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 III: Wages of War

Quest for Glory III: Wages of War – MS-DOS cover art
Quest for Glory III: Wages of War, released in 1992 by Sierra On-Line, is a unique blend of adventure and role-playing that continues the hero’s journey in the acclaimed Quest for Glory series. Set in the vibrant, African-inspired land of Tarna, the…
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: -

Curse of Enchantia

Curse of Enchantia – MS-DOS cover art
Curse of Enchantia, released in 1992 by Core Design, is a whimsical point-and-click adventure game set in a fantastical world filled with magic, humor, and bizarre characters. Players assume the role of Brad, a teenager mysteriously transported to…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1992
Developer: Core Design
Publisher: -

Lost in Time

Lost in Time – MS-DOS cover art
Lost in Time, released in 1993 by Coktel Vision, is an innovative point-and-click adventure game that combines time travel with a gripping mystery. Players take on the role of Doralice, a woman who finds herself trapped in a labyrinth of time after…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1993
Developer: Coktel Vision
Publisher: -

The Colonel's Bequest

The Colonel's Bequest – MS-DOS cover art
The Colonel's Bequest, released in 1989 by Sierra On-Line, is a mystery-adventure game that plunges players into a thrilling whodunit set in the 1920s. As Laura Bow, an inquisitive young journalist, players are invited to a secluded Louisiana…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1989
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: -

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: -

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: -

Teenagent

Teenagent – MS-DOS cover art
Teenagent, released in 1995 by Metropolis Software, is a humorous point-and-click adventure game that blends quirky humor with classic detective storytelling. Players step into the shoes of Mark Hopper, an ordinary teenager unexpectedly recruited by…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1995
Developer: Metropolis Software House
Publisher: Metropolis Software

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

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: -

Space Quest V

Space Quest V – MS-DOS cover art
Space Quest V: The Next Mutation, released in 1993 by Sierra On-Line, is a comedic point-and-click adventure game that continues the misadventures of Roger Wilco, an intergalactic janitor turned starship captain. This installment takes the series to…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1993
Developer: Dynamix
Publisher: Sierra On-Line

Goblins 3

Goblins 3 – MS-DOS cover art
Goblins 3, released in 1993 by Coktel Vision, is the third installment in the beloved Goblins series, combining quirky humor, intricate puzzles, and a richly detailed fantasy world. In this point-and-click adventure, players take on the role of…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1993
Developer: Coktel Vision
Publisher: Sierra On-Line

King's Quest: Quest for the Crown

King's Quest: Quest for the Crown – MS-DOS cover art
King's Quest: Quest for the Crown, released in 1984 by Sierra On-Line, is a groundbreaking adventure game that laid the foundation for the graphic adventure genre. Created by Roberta Williams, the game is set in the fantasy kingdom of Daventry,…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1984
Developer: Sierra On-Line
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: -

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: -

Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade

Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade – MS-DOS cover art
Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure, released in 1989 by Lucasfilm Games, is an adventure game based on the iconic Indiana Jones film of the same name. In this point-and-click adventure, players take on the role of the…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1989
Developer: LucasArts
Publisher: -