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

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

Return of the Phantom
Return of the Phantom
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

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: -

Amazon: Guardians of Eden
Amazon: Guardians of Eden
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 expedit...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1992
Developer: Access Software
Publisher: -

Beneath a Steel Sky
Beneath a Steel Sky
Beneath a Steel Sky is a classic point-and-click adventure game released for MS-DOS in 1994 by Revolution Software. Set in a dystopian cyberpunk future, the game takes place almost entirely within Union City, a vast and oppressive metropolis controll...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1994
Developer: Revolution Software
Publisher: Virgin Interactive

Tajemství Oslího ostrova
Tajemství Oslího ostrova
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 wi...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1994
Developer: Vochozka Trading
Publisher: -

7 dní a 7 nocí
7 dní a 7 nocí
7 Days and 7 Nights is a distinctive MS-DOS adventure released in 1994 by Pterodon Software, offering players a dark, atmospheric journey through a mysterious and unforgiving world. Built on a foundation of exploration and puzzle-solving, the game ch...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1994
Developer: Pterodon Software
Publisher: Vochozka Trading

The Dagger of Amon Ra
The Dagger of Amon Ra
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 investiga...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1992
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: -

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: -

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 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: -

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: -

Goblins 3
Goblins 3
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 Bloun...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1993
Developer: Coktel Vision
Publisher: Sierra On-Line

Space Quest V
Space Quest V
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
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 unexpe...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1993
Developer: Adventure Soft
Publisher: -

Teenagent
Teenagent
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

Day of the Tentacle
Day of the Tentacle
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 eccent...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1993
Developer: LucasArts
Publisher: -

Sam & Max Hit the Road
Sam & Max Hit the Road
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 c...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1993
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: -

Lost in Time
Lost in Time
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 d...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1993
Developer: Coktel Vision
Publisher: -

Curse of Enchantia
Curse of Enchantia
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 th...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1992
Developer: Core Design
Publisher: -

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: -

Quest for Glory III: Wages of War
Quest for Glory III: Wages of War
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: -