Abandonware DOS favorite games

In my personal history with video games, there are many that would deserve the title of the best or at least my personal favorite. Creating the perfect ranking is difficult, and this one certainly isn’t. Many of these games have, over time, been recognized as milestones in their genre or even in gaming history, while others you may not even know, but they hold a high nostalgic value for me. I’ve decided to include them all, or at least all the ones I can remember. I’ve also chosen to exclude games I’ve never even tried (and there are many). I’m convinced (or at least I hope!) that this list will resonate with many old-school gamers like me.

1980s
Archon: The Light and the Dark Best strategy chess-like game
Bubble Bobble Faithfull arcade conversion
Driller 3D exploration underdog
Dungeon Master The father of modern first-person RPGs
Ghosts 'n Goblins Best classic platformer
Impossible Mission 2 Best action adventure game
Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards Best adventure game
MicroProse Soccer Best soccer game
Operation Wolf Personal favorite shooting gallery game
Qix Classic original arcade game
Rampage Most insane fun I ever had (almost)
Star Wars Best first-person space shooter
Tetris Iconic puzzle game
Ultima V Personal favorite top-down RPG

1990s
Age of Empires 2 Personal favorite historical real-strategy game
Castle of the Winds Best modern roguelike
Civilization The father of modern 4X games
Darklands Hystorical RPG with high nostalgic value
Diablo The father of modern action roguelikes
Doom The father of modern first-person shooters
Dreamweb Personal favorite cyberpunk game
Duke Nukem 3D Best first-person shooter
Frederik Pohl's Gateway Text adventure with high nostalgic value
Gabriel Knight Best point and click adventure
Golden Axe Faithfull arcade conversion
Heroes of Might and Magic 2 Classic turn-based strategy-RPG hybrid
Ivan Iron Man Super Off Road Best arcade racing game
Master of Orion 2 Best 4X strategy
Minesweeper Classic puzzle game
Mordor Obscure RPG: surprisingly good
Mortal Kombat Best fighting game
Pharaoh Best city-building game
Railroad Tycoon 2 Best business management game
SimCity 2000 Best city-building game
SimTower Perfect hybrid between building and business management
Speedball 2 Best futuristic sports game
StarCraft Classic sci-fi real-time strategy
The Bard's Tale 3 Best first-person RPG
The Lost Vikings Perfect hybrid between platform and puzzle
The Secret of Monkey Island Classic point and click adventure
UFO - Enemy Unknown Perfect hybrid between turn-based tactical and management
Ultima Online Best massive multiplayer RPG
Ultima VII Best classic RPG and personal favorite
Volfied Best classic arcade gameplay
Worms Most innovative puzzle/shooter game

2000s
Age of Wonders 2: The Wizard's Throne Heroes-like strategy with perfect gameplay
Deus Ex Perfect hybrid between RPG and first-person shooter
GTA: Vice City The best GTA ever made
Icewind Dale 2 Personal favorite real-time with pause RPG
Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 Best management game
SimGolf Most innovative sports management idea
Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds Real-time strategy underdog
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Iconic world building
The Sims Most innovative game
TomeNET Personal favorite traditional roguelike

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