Classic MS-DOS Shooter Games

MS-DOS is where the first-person shooter genre was born. id Software's Wolfenstein 3D in 1992 introduced the world to fast-paced corridor combat, and DOOM in 1993 became a phenomenon that defined PC gaming for years. Quake pushed into true 3D in 1996 while Heretic, Hexen and Blood offered atmospheric alternatives. But DOS shooters were not only first-person — top-down shooters like Tyrian, isometric shooters and side-scrolling shoot-em-ups all flourished on the platform. The shooter genre owes its existence to MS-DOS, and playing the originals remains an essential gaming experience.

Games in the "shooter" genre (recently added)

Tyrian
Tyrian – MS-DOS cover art
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…
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1995
Developer: Eclipse Software
Publisher: Epic Games

Star Wars: Dark Forces
Star Wars: Dark Forces – MS-DOS cover art
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”…
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1995
Developer: LucasArts
Publisher: -

Blood
Blood – MS-DOS cover art
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

The Terminator: Future Shock
The Terminator: Future Shock – MS-DOS cover art
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…
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1995
Developer: Bethesda Softworks
Publisher: -

Chasm: The Rift
Chasm: The Rift – MS-DOS cover art
Chasm: The Rift, released in 1997 by Action Forms, is a fast-paced first-person shooter set in a grim, time-twisting future. As a Special Forces commando, players are tasked with stopping the mysterious Time Strikers — grotesque mutant invaders who…
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1997
Developer: Action Forms
Publisher: Megamedia

Terminal Velocity
Terminal Velocity – MS-DOS cover art
Terminal Velocity, released in 1995 by 3D Realms, is a futuristic combat flight simulator that blends high-speed action with arcade-style shooting. Set in a distant future where Earth faces hostile alien forces, players take control of an advanced…
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1995
Developer: Terminal Reality
Publisher: 3D Realms

Xenon 2: Megablast
Xenon 2: Megablast – MS-DOS cover art
Xenon 2: Megablast, released in 1989 by The Bitmap Brothers, is a vertically scrolling shoot ’em up that combines fast-paced arcade action with striking audiovisual style. Players pilot a heavily armed spacecraft through a series of alien-infested…
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1989
Developer: The Bitmap Brothers
Publisher: Image Works

Shadow Warrior
Shadow Warrior – MS-DOS cover art
Shadow Warrior, released in 1997 by 3D Realms, is a fast-paced first-person shooter built on the Build engine, the same technology behind Duke Nukem 3D. Players take on the role of Lo Wang, a skilled modern ninja working for the corrupt Zilla…
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1997
Developer: 3D Realms
Publisher: GT Interactive

Quake
Quake – MS-DOS cover art
Quake, developed by id Software and released in 1996, marked a revolutionary step in first-person shooters. Running on a fully 3D engine, it immersed players in dark, gothic environments filled with twisted architecture, eerie lighting, and…
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1996
Developer: id Software
Publisher: GT Interactive

Hexen: Beyond Heretic
Hexen: Beyond Heretic – MS-DOS cover art
Hexen: Beyond Heretic is a dark fantasy first-person shooter released in 1995 by Raven Software for MS-DOS. Serving as the spiritual successor to Heretic, it expands upon its predecessor’s fast-paced action with a grimmer atmosphere, richer lore,…
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1995
Developer: Raven Software
Publisher: id Software

Heretic
Heretic – MS-DOS cover art
Heretic is a dark fantasy first-person shooter developed by Raven Software and published by id Software for MS-DOS in 1994. Powered by a modified Doom engine, the game casts players as a lone elven hero battling through corrupted cities, catacombs,…
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1994
Developer: Raven Software
Publisher: id Software

Raptor: Call of the Shadows
Raptor: Call of the Shadows – MS-DOS cover art
Raptor: Call of the Shadows is a top-down vertical-scrolling shoot-'em-up developed by Apogee Software and released for MS-DOS in 1994. Set in a near-future world of mercenaries and high-tech warfare, players pilot the powerful Raptor fighter jet on…
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1994
Developer: 3D Realms
Publisher: -

Tubular Worlds
Tubular Worlds – MS-DOS cover art
Tubular Worlds, released in 1994 by Creative Game Design, is a vibrant side-scrolling shoot-’em-up that plunges players into a surreal sci-fi universe teeming with alien threats. As the pilot of an advanced starfighter, your mission is to traverse…
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1994
Developer: Creative Game Design
Publisher: Dongleware Verlags GmbH

Operation Wolf
Operation Wolf – MS-DOS cover art
Operation Wolf, released in 1989 by Taito, is a fast-paced, side-scrolling rail shooter that brings the intensity of the arcade original to the home computer. As a lone special forces operative, players are dropped into enemy territory on a one-man…
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1989
Developer: Taito
Publisher: -

Witchaven
Witchaven – MS-DOS cover art
Witchaven, released in 1995 by Capstone Software, is a dark fantasy first-person action RPG that blends intense melee combat with dungeon crawling and magic. Powered by a modified Build engine, the same tech later used in Duke Nukem 3D, the game…
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1995
Developer: Capstone Software
Publisher: Intracorp Entertainment

Rise of the Triad
Rise of the Triad – MS-DOS cover art
Rise of the Triad, released in 1995 by Apogee Software, is a fast-paced, over-the-top first-person shooter that builds on the legacy of Wolfenstein 3D with more weapons, mayhem, and mid-'90s attitude. Players take on the role of a member of the HUNT…
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1995
Developer: 3D Realms
Publisher: -

Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold
Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold – MS-DOS cover art
Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold, released in 1993 by Apogee Software, is a sci-fi first-person shooter set in a futuristic world overrun by hostile alien forces. Players step into the boots of Blake Stone, a secret agent tasked with infiltrating the…
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1993
Developer: JAM Productions
Publisher: 3D Realms

Doom II: Hell on Earth
Doom II: Hell on Earth – MS-DOS cover art
Doom II: Hell on Earth, released in 1994 by id Software, is the highly acclaimed sequel to the groundbreaking first-person shooter Doom. Building on its predecessor’s fast-paced gameplay and visceral action, Doom II expands the fight against demonic…
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1994
Developer: id Software
Publisher: GT Interactive

Duke Nukem 3D
Duke Nukem 3D – MS-DOS cover art
Duke Nukem 3D, released in 1996 by 3D Realms, is a fast-paced first-person shooter that became an instant classic thanks to its over-the-top action, destructible environments, and unforgettable one-liners. Players take on the role of Duke Nukem, a…
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1996
Developer: 3D Realms
Publisher: -

Descent
Descent – MS-DOS cover art
Descent, released in 1995 by Interplay Productions, is a groundbreaking first-person shooter that introduced players to full 360-degree movement in a fully 3D environment. Developed by Parallax Software, the game takes place in a series of…
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1995
Developer: Parallax Software
Publisher: Interplay Productions

Wolfenstein 3D
Wolfenstein 3D – MS-DOS cover art
Wolfenstein 3D, released in 1992 by id Software, is a revolutionary first-person shooter that laid the foundation for the genre as we know it today. In the game, players take on the role of B.J. Blazkowicz, an American spy who must escape from the…
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1992
Developer: id Software
Publisher: 3D Realms

DOOM
DOOM – MS-DOS cover art
DOOM, released in 1993 by id Software, is a landmark first-person shooter that revolutionized the gaming industry. Set in a futuristic, sci-fi horror environment, players assume the role of a space marine, often referred to as "Doomguy," who must…
Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1993
Developer: id Software
Publisher: -