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 (alphabetical)

Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders – MS-DOS cover art
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…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1989
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: -

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

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: -

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: -

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

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: -

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: -

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: -

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

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: -

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: -

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: -

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: -

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

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

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: -

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: -

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

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: -