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

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

B.A.T.
B.A.T. – MS-DOS cover art
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,…
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1990
Developer: Computer's Dream
Publisher: Ubisoft

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

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: -

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

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

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

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: -

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: -

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: -

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: -

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: -

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

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

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

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: -

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: -

BloodNet
BloodNet – MS-DOS cover art
BloodNet is a cyberpunk role-playing adventure game developed by MicroProse and released for MS-DOS in 1993. Set in a dystopian near-future New York, the game blends science fiction with gothic horror, creating a unique mix of cyberspace hacking,…
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1993
Developer: MicroProse
Publisher: -