Classic MS-DOS Adventure Games

Adventure games defined MS-DOS gaming for an entire generation. LucasArts and Sierra On-Line turned the genre into an art form with classics like The Secret of Monkey Island, King's Quest, Space Quest, Leisure Suit Larry and Gabriel Knight. These point-and-click (and often text-parser) experiences placed storytelling, puzzle-solving and atmosphere above everything else. Many of the best DOS adventure games remain unsurpassed for their wit, writing and world-building — a true golden age for interactive fiction on the PC.

Games in the adventure genre

Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis – MS-DOS cover art
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, released in 1992 by LucasArts, is a classic point-and-click adventure that takes players on a thrilling archaeological journey alongside the legendary Indiana Jones. Set in 1939, on the brink of World War II,…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1992
Developer: LucasArts
Publisher: -

Loom
Loom – MS-DOS cover art
Loom, released in 1990 by Lucasfilm Games, is a unique and atmospheric point-and-click adventure game set in a mystical, fantasy world. The game tells the story of Bobbin Threadbare, a young Weaver who discovers that his guild's elders have been…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1990
Developer: LucasArts
Publisher: -

Star Trek: Judgment Rites
Star Trek: Judgment Rites – MS-DOS cover art
Star Trek: Judgment Rites is a classic point-and-click adventure game for MS-DOS that places the player in command of the USS Enterprise during the era of Star Trek: The Original Series. Released in 1993 by Interplay Productions, the game serves as…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1993
Developer: Interplay Productions
Publisher: -

Star Trek: 25th Anniversary
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary – MS-DOS cover art
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary for MS-DOS, released by Interplay Productions in 1992, is a story-driven adventure that captures the spirit of the original Star Trek series. Players take command of the USS Enterprise as Captain Kirk, accompanied by the…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1992
Developer: Interplay Productions
Publisher: -

Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers – MS-DOS cover art
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers, released in 1993 by Sierra On-Line, is a critically acclaimed point-and-click adventure game that masterfully blends mystery, horror, and supernatural intrigue. Created by Jane Jensen, the game follows Gabriel…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1993
Developer: Sierra On-Line
Publisher: -

Day of the Tentacle
Day of the Tentacle – MS-DOS cover art
Day of the Tentacle, released in 1993 by LucasArts, is a beloved point-and-click adventure game that blends time-travel shenanigans with zany humor and imaginative puzzles. A sequel to Maniac Mansion, the game follows Bernard Bernoulli and his…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1993
Developer: LucasArts
Publisher: -

Space Quest I
Space Quest I – MS-DOS cover art
Space Quest: Chapter I – The Sarien Encounter is a classic science-fiction adventure game released for MS-DOS by Sierra On-Line in 1986. Players take on the role of Roger Wilco, an ordinary janitor aboard the spaceship Arcada, who unexpectedly…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1986
Developer: Sierra On-Line
Publisher: -

Gobliiins
Gobliiins – MS-DOS cover art
Gobliiins (1991) is a puzzle-adventure game developed and published by the French studio Coktel Vision for MS-DOS. It is the first entry in the well-known Gobliiins series and stands out for its unusual spelling, stylized visuals, and focus on…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1991
Developer: Coktel Vision
Publisher: Sierra On-Line

Discworld
Discworld – MS-DOS cover art
Set in Terry Pratchett’s fantastical Discworld universe, this classic point-and-click adventure casts players as the inept yet lovable wizard Rincewind. When a deadly dragon threatens the city of Ankh-Morpork, it’s up to Rincewind — and his…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1995
Developer: Perfect 10 Productions
Publisher: Psygnosis

DreamWeb
DreamWeb – MS-DOS cover art
DreamWeb, released in 1994 by Creative Reality, is a dark, top-down point-and-click adventure that delves into themes of destiny, morality, and madness. Players control Ryan, a troubled bartender plagued by disturbing dreams, who is chosen by…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1994
Developer: Creative Reality
Publisher: Empire Interactive

