Side-scrolling MS-DOS Games

Scorched Earth, released in 1991 by Wendell Hicken, is a turn-based artillery game that became a staple of early '90s PC gaming. Dubbed “The Mother of All Games,” it pits players against each other in strategic tank battles across destructible, 2D…

Solomon's Key is a classic puzzle-platform game developed by Tecmo and released for MS-DOS in 1988. Originally introduced as an arcade game in 1986, it combines challenging puzzles, fast-paced action, and magical fantasy elements. Players take…

Starquake is a classic sci-fi action platformer released for MS-DOS in 1988 by Bubble Bus Software. Originally created by Stephen Crow, the game places you in the role of BLOB (Bio-Logically Operated Being), a robotic explorer sent deep beneath the…

Superfrog, released in 1994 by Team17, is a colorful and energetic platformer that follows the story of a humble prince transformed into a frog by an evil witch. Empowered by a mysterious energy drink, the now-supercharged amphibian sets out on a…

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…

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…

The Lion King, released by Virgin Interactive in 1994, is a platform game based on Disney’s beloved animated film. Players guide Simba through his journey from a playful cub to the rightful king of the Pride Lands, reliving key moments and iconic…

The Lost Vikings, released in 1993 by Interplay Productions, is a unique puzzle-platformer that combines elements of strategy, adventure, and humor. The game follows the story of three Vikings—Erik the Swift, Baleog the Fierce, and Olaf the…

The Simpsons, released in 1991 by Novotrade, is a side-scrolling action game based on the hit animated TV series. Originally an arcade game developed by Konami, this MS-DOS adaptation lets players take on the roles of Homer, Marge, Bart, and Lisa…

Tom & Jerry: Yankee Doodle's CAT-astrophe, released in 1990 by Hi-Tech Expressions, is a lighthearted action game based on the classic animated duo. Set in a basement, the game follows Jerry the mouse as he tries to outsmart Tom the cat across a…

Trantor: The Last Stormtrooper is a sci-fi action platformer developed by Probe Software and originally released in 1987, with an MS-DOS version following later. The game puts players in the role of Trantor, the sole survivor of a devastating…

Trolls, released in 1992 by Flair Software, is a colorful side-scrolling platform game starring the popular toy trolls with their distinctive wild hair. Players guide a cheerful troll through a series of vibrant, imaginative worlds in a quest to…

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…

Yo! Joe! Beat the Ghosts, developed by Scipio and released for MS-DOS in 1993, is a colorful side-scrolling action platformer with a distinctive 90s comic-book style. Players take control of two street-smart heroes, Joe and Nat, who find themselves…

Zool, released in 1993 by Gremlin Graphics, is a lightning-fast platformer starring a ninja from the Nth Dimension on a mission to prove his worth. With vibrant graphics, high-energy gameplay, and a surreal, candy-coated world, Zool was designed to…

Zorro is a 1995 MS-DOS action platformer developed and published by Capstone Software, bringing the legendary masked hero to the PC screen. Players step into the boots of Don Diego de la Vega, who adopts the persona of Zorro to fight injustice in…