Best abandonware games by year
Abandonware DOS is home to games from the early days of personal computer gaming—I'm talking about the 1980s, a time when some of you weren’t even born.
The golden age of PC gaming truly blossomed in the 1990s, giving us classics that are still fondly remembered today. But with the arrival of the new millennium, many small developers found it hard to survive in a gaming industry now ruled by corporate giants swallowing up one studio after another. The golden age came to an end—and the era of "abandonware" began.
Here are the top 10 games for each year of that golden age, as voted by our users.
| # | 1981 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Ultima 1: The First Age of Darkness | rpg | 4.01/5 |
| 02 | Galaxy | strategy | 3.98/5 |
| 03 | Softporn Adventure | adventure | 3.98/5 |
| 04 | Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord | rpg | 3.94/5 |
| 05 | Chess | strategy | 3.83/5 |
| 06 | B-1 Nuclear Bomber | vehicle simulation | 3.68/5 |
| 07 | Akalabeth: World of Doom | rpg | 3.67/5 |
| # | 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 | 4.03/5 |
| 04 | Paratrooper | shooter | 3.98/5 |
| 05 | Executive Suite | simulation | 3.89/5 |
| 06 | Wizardry 2: The knight of diamonds | rpg | 3.88/5 |
| 07 | Deadline | adventure | 3.87/5 |
| 08 | BurgerTime | action | 3.83/5 |
| 09 | Car Builder | simulation | 3.81/5 |
| 10 | The Battle of the Bulge: Tigers in the Snow | strategy | 3.80/5 |
| # | 1983 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lode Runner | action | 4.25/5 |
| 02 | Battlezone | shooter | 4.25/5 |
| 03 | Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz | adventure | 4.22/5 |
| 04 | Defender | shooter | 4.21/5 |
| 05 | Planetfall | adventure | 4.16/5 |
| 06 | Digger | action | 4.16/5 |
| 07 | Frogger | action | 4.13/5 |
| 08 | Sleuth: A Murder Mystery | simulation | 4.08/5 |
| 09 | J-Bird | action | 4.07/5 |
| 10 | Pango | action | 4.05/5 |
| # | 1984 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Alley Cat | action | 4.27/5 |
| 02 | King's Quest 1: Quest for the Crown | adventure | 4.23/5 |
| 03 | Montezuma's Revenge | action | 4.23/5 |
| 04 | Archon: the Light and the Dark | strategy | 4.18/5 |
| 05 | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | adventure | 4.17/5 |
| 06 | Rogue | rpg | 4.16/5 |
| 07 | dBASE III | application | 4.15/5 |
| 08 | Soko-Ban | puzzle | 4.14/5 |
| 09 | Crime and Punishment | simulation | 4.12/5 |
| 10 | Xonix | action | 4.09/5 |
| # | 1985 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? | adventure | 4.19/5 |
| 02 | Ultima 3: Exodus | rpg | 4.17/5 |
| 03 | A Mind Forever Voyaging | adventure | 4.14/5 |
| 04 | Ultima 4: Quest of the Avatar | rpg | 4.13/5 |
| 05 | Rambo First Blood Part 2 | adventure | 4.11/5 |
| 06 | Silent Service | vehicle simulation | 4.11/5 |
| 07 | Alice: The Personal Pascal | application | 4.11/5 |
| 08 | 9 Princes in Amber | adventure | 4.10/5 |
| 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 | 4.23/5 |
| 02 | Gunship | vehicle simulation | 4.17/5 |
| 03 | Wordstar 4 | application | 4.17/5 |
| 04 | King's Quest 3: To Heir is Human | adventure | 4.16/5 |
| 05 | AutoCAD 2.5 | application | 4.15/5 |
| 06 | The Chessmaster 2000 | strategy | 4.15/5 |
| 07 | Leather Goddesses of Phobos | adventure | 4.14/5 |
| 08 | Alter Ego: Female Version | simulation | 4.13/5 |
