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 (recently added)

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

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: -

Eternam

Eternam – MS-DOS cover art
Eternam is a point-and-click adventure game released for MS-DOS in 1992 by Infogrames. The game tells the story of Bob Wilson, a young man living in the distant future, where society is obsessed with achieving immortality through advanced technology…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1992
Developer: Infogrames
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: -

Tajemství Oslího ostrova

Tajemství Oslího ostrova – MS-DOS cover art
Tajemství Oslího ostrova is a charming and distinctly offbeat adventure game released in 1994 for MS-DOS by the Czech company Vochozka Trading. Set on a mysterious island shrouded in secrets, the game invites players into a quirky narrative filled…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1994
Developer: Vochozka Trading
Publisher: -

7 dní a 7 nocí

7 dní a 7 nocí – MS-DOS cover art
7 Days and 7 Nights is a distinctive MS-DOS adventure released in 1994 by Pterodon Software, offering players a dark, atmospheric journey through a mysterious and unforgiving world. Built on a foundation of exploration and puzzle-solving, the game…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1994
Developer: Pterodon Software
Publisher: Vochozka Trading

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

Beyond Zork: The Coconut of Quendor

Beyond Zork: The Coconut of Quendor – MS-DOS cover art
Beyond Zork: The Coconut of Quendor is a 1987 MS-DOS interactive fiction adventure from Infocom, set in the strange and witty fantasy world of Zork. As the magic of Quendor fades, the legendary Coconut of Quendor has fallen into dangerous hands, and…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1987
Developer: Infocom
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: -

King's Quest II

King's Quest II – MS-DOS cover art
King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne is a classic fantasy adventure game developed and published by Sierra On-Line in 1985. Designed by Roberta Williams as the second installment in the legendary King's Quest series, the game once again puts…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1985
Developer: Sierra On-Line
Publisher: -

King's Quest III

King's Quest III – MS-DOS cover art
King's Quest III: To Heir Is Human is a classic graphic adventure game developed and published by Sierra On-Line in 1986. Unlike the previous games in the series, the story initially moves away from the kingdom of Daventry and follows a young man…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1986
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

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: -