Best Classic DOS Games from the 1990s

The 1990s were arguably the greatest decade in PC gaming history. MS-DOS games reached new heights of complexity, storytelling, and technical achievement. The early 90s saw the rise of the FPS with Wolfenstein 3D and DOOM, while mid-decade brought legendary RPGs like Ultima VII and Baldur's Gate. Real-time strategy boomed with Dune II, Warcraft, and StarCraft. By the late 90s, DOS was giving way to Windows — but the games from this era remain some of the most beloved in all of gaming. Explore the best of the decade below.

Games of all genres (by rating)

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Death Rally
Death Rally
Death Rally (1996) is a top-down arcade racing game for MS-DOS developed by Remedy Entertainment and published by Apogee Software. Set in a brutal, post-apocalyptic future, the game places players in illegal death races where winning is not just abou...
Genre: RACING
Release: 1996
Developer: Remedy Entertainment
Publisher: Apogee Software

Dark Sun: Shattered Lands
Dark Sun: Shattered Lands
Dark Sun: Shattered Lands is a classic role-playing game released in 1993 for MS-DOS by Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI). Set in the harsh and unforgiving world of Athas from the Dark Sun campaign setting of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, the game dep...
Genre: RPG
Release: 1993
Developer: Strategic Simulations
Publisher: -

Theme Hospital
Theme Hospital
Theme Hospital is a classic isometric management simulation developed by Bullfrog Productions and released for MS-DOS in 1997. As a hospital administrator, the player is tasked with building, expanding, and managing a fully functional medical facilit...
Genre: STRATEGY
Release: 1997
Developer: Bullfrog Productions
Publisher: Electronic Arts

Star Trek: Judgment Rites
Star Trek: Judgment Rites
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 a...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1993
Developer: Interplay Productions
Publisher: -

Sid Meier's Colonization
Sid Meier's Colonization
Sid Meier’s Colonization is a classic turn-based strategy game that challenges players to lead a European power to dominance in the New World. Originally released for MS-DOS in 1994 by MicroProse, the game builds upon the core mechanics of Civilizati...
Genre: STRATEGY
Release: 1994
Developer: MicroProse
Publisher: -

Eternam
Eternam
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: -

Albion
Albion
Albion (1996) is a narrative-focused role-playing game for MS-DOS developed by Blue Byte, combining several classic RPG design approaches. Exploration is presented in a first-person perspective reminiscent of dungeon crawlers, while combat shifts to ...
Genre: RPG
Release: 1996
Developer: Blue Byte
Publisher: -

The Elder Scrolls: Arena
The Elder Scrolls: Arena
The Elder Scrolls: Arena is the first entry in Bethesda Softworks’ acclaimed fantasy RPG series, released for MS-DOS in 1994. The game introduces players to the vast continent of Tamriel, offering an unusually large, procedurally generated world for ...
Genre: RPG
Release: 1994
Developer: Bethesda Softworks
Publisher: -

Whiplash
Whiplash
Whiplash (released as Fatal Racing in some regions) is a high-speed, futuristic racing game developed by Interplay Productions for MS-DOS in 1996. The game focuses on aggressive, stunt-heavy driving across wild, roller-coaster-like tracks filled with...
Genre: RACING
Release: 1996
Developer: Gremlin Interactive
Publisher: Interplay Productions

The Settlers II
The Settlers II
The Settlers II (1996) by Blue Byte Software is a classic real-time strategy and city-building game originally released for MS-DOS. The game challenges players to guide a stranded Roman expedition as they build a thriving settlement from the ground u...
Genre: STRATEGY
Release: 1996
Developer: Blue Byte
Publisher: -

Panzer General
Panzer General
Panzer General is a 1994 turn-based strategy game for MS-DOS, developed and published by Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI). The game places players in command of German forces during World War II, offering a mix of historical accuracy and accessible g...
Genre: SIMULATION
Release: 1994
Developer: Strategic Simulations
Publisher: -

Star Trek: 25th Anniversary
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary
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 f...
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1992
Developer: Interplay Productions
Publisher: -

Tyrian
Tyrian
Tyrian is a fast-paced vertical-scrolling shoot ’em up released in 1995 for MS-DOS by Epic MegaGames. Known for its smooth action and vibrant pixel art, the game follows the story of ace pilot Trent Hawkins as he battles the sinister Microsol corpora...
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1995
Developer: Eclipse Software
Publisher: Epic Games

Star Wars: Dark Forces
Star Wars: Dark Forces
Star Wars: Dark Forces is a 1995 first-person shooter developed and published by LucasArts for MS-DOS. Set in the Star Wars universe, it follows mercenary-turned-Rebel agent Kyle Katarn on a mission to uncover the Empire’s secret “Dark Trooper” proje...
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1995
Developer: LucasArts
Publisher: -

NHL '94
NHL '94
NHL ’94 for MS-DOS, released by EA Sports in 1993, is widely regarded as one of the most iconic early hockey games. Built on the fast, responsive engine that defined EA’s early sports titles, it delivered smooth skating, quick puck movement, and an a...
Genre: SPORTS
Release: 1993
Developer: Park Place Productions
Publisher: EA Sports

Blood
Blood
Blood is a fast-paced first-person shooter released for MS-DOS in 1997 by Monolith Productions. Built on the enhanced Build engine, the game stands out for its fluid movement, interactive environments, and atmospheric level design. Players step into ...
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1997
Developer: Monolith Productions
Publisher: GT Interactive

Master of Magic
Master of Magic
Master of Magic (1994) by MicroProse is a classic MS-DOS strategy game that blends 4X empire-building with deep fantasy role-playing elements. As a powerful wizard, the player commands armies, researches spells, and competes with rival sorcerers acro...
Genre: STRATEGY
Release: 1994
Developer: Simtex
Publisher: MicroProse

Magic Carpet
Magic Carpet
Magic Carpet is a groundbreaking first-person action game developed by Bullfrog Productions and released for MS-DOS in 1994. Set in a fully 3D world, the game places players in the role of a wizard flying a magic carpet, battling rival sorcerers, and...
Genre: ACTION
Release: 1994
Developer: Bullfrog Productions
Publisher: Electronic Arts

The Terminator: Future Shock
The Terminator: Future Shock
The Terminator: Future Shock is a first-person shooter released for MS-DOS in 1995 by Bethesda Softworks. Set in the grim, post-apocalyptic world of the Terminator film series, the game places players in a devastated Los Angeles ruled by the machines...
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1995
Developer: Bethesda Softworks
Publisher: -

Might and Magic IV: Clouds of Xeen
Might and Magic IV: Clouds of Xeen
Might and Magic IV: Clouds of Xeen is a classic first-person role-playing game developed and published by New World Computing in 1992 for MS-DOS. Set in the high-fantasy world of Xeen, the game invites players to lead a party of adventurers across va...
Genre: RPG
Release: 1992
Developer: New World Computing
Publisher: -

Red Baron
Red Baron
Red Baron, released in 1990 by Dynamix and published by Sierra On-Line, is a legendary World War I flight simulator that lets players relive the dawn of aerial combat. Taking to the skies in fragile biplanes and triplanes, pilots engage in dogfights ...
Genre: SIMULATION
Release: 1990
Developer: Dynamix
Publisher: Sierra On-Line

Darklands
Darklands
Darklands, released in 1992 by MicroProse, is a unique role-playing game set in a gritty, realistic version of 15th-century Germany — a world where medieval folklore, alchemy, and religious superstition come to life. Instead of traditional fantasy re...
Genre: RPG
Release: 1992
Developer: MPS Labs
Publisher: MicroProse
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