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 | Chess | strategy |
3.96
|
| 03 | Softporn Adventure | adventure |
3.95
|
| 04 | Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord | rpg |
3.94
|
| 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 |
4.16
|
| 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 | Wizardry 2: The knight of diamonds | rpg |
3.85
|
| 09 | BurgerTime | action |
3.83
|
| 10 | The Battle of the Bulge: Tigers in the Snow | strategy |
3.80
|
| # | 1983 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lode Runner | action |
4.27
|
| 02 | Battlezone | shooter |
4.25
|
| 03 | Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz | adventure |
4.24
|
| 04 | Digger | action |
4.21
|
| 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 | Donkey Kong | action |
4.02
|
| # | 1984 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Alley Cat | action |
4.29
|
| 02 | King's Quest 1: Quest for the Crown | adventure |
4.28
|
| 03 | Montezuma's Revenge | action |
4.23
|
| 04 | dBASE III | application |
4.21
|
| 05 | Castle Adventure | action-adventure |
4.20
|
| 06 | Archon: the Light and the Dark | strategy |
4.18
|
| 07 | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | adventure |
4.17
|
| 08 | Rogue | rpg |
4.14
|
| 09 | Soko-Ban | puzzle |
4.10
|
| 10 | Crime and Punishment | simulation |
4.09
|
| # | 1985 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? | adventure |
4.28
|
| 02 | Alice: The Personal Pascal | application |
4.27
|
| 03 | Ultima 3: Exodus | rpg |
4.20
|
| 04 | A Mind Forever Voyaging | adventure |
4.14
|
| 05 | Rambo First Blood Part 2 | adventure |
4.13
|
| 06 | Ultima 4: Quest of the Avatar | rpg |
4.13
|
| 07 | 9 Princes in Amber | adventure |
4.11
|
| 08 | King's Quest 2: Romancing the Throne | adventure |
4.06
|
| 09 | Star Trek: the Kobayashi alternative | adventure |
4.04
|
| 10 | Silent Service | vehicle simulation |
4.03
|
| # | 1986 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Space Quest 1: The Sarien Encounter | adventure |
4.27
|
| 02 | Gunship | vehicle simulation |
4.19
|
| 03 | Wordstar 4 | application |
4.17
|
| 04 | Leather Goddesses of Phobos | adventure |
4.17
|
| 05 | Starflight | rpg |
4.14
|
| 06 | AutoCAD 2.5 | application |
4.14
|
| 07 | King's Quest 3: To Heir is Human | adventure |
4.13
|
| 08 | The Chessmaster 2000 | strategy |
4.13
|
| 09 | Conflict in Vietnam | strategy |
4.12
|
| 10 | Alter Ego: Female Version | simulation |
4.12
|
| # | 1987 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Leisure Suit Larry 1: In the Land of the Lounge Lizards | adventure |
4.29
|
| 02 | Police Quest 1: In Pursuit of the Death Angel | adventure |
4.25
|
| 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 |
4.12
|
| 08 | Rockford: The Arcade Game | puzzle |
4.11
|
| 09 | Phantasie 3: The Wrath of Nikademus | rpg |
4.11
|
| 10 | Falcon | vehicle simulation |
4.10
|
| # | 1988 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Deluxe Paint 2 | application |
4.28
|
| 02 | Skate or Die | sports |
4.26
|
| 03 | F-19 Stealth Fighter | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 04 | Impossible Mission 2 | action-adventure |
4.24
|
| 05 | World Class Leader Board | sports |
4.23
|
| 06 | Battle Chess | strategy |
4.23
|
| 07 | Star Wars | shooter |
4.22
|
| 08 | Rampage | action |
4.22
|
| 09 | MicroProse Soccer | sports |
4.21
|
| 10 | Speedball | sports |
4.20
|
| # | 1989 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Operation Wolf | shooter |
4.28
|
| 02 | Pipe Dream | puzzle |
4.27
|
| 03 | Their Finest Hour: The Battle of Britain | vehicle simulation |
4.26
|