| 09 | Conflict in Vietnam | strategy | 4.12/5 |
| 10 | Starflight | rpg | 4.12/5 |
| # | 1987 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Leisure Suit Larry 1: In the Land of the Lounge Lizards | adventure | 4.27/5 |
| 02 | Driller | action-adventure | 4.21/5 |
| 03 | Police Quest 1: In Pursuit of the Death Angel | adventure | 4.21/5 |
| 04 | Maniac Mansion | adventure | 4.18/5 |
| 05 | Test Drive | racing | 4.18/5 |
| 06 | Mah Jongg Solitaire | puzzle | 4.15/5 |
| 07 | Borland Turbo C v1 | application | 4.15/5 |
| 08 | Falcon | vehicle simulation | 4.15/5 |
| 09 | Rockford: The Arcade Game | puzzle | 4.14/5 |
| 10 | Phantasie 3: The Wrath of Nikademus | rpg | 4.11/5 |
| # | 1988 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Impossible Mission 2 | action-adventure | 4.25/5 |
| 02 | Skate or Die | sports | 4.24/5 |
| 03 | Rampage | action | 4.23/5 |
| 04 | World Class Leader Board | sports | 4.22/5 |
| 05 | Battlehawks 1942 | vehicle simulation | 4.22/5 |
| 06 | Battle Chess | strategy | 4.21/5 |
| 07 | Airborne Ranger | shooter | 4.21/5 |
| 08 | Speedball | sports | 4.20/5 |
| 09 | Lombard RAC Rally | racing | 4.20/5 |
| 10 | Rocket Ranger | action | 4.19/5 |
| # | 1989 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Turbo Assembler (TASM) | application | 4.39/5 |
| 02 | Operation Wolf | shooter | 4.28/5 |
| 03 | Pipe Dream | puzzle | 4.26/5 |
| 04 | Hero's Quest: So you want to be a hero | adventure | 4.23/5 |
| 05 | Carrier command | vehicle simulation | 4.22/5 |
| 06 | The Duel: Test Drive 2 | racing | 4.22/5 |
| 07 | Rick Dangerous | action | 4.22/5 |
| 08 | Alien Syndrome | shooter | 4.21/5 |
| 09 | Bubble Bobble | action | 4.21/5 |
| 10 | A-10 Tank Killer | vehicle simulation | 4.20/5 |
| # | 1990 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Secret of Monkey Island | adventure | 4.32/5 |
| 02 | Loom | adventure | 4.24/5 |
| 03 | Red Baron | vehicle simulation | 4.24/5 |
| 04 | Ultima 6: The False Prophet | rpg | 4.23/5 |
| 05 | Prince of Persia | action | 4.23/5 |
| 06 | Silent Service 2 | vehicle simulation | 4.22/5 |
| 07 | The Oregon Trail | simulation | 4.22/5 |
| 08 | Ivan 'Iron Man' Stewart's Super Off Road | racing | 4.22/5 |
| 09 | Night Shift | puzzle | 4.21/5 |
| 10 | Tetris 2.0 | puzzle | 4.21/5 |
| # | 1991 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Volfied | action | 4.31/5 |
| 02 | QBASIC | application | 4.29/5 |
| 03 | Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge | adventure | 4.25/5 |
| 04 | Chip's Challenge | puzzle | 4.25/5 |
| 05 | Gods | action | 4.24/5 |
| 06 | Joe and Mac Cavemen Ninja | action | 4.24/5 |
| 07 | Night Hawk: F-117A Stealth Fighter | vehicle simulation | 4.24/5 |
| 08 | Cisco Heat | racing | 4.24/5 |
| 09 | Eye of the Beholder 2: The Legend of Darkmoon | rpg | 4.24/5 |
| 10 | Eye of the Beholder | rpg | 4.24/5 |
| # | 1992 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Street Fighter 2 | action | 4.31/5 |
| 02 | Ultima 7 Part 1: The Black Gate | rpg | 4.31/5 |
| 03 | Tetris Classic | puzzle | 4.31/5 |
| 04 | Virtual Reality Studio 2.0 | application | 4.29/5 |
| 05 | Wizardry 7: Crusaders of the Dark Savant | rpg | 4.25/5 |
| 06 | Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis | adventure | 4.24/5 |
| 07 | Patrician | simulation | 4.24/5 |
| 08 | B-17 Flying Fortress | vehicle simulation | 4.24/5 |