King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow
King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow – MS-DOS cover art
King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow, released in 1992 by Sierra On-Line, is a masterpiece in the classic point-and-click adventure series, combining stunning visuals, a richly woven narrative, and challenging puzzles. Written by Roberta…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1992
Developer: Sierra On-Line
Publisher: -

Sam & Max Hit the Road
Sam & Max Hit the Road – MS-DOS cover art
Sam & Max Hit the Road, released in 1993 by LucasArts, is a classic point-and-click adventure game that follows the zany exploits of Sam, a laid-back canine detective, and Max, his hyperactive "rabbity-thing" sidekick. Based on Steve Purcell’s cult…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1993
Developer: LucasArts
Publisher: -

The Legend of Kyrandia
The Legend of Kyrandia – MS-DOS cover art
The Legend of Kyrandia, released in 1992 by Virgin Games, is a visually stunning point-and-click adventure game that takes players on a magical journey through the enchanting kingdom of Kyrandia. Developed by Westwood Studios, the game is the first…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1992
Developer: Westwood Studios
Publisher: Virgin Interactive

The Secret of Monkey Island
The Secret of Monkey Island – MS-DOS cover art
The Secret of Monkey Island, released in 1990 by Lucasfilm Games, is a seminal point-and-click adventure game that has become one of the most beloved titles in gaming history. Set in a whimsical and humorous pirate-themed world, the game follows the…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1990
Developer: LucasArts
Publisher: -

The Dagger of Amon Ra
The Dagger of Amon Ra – MS-DOS cover art
Roberta Williams' Laura Bow in The Dagger of Amon Ra, released in 1992 by Sierra On-Line, is a thrilling point-and-click murder mystery set in the glamorous yet treacherous world of 1920s New York. As Laura Bow, a rookie journalist, players…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1992
Developer: Sierra On-Line
Publisher: -

Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge – MS-DOS cover art
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge, released in 1991 by LucasArts, is a legendary point-and-click adventure game that combines hilarious humor, clever puzzles, and a swashbuckling story. As the sequel to The Secret of Monkey Island, the game follows…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1991
Developer: LucasArts
Publisher: -

Simon the Sorcerer
Simon the Sorcerer – MS-DOS cover art
Simon the Sorcerer, released in 1993 by Adventure Soft, is a whimsical point-and-click adventure game that combines clever puzzles, witty dialogue, and a charming fantasy world. Players step into the shoes of Simon, an ordinary teenager who is…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1993
Developer: Adventure Soft
Publisher: -

BloodNet
BloodNet – MS-DOS cover art
BloodNet is a cyberpunk role-playing adventure game developed by MicroProse and released for MS-DOS in 1993. Set in a dystopian near-future New York, the game blends science fiction with gothic horror, creating a unique mix of cyberspace hacking,…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1993
Developer: MicroProse
Publisher: -

Hook
Hook – MS-DOS cover art
Hook is a side-scrolling action-adventure game based on Steven Spielberg's 1991 film of the same name. Players step into the shoes of Peter Banning—now rediscovering his identity as the legendary Peter Pan—as he embarks on a perilous journey to…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1992
Developer: Ocean Software
Publisher: -

Dark Seed
Dark Seed – MS-DOS cover art
Dark Seed, released in 1992 by Cyberdreams, is a psychological horror adventure game that plunges players into a nightmarish world inspired by the disturbing biomechanical art of H.R. Giger. The game follows Mike Dawson, a writer who moves into a…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1992
Developer: Cyberdreams
Publisher: -

King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella
King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella – MS-DOS cover art
King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella is a fantasy adventure game developed and published by Sierra On-Line in 1988. The story follows Princess Rosella, daughter of King Graham, who must find a magical fruit capable of saving her dying father. Her…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1988
Developer: Sierra On-Line
Publisher: -

Gobliins 2
Gobliins 2 – MS-DOS cover art
Gobliins 2: The Prince Buffoon is a charming puzzle-adventure game developed by Coktel Vision and released for MS-DOS in 1992. As the sequel to the original Gobliiins, it continues the series’ distinctive blend of colorful cartoon graphics, surreal…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1992
Developer: Coktel Vision
Publisher: Sierra On-Line