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)

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

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: -

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

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: -

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: -

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: -

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: -

King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella
King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella – MS-DOS cover art
King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella is a fantasy adventure game developed and published by Sierra On-Line in 1988. The story follows Princess Rosella, daughter of King Graham, who must find a magical fruit capable of saving her dying father. Her…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1988
Developer: Sierra On-Line
Publisher: -

King's Quest III
King's Quest III – MS-DOS cover art
King's Quest III: To Heir Is Human is a classic graphic adventure game developed and published by Sierra On-Line in 1986. Unlike the previous games in the series, the story initially moves away from the kingdom of Daventry and follows a young man…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1986
Developer: Sierra On-Line
Publisher: -

King's Quest II
King's Quest II – MS-DOS cover art
King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne is a classic fantasy adventure game developed and published by Sierra On-Line in 1985. Designed by Roberta Williams as the second installment in the legendary King's Quest series, the game once again puts…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1985
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

Innocent Until Caught
Innocent Until Caught – MS-DOS cover art
Innocent Until Caught, released in 1993 by Psygnosis, is a humorous sci-fi point-and-click adventure set in a galaxy of corruption, crime, and interstellar bureaucracy. Players step into the shoes of Jack T. Ladd, a smooth-talking thief with a knack…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1993
Developer: Divide By Zero
Publisher: Psygnosis

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: -

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: -

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: -

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

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

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

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

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: -

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: -