Abandonware DOS title

Underdog games: underrated worth playing

In order to be an underdog, a game has to be "not well known" to the public (not now, nor at the time of its release) or underrated, but worth mentioning and playing for some reason. There are plenty of games that won the love of gamers against all odds; some of them even had a cult following. By the way, this keyword pays tribute to Sarinee Achavanuntakul, the owner of the first version of Home of the Underdogs, the site that started and popularized the abandonware concept.

Most popular underrated underdog games

Albion
rpgDOS, Windows XP/98/95
Death Rally
racingDOS
1893-world-fair-04

1893: A World's Fair Mystery

Windows XP/98/95Mac OS2003
1893: A World's Fair Mystery is an interactive fiction game developed by the American studio Illuminated Lantern and released in 2002. Set during the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, the game combines historical fiction with mystery-solving gameplay.In 1893: A World's Fair Mystery, players take on the role of a detective investigating ...
4thinches-splash

4th & Inches

DOS1988protected Accolade
abuse-05

Abuse

DOSLinuxMac OS1995freeware Crack dot Com
airball-03

Airball

DOS1987 MicroDeal
a4-networks-03

AIV Networks

DOS1995 ERE Informatique
albion-4

Albion

DOSWindows XP/98/951995 Blue Byte Software
Albion is a science fiction role-playing game (RPG) developed and published by German studio Blue Byte Software. It was released in 1995 for MS-DOS and later for Amiga. Albion is notable for its blend of traditional RPG elements with a unique setting and storyline.The game takes place on the planet Albion, a world with a rich history and diver...
alteregof-splash

Alter Ego: Female Version

DOS1986 Activision
alteregom-5

Alter Ego: Male Version

DOS1986 Activision
altereddestiny-4

Altered Destiny

DOS1990protected Accolade
Altered Destiny is a sci-fi themed point and click adventure game designed by Michael Berlyn, developed and released by Accolade in 1990. Altered Destiny runs on DOS but was also published for Amiga.
aquanox1-05

Aquanox

Windows XP/98/952001protected Massive Development
auf-wiedersen-monty-rem-01

Auf Wiedersehen Monty

Windows XP/98/952001remake
battlechess-1

Battle Chess

DOS1988protected Interplay Productions
Chess was a niche genre in video gaming. There were lots of chess simulations: black and white very old games, licensed games from chess champions, etc. No one ever attempted to broaden the audience until Interplay published Battle Chess. Battle Chess appeal was almost entirely focused on the animations when two pieces ended on the same square.
betrayalkrondor-7

Betrayal at Krondor

DOS1993protected Dynamix
blood-3

Blood

DOS1997protected Monolith Productions
body-blows-02

Body Blows

DOS1993 Team 17
Body Blows is a 2D fighting game developed and published by Team17, released in 1993. It was initially launched for the Amiga and later ported to MS-DOS. Body Blows was one of the few fighting games to emerge from Europe during the early 1990s and was heavily inspired by the success of games like Street Fighter II. Body Blows features traditio...
bombuzal-4

Bombuzal

DOS1989 Image Works
cadaver-1

Cadaver

DOS1990 Bitmap Brothers
celtic-tales-03

Celtic Tales: Balor of the Evil Eye

DOS1995 KOEI
Celtic Tales: Balor of the Evil Eye is a strategy video game developed by KOEI and released in 1995. It is set in a mythical version of ancient Ireland and draws heavily from Celtic mythology, particularly focusing on the legendary figure Balor of the Evil Eye. Players take on the role of a clan leader, managing their tribe's resources, engagi...
dgeneration-3

D/Generation

DOS1991 The Software Toolworks
darklands-3

Darklands

DOSLinuxWindows XP/98/95Mac OS1992protected MicroProse Software
Darklands was a unique historical isometric RPG that mixed real historical data from medieval Germany during the 15th century with a touch of folklore and fantasy. Unfortunately it was also the only Microprose RPG of that kind and beauty. The original game box contained a huge manual with info on european folklore (including the live...
deathrally-02

Death Rally

DOS1996freeware Remedy Entertainment Ltd.
decker-02

Decker

Windows 10/112002freeware
dinksmallwodhd-3

Dink Smallwood

Windows XP/98/951998freeware Robinson Technologies
Dink Smallwood is an action role-playing video game developed by Robinson Technologies. It was first released in 1997 for Windows and later became freeware. The game was created by Seth Robinson, and it gained a cult following for its humor.The game's plot revolves around the titular character, Dink Smallwood, a pig farmer who embarks on an epic ad...
dopewars-win-05

Dope Wars

Windows XP/98/951998 Beermat Software
Dope Wars is a text-based simulation game that originated as a DOS program in the early 1980s, but gained popularity in its Windows version released in 1998. The game puts players in the role of a drug dealer navigating the underground economy of buying, selling, and transporting various illegal substances.In the Windows version of the game, player...
driller-2

Driller

DOS1987 Incentive Software
Driller (also known as Space Station Oblivion) is an abandoned action-adventure game developed by Incentive and released by Epyx in 1987 based on the Freescape Engine. In Driller, you control an excavation probe in a real 3d environment, through a first person view. The goal of the game is to place a drilling rig in each of the 8 regions of the moo...
dylan-dog-the-murderers-01

Dylan Dog: Murderers

DOS1992 Simulmondo
elona-02

Elona

Windows XP/98/952007freeware
Elona (short for Eternal League of Nefia) is a free roguelike RPG developed by Japanese indie developer named Noa in 2007. Its gameplay combines elements of open-world exploration, dungeon crawling, and life simulation. It has complex gameplay mechanics, and high replayability. Elona offers a sandbox world where players can pursue various role...
epicpinball-splash

Epic Pinball

DOSMac OS1993protected Digital Extremes
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Eric the Unready

DOS1993protected Legend Entertainment