1 Nuclear Bomber | vehicle simulation | 3.64/5 |
| # | 1982 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Zork I: The Great Underground Empire | adventure | 4.15/5 |
| 02 | PC-Man | action | 4.13/5 |
| 03 | Microsoft Decathlon | sports | 4.02/5 |
| 04 | Paratrooper | shooter | 3.98/5 |
| 05 | Car Builder | simulation | 3.90/5 |
| 06 | Executive Suite | simulation | 3.89/5 |
| 07 | Deadline | adventure | 3.89/5 |
| 08 | Wizardry 2: The knight of diamonds | rpg | 3.85/5 |
| 09 | BurgerTime | action | 3.83/5 |
| 10 | The Battle of the Bulge: Tigers in the Snow | strategy | 3.80/5 |
| # | 1983 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lode Runner | action | 4.28/5 |
| 02 | Battlezone | shooter | 4.25/5 |
| 03 | Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz | adventure | 4.24/5 |
| 04 | Defender | shooter | 4.20/5 |
| 05 | Digger | action | 4.18/5 |
| 06 | Planetfall | adventure | 4.16/5 |
| 07 | Frogger | action | 4.11/5 |
| 08 | Sleuth: A Murder Mystery | simulation | 4.08/5 |
| 09 | J-Bird | action | 4.07/5 |
| 10 | Donkey Kong | action | 4.02/5 |
| # | 1984 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Alley Cat | action | 4.29/5 |
| 02 | King's Quest 1: Quest for the Crown | adventure | 4.28/5 |
| 03 | Castle Adventure | action-adventure | 4.24/5 |
| 04 | Montezuma's Revenge | action | 4.23/5 |
| 05 | dBASE III | application | 4.21/5 |
| 06 | Archon: the Light and the Dark | strategy | 4.18/5 |
| 07 | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | adventure | 4.17/5 |
| 08 | Soko-Ban | puzzle | 4.12/5 |
| 09 | Rogue | rpg | 4.12/5 |
| 10 | Crime and Punishment | simulation | 4.09/5 |
| # | 1985 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? | adventure | 4.28/5 |
| 02 | Ultima 3: Exodus | rpg | 4.20/5 |
| 03 | Alice: The Personal Pascal | application | 4.17/5 |
| 04 | A Mind Forever Voyaging | adventure | 4.14/5 |
| 05 | Rambo First Blood Part 2 | adventure | 4.13/5 |
| 06 | Ultima 4: Quest of the Avatar | rpg | 4.11/5 |
| 07 | 9 Princes in Amber | adventure | 4.08/5 |
| 08 | Silent Service | vehicle simulation | 4.06/5 |
| 09 | King's Quest 2: Romancing the Throne | adventure | 4.06/5 |
| 10 | Star Trek: the Kobayashi alternative | adventure | 4.04/5 |
| # | 1986 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Space Quest 1: The Sarien Encounter | adventure | 4.28/5 |
| 02 | Gunship | vehicle simulation | 4.19/5 |
| 03 | Leather Goddesses of Phobos | adventure | 4.17/5 |
| 04 | Wordstar 4 | application | 4.16/5 |
| 05 | AutoCAD 2.5 | application | 4.15/5 |
| 06 | Starflight | rpg | 4.14/5 |
| 07 | King's Quest 3: To Heir is Human | adventure | 4.13/5 |
| 08 | The Chessmaster 2000 | strategy | 4.13/5 |
| 09 | Conflict in Vietnam | strategy | 4.12/5 |
| 10 | Alter Ego: Female Version | simulation | 4.12/5 |
| # | 1987 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Leisure Suit Larry 1: In the Land of the Lounge Lizards | adventure | 4.29/5 |
| 02 | Police Quest 1: In Pursuit of the Death Angel | adventure | 4.26/5 |
| 03 | Driller | action-adventure | 4.21/5 |
| 04 | Test Drive | racing | 4.18/5 |
