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 |
4.09
|
| 02 | Softporn Adventure | adventure |
4.00
|
| 03 | Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord | rpg |
3.91
|
| 04 | Chess | strategy |
3.91
|
| 05 | Akalabeth: World of Doom | rpg |
3.65
|
| 06 | B-1 Nuclear Bomber | vehicle simulation |
3.64
|
| # | 1982 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Zork I: The Great Underground Empire | adventure |
4.17
|
| 02 | PC-Man | action |
4.14
|
| 03 | Microsoft Decathlon | sports |
4.00
|
| 04 | Paratrooper | shooter |
3.98
|
| 05 | Car Builder | simulation |
3.93
|
| 06 | Executive Suite | simulation |
3.88
|
| 07 | Deadline | adventure |
3.87
|
| 08 | BurgerTime | action |
3.82
|
| 09 | Wizardry 2: The knight of diamonds | rpg |
3.82
|
| 10 | The Battle of the Bulge: Tigers in the Snow | strategy |
3.80
|
| # | 1983 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lode Runner | action |
4.29
|
| 02 | Battlezone | shooter |
4.24
|
| 03 | Digger | action |
4.23
|
| 04 | Sleuth: A Murder Mystery | simulation |
4.21
|
| 05 | Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz | adventure |
4.21
|
| 06 | Defender | shooter |
4.20
|
| 07 | Planetfall | adventure |
4.16
|
| 08 | Frogger | action |
4.12
|
| 09 | J-Bird | action |
4.10
|
| 10 | Donkey Kong | action |
4.04
|
| # | 1984 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Alley Cat | action |
4.30
|
| 02 | King's Quest 1: Quest for the Crown | adventure |
4.28
|
| 03 | Montezuma's Revenge | action |
4.21
|
| 04 | Castle Adventure | action-adventure |
4.20
|
| 05 | dBASE III | application |
4.19
|
| 06 | Archon: the Light and the Dark | strategy |
4.18
|
| 07 | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | adventure |
4.17
|
| 08 | Rogue | rpg |
4.16
|
| 09 | Soko-Ban | puzzle |
4.12
|
| 10 | Castle Wolfenstein | action-adventure |
4.10
|
| # | 1985 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Alice: The Personal Pascal | application |
4.34
|
| 02 | Ultima 3: Exodus | rpg |
4.19
|
| 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 |
4.13
|
| 06 | 9 Princes in Amber | adventure |
4.11
|
| 07 | Star Trek: the Kobayashi alternative | adventure |
4.04
|
| 08 | Silent Service | vehicle simulation |
4.03
|
| 09 | King's Quest 2: Romancing the Throne | adventure |
4.00
|
| 10 | Spacewar | shooter |
3.99
|
| # | 1986 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Space Quest 1: The Sarien Encounter | adventure |
4.27
|
| 02 | Gunship | vehicle simulation |
4.19
|
| 03 | The Chessmaster 2000 | strategy |
4.18
|
| 04 | Wordstar 4 | application |
4.17
|
| 05 | Leather Goddesses of Phobos | adventure |
4.17
|
| 06 | Conflict in Vietnam | strategy |
4.17
|
| 07 | Psi 5 Trading Company | vehicle simulation |
4.17
|
| 08 | King's Quest 3: To Heir is Human | adventure |
4.14
|
| 09 | The Fellowship of the Ring | adventure |
4.14
|
| 10 | James Bond 007: Goldfinger | adventure |
4.14
|
| # | 1987 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Driller | action-adventure |
4.30
|
| 02 | Leisure Suit Larry 1: In the Land of the Lounge Lizards | adventure |
4.29
|
| 03 | Police Quest 1: In Pursuit of the Death Angel | adventure |
4.25
|
| 04 | Maniac Mansion | adventure |
4.20
|
| 05 | Test Drive | racing |
4.17
|
| 06 | Borland Turbo C v1 | application |
4.16
|
| 07 | Phantasie 3: The Wrath of Nikademus | rpg |
4.16
|
| 08 | Borland Turbo Basic 1.0 | application |
4.15
|
| 09 | Earl Weaver Baseball | sports |
4.14
|
| 10 | Superstar Ice Hockey | sports |
4.12
|
| # | 1988 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Deluxe Paint 2 | application |
4.30
|
| 02 | Skate or Die | sports |
4.29
|
| 03 | F-19 Stealth Fighter | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 04 | Impossible Mission 2 | action-adventure |
4.24
|
| 05 | World Class Leader Board | sports |
4.23
|
| 06 | Battle Chess | strategy |
4.22
|
| 07 | Star Wars | shooter |
4.21
|
| 08 | Rampage | action |
4.20
|
| 09 | Speedball | sports |
4.20
|
| 10 | MicroProse Soccer | sports |
4.19
|
| # | 1989 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Operation Wolf | shooter |
4.28
|
| 02 | Pipe Dream | puzzle |
4.26
|
| 03 | Rick Dangerous | action |
4.25
|
| 04 | Face Off! | sports |
4.25
|
| 05 | Hero's Quest: So you want to be a hero | adventure |
4.24
|
| 06 | A-10 Tank Killer | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 07 | Their Finest Hour: The Battle of Britain | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 08 | F-16 Combat Pilot | vehicle simulation |
4.23
|
| 09 | The Duel: Test Drive 2 | racing |
4.23
|
| 10 | Bubble Bobble | action |
4.22
|
| # | 1990 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Secret of Monkey Island | adventure |
4.32
|
| 02 | Arj | application |
4.27
|
| 03 | Das Boot: German U-Boat Simulation | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 04 | Jetfighter 2: Advanced Tactical Fighter | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 05 | Loom | adventure |
4.24
|
| 06 | The Oregon Trail | simulation |
4.23
|
| 07 | LadyLove | action |
4.23
|
| 08 | SimEarth | simulation |
4.23
|
| 09 | Puzznic | puzzle |
4.23
|
| 10 | Night Shift | puzzle |
4.23
|
| # | 1991 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | QBASIC | application |
4.32
|
| 02 | Volfied | action |
4.30
|
| 03 | Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge | adventure |
4.28
|
| 04 | Panza Kick Boxing | sports |
4.27
|
| 05 | Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe | vehicle simulation |
4.27
|
| 06 | Chuck Yeager's Air Combat | vehicle simulation |
4.26
|
| 07 | Eye of the Beholder 2: The Legend of Darkmoon | rpg |
4.26
|
| 08 | Eye of the Beholder | rpg |
4.26
|
| 09 | Chip's Challenge | puzzle |
4.25
|
| 10 | Night Hawk: F-117A Stealth Fighter | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| # | 1992 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Virtual Reality Studio 2.0 | application |
4.41
|
| 02 | Tetris Classic | puzzle |
4.33
|
| 03 | Street Fighter 2 | action |
4.32
|
| 04 | Ultima 7 Part 1: The Black Gate | rpg |
4.32
|
| 05 | Aces of the Pacific | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 06 | Comanche: Maximum overkill | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 07 | Stunt Island | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 08 | ATAC: The Secret War Against Drugs | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 09 | Crazy Cars 3 | racing |
4.23
|
| 10 | F-15 Strike Eagle III | vehicle simulation |
4.23
|
| # | 1993 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | NeoPaint 3.2 | application |
4.47
|
| 02 | Mortal Kombat | action |
4.33
|
| 03 | Lemmings 2: The Tribes | puzzle |
4.32
|
| 04 | Space Hulk | strategy |
4.28
|
| 05 | Football Manager 3 | sports |
4.26
|
| 06 | Sid & Al's Incredible Toons | puzzle |
4.25
|
| 07 | Aces Over Europe | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
| 08 | Strike Commander | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 09 | Lotus: The ultimate challenge | racing |
4.24
|
| 10 | Tornado | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| # | 1994 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | X-COM: Ufo Defense | strategy |
4.30
|
| 02 | The Incredible Machine 2 | puzzle |
4.28
|
| 03 | Micro Machines | racing |
4.27
|
| 04 | Doom 2: Hell on Earth | shooter |
4.27
|
| 05 | Jagged Alliance | strategy |
4.26
|
| 06 | Heretic | shooter |
4.24
|
| 07 | 1942: The Pacific Air War | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 08 | Colonization | strategy |
4.24
|
| 09 | Dawn Patrol | vehicle simulation |
4.23
|
| 10 | Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf | shooter |
4.23
|
| # | 1995 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Transport Tycoon Deluxe | simulation |
4.26
|
| 02 | Grand Prix 2 | racing |
4.25
|
| 03 | Albion | rpg |
4.25
|
| 04 | Star Wars: Dark Forces | shooter |
4.24
|
| 05 | Whiplash | racing |
4.24
|
| 06 | Psycho Pinball | action |
4.23
|
| 07 | Extreme Pinball | action |
4.22
|
| 08 | Virtual Pool | sports |
4.22
|
| 09 | The Need for Speed | racing |
4.22
|
| 10 | Apache Longbow | vehicle simulation |
4.21
|
| # | 1996 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Master of Orion 2: Battle at Antares | strategy |
4.28
|
| 02 | Super Street Fighter 2 | action |
4.28
|
| 03 | Road Rash | racing |
4.25
|
| 04 | The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall | rpg |
4.25
|
| 05 | Quake | shooter |
4.25
|
| 06 | Pray for Death | action |