| 04 | Rick Dangerous | action |
4.25
|
| 05 | Hero's Quest: So you want to be a hero | adventure |
4.24
|
| 06 | A-10 Tank Killer | vehicle simulation |
4.23
|
| 07 | The Duel: Test Drive 2 | racing |
4.23
|
| 08 | Bubble Bobble | action |
4.23
|
| 09 | F-16 Combat Pilot | vehicle simulation |
4.22
|
| 10 | Alien Syndrome | shooter |
4.21
|
| # | 1990 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Secret of Monkey Island | adventure |
4.32
|
| 02 | Loom | adventure |
4.26
|
| 03 | F-14 Tomcat | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 04 | Das Boot: German U-Boat Simulation | vehicle simulation |
4.23
|
| 05 | SimEarth | simulation |
4.23
|
| 06 | The Oregon Trail | simulation |
4.23
|
| 07 | Puzznic | puzzle |
4.23
|
| 08 | Blue Max: Aces of the Great War | vehicle simulation |
4.23
|
| 09 | Night Shift | puzzle |
4.23
|
| 10 | Prince of Persia | action |
4.22
|
| # | 1991 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Volfied | action |
4.31
|
| 02 | Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge | adventure |
4.28
|
| 03 | QBASIC | application |
4.28
|
| 04 | Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe | vehicle simulation |
4.27
|
| 05 | Eye of the Beholder 2: The Legend of Darkmoon | rpg |
4.26
|
| 06 | Chip's Challenge | puzzle |
4.26
|
| 07 | Chuck Yeager's Air Combat | vehicle simulation |
4.26
|
| 08 | Eye of the Beholder | rpg |
4.26
|
| 09 | ZZT | action |
4.26
|
| 10 | X-Men 2: The Fall of the Mutants | action-adventure |
4.26
|
| # | 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 | Lamborghini: American Challenge | racing |
4.29
|
| 06 | Heroes of the 357th | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
| 07 | B-17 Flying Fortress | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 08 | Aces of the Pacific | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 09 | Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis | adventure |
4.23
|
| 10 | Wizardry 7: Crusaders of the Dark Savant | rpg |
4.23
|
| # | 1993 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | NeoPaint 3.2 | application |
4.38
|
| 02 | Mortal Kombat | action |
4.34
|
| 03 | Football Manager 3 | sports |
4.32
|
| 04 | Lemmings 2: The Tribes | puzzle |
4.31
|
| 05 | Lotus: The ultimate challenge | racing |
4.26
|
| 06 | Tornado | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 07 | Aces Over Europe | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 08 | Dungeon Hack | rpg |
4.24
|
| 09 | Space Hulk | strategy |
4.23
|
| 10 | Dogfight: 80 Years of Aerial Warfare | vehicle simulation |
4.23
|
| # | 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 | Heretic | shooter |
4.24
|
| 05 | Disney's Aladdin | action |
4.24
|
| 06 | Metaltech: Earthsiege | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 07 | 1942: The Pacific Air War | vehicle simulation |
4.23
|
| 08 | Pinball Fantasies | action |
4.23
|
| 09 | Colonization | strategy |
4.23
|
| 10 | Super Mariio Bros | action |
4.22
|
| # | 1995 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Grand Prix 2 | racing |
4.26
|
| 02 | Ka-50 Hokum | vehicle simulation |
4.25
|
| 03 | EF 2000 | vehicle simulation |
4.24
|
| 04 | Whiplash | racing |
4.24
|
| 05 | Transport Tycoon Deluxe | simulation |
4.24
|
| 06 | Albion | rpg |
4.23
|
| 07 | Virtual Pool | sports |
4.23
|
| 08 | Star Wars: Dark Forces | shooter |
4.23
|
| 09 | Screamer | racing |
4.22
|
| 10 | The Need for Speed | racing |
4.22
|
| # | 1996 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Super Street Fighter 2 | action |
4.28
|
| 02 | Master of Orion 2: Battle at Antares | strategy |
4.28
|
