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)

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

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

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

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: -

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: -

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: -

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: -

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: -

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

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: -

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: -

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

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: -

Dune
Dune – MS-DOS cover art
Dune, released in 1992 by Cryo Interactive and published by Virgin Games, is a unique blend of adventure and strategy inspired by Frank Herbert’s legendary science fiction novel. Players step into the role of Paul Atreides, heir of House Atreides,…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1992
Developer: Cryo Interactive
Publisher: Virgin Interactive

Amazon: Guardians of Eden
Amazon: Guardians of Eden – MS-DOS cover art
Amazon: Guardians of Eden, released in 1992 by Access Software, is a classic point-and-click adventure set deep in the mysterious South American jungle. Players take on the role of private investigator Nigel Danvers, who embarks on a perilous…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1992
Developer: Access Software
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: -

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: -

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

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

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

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: -