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 |
4.19
|
| 02 | PC-Man | action |
4.16
|
| 03 | Microsoft Decathlon | sports |
3.94
|
| 04 | Paratrooper | shooter |
3.90
|
| 05 | Executive Suite | simulation |
3.88
|
| 06 | Wizardry 2: The knight of diamonds | rpg |
3.86
|
| 07 | Car Builder | simulation |
3.85
|
| 08 | Deadline | adventure |
3.84
|
| 09 | The Battle of the Bulge: Tigers in the Snow | strategy |
3.79
|
| 10 | BurgerTime | action |
3.78
|
| # | 1983 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Battlezone | shooter |
4.29
|
| 02 | Lode Runner | action |
4.27
|
| 03 | Digger | action |
4.25
|
| 04 | Sleuth: A Murder Mystery | simulation |
4.24
|
| 05 | Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz | adventure |
4.23
|
| 06 | Defender | shooter |
4.19
|
| 07 | Planetfall | adventure |
4.13
|
| 08 | Donkey Kong | action |
4.12
|
| 09 | Frogger | action |
4.10
|
| 10 | Borland Turbo Pascal 2.0 | application |
4.05
|
| # | 1984 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Montezuma's Revenge | action |
4.31
|
| 02 | Alley Cat | action |
4.29
|
| 03 | Crime and Punishment | simulation |
4.25
|
| 04 | King's Quest 1: Quest for the Crown | adventure |
4.23
|
| 05 | Rogue | rpg |
4.22
|
| 06 | GATO | vehicle simulation |
4.20
|
| 07 | dBASE III | application |
4.19
|
| 08 | Archon: the Light and the Dark | strategy |
4.18
|
| 09 | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | adventure |
4.15
|
| 10 | DND | rpg |
4.12
|
| # | 1985 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Alice: The Personal Pascal | application |
4.36
|
| 02 | 9 Princes in Amber | adventure |
4.21
|
| 03 | A Mind Forever Voyaging | adventure |
4.14
|
| 04 | Ultima 4: Quest of the Avatar | rpg |
4.13
|
| 05 | Rambo First Blood Part 2 | adventure |
4.13
|
| 06 | Ultima 3: Exodus | rpg |
4.13
|
| 07 | Spacewar | shooter |
4.07
|
| 08 | Star Trek: the Kobayashi alternative | adventure |
4.04
|
| 09 | Monopoly | strategy |
4.00
|
| 10 | King's Quest 2: Romancing the Throne | adventure |
3.96
|
| # | 1986 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Space Quest 1: The Sarien Encounter | adventure |
4.24
|
| 02 | Wordstar 4 | application |
4.22
|
| 03 | Gunship | vehicle simulation |
4.21
|
| 04 | Starflight | rpg |
4.19
|
| 05 | Conflict in Vietnam | strategy |
4.17
|
| 06 | Gauntlet | action |
4.16
|
| 07 | James Bond 007: Goldfinger | adventure |
4.14
|
| 08 | Psi 5 Trading Company | vehicle simulation |
4.13
|
| 09 | Alter Ego: Female Version | simulation |
4.12
|
| 10 | Alter Ego: Male Version | simulation |
4.12
|
| # | 1987 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Leisure Suit Larry 1: In the Land of the Lounge Lizards | adventure |
4.30
|
| 02 | Police Quest 1: In Pursuit of the Death Angel | adventure |
4.26
|
| 03 | Driller | action-adventure |
4.25
|
| 04 | Borland Turbo C v1 | application |
4.23
|
| 05 | Earl Weaver Baseball | sports |
4.22
|
| 06 | Maniac Mansion | adventure |
4.20
|
| 07 | Test Drive | racing |
4.19
|
| 08 | Bad Street Brawler | action |
4.18
|
| 09 | Tau Ceti | vehicle simulation |
4.15
|
| 10 | La Abadia del Crimen | action-adventure |
4.14
|
| # | 1988 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Deluxe Paint 2 | application |
4.31
|
| 02 | Skate or Die | sports |
4.29
|
| 03 | Battlehawks 1942 | vehicle simulation |
4.28
|
| 04 | MicroProse Soccer | sports |
4.26
|
| 05 | Airborne Ranger | shooter |
4.25
|
| 06 | GW-BASIC 3 | application |
4.25
|
| 07 | Battle Chess | strategy |
4.24
|
| 08 | Impossible Mission 2 | action-adventure |
4.23
|
| 09 | Star Wars | shooter |
4.21
|
| 10 | World class leaderboard | sports |
4.20
|