| 03 | The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall | rpg |
4.25
|
| 04 | Road Rash | racing |
4.25
|
| 05 | Quake | shooter |
4.24
|
| 06 | Civilization 2 | strategy |
4.23
|
| 07 | F-22 Lightning 2 | vehicle simulation |
4.22
|
| 08 | Jane's Combat Simulations: Advanced Tactical Fighters | vehicle simulation |
4.22
|
| 09 | Gloriana | simulation |
4.22
|
| 10 | Conquest of the New World (Deluxe Edition) | strategy |
4.22
|
| # | 1997 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Interstate '76 | racing |
4.25
|
| 02 | Virtua Cop 2 | shooter |
4.24
|
| 03 | Carmageddon | racing |
4.23
|
| 04 | Atomic Bomberman | action |
4.21
|
| 05 | Star Wars: Jedi Knight - Dark Forces II | shooter |
4.21
|
| 06 | Dilbert's Desktop Games | action |
4.21
|
| 07 | Blood | shooter |
4.21
|
| 08 | Pacific General | strategy |
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 | Dune 2000 | strategy |
4.21
|
| 04 | Norton Commander 5.5 | application |
4.20
|
| 05 | Railroad Tycoon 2 | simulation |
4.19
|
| 06 | Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines | strategy |
4.19
|
| 07 | Mega Man X3 | shooter |
4.19
|
| 08 | Dope Wars | simulation |
4.19
|
| 09 | 101: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy | strategy |
4.18
|
| 10 | People's General | strategy |
4.18
|
| # | 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 |
4.24
|
| 04 | Pharaoh | simulation |
4.22
|
| 05 | Roller Coaster Tycoon | simulation |
4.22
|
| 06 | Age of Wonders | strategy |
4.22
|
| 07 | Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia | strategy |
4.21
|
| 08 | Mick's Strip Poker | strategy |
4.20
|
| 09 | Star Trek: Starfleet Command | vehicle simulation |
4.17
|
| 10 | Midtown Madness | racing |
4.17
|
| # | 2000 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Unreal Gold | shooter |
4.26
|
| 02 | Zeus: Master of Olympus | simulation |
4.19
|
| 03 | Nox | rpg |
4.17
|
| 04 | Patrician 2: Quest for Power | simulation |
4.15
|
| 05 | The Sims | simulation |
4.10
|
| 06 | Gal Pani X | action |
4.09
|
| 07 | Deus Ex | rpg |
4.09
|
| 08 | Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn | rpg |
4.03
|
| 09 | Ground Control | strategy |
4.02
|
| 10 | Fairy Nights | adventure |
4.02
|
| # | 2001 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | ScummVM | application |
4.27
|
| 02 | Empire Earth | strategy |
4.24
|
| 03 | Capitalism 2 | simulation |
4.22
|
| 04 | Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura | rpg |
4.18
|
| 05 | Zoo Tycoon | simulation |
4.13
|
| 06 | Anachronox | rpg |
4.13
|
| 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 | Mario and Luigi | action |
4.03
|
| # | 2002 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind | rpg |
4.23
|
| 02 | Hooligans: Storm Over Europe | strategy |
4.19
|
| 03 | Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 | simulation |
4.15
|
| 04 | Port Royale | simulation |
4.15
|
| 05 | Chessmaster 9000 | strategy |
4.14
|
| 06 | Crazy Taxi | racing |
4.14
|
| 07 | Sid Meier's SimGolf | sports |
4.11
|
| 08 | DOSBox | application |
4.10
|
| 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 |
4.09
|
| 03 | Van Buren (Fallout 3) | rpg |
4.00
|
| 04 | Babylon 5: I've Found Her | vehicle simulation |
3.87
|
| 05 | ResidualVM | application |
3.75
|
| 06 | Baldur's Gate III: The Black Hound | rpg |
3.70
|
| # | 2004 | genre | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Spider-Man 2: The Game | action-adventure |
4.23
|
| 02 | UFO 2000 | strategy |
4.18
|
| 03 | Dark Horizons Lore: Invasion | vehicle simulation |
4.15
|
| 04 | Maniac Mansion Deluxe | adventure |
3.90
|
| 05 | Blues Brothers RPG | rpg |
3.83
|