Abandonware DOS retro gaming spotlight

Dungeons, Dragons and pixels: videogames inspired by D&D

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is a tabletop role-playing game (RPG) that combines elements of storytelling, strategy, and chance. It was first published in 1974 by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and has since become one of the most popular and influential role-playing games in the world. Dungeons & ...

The fourth King's Quest: The Perils of Rosella

King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella is an adventure game developed and published by Sierra On-Line in 1988. It is the fourth installment in the popular King's Quest series created by Roberta Williams. The game was originally released for MS-DOS and Apple II computers and later ported to other platforms. ...

GameSpy Greatest PC Games of All Time: The '80s

This is a special feature of the popular (and old!) video games site GameSpy. These games were handpicked by the GameSpy staff to be part of the best PC games published in the 80s. GameSpy Online, often referred to as GameSpy, was a division of IGN Entertainment that provided a ...

Amerzone: The Explorer's Legacy

Amerzone: The Explorer's Legacy is a fantasy/steampunk adventure video game developed by Virtual Studio and released by Microids in 1999 for Windows, Mac and Playstation platforms. Amerzone: The Explorer's Legacy is an adventure video game developed by Microïds and released in 1999. The game was created by Benoî...

Seek and Destroy

Seek and Destroy was a shoot'em up published by the well known Epic Megagames in 1996 that tried to change the usual shoot'em up gameplay for the better. Instead of wave after wave of enemies to shoot down, you are given short missions to accomplish with your helicopter or your tank (...

The shareware business model

Shareware is a type of software distribution model that allows users to try a program before purchasing it. It's a marketing strategy and distribution method that was particularly popular in the early days of personal computing, primarily during the 1980s and 1990s.Shareware games were released for free with limited ...

Dungeon Master: a RPG classic

Dungeon Master, released in 1987 by FTL for Atari ST and later for Amiga and DOS, is a classic dungeon-crawling role-playing game (RPG) that holds a special place in the hearts of many nostalgic gamers. Dungeon Master is considered the father of first-person, 3D, grid-based dungeon crawlers.

Abandonware DOS in 2023: demos, applications and we're on Patreon!

Greetings everyone! While 2023 may not have held any particular significance for Abandonware DOS, it marked a significant milestone in my personal life. After 18 years, my fiancée and I decided to share a home, and so far, everything is going smoothly. This shift means I now have more time ...

Dreamweb: a top-down cyberpunk adventure

Dreamweb is a top-down point and click adventure set in a dark, cyberpunk city. You play as Ryan who has strange, violent, dreams. A top down perspective and the sheer number of items your character can pick up are just two of the peculiarities of this game. Dreamweb was ...

GDC Spotlight Awards - 1997

In 1997 Princess Diana died in a car crash, Hong Kong returned under China rule and the stock markets crashed (again). The first Harry Potter book is published in United Kingdom, scientists cloned the first sheep (Dolly) and Microsoft released Interet Explorer 4 (yes, four).Cinemas were full of people watching Titanic, ...

2023 GOG Winter sale

Good Old Games is hosting the usual Winter sale (right before Steam does...). Head there to get some giveaways and buy some good old games too. Some of my favorites are already on sale, but I have to admit that I succumbed to the charm of Cyberpunk 2077 right away... not ...

Secret of the Silver Blades: a GoldBox RPG

Secret of the Silver Blades is a fantasy RPG set in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons universe, developed and released by SSI Strategic Simulations Inc. in 1990 for DOS, Macintosh, Amiga and Commodore 64 systems. Secret of the Silver Blades is part of the Pool of Radiance series and uses the same "...

God games: from Populous to Black and White

A god game is a genre of video games where the player assumes the role of a deity or god and has control over various aspects of the game world. In these games, players typically have god-like powers and influence over the environment, characters, and events within the game. The ...

CODiE Awards 1999: Starcraft, Unreal, Lego Loco

In 1999 we surpassed 6 billion inhabitants in the whole world. In Europe, the new currency - called EURO - replaces national currencies. In the USA, Napster is released, and if you don't remember it, go looking for it on Wikipedia! Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 5 (five!).Movies released in 1999: Star Wars: The ...

GOG Black Friday sale 2023

Good Old Games is hosting a Black Friday sale. It's call Black Friday, but it lasts a whole week! And there are giveaways too. Some of the bestsellers are Heroes of Might and Magic 3, Empire Earth, The Elder Scrolls Morrowind GOTY, etc.

Roller Coaster Tycoon 2: a classic simulation

Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 is a simulation game developed by Chris Sawyer Productions and published by Infogrames. It was released in 2002 as the sequel to the original  classic Roller Coaster Tycoon. In Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 players take on the role of an amusement park manager and are tasked with ...

Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar

Ultima IV is remembered as one of the best Ultima games ever released, designed as usual by Richard Garriott. Garriott took the Ultima series to a whole new level by introducing the eight virtues: honesty, compassion, valor, justice, sacrifice, honor, spirituality, humility. Ultima IV started the trilogy known as "Age ...

Metroidvania: half Metroid, half Castlevania

Metroidvania is a subgenre of action-adventure video games that combines elements from two popular game series: "Metroid" and "Castlevania" The name "Metroidvania" itself is a portmanteau of these two titles. This subgenre is characterized by several key gameplay and design features: exploration, non-linear progression, upgrades and abilities, ...

Dune 2: The Building of a Dynasty

Dune II, released in 1992, is a pioneering real-time strategy game developed by Westwood Studios. Set in the world of Frank Herbert's Dune, players command noble houses in a battle for control over the planet Arrakis. With base-building, resource management, and tactical combat, the game introduced key elements of the genre ...

Crusader: No Regret

PC PowerPlay (1996) wrote: "The creators of the game obviously had a great time with the concept and as such have produced a very polished final product. For those people who have played the first game there will be no disappointment in the sequel, and for those who have not previously ...