| 09 | King's Quest 6: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow | adventure | 4.21/5 |
| 10 | Car and Driver | racing | 4.21/5 |
| # | 1993 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Populous 2: Trials of the Olympian Gods | strategy | 4.26/5 |
| 02 | Mortal Kombat | action | 4.26/5 |
| 03 | Lemmings 2: The Tribes | puzzle | 4.24/5 |
| 04 | Space Hulk | strategy | 4.24/5 |
| 05 | Flashback: The Quest for Identity | action-adventure | 4.24/5 |
| 06 | Dungeon Hack | rpg | 4.24/5 |
| 07 | Brutal Sports Football | sports | 4.23/5 |
| 08 | SimCity 2000 | simulation | 4.22/5 |
| 09 | The Incredible Machine | puzzle | 4.22/5 |
| 10 | Doom | shooter | 4.22/5 |
| # | 1994 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | X-COM: Ufo Defense | strategy | 4.31/5 |
| 02 | Micro Machines | racing | 4.27/5 |
| 03 | Doom 2: Hell on Earth | shooter | 4.25/5 |
| 04 | Alien Breed: Tower Assault | shooter | 4.24/5 |
| 05 | Hocus Pocus | action | 4.23/5 |
| 06 | Pinball Fantasies | action | 4.23/5 |
| 07 | Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf | shooter | 4.23/5 |
| 08 | The Incredible Machine 2 | puzzle | 4.22/5 |
| 09 | Blackthorne | action | 4.22/5 |
| 10 | Super Mariio Bros | action | 4.22/5 |
| # | 1995 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Grand Prix 2 | racing | 4.24/5 |
| 02 | Screamer | racing | 4.24/5 |
| 03 | Whiplash | racing | 4.23/5 |
| 04 | The Need for Speed | racing | 4.23/5 |
| 05 | Virtual Pool | sports | 4.23/5 |
| 06 | Transport Tycoon Deluxe | simulation | 4.22/5 |
| 07 | Albion | rpg | 4.22/5 |
| 08 | Caesar 2 | simulation | 4.22/5 |
| 09 | Comix Zone | action | 4.21/5 |
| 10 | Star Wars: Dark Forces | shooter | 4.21/5 |
| # | 1996 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | NeoPaint 3.2 | application | 4.30/5 |
| 02 | Master of Orion 2: Battle at Antares | strategy | 4.29/5 |
| 03 | Super Street Fighter 2 | action | 4.27/5 |
| 04 | Quake | shooter | 4.24/5 |
| 05 | Civilization 2 | strategy | 4.23/5 |
| 06 | Road Rash | racing | 4.23/5 |
| 07 | F-22 Lightning 2 | vehicle simulation | 4.23/5 |
| 08 | Jane's Combat Simulations: Advanced Tactical Fighters | vehicle simulation | 4.22/5 |
| 09 | Fantasy General | strategy | 4.22/5 |
| 10 | The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall | rpg | 4.22/5 |
| # | 1997 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Virtua Cop 2 | shooter | 4.23/5 |
| 02 | Carmageddon | racing | 4.23/5 |
| 03 | Pacific General | strategy | 4.23/5 |
| 04 | Interstate '76 | racing | 4.23/5 |
| 05 | The Last Express | adventure | 4.22/5 |
| 06 | Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Dark Forces II | shooter | 4.21/5 |
| 07 | Blood | shooter | 4.21/5 |
| 08 | Dilbert's Desktop Games | action | 4.20/5 |
| 09 | Age of Empires | strategy | 4.20/5 |
| 10 | Atomic Bomberman | action | 4.19/5 |
| # | 1998 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Caesar 3 | simulation | 4.22/5 |
| 02 | Norton Commander 5.5 | application | 4.21/5 |
| 03 | Dune 2000 | strategy | 4.20/5 |
| 04 | StarCraft | strategy | 4.19/5 |
| 05 | Mega Man X3 | shooter | 4.19/5 |
| 06 | Railroad Tycoon 2 | simulation | 4.18/5 |
| 07 | Army Men | strategy | 4.18/5 |
| 08 | People's General | strategy | 4.18/5 |
| 09 | Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines | strategy | 4.18/5 |