| 05 | Maniac Mansion | adventure | 4.18/5 |
| 06 | Mah Jongg Solitaire | puzzle | 4.15/5 |
| 07 | Rockford: The Arcade Game | puzzle | 4.14/5 |
| 08 | Borland Turbo C v1 | application | 4.13/5 |
| 09 | Borland Turbo Basic 1.0 | application | 4.12/5 |
| 10 | Phantasie 3: The Wrath of Nikademus | rpg | 4.11/5 |
| # | 1988 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Deluxe Paint 2 | application | 4.27/5 |
| 02 | Skate or Die | sports | 4.26/5 |
| 03 | World Class Leader Board | sports | 4.25/5 |
| 04 | Impossible Mission 2 | action-adventure | 4.24/5 |
| 05 | Battle Chess | strategy | 4.23/5 |
| 06 | Airborne Ranger | shooter | 4.22/5 |
| 07 | Rampage | action | 4.22/5 |
| 08 | F-19 Stealth Fighter | vehicle simulation | 4.21/5 |
| 09 | Speedball | sports | 4.20/5 |
| 10 | Rocket Ranger | action | 4.19/5 |
| # | 1989 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Turbo Assembler (TASM) | application | 4.33/5 |
| 02 | Operation Wolf | shooter | 4.28/5 |
| 03 | Pipe Dream | puzzle | 4.27/5 |
| 04 | Rick Dangerous | action | 4.25/5 |
| 05 | A-10 Tank Killer | vehicle simulation | 4.23/5 |
| 06 | Hero's Quest: So you want to be a hero | adventure | 4.23/5 |
| 07 | Clue Master Detective | strategy | 4.23/5 |
| 08 | The Duel: Test Drive 2 | racing | 4.23/5 |
| 09 | Bubble Bobble | action | 4.21/5 |
| 10 | Alien Syndrome | shooter | 4.21/5 |
| # | 1990 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Secret of Monkey Island | adventure | 4.32/5 |
| 02 | Loom | adventure | 4.27/5 |
| 03 | LadyLove | action | 4.24/5 |
| 04 | Tetris 2.0 | puzzle | 4.23/5 |
| 05 | SimEarth | simulation | 4.23/5 |
| 06 | The Oregon Trail | simulation | 4.23/5 |
| 07 | Puzznic | puzzle | 4.23/5 |
| 08 | Night Shift | puzzle | 4.23/5 |
| 09 | Prince of Persia | action | 4.22/5 |
| 10 | Ultima 6: The False Prophet | rpg | 4.22/5 |
| # | 1991 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Volfied | action | 4.33/5 |
| 02 | Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge | adventure | 4.28/5 |
| 03 | QBASIC | application | 4.28/5 |
| 04 | Chuck Yeager's Air Combat | vehicle simulation | 4.27/5 |
| 05 | Chip's Challenge | puzzle | 4.27/5 |
| 06 | Eye of the Beholder | rpg | 4.26/5 |
| 07 | ZZT | action | 4.26/5 |
| 08 | Eye of the Beholder 2: The Legend of Darkmoon | rpg | 4.25/5 |
| 09 | Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe | vehicle simulation | 4.25/5 |
| 10 | Civilization | strategy | 4.24/5 |
| # | 1992 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Tetris Classic | puzzle | 4.36/5 |
| 02 | Street Fighter 2 | action | 4.32/5 |
| 03 | Ultima 7 Part 1: The Black Gate | rpg | 4.32/5 |
| 04 | Virtual Reality Studio 2.0 | application | 4.32/5 |
| 05 | Lamborghini: American Challenge | racing | 4.27/5 |
| 06 | Wizardry 7: Crusaders of the Dark Savant | rpg | 4.24/5 |
| 07 | Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis | adventure | 4.24/5 |
| 08 | Locomotion | puzzle | 4.23/5 |
| 09 | Patrician | simulation | 4.22/5 |
| 10 | Stunt Island | vehicle simulation | 4.22/5 |
| # | 1993 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | NeoPaint 3.2 | application | 4.38/5 |
