Classic MS-DOS Simulation Games

Simulation games were a cornerstone of MS-DOS gaming culture, attracting players who wanted depth and realism over instant gratification. Flight simulators like Microsoft Flight Simulator and F-19 Stealth Fighter pushed early PC hardware to the limits, while city-builders like SimCity let players shape entire metropolises. Transport and business simulations including Transport Tycoon and Theme Hospital offered complex systems to master. The DOS era proved that a home computer could simulate almost anything — planes, cities, roller coasters, even ant colonies.

Games in the simulation genre (alphabetical)

Darker

Darker – MS-DOS cover art
Darker is a moody, atmospheric action-puzzle game released in 1995 for MS-DOS by Psygnosis, a studio renowned for its distinctive visual style and experimental design. Set in a shadow-drenched, abstract world, the game places players in control of a…
Genre: Simulation
Release: 1995
Developer: Psygnosis
Publisher: -

Comanche: Maximum Overkill

Comanche: Maximum Overkill – MS-DOS cover art
Comanche: Maximum Overkill, released in 1992 by NovaLogic, is a groundbreaking helicopter combat simulator that introduced voxel-based graphics for unprecedented terrain detail. Players take control of the advanced RAH-66 Comanche, a stealth attack…
Genre: Simulation
Release: 1992
Developer: NovaLogic
Publisher: -

Chuck Yeager's Air Combat

Chuck Yeager's Air Combat – MS-DOS cover art
Chuck Yeager’s Air Combat is a classic combat flight simulator released in 1991 for MS-DOS by Electronic Arts. The game places players in the cockpit of a variety of real-world military aircraft, spanning different eras from the early jet age to…
Genre: Simulation
Release: 1991
Developer: Brent Iverson
Publisher: Electronic Arts

Carrier Command

Carrier Command – MS-DOS cover art
Carrier Command is a groundbreaking science-fiction strategy and vehicle simulation game developed by Realtime Games Software and originally released in 1988. The player takes command of a highly advanced robotic aircraft carrier and must fight for…
Genre: Simulation
Release: 1988
Developer: Realtime Games
Publisher: Rainbird

After Burner II

After Burner II – MS-DOS cover art
After Burner II is a fast-paced combat flight game that brings Sega’s famous arcade action to MS-DOS. Released in 1989, it puts you in the cockpit of a powerful fighter jet and sends you through a series of intense missions filled with enemy…
Genre: Simulation
Release: 1989
Developer: Sega
Publisher: -

Aces of the Deep

Aces of the Deep – MS-DOS cover art
Aces of the Deep is a World War II submarine simulation game developed by Dynamix and released for MS-DOS in 1994. Players take command of a German U-boat in the Battle of the Atlantic, experiencing missions ranging from the early days of the war to…
Genre: Simulation
Release: 1994
Developer: Dynamix
Publisher: Sierra On-Line