Classic MS-DOS Platformer Games

While consoles had Mario and Sonic, DOS gamers enjoyed a rich library of platform games uniquely suited to the keyboard. Commander Keen by id Software and Jazz Jackrabbit by Epic MegaGames were beloved mascots of the shareware era. Prince of Persia introduced rotoscoped animation and fluid physics that felt revolutionary in 1989. Jill of the Jungle, Hocus Pocus and Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure rounded out a genre packed with creative level design and memorable characters. DOS platformers are a fascinating slice of gaming history that often gets overlooked next to console equivalents.

Games in the platformer genre (by release years)

Montezuma’s Revenge
Montezuma’s Revenge – MS-DOS cover art
Montezuma’s Revenge, released in 1984 by Parker Brothers, is a classic platform adventure game that transports players to the depths of a mysterious Aztec pyramid. Players control the brave explorer Panama Joe as he navigates a maze of rooms filled…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1984
Developer: Utopia Software
Publisher: Parker Brothers

Barbarian
Barbarian – MS-DOS cover art
Barbarian, released in 1988 by Psygnosis, is a brutal action-adventure game set in a savage, mythical world. Players take on the role of a mighty warrior on a perilous quest to defeat an evil sorcerer and reclaim their homeland. The game is renowned…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1988
Developer: Psygnosis
Publisher: -

Dangerous Dave
Dangerous Dave – MS-DOS cover art
Dangerous Dave, released in 1988 by Softdisk, is a classic platformer that challenges players to guide the adventurous Dave through a series of perilous levels filled with traps, enemies, and treasures. Created by John Romero, one of the masterminds…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1988
Developer: John Romero
Publisher: Softdisk

The Adventures of Captain Comic
The Adventures of Captain Comic – MS-DOS cover art
The Adventures of Captain Comic is a colorful side-scrolling platform game released for MS-DOS in 1988 and created by Michael Denio. Players take control of Captain Comic, a brave space explorer who travels to the mysterious planet Tambi in search…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1988
Developer: Color Dreams
Publisher: Michael Denio

RoboCop
RoboCop – MS-DOS cover art
RoboCop is an action-packed MS-DOS game released by Data East in 1988, based on the iconic sci-fi film. Players take control of RoboCop, the heavily armored cybernetic police officer, and fight their way through the crime-ridden streets of Detroit.…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1988
Developer: Data East
Publisher: -

Rick Dangerous
Rick Dangerous – MS-DOS cover art
Rick Dangerous, released in 1989 by Core Design, is a classic action-platformer that pays homage to Indiana Jones-style adventure and exploration. Players take on the role of Rick Dangerous, a daring British secret agent, as he embarks on a perilous…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1989
Developer: Core Design
Publisher: Firebird Software

Batman: The Movie
Batman: The Movie – MS-DOS cover art
Step into the shadows of Gotham City in Batman: The Movie, a 1989 action game developed by Ocean Software for MS-DOS. Inspired by Tim Burton’s blockbuster film, the game puts you behind the mask of the Dark Knight as he battles criminals, navigates…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1989
Developer: Ocean Software
Publisher: -

Prince of Persia
Prince of Persia – MS-DOS cover art
Prince of Persia, released in 1990 by Broderbund, is a groundbreaking action-platformer that set new standards for fluid animation and cinematic gameplay. Set in an exotic, ancient Persian setting, the game follows the story of an unnamed prince who…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1990
Developer: Broderbund
Publisher: -

The Gold of the Aztecs
The Gold of the Aztecs – MS-DOS cover art
The Gold of the Aztecs is a cinematic action-platform game published by U.S. Gold for MS-DOS in 1990. Players take control of Special Forces veteran Bret Conrad, who ventures deep into an ancient Aztec tomb in search of a legendary treasure. The…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1990
Developer: U.S. Gold
Publisher: -

El Capitán Trueno
El Capitán Trueno – MS-DOS cover art
El Capitán Trueno is an action-adventure game released for MS-DOS by Dinamic Software in 1990. Based on the famous Spanish comic-book hero created by Víctor Mora and Ambrós, the game takes players into a medieval world filled with dangerous enemies,…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1990
Developer: Dinamic Software
Publisher: -