| 02 | Mortal Kombat | action | 4.35/5 |
| 03 | Lemmings 2: The Tribes | puzzle | 4.31/5 |
| 04 | Football Manager 3 | sports | 4.30/5 |
| 05 | Brutal Sports Football | sports | 4.24/5 |
| 06 | Dungeon Hack | rpg | 4.24/5 |
| 07 | Space Hulk | strategy | 4.23/5 |
| 08 | Lotus: The ultimate challenge | racing | 4.23/5 |
| 09 | Dogfight: 80 Years of Aerial Warfare | vehicle simulation | 4.23/5 |
| 10 | Police Quest: Open Season | adventure | 4.23/5 |
| # | 1994 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | X-COM: Ufo Defense | strategy | 4.30/5 |
| 02 | Micro Machines | racing | 4.28/5 |
| 03 | Doom 2: Hell on Earth | shooter | 4.27/5 |
| 04 | Heretic | shooter | 4.24/5 |
| 05 | Pinball Fantasies | action | 4.24/5 |
| 06 | Super Mariio Bros | action | 4.23/5 |
| 07 | Disney's Aladdin | action | 4.23/5 |
| 08 | Colonization | strategy | 4.23/5 |
| 09 | Metaltech: Earthsiege | vehicle simulation | 4.23/5 |
| 10 | Jagged Alliance | strategy | 4.22/5 |
| # | 1995 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Whiplash | racing | 4.25/5 |
| 02 | Grand Prix 2 | racing | 4.24/5 |
| 03 | Albion | rpg | 4.24/5 |
| 04 | Transport Tycoon Deluxe | simulation | 4.24/5 |
| 05 | Virtual Pool | sports | 4.23/5 |
| 06 | Star Wars: Dark Forces | shooter | 4.23/5 |
| 07 | Screamer | racing | 4.22/5 |
| 08 | The Need for Speed | racing | 4.22/5 |
| 09 | Guilty | adventure | 4.21/5 |
| 10 | EF 2000 | vehicle simulation | 4.21/5 |
| # | 1996 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Super Street Fighter 2 | action | 4.29/5 |
| 02 | Master of Orion 2: Battle at Antares | strategy | 4.27/5 |
| 03 | Gloriana | simulation | 4.26/5 |
| 04 | Road Rash | racing | 4.24/5 |
| 05 | The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall | rpg | 4.24/5 |
| 06 | Quake | shooter | 4.24/5 |
| 07 | Pray for Death | action | 4.23/5 |
| 08 | Jane's Combat Simulations: Advanced Tactical Fighters | vehicle simulation | 4.23/5 |
| 09 | Civilization 2 | strategy | 4.23/5 |
| 10 | F-22 Lightning 2 | vehicle simulation | 4.22/5 |
| # | 1997 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Interstate '76 | racing | 4.25/5 |
| 02 | Carmageddon | racing | 4.24/5 |
| 03 | Virtua Cop 2 | shooter | 4.24/5 |
| 04 | Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Dark Forces II | shooter | 4.22/5 |
| 05 | Dilbert's Desktop Games | action | 4.21/5 |
| 06 | Pacific General | strategy | 4.20/5 |
| 07 | Atomic Bomberman | action | 4.20/5 |
| 08 | Blood | shooter | 4.19/5 |
| 09 | Age of Empires | strategy | 4.19/5 |
| 10 | Warlords 3: Reign of Heroes | strategy | 4.19/5 |
| # | 1998 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Caesar 3 | simulation | 4.22/5 |
| 02 | Thief: The Dark Project | action-adventure | 4.22/5 |
| 03 | Norton Commander 5.5 | application | 4.21/5 |
| 04 | Dune 2000 | strategy | 4.20/5 |
| 05 | Railroad Tycoon 2 | simulation | 4.20/5 |
| 06 | Mega Man X3 | shooter | 4.20/5 |
| 07 | Dope Wars | simulation | 4.19/5 |
| 08 | 101: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy | strategy | 4.18/5 |
| 09 | Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines | strategy | 4.18/5 |
