Classic MS-DOS Action Games

Action games were one of the most popular genres in the MS-DOS era, offering fast-paced, adrenaline-fuelled gameplay that pushed early PC hardware to its limits. From side-scrolling platform shooters to top-down brawlers, DOS action games demanded quick reflexes and sharp timing. Iconic titles like Commander Keen, Duke Nukem, Dangerous Dave and Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure were staples of the shareware scene, often distributed on floppy disks through Apogee Software. If you like your games immediate, kinetic and challenging, DOS action titles deliver.

Games in the "action" genre (alphabetical)

Syndicate

Syndicate
Syndicate, released in 1993 by Electronic Arts, is a gritty real-time tactical game set in a cyberpunk future where corporations rule the world through violence and espionage. Developed by Bullfrog Productions, the game places players at the head of ...
Genre: ACTION
Release: 1993
Developer: Bullfrog Productions
Publisher: Electronic Arts

System Shock

System Shock
System Shock, released in 1994 by LookingGlass Technologies, is a groundbreaking first-person action-adventure that redefined immersive gameplay and storytelling in the cyberpunk genre. Set aboard the derelict space station Citadel in the year 2072, ...
Genre: ACTION
Release: 1994
Developer: LookingGlass Technologies
Publisher: Origin Systems

The Chaos Engine

The Chaos Engine
The Chaos Engine, released in 1993 by The Bitmap Brothers, is a top-down run-and-gun shooter set in a steampunk-inspired alternate history. In a world where a rogue inventor’s machine has twisted time and unleashed monstrous cybernetic creatures, pla...
Genre: ACTION
Release: 1993
Developer: The Bitmap Brothers
Publisher: Renegade Software

The Last Ninja

The Last Ninja
The Last Ninja is an action-adventure game developed by System 3 and released for MS-DOS in 1987. Set in a mythical version of feudal Japan, it follows the journey of Armakuni, the last surviving ninja of his clan, who seeks revenge against the evil ...
Genre: ACTION
Release: 1987
Developer: System 3
Publisher: Activision

The Simpsons

The Simpsons
The Simpsons, released in 1991 by Novotrade, is a side-scrolling action game based on the hit animated TV series. Originally an arcade game developed by Konami, this MS-DOS adaptation offers a single-player experience where players take on the role o...
Genre: ACTION
Release: 1991
Developer: Novotrade
Publisher: Konami

Tom & Jerry: Yankee Doodle's CAT-astrophe

Tom & Jerry: Yankee Doodle's CAT-astrophe
Tom & Jerry: Yankee Doodle's CAT-astrophe, released in 1990 by Hi-Tech Expressions, is a lighthearted action game based on the classic animated duo. Set during the American Revolutionary War, the game follows Jerry the mouse as he tries to outsmart T...
Genre: ACTION
Release: 1990
Developer: Hi-Tech Expressions
Publisher: -

Ugh!

Ugh!
Ugh!, released in 1992 by Play Byte, is a charming and quirky arcade-style game that blends action, strategy, and humor. Set in prehistoric times, players take on the role of a caveman who pilots a stone-age helicopter to transport passengers across ...
Genre: ACTION
Release: 1992
Developer: Egosoft
Publisher: Play Byte