| # | 1989 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Operation Wolf | shooter |
4.31
|
| 02 | The Duel: Test Drive 2 | racing |
4.30
|
| 03 | Pipe Dream | puzzle |
4.29
|
| 04 | Hero's Quest: So you want to be a hero | adventure |
4.28
|
| 05 | F-16 Combat Pilot | vehicle simulation |
4.26
|
| 06 | Rick Dangerous | action |
4.24
|
| 07 | Oil Imperium | simulation |
4.24
|
| 08 | Lakers vs. Celtics and the NBA Playoffs | sports |
4.23
|
| 09 | Bubble Bobble | action |
4.23
|
| 10 | Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade | adventure |
4.22
|
| # | 1990 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Norton Editor 2 | application |
4.32
|
| 02 | The Secret of Monkey Island | adventure |
4.32
|
| 03 | Night Shift | puzzle |
4.27
|
| 04 | Loom | adventure |
4.27
|
| 05 | Arj | application |
4.26
|
| 06 | Jetfighter 2: Advanced Tactical Fighter | vehicle simulation |
4.26
|
| 07 | Panza Kick Boxing | sports |
4.25
|
| 08 | LadyLove | action |
4.24
|
| 09 | Ultima 6: The False Prophet | rpg |
4.24
|
| 10 | Prince of Persia | action |
4.23
|
| # | 1991 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | QBASIC | application |
4.51
|
| 02 | Chip's Challenge | puzzle |
4.30
|
| 03 | Cisco Heat | racing |
4.29
|
| 04 | Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge | adventure |
4.29
|
| 05 | Volfied | action |
4.27
|
| 06 | Gobliiins | adventure |
4.26
|
| 07 | Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe | vehicle simulation |
4.26
|
| 08 | Duke Nukem | action |
4.26
|
| 09 | Gods | action |
4.26
|
| 10 | Eye of the Beholder 2: The Legend of Darkmoon | rpg |
4.25
|
| # | 1992 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Virtual Reality Studio 2.0 | application |
4.37
|
| 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 | Ugh! | action |
4.30
|
| 06 | Wizardry 7: Crusaders of the Dark Savant | rpg |
4.30
|
| 07 | Links 386 Pro | sports |
4.27
|
| 08 | Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stone | action |
4.26
|
| 09 | Spear of Destiny | shooter |
4.26
|
| 10 | F-15 Strike Eagle III | vehicle simulation |
4.26
|
| # | 1993 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | NeoPaint 3.2 | application |
4.44
|
| 02 | Aces Over Europe | vehicle simulation |
4.33
|
| 03 | Lemmings 2: The Tribes | puzzle |
4.30
|
| 04 | Tornado | vehicle simulation |
4.30
|
| 05 | Mortal Kombat | action |
4.28
|
| 06 | Populous 2: Trials of the Olympian Gods | strategy |
4.27
|
| 07 | Space Hulk | strategy |
4.27
|
| 08 | Strike Commander | vehicle simulation |
4.26
|
| 09 | The Lost Vikings | action |
4.26
|
| 10 | Freddy Pharkas: Frontier Pharmacist | adventure |
4.26
|
| # | 1994 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | X-COM: Ufo Defense | strategy |
4.31
|
| 02 | The Incredible Machine 2 | puzzle |
4.31
|
| 03 | Heretic | shooter |
4.29
|
| 04 | Wing Commander 3 | vehicle simulation |
4.28
|
| 05 | Doom 2: Hell on Earth | shooter |
4.28
|
| 06 | Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf | shooter |
4.27
|
| 07 | Colonization | strategy |
4.26
|
| 08 | Diggers | puzzle |
4.26
|
| 09 | Super Mariio Bros | action |
4.25
|
| 10 | Disney's Aladdin | action |
4.25
|
| # | 1995 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Runaway City | adventure |
4.30
|
| 02 | Screamer | racing |
4.27
|
| 03 | Virtual Pool | sports |
4.26
|
| 04 | Destruction Derby | racing |
4.26
|
| 05 | Whiplash | racing |
4.26
|
| 06 | Grand Prix 2 | racing |
4.26
|
| 07 | Transport Tycoon Deluxe | simulation |
4.26
|
| 08 | Albion | rpg |
4.26
|
| 09 | Phantasmagoria | adventure |
4.26
|
| 10 | Star Wars: Dark Forces | shooter |
4.25
|
| # | 1996 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Super Street Fighter 2 | action |
