Abandonware DOS title

Classic DOS games

Before the age of blockbuster titles assembled by vast teams of programmers, level designers, visual artists, and musicians, there was an era where smaller companies, or even solitary developers, faced an uphill battle to bring their DOS games to market and achieve even a modest level of sales.

Envision a time when the creation of a video game rested in the hands of one or two individuals, often toiling away in makeshift studios, perhaps even a garage. These now abandoned games were compact enough to fit onto a single floppy disk (for those unfamiliar, they were once the most common storage device for PC), requiring enthusiasts to venture out to physical stores and acquire big boxes filled with maps, manuals, and other assorted goodies. It was an era devoid of the convenience of digital downloads and the ubiquitous presence of the Internet as we know it today.

From text-based adventures to pixelated platformers, MS-DOS facilitated a diverse array of gaming experiences. These games captured the imagination of players worldwide, laying the foundation for the vibrant gaming industry we know today.

In those formative years, prior to the widespread dominance of Windows, game development companies crafted some of the most enduring titles in the history of Personal Computing. This is the rich tapestry of nostalgia and innovation that I evoke when I remember the timeless abandonware classics of the DOS gaming era.

The best DOS games on Abandonware DOS

street-fighter-2-6

Street Fighter 2

#1 Top game!action1992 4.32/5
Capcom / Capcom
Street Fighter II is a classic arcade fighting game developed and published by Capcom. It was first released in 1991 as a sequel to the original Street Fighter. Street Fighter II is widely regarded as one of the most influential and iconic video games of all time, credited with popularizing the fighting game genre and shaping the arcade scene of the 1990s.The game features a diverse cast of characters, each with their own unique fighting styles and special moves. Players can choose from a roster of eight initially playable characters, including Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Guile, Blanka, Zangief, Dhalsim, and E. Honda. Additionally, four boss characters - Balrog, Vega, Sagat, and M. Bison - become playable through cheat codes or special editions of the game.
monkey1-2

The Secret of Monkey Island

#2 Top game!adventure1990demo 4.32/5
LucasArts / LucasArts
The Secret of Monkey Island is perhaps the most popular point and click adventure game developed by Lucasfilm Games and designed by the trio Ron Gilbert, Dave Grossman and Tim Schafer. In Monkey Island you're the would-be pirate Guybrush Threepwood on a quest to become a fearsome pirate in the Caribbean. Monkey Island uses one of the most friendlier interfaces for adventure games: the SCUMM engine.
ultima7-2

Ultima 7 Part 1: The Black Gate

#3 Top game!rpg1992 4.32/5
Origin Systems / Origin Systems
Ultima VII: The Black Gate is a top-down RPG where you, the Avatar, have to find out what's happening in Britannia by solving quests, meeting interesting NPCs and fight hordes of headleass monsters. The land of Britannia is shaken by mysterious earthquakes, a new religion (the Fellowship) is spreading and is replacing the old virtues, and who is the Guardian? Ultima 7 takes another leap forward in the Ultima Series by upgrading both graphics and the interface. 
ufo-5

X-COM: Ufo Defense

strategy1994 4.30/5
MicroProse Software / MicroProse Software
alleycat-splash

Alley Cat

action1984 4.29/5
Synapse Software / IBM
lslarry1-1

Leisure Suit Larry 1: In the Land of the Lounge Lizards

adventure1987NSFW 4.29/5
Sierra On-Line / Sierra On-Line
moo2-administratoroffer

Master of Orion 2: Battle at Antares

strategy1996 4.27/5
SimTex / MicroProse Software
xmen-children-atom-02

X-Men: Children of the Atom

action1997demo 4.27/5
Capcom / Acclaim Entertainment
pipedreams-2

Pipe Dream

puzzle1989 4.27/5
The Assembly Line / LucasArts
eotb1-4

Eye of the Beholder

rpg1991 4.26/5
Westwood Studios / SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
policequest1-2

Police Quest 1: In Pursuit of the Death Angel

adventure1987 4.26/5
Sierra On-Line / Sierra On-Line
rickdangerous-2

Rick Dangerous

action1989 4.25/5
Core Design / Microplay Software
eotb2-4

Eye of the Beholder 2: The Legend of Darkmoon

rpg1991demo 4.25/5
Westwood Studios / SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
daggerfall-01

The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall

rpg1996 4.24/5
Bethesda Softworks / Bethesda Softworks
civ1-7

Civilization

strategy1991 4.24/5
MicroProse Software / MicroProse Software
transport-tycoon-deluxe-02

Transport Tycoon Deluxe

simulation1995 4.24/5
Chris Sawyer Productions / MicroProse Software
quake_002

Quake

shooter1996demo 4.24/5
id software / id software
f117a-2

Night Hawk: F-117A Stealth Fighter

vehicle simulation1991 4.23/5
MicroProse Software / MicroProse Software
colonization-6

Colonization

strategy1994 4.23/5
MicroProse Software / MicroProse Software
oregontrail-2

The Oregon Trail

simulation1990 4.23/5
MECC / MECC
princeofpersia4d-4

Prince of Persia

action1990 4.22/5
Broderbund / Broderbund
needforspeed-4

The Need for Speed

racing1995 4.22/5
Electronic Arts / Electronic Arts
ultima6-3

Ultima 6: The False Prophet

rpg1990 4.22/5
Origin Systems / Origin Systems
The game on this page are the highest-rated by visitors of Abandonware DOS. The selection is continually updated based on user ratings and popularity.
Looking for more DOS games? Get the full list