Prehistorik
Prehistorik – MS-DOS cover art
Prehistorik, released in 1991 by Titus Interactive, is a fun and colorful platformer that takes players back to the Stone Age. In the game, players control a caveman who must navigate through a variety of prehistoric environments, filled with…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1991
Developer: Titus France
Publisher: -

Gods
Gods – MS-DOS cover art
Gods, released in 1991 by The Bitmap Brothers, is a mythological action-platformer that plunges players into a dangerous world of ancient gods and mythical creatures. Set in a crumbling city overrun by chaos, players assume the role of Hercules,…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1991
Developer: The Bitmap Brothers
Publisher: Renegade Software

Fantastic Dizzy
Fantastic Dizzy – MS-DOS cover art
Fantastic Dizzy, released in 1991 by Codemasters, is a charming puzzle-platformer that follows the adventures of Dizzy, a brave egg-shaped hero, on a quest to rescue his girlfriend Daisy and defeat the evil wizard Zaks. Set in the whimsical land of…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1991
Developer: Codemasters
Publisher: -

Commander Keen in Goodbye, Galaxy
Commander Keen in Goodbye, Galaxy – MS-DOS cover art
Commander Keen in Goodbye, Galaxy!, released in 1991 by Apogee Software, is a vibrant and humorous platformer that follows the adventures of Billy Blaze, an eight-year-old genius who dons the persona of Commander Keen to save the galaxy. This…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1991
Developer: id Software
Publisher: 3D Realms

Elf
Elf – MS-DOS cover art
Elf, released in 1991 by Ocean Software, is a side-scrolling action-platformer that plunges players into a vibrant fantasy world filled with danger, magic, and whimsy. You play as Cornelius, a young elf on a quest to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1991
Developer: Ocean Software
Publisher: -

Crystal Caves
Crystal Caves – MS-DOS cover art
Crystal Caves, released in 1991 by Apogee Software, is a colorful side-scrolling platform game starring the quirky space prospector Mylo Steamwitz. Always on the lookout for a quick profit, Mylo ventures into a series of dangerous caves on distant…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1991
Developer: 3D Realms
Publisher: -

Duke Nukem
Duke Nukem – MS-DOS cover art
Released in 1991 by Apogee Software, Duke Nukem is the game that introduced one of PC gaming's most iconic action heroes. This classic side-scrolling platformer follows Duke as he battles the evil Dr. Proton and his army of Techbots across three…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1991
Developer: 3D Realms
Publisher: -

Alcatraz
Alcatraz – MS-DOS cover art
Alcatraz, is a 1992 action-adventure game developed by Infogrames. Set in the infamous Alcatraz prison, the game combines elements of stealth, strategy, and combat. Players assume the roles of two special agents, Bird and Fist, who are tasked with…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1992
Developer: 221B Software Productions
Publisher: Infogrames

Another World
Another World – MS-DOS cover art
Another World, released in 1992 by Delphine Software, is a cinematic action-adventure game that captivated players with its groundbreaking visuals and atmospheric storytelling. Developed by Eric Chahi, this iconic title pushes the boundaries of…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1992
Developer: Delphine Software
Publisher: -

Jill of the Jungle
Jill of the Jungle – MS-DOS cover art
Jill of the Jungle, released in 1992 by Epic MegaGames, is a vibrant action-platformer that stars Jill, a fearless Amazonian warrior on a quest through dangerous landscapes filled with traps, monsters, and puzzles. With its mix of fast-paced…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1992
Developer: Epic Games
Publisher: -

Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure
Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure – MS-DOS cover art
Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure, released in 1992 by Apogee Software, is a charming platformer that follows the adventures of Cosmo, a young alien stranded on a mysterious planet while searching for his missing parents. With his suction-cup hands and…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1992
Developer: 3D Realms
Publisher: -

Dylan Dog: The Murderers
Dylan Dog: The Murderers – MS-DOS cover art
Dylan Dog: The Murderers, released in 1992 by Italian developer Simulmondo, is an adventure game based on the popular comic book series featuring the “nightmare investigator” Dylan Dog. Set in a dark and mysterious London, the story plunges players…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1992
Developer: Simulmondo
Publisher: -