4.31
|
| 02 | Master of Orion 2: Battle at Antares | strategy |
4.31
|
| 03 | Battle Arena Toshinden | action |
4.30
|
| 04 | F-22 Lightning 2 | vehicle simulation |
4.29
|
| 05 | Quake | shooter |
4.29
|
| 06 | Road Rash | racing |
4.28
|
| 07 | The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall | rpg |
4.27
|
| 08 | Heroes of Might and Magic II | strategy |
4.27
|
| 09 | Civilization 2 | strategy |
4.26
|
| 10 | Gloriana | simulation |
4.26
|
| # | 1997 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Broken Sword 2: The Smoking Mirror | adventure |
4.28
|
| 02 | Warlords 3: Reign of Heroes | strategy |
4.26
|
| 03 | Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Dark Forces II | shooter |
4.25
|
| 04 | Virtua Cop 2 | shooter |
4.24
|
| 05 | Age of Empires | strategy |
4.24
|
| 06 | Blood | shooter |
4.23
|
| 07 | Carmageddon | racing |
4.23
|
| 08 | Interstate '76 | racing |
4.22
|
| 09 | Warheads | strategy |
4.22
|
| 10 | Magic: The Gathering | strategy |
4.21
|
| # | 1998 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines | strategy |
4.26
|
| 02 | Caesar 3 | simulation |
4.26
|
| 03 | StarCraft | strategy |
4.25
|
| 04 | Norton Commander 5.5 | application |
4.23
|
| 05 | Dune 2000 | strategy |
4.22
|
| 06 | Mega Man X3 | shooter |
4.22
|
| 07 | People's General | strategy |
4.22
|
| 08 | Army Men | strategy |
4.21
|
| 09 | Populous: The Beginning | strategy |
4.21
|
| 10 | 101: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy | strategy |
4.19
|
| # | 1999 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Midtown Madness | racing |
4.29
|
| 02 | Might and Magic 7: For Blood and Honor | rpg |
4.29
|
| 03 | Jagged Alliance 2 | strategy |
4.28
|
| 04 | Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings | strategy |
4.27
|
| 05 | Outcast | action-adventure |
4.27
|
| 06 | Axis and Allies: Iron Blitz | strategy |
4.23
|
| 07 | Age of Wonders | strategy |
4.22
|
| 08 | Pharaoh | simulation |
4.21
|
| 09 | System Shock 2 | action-adventure |
4.21
|
| 10 | Mick's Strip Poker | strategy |
4.20
|
| # | 2000 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Nox | rpg |
4.25
|
| 02 | Dark Reign 2 | strategy |
4.25
|
| 03 | Zeus: Master of Olympus | simulation |
4.20
|
| 04 | Deus Ex | rpg |
4.15
|
| 05 | Patrician 2: Quest for Power | simulation |
4.12
|
| 06 | Gal Pani X | action |
4.12
|
| 07 | Ground Control | strategy |
4.08
|
| 08 | 3D Ultra Lionel Traintown | puzzle |
4.04
|
| 09 | Fairy Nights | adventure |
4.03
|
| 10 | Cultures | strategy |
3.96
|
| # | 2001 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | ScummVM | application |
4.36
|
| 02 | Capitalism 2 | simulation |
4.30
|
| 03 | Empire Earth | strategy |
4.29
|
| 04 | Zoo Tycoon | simulation |
4.23
|
| 05 | Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura | rpg |
4.18
|
| 06 | Anachronox | rpg |
4.14
|
| 07 | Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds | strategy |
4.08
|
| 08 | Mario and Luigi | action |
4.08
|
| 09 | Independence War 2: Edge Of Chaos | vehicle simulation |
4.04
|
| 10 | Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel | strategy |
4.02
|
| # | 2002 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind | rpg |
4.50
|
| 02 | DOSBox | application |
4.22
|
| 03 | Hooligans: Storm Over Europe | strategy |
4.22
|
| 04 | Chessmaster 9000 | strategy |
4.19
|
| 05 | Crazy Taxi | racing |
4.19
|
| 06 | Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 | simulation |
4.19
|
| 07 | Sid Meier's SimGolf | sports |
4.11
|
| 08 | Syberia | adventure |
4.04
|
| 09 | Industry Giant 2 | simulation |
4.00
|
| 10 | Icewind Dale 2 | rpg |
3.81
|