| 10 | Dope Wars | simulation | 4.17/5 |
| # | 1999 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings | strategy | 4.24/5 |
| 02 | Outcast | action-adventure | 4.23/5 |
| 03 | Age of Wonders | strategy | 4.22/5 |
| 04 | Pharaoh | simulation | 4.21/5 |
| 05 | Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia | strategy | 4.21/5 |
| 06 | Jagged Alliance 2 | strategy | 4.20/5 |
| 07 | Black Moon Chronicles | strategy | 4.19/5 |
| 08 | Three Sisters' Story | adventure | 4.19/5 |
| 09 | Midtown Madness | racing | 4.19/5 |
| 10 | Roller Coaster Tycoon | simulation | 4.18/5 |
| # | 2000 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Zeus: Master of Olympus | simulation | 4.20/5 |
| 02 | Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption | rpg | 4.20/5 |
| 03 | Nox | rpg | 4.18/5 |
| 04 | The Sims | simulation | 4.16/5 |
| 05 | Patrician 2: Quest for Power | simulation | 4.15/5 |
| 06 | Unreal Gold | shooter | 4.14/5 |
| 07 | Deus Ex | rpg | 4.09/5 |
| 08 | Ground Control | strategy | 4.07/5 |
| 09 | Gal Pani X | action | 4.06/5 |
| 10 | Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn | rpg | 4.06/5 |
| # | 2001 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Capitalism 2 | simulation | 4.25/5 |
| 02 | Empire Earth | strategy | 4.23/5 |
| 03 | Zoo Tycoon | simulation | 4.17/5 |
| 04 | Anachronox | rpg | 4.17/5 |
| 05 | Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura | rpg | 4.15/5 |
| 06 | Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel | strategy | 4.12/5 |
| 07 | ScummVM | application | 4.11/5 |
| 08 | Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds | strategy | 4.10/5 |
| 09 | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone | action-adventure | 4.09/5 |
| 10 | Independence War 2: Edge Of Chaos | vehicle simulation | 4.03/5 |
| # | 2002 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind | rpg | 4.18/5 |
| 02 | Crazy Taxi | racing | 4.18/5 |
| 03 | Hooligans: Storm Over Europe | strategy | 4.16/5 |
| 04 | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City | action-adventure | 4.16/5 |
| 05 | Chessmaster 9000 | strategy | 4.16/5 |
| 06 | Sid Meier's SimGolf | sports | 4.11/5 |
| 07 | Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 | simulation | 4.10/5 |
| 08 | Lemonade Tycoon | simulation | 4.10/5 |
| 09 | DOSBox | application | 4.09/5 |
| 10 | Syberia | adventure | 4.05/5 |
| # | 2003 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Master of Orion 3 | strategy | 4.16/5 |
| 02 | Yu-Gi-Oh! Power of Chaos - Yugi the Destiny | strategy | 4.11/5 |
| 03 | Hulk | action | 4.10/5 |
| 04 | The Temple of Elemental Evil | rpg | 4.05/5 |
| 05 | Van Buren (Fallout 3) | rpg | 3.90/5 |
| 06 | Lionheart: Legacy of the Crusader | rpg | 3.87/5 |
| 07 | 1893: A World's Fair Mystery | adventure | 3.83/5 |
| 08 | Baldur's Gate III: The Black Hound | rpg | 3.80/5 |
| 09 | Babylon 5: I've Found Her | vehicle simulation | 3.76/5 |
| 10 | ResidualVM | application | 3.65/5 |
| # | 2004 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Spider-Man 2: The Game | action-adventure | 4.16/5 |
| 02 | Dark Horizons Lore: Invasion | vehicle simulation | 4.06/5 |
| 03 | UFO 2000 | strategy | 4.00/5 |
| 04 | Maniac Mansion Deluxe | adventure | 3.90/5 |
| 05 | Yu-Gi-Oh! Power of Chaos - Joey the Passion | strategy | 3.79/5 |
| 06 | Blues Brothers RPG | rpg | 3.77/5 |