Top-down MS-DOS Games

Blood & Magic is a real-time strategy game developed by Tachyon Studios and published by Interplay Productions for MS-DOS in 1996. It carries the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons licence — the first Interplay game to do so — and is set in the Utter East,…

Ikari Warriors is a classic top-down run-and-gun action game released for MS-DOS in 1987 by Data East, based on SNK's popular 1986 arcade hit. Inspired by military action movies of the 1980s, the game puts you in control of an elite commando on a…

Locomotion is a railway-themed puzzle game developed by Prestige Softwareentwicklung and released for MS-DOS in 1992. Viewed from a top-down perspective, the game puts players in charge of a busy railway network filled with tracks, switches, and…

Cannon Fodder 2 is a tactical action game developed by Sensible Software and released for MS-DOS in 1994. Building on the distinctive style of the original, the game once again puts you in command of a small squad of soldiers as they fight their way…

Based on the 1988 action movie starring Sylvester Stallone, Rambo III is an action game developed by Ocean Software and released for MS-DOS in 1989. Taking on the role of John Rambo, the player travels to Soviet-occupied Afghanistan to rescue his…

Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar is a landmark fantasy role-playing game first released by Origin Systems for the Apple II in 1985 and brