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
|
| 02 | Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord | rpg |
3.95
|
| 03 | Softporn Adventure | adventure |
3.94
|
| 04 | Chess | strategy |
3.91
|
| 05 | Akalabeth: World of Doom | rpg |
3.66
|
| 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 |
4.13
|
| 03 | Microsoft Decathlon | sports |
4.00
|
| 04 | Paratrooper | shooter |
3.98
|
| 05 | Car Builder | simulation |
3.90
|
| 06 | Deadline | adventure |
3.89
|
| 07 | Executive Suite | simulation |
3.86
|
| 08 | BurgerTime | action |
3.83
|
| 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 |
4.24
|
| 04 | Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz | adventure |
4.24
|
| 05 | Defender | shooter |
4.20
|
| 06 | Planetfall | adventure |
4.16
|
| 07 | Sleuth: A Murder Mystery | simulation |
4.12
|
| 08 | Frogger | action |
4.12
|
| 09 | J-Bird | action |
4.07
|
| 10 | Midway Campaign | strategy |
4.04
|
| # | 1984 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | King's Quest 1: Quest for the Crown | adventure |
4.29
|
| 02 | Alley Cat | action |
4.29
|
| 03 | Montezuma's Revenge | action |
4.23
|
| 04 | Castle Adventure | action-adventure |
4.20
|
| 05 | Archon: the Light and the Dark | strategy |
4.18
|
| 06 | dBASE III | application |
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 | Crime and Punishment | simulation |
4.09
|
| # | 1985 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Alice: The Personal Pascal | application |
4.26
|
| 02 | Ultima 3: Exodus | rpg |
4.20
|
| 03 | A Mind Forever Voyaging | adventure |
4.14
|
| 04 | Rambo First Blood Part 2 | adventure |
4.13
|
| 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 | King's Quest 2: Romancing the Throne | adventure |
4.04
|
| 09 | Silent Service | vehicle simulation |
4.03
|
| 10 | Spacewar | shooter |
4.00
|
| # | 1986 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Space Quest 1: The Sarien Encounter | adventure |
4.27
|
| 02 | The Chessmaster 2000 | strategy |
4.19
|
| 03 | Gunship | vehicle simulation |
4.19
|
| 04 | Wordstar 4 | application |
4.17
|
| 05 | Leather Goddesses of Phobos | adventure |
4.17
|
| 06 | King's Quest 3: To Heir is Human | adventure |
4.13
|
| 07 | Starflight | rpg |
4.13
|
| 08 | Conflict in Vietnam | strategy |
4.12
|
| 09 | Alter Ego: Female Version | simulation |
4.12
|
| 10 | James Bond 007: Goldfinger | adventure |
4.12
|
| # | 1987 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Leisure Suit Larry 1: In the Land of the Lounge Lizards | adventure |
4.28
|
| 02 | Police Quest 1: In Pursuit of the Death Angel | adventure |
4.24
|
| 03 | Driller | action-adventure |
4.21
|
| 04 | Maniac Mansion | adventure |
4.20
|
| 05 | Test Drive | racing |
4.18
|
| 06 | Borland Turbo C v1 | application |
4.13
|
| 07 | Borland Turbo Basic 1.0 | application |
4.13
|
| 08 | Phantasie 3: The Wrath of Nikademus | rpg |
4.11
|
| 09 | Falcon | vehicle simulation |
4.09
|
| 10 | Rockford: The Arcade Game | puzzle |
4.09
|
| # | 1988 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Deluxe Paint 2 | application |
4.27
|
| 02 | Skate or Die | sports |
4.26
|
| 03 | F-19 Stealth Fighter | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
| 04 | Impossible Mission 2 | action-adventure |
4.24
|
| 05 | World Class Leader Board | sports |
4.23
|
| 06 | Battlehawks 1942 | vehicle simulation |
4.23
|
| 07 | Battle Chess | strategy |
4.23
|
| 08 | Star Wars | shooter |
4.22
|
| 09 | Rampage | action |
4.22
|
| 10 | Speedball | sports |
4.20
|
| # | 1989 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Operation Wolf | shooter |
4.29
|
| 02 | Pipe Dream | puzzle |
4.27
|
| 03 | A-10 Tank Killer | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
| 04 | Rick Dangerous | action |
4.25
|
| 05 | F-16 Combat Pilot | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
| 06 | Hero's Quest: So you want to be a hero | adventure |
4.24
|
| 07 | Their Finest Hour: The Battle of Britain | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 08 | The Duel: Test Drive 2 | racing |
4.23
|
| 09 | Bubble Bobble | action |
4.22
|
| 10 | Alien Syndrome | shooter |
4.21
|
| # | 1990 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Secret of Monkey Island | adventure |
4.32
|
| 02 | Das Boot: German U-Boat Simulation | vehicle simulation |
4.27
|
| 03 | F-14 Tomcat | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
| 04 | Jetfighter 2: Advanced Tactical Fighter | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 05 | Loom | adventure |
4.24
|
| 06 | SimEarth | simulation |
4.23
|
| 07 | Puzznic | puzzle |
4.23
|
| 08 | Blue Max: Aces of the Great War | vehicle simulation |
4.23
|
| 09 | LadyLove | action |
4.23
|
| 10 | The Oregon Trail | simulation |
4.23
|
| # | 1991 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | QBASIC | application |
4.31
|
| 02 | Volfied | action |
4.31
|
| 03 | Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge | adventure |
4.29
|
| 04 | Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe | vehicle simulation |
4.28
|
| 05 | Panza Kick Boxing | sports |
4.27
|
| 06 | Chuck Yeager's Air Combat | vehicle simulation |
4.27
|
| 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 |
4.25
|
| # | 1992 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Tetris Classic | puzzle |
4.35
|
| 02 | Ultima 7 Part 1: The Black Gate | rpg |
4.33
|
| 03 | Street Fighter 2 | action |
4.32
|
| 04 | Virtual Reality Studio 2.0 | application |
4.32
|
| 05 | Crazy Cars 3 | racing |
4.28
|
| 06 | Aces of the Pacific | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
| 07 | F-15 Strike Eagle III | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 08 | Stunt Island | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 09 | ATAC: The Secret War Against Drugs | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 10 | B-17 Flying Fortress | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| # | 1993 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | NeoPaint 3.2 | application |
4.38
|
| 02 | Mortal Kombat | action |
4.33
|
| 03 | Lemmings 2: The Tribes | puzzle |
4.31
|
| 04 | Football Manager 3 | sports |
4.29
|
| 05 | Space Hulk | strategy |
4.26
|
| 06 | Lotus: The ultimate challenge | racing |
4.25
|
| 07 | Sid & Al's Incredible Toons | puzzle |
4.25
|
| 08 | Evasive Action | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 09 | Dogfight: 80 Years of Aerial Warfare | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 10 | Dungeon Hack | rpg |
4.24
|
| # | 1994 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | X-COM: Ufo Defense | strategy |
4.30
|
| 02 | Doom 2: Hell on Earth | shooter |
4.27
|
| 03 | Micro Machines | racing |
4.27
|
| 04 | The Incredible Machine 2 | puzzle |
4.27
|
| 05 | Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf | shooter |
4.25
|
| 06 | 1942: The Pacific Air War | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
| 07 | Heretic | shooter |
4.24
|
| 08 | Aces of the deep | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 09 | Fleet Defender | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 10 | Disney's Aladdin | action |
4.23
|
| # | 1995 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Transport Tycoon Deluxe | simulation |
4.29
|
| 02 | Grand Prix 2 | racing |
4.26
|
| 03 | Apache Longbow | vehicle simulation |
4.26
|
| 04 | Albion | rpg |
4.25
|
| 05 | EF 2000 | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 06 | Whiplash | racing |
4.24
|
| 07 | Star Wars: Dark Forces | shooter |
4.23
|
| 08 | Ka-50 Hokum | vehicle simulation |
4.22
|
| 09 | Caesar 2 | simulation |
4.22
|
| 10 | The Need for Speed | racing |
4.22
|
| # | 1996 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Master of Orion 2: Battle at Antares | strategy |
4.28
|
| 02 | Super Street Fighter 2 | action |
4.27
|
| 03 | Pray for Death | action |
4.26
|
| 04 | Quake | shooter |
4.26
|
| 05 | Road Rash | racing |
4.25
|
| 06 | The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall | rpg |
4.25
|
| 07 | F-22 Lightning 2 | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 08 | Jane's Combat Simulations: Advanced Tactical Fighters | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 09 | Fable | adventure |
4.23
|
| 10 | Civilization 2 | strategy |
4.23
|
| # | 1997 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Warlords 3: Reign of Heroes | strategy |
4.29
|
| 02 | Carmageddon | racing |
4.25
|
| 03 | Interstate '76 | racing |
4.24
|
| 04 | Virtua Cop 2 | shooter |
4.24
|
| 05 | Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Dark Forces II | shooter |
4.21
|
| 06 | Blood | shooter |
4.21
|
| 07 | Dilbert's Desktop Games | action |
4.20
|
| 08 | Atomic Bomberman | action |
4.20
|
| 09 | Age of Empires | strategy |
4.19
|
| 10 | Magic: The Gathering | strategy |
4.18
|
| # | 1998 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Caesar 3 | simulation |
4.22
|
| 02 | Thief: The Dark Project | action-adventure |
4.22
|
| 03 | Norton Commander 5.5 | application |
4.21
|
| 04 | Dune 2000 | strategy |
4.21
|
| 05 | Railroad Tycoon 2 | simulation |
4.19
|
| 06 | Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines | strategy |
4.19
|
| 07 | Dope Wars | simulation |
4.18
|
| 08 | People's General | strategy |
4.18
|
| 09 | Mega Man X3 | shooter |
4.18
|
| 10 | Axis and Allies | strategy |
4.17
|
| # | 1999 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Jagged Alliance 2 | strategy |
4.29
|
| 02 | Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings | strategy |
4.25
|
| 03 | Outcast | action-adventure |
4.23
|
| 04 | Roller Coaster Tycoon | simulation |
4.22
|
| 05 | Age of Wonders | strategy |
4.21
|
| 06 | Pharaoh | simulation |
4.21
|
| 07 | Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia | strategy |
4.20
|
| 08 | Axis and Allies: Iron Blitz | strategy |
4.20
|
| 09 | Mick's Strip Poker | strategy |
4.19
|
| 10 | Civilization II: Test of Time | strategy |
4.17
|
| # | 2000 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Sims | simulation |
4.39
|
| 02 | Zeus: Master of Olympus | simulation |
4.18
|
| 03 | Unreal Gold | shooter |
4.17
|
| 04 | Nox | rpg |
4.16
|
| 05 | Patrician 2: Quest for Power | simulation |
4.15
|
| 06 | Gal Pani X | action |
4.09
|
| 07 | Fairy Nights | adventure |
4.06
|
| 08 | Deus Ex | rpg |
4.04
|
| 09 | Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn | rpg |
4.03
|
| 10 | Ground Control | strategy |
4.02
|
| # | 2001 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | ScummVM | application |
4.27
|
| 02 | Capitalism 2 | simulation |
4.25
|
| 03 | Empire Earth | strategy |
4.24
|
| 04 | Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura | rpg |
4.18
|
| 05 | Zoo Tycoon | simulation |
4.15
|
| 06 | Anachronox | rpg |
4.14
|
| 07 | Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel | strategy |
4.09
|
| 08 | Independence War 2: Edge Of Chaos | vehicle simulation |
4.08
|
| 09 | Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds | strategy |
4.08
|
| 10 | Ultra Mortal Kombat Vendetta | action |
4.05
|
| # | 2002 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind | rpg |
4.19
|
| 02 | Chessmaster 9000 | strategy |
4.17
|
| 03 | Hooligans: Storm Over Europe | strategy |
4.17
|
| 04 | Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 | simulation |
4.15
|
| 05 | Port Royale | simulation |
4.15
|
| 06 | Crazy Taxi | racing |
4.14
|
| 07 | Sid Meier's SimGolf | sports |
4.11
|
| 08 | DOSBox | application |
4.11
|
| 09 | Syberia | adventure |
4.03
|
| 10 | Industry Giant 2 | simulation |
3.95
|
| # | 2003 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Master of Orion 3 | strategy |
4.14
|
| 02 | Yu-Gi-Oh! Power of Chaos - Yugi the Destiny | strategy |
4.13
|
| 03 | Van Buren (Fallout 3) | rpg |
3.97
|
| 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 |
3.58
|
| # | 2004 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Spider-Man 2: The Game | action-adventure |
4.19
|
| 02 | UFO 2000 | strategy |
4.19
|
| 03 | Dark Horizons Lore: Invasion | vehicle simulation |
4.15
|
| 04 | Maniac Mansion Deluxe | adventure |
3.90
|
| 05 | Blues Brothers RPG | rpg |
3.83
|