| 10 | People's General | strategy | 4.18/5 |
| # | 1999 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Jagged Alliance 2 | strategy | 4.28/5 |
| 02 | Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings | strategy | 4.25/5 |
| 03 | Outcast | action-adventure | 4.25/5 |
| 04 | Roller Coaster Tycoon | simulation | 4.23/5 |
| 05 | Pharaoh | simulation | 4.22/5 |
| 06 | Age of Wonders | strategy | 4.22/5 |
| 07 | Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia | strategy | 4.21/5 |
| 08 | Mick's Strip Poker | strategy | 4.20/5 |
| 09 | Civilization II: Test of Time | strategy | 4.19/5 |
| 10 | Midtown Madness | racing | 4.18/5 |
| # | 2000 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Unreal Gold | shooter | 4.29/5 |
| 02 | Zeus: Master of Olympus | simulation | 4.19/5 |
| 03 | Nox | rpg | 4.17/5 |
| 04 | Patrician 2: Quest for Power | simulation | 4.15/5 |
| 05 | The Sims | simulation | 4.10/5 |
| 06 | Gal Pani X | action | 4.09/5 |
| 07 | Deus Ex | rpg | 4.09/5 |
| 08 | Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn | rpg | 4.03/5 |
| 09 | Ground Control | strategy | 4.02/5 |
| 10 | 3D Ultra Lionel Traintown | puzzle | 4.00/5 |
| # | 2001 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Empire Earth | strategy | 4.24/5 |
| 02 | Capitalism 2 | simulation | 4.23/5 |
| 03 | Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura | rpg | 4.19/5 |
| 04 | ScummVM | application | 4.18/5 |
| 05 | Anachronox | rpg | 4.13/5 |
| 06 | Zoo Tycoon | simulation | 4.11/5 |
| 07 | Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel | strategy | 4.09/5 |
| 08 | Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds | strategy | 4.08/5 |
| 09 | Ultra Mortal Kombat Vendetta | action | 4.04/5 |
| 10 | Mario and Luigi | action | 4.04/5 |
| # | 2002 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind | rpg | 4.19/5 |
| 02 | Hooligans: Storm Over Europe | strategy | 4.19/5 |
| 03 | Chessmaster 9000 | strategy | 4.15/5 |
| 04 | Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 | simulation | 4.15/5 |
| 05 | Port Royale | simulation | 4.14/5 |
| 06 | Crazy Taxi | racing | 4.13/5 |
| 07 | Sid Meier's SimGolf | sports | 4.11/5 |
| 08 | DOSBox | application | 4.10/5 |
| 09 | Syberia | adventure | 4.04/5 |
| 10 | Industry Giant 2 | simulation | 3.95/5 |
| # | 2003 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Master of Orion 3 | strategy | 4.14/5 |
| 02 | Yu-Gi-Oh! Power of Chaos - Yugi the Destiny | strategy | 4.11/5 |
| 03 | Van Buren (Fallout 3) | rpg | 4.00/5 |
| 04 | Babylon 5: I've Found Her | vehicle simulation | 3.87/5 |
| 05 | ResidualVM | application | 3.75/5 |
| 06 | Baldur's Gate III: The Black Hound | rpg | 3.70/5 |
| # | 2004 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | UFO 2000 | strategy | 4.25/5 |
| 02 | Spider-Man 2: The Game | action-adventure | 4.24/5 |
| 03 | Yu-Gi-Oh! Power of Chaos - Joey the Passion | strategy | 4.21/5 |
| 04 | Dark Horizons Lore: Invasion | vehicle simulation | 4.18/5 |
| 05 | Maniac Mansion Deluxe | adventure | 3.90/5 |
| 06 | Blues Brothers RPG | rpg | 3.83/5 |