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 (by release years)

King's Quest: Quest for the Crown
King's Quest: Quest for the Crown
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, where...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1984
Developer: Sierra On-Line
Publisher: -

Space Quest I
Space Quest I
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 become...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1986
Developer: Sierra On-Line
Publisher: -

Police Quest: In Pursuit of the Death Angel
Police Quest: In Pursuit of the Death Angel
Police Quest: In Pursuit of the Death Angel, released in 1987 by Sierra On-Line, is a realistic police adventure that blends narrative-driven gameplay with authentic law enforcement procedures. Players take on the role of Sonny Bonds, a patrol office...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1987
Developer: Sierra On-Line
Publisher: -

Beyond Zork: The Coconut of Quendor
Beyond Zork: The Coconut of Quendor
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: -

Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade
Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade
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 legendary...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1989
Developer: LucasArts
Publisher: -

The Colonel's Bequest
The Colonel's Bequest
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 mansion...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1989
Developer: Sierra On-Line
Publisher: -

Maniac Mansion
Maniac Mansion
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 kidnap...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1989
Developer: LucasArts
Publisher: -

Future Wars
Future Wars
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 huma...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1989
Developer: Delphine Software
Publisher: -

Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders, released in 1989 by Lucasfilm Games, is a comedic point-and-click adventure that follows tabloid reporter Zak McKracken on a bizarre quest to save humanity. The plot begins with Zak stumbling upon an alien con...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1989
Developer: LucasArts
Publisher: -

The Secret of Monkey Island
The Secret of Monkey Island
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: -

Loom
Loom
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 tran...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1990
Developer: LucasArts
Publisher: -

Maupiti Island
Maupiti Island
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 aft...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1990
Developer: Lankhor
Publisher: Ubisoft

Rise of the Dragon
Rise of the Dragon
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 B...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1990
Developer: Dynamix
Publisher: Sierra On-Line

Countdown
Countdown
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 co...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1990
Developer: Access Software
Publisher: -

Operation Stealth
Operation Stealth
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 recover...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1990
Developer: Delphine Software
Publisher: U.S. Gold

B.A.T.
B.A.T.
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, di...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1990
Developer: Computer's Dream
Publisher: Ubisoft

Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge
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: -

Cruise for a Corpse
Cruise for a Corpse
Cruise for a Corpse, released in 1991 by Delphine Software, is a captivating point-and-click adventure game that immerses players in a classic murder mystery. Set aboard a luxurious 1920s cruise ship, the game puts players in the role of Raoul Dusent...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1991
Developer: Delphine Software
Publisher: Interplay Productions

Heart of China
Heart of China
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” Maste...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1991
Developer: Dynamix
Publisher: Sierra On-Line

Gobliiins
Gobliiins
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 multi-...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1991
Developer: Coktel Vision
Publisher: Sierra On-Line

The Legend of Kyrandia
The Legend of Kyrandia
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 i...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1992
Developer: Westwood Studios
Publisher: Virgin Interactive