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)

Quest for Glory
Quest for Glory – MS-DOS cover art
Quest for Glory I: So You Want to Be a Hero, re-released in 1992 by Sierra On-Line in a VGA remake of the 1989 classic, is a hybrid adventure/RPG that blends Sierra’s signature point-and-click interface with role-playing depth. Players create a…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1992
Developer: Sierra On-Line
Publisher: -

Future Wars
Future Wars – MS-DOS cover art
Future Wars, released in 1989 by Delphine Software, is a cinematic point-and-click adventure that blends science fiction with time travel. Players assume the role of a humble janitor who unexpectedly stumbles upon an alien conspiracy threatening…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1989
Developer: Delphine Software
Publisher: -

Lure of the Temptress
Lure of the Temptress – MS-DOS cover art
Lure of the Temptress, released in 1992 by Revolution Software, is a fantasy point-and-click adventure that marked the studio’s debut. Players step into the role of a reluctant hero named Diermot, who finds himself imprisoned in the medieval town of…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1992
Developer: Revolution Software
Publisher: Virgin Interactive

B.A.T.
B.A.T. – MS-DOS cover art
B.A.T. is a futuristic cyberpunk role-playing adventure game developed and published by Ubi Soft in 1990 for MS-DOS and other platforms. Set in a gritty sci-fi metropolis, it blends traditional RPG elements with a strong emphasis on investigation,…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1990
Developer: Computer's Dream
Publisher: Ubisoft

Operation Stealth
Operation Stealth – MS-DOS cover art
Operation Stealth, known as James Bond: The Stealth Affair in North America, is a spy-themed point-and-click adventure developed by Delphine Software and released for MS-DOS in 1990. The game follows CIA agent John Glames as he is assigned to…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1990
Developer: Delphine Software
Publisher: U.S. Gold

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: -

Shadow of the Comet
Shadow of the Comet – MS-DOS cover art
Shadow of the Comet is a classic point-and-click adventure game developed by Infogrames and released for MS-DOS in 1993. Set in the eerie New England town of Illsmouth in 1910, the story follows British journalist John T. Parker, who arrives to…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1993
Developer: Infogrames
Publisher: -

Maniac Mansion
Maniac Mansion – MS-DOS cover art
Maniac Mansion is a groundbreaking point-and-click adventure game that set the standard for the genre. Developed by Lucasfilm Games (later LucasArts), it follows a group of teenagers who must infiltrate the eerie Edison mansion to rescue their…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1989
Developer: LucasArts
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: -

Countdown
Countdown – MS-DOS cover art
Countdown is a gripping point-and-click adventure thriller that plunges players into a world of espionage, conspiracy, and psychological intrigue. You awaken in a Turkish asylum with no memory of who you are, accused of a murder you don’t remember…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1990
Developer: Access Software
Publisher: -

Heart of China
Heart of China – MS-DOS cover art
Heart of China, released in 1991 by Dynamix, is a cinematic point-and-click adventure that whisks players away to a romantic and dangerous journey across 1930s Asia. Blending action, drama, and light-hearted charm, the game follows Jake “Lucky”…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1991
Developer: Dynamix
Publisher: Sierra On-Line

Return of the Phantom
Return of the Phantom – MS-DOS cover art
Return of the Phantom, released in 1993 by MicroProse, is a point-and-click adventure game steeped in gothic mystery and theatrical intrigue. Set in the opulent Paris Opera House, the story begins when a tragic accident strikes during a performance,…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1993
Developer: MPS Labs
Publisher: MicroProse

Rise of the Dragon
Rise of the Dragon – MS-DOS cover art
Rise of the Dragon, released in 1990 by Dynamix, is a cyberpunk adventure game that blends noir storytelling with point-and-click gameplay in a gritty, dystopian future. Set in a crime-ridden Los Angeles in the year 2053, players assume the role of…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1990
Developer: Dynamix
Publisher: Sierra On-Line

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: -

Maupiti Island
Maupiti Island – MS-DOS cover art
Maupiti Island, released in 1990 by Lankhor, is a deep and atmospheric detective adventure that immerses players in a gripping noir-style mystery. As private investigator Jérôme Lange, players find themselves stranded on the remote Maupiti Island…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1990
Developer: Lankhor
Publisher: Ubisoft

KGB
KGB – MS-DOS cover art
KGB, released in 1992 by Cryo Interactive, is a tense and atmospheric point-and-click adventure that plunges players into the world of Cold War espionage. Set in the final days of the Soviet Union, the game follows Captain Maksim Rukov, a young KGB…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1992
Developer: Cryo Interactive
Publisher: Virgin Interactive

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: -

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: -

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: -