Abandonware DOS title

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