4.24
|
| 07 | F-22 Lightning 2 | vehicle simulation |
4.23
|
| 08 | Civilization 2 | strategy |
4.22
|
| 09 | Dogs of War | strategy |
4.22
|
| 10 | Fable | adventure |
4.22
|
| # | 1997 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Warlords 3: Reign of Heroes | strategy |
4.30
|
| 02 | Interstate '76 | racing |
4.26
|
| 03 | Virtua Cop 2 | shooter |
4.24
|
| 04 | Carmageddon | racing |
4.23
|
| 05 | Atomic Bomberman | action |
4.20
|
| 06 | Blood | shooter |
4.20
|
| 07 | Dilbert's Desktop Games | action |
4.20
|
| 08 | Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Dark Forces II | shooter |
4.19
|
| 09 | Age of Empires | strategy |
4.18
|
| 10 | Magic: The Gathering | strategy |
4.18
|
| # | 1998 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Darius Gaiden | shooter |
4.24
|
| 02 | People's General | strategy |
4.22
|
| 03 | Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines | strategy |
4.22
|
| 04 | Norton Commander 5.5 | application |
4.22
|
| 05 | Caesar 3 | simulation |
4.21
|
| 06 | Dune 2000 | strategy |
4.21
|
| 07 | Railroad Tycoon 2 | simulation |
4.20
|
| 08 | 101: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy | strategy |
4.19
|
| 09 | Thief: The Dark Project | action-adventure |
4.18
|
| 10 | Dope Wars | simulation |
4.18
|
| # | 1999 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Jagged Alliance 2 | strategy |
4.30
|
| 02 | Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings | strategy |
4.25
|
| 03 | Outcast | action-adventure |
4.24
|
| 04 | Pharaoh | simulation |
4.21
|
| 05 | Age of Wonders | strategy |
4.21
|
| 06 | Roller Coaster Tycoon | simulation |
4.21
|
| 07 | Mick's Strip Poker | strategy |
4.20
|
| 08 | Axis and Allies: Iron Blitz | strategy |
4.20
|
| 09 | Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia | strategy |
4.19
|
| 10 | Civilization II: Test of Time | strategy |
4.17
|
| # | 2000 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Zeus: Master of Olympus | simulation |
4.18
|
| 02 | Patrician 2: Quest for Power | simulation |
4.15
|
| 03 | Nox | rpg |
4.15
|
| 04 | Unreal Gold | shooter |
4.15
|
| 05 | Fairy Nights | adventure |
4.12
|
| 06 | Gal Pani X | action |
4.09
|
| 07 | Deus Ex | rpg |
4.04
|
| 08 | Ground Control | strategy |
4.02
|
| 09 | 3D Ultra Lionel Traintown | puzzle |
4.02
|
| 10 | Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn | rpg |
4.00
|
| # | 2001 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | ScummVM | application |
4.34
|
| 02 | Empire Earth | strategy |
4.26
|
| 03 | Capitalism 2 | simulation |
4.24
|
| 04 | Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura | rpg |
4.18
|
| 05 | Anachronox | rpg |
4.14
|
| 06 | Zoo Tycoon | simulation |
4.13
|
| 07 | Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds | strategy |
4.09
|
| 08 | Independence War 2: Edge Of Chaos | vehicle simulation |
4.08
|
| 09 | Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel | strategy |
4.07
|
| 10 | Mario and Luigi | action |
4.04
|
| # | 2002 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Hooligans: Storm Over Europe | strategy |
4.18
|
| 02 | Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 | simulation |
4.17
|
| 03 | Chessmaster 9000 | strategy |
4.17
|
| 04 | The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind | rpg |
4.15
|
| 05 | Crazy Taxi | racing |
4.11
|
| 06 | Sid Meier's SimGolf | sports |
4.11
|
| 07 | DOSBox | application |
4.08
|
| 08 | Syberia | adventure |
4.03
|
| 09 | Industry Giant 2 | simulation |
4.00
|
| 10 | Icewind Dale 2 | rpg |
3.86
|
| # | 2003 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Master of Orion 3 | strategy |
4.18
|
| 02 | Yu-Gi-Oh! Power of Chaos - Yugi the Destiny | strategy |
4.09
|
| 03 | Van Buren (Fallout 3) | rpg |
3.95
|
| 04 | Babylon 5: I've Found Her | vehicle simulation |
3.76
|
| 05 | ResidualVM | application |
3.75
|
| 06 | Baldur's Gate III: The Black Hound | rpg |
3.50
|
| # | 2004 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Spider-Man 2: The Game | action-adventure |
4.23
|
| 02 | UFO 2000 | strategy |
4.19
|
| 03 | Dark Horizons Lore: Invasion | vehicle simulation |
4.12
|
| 04 | Blues Brothers RPG | rpg |
3.89
|
| 05 | Maniac Mansion Deluxe | adventure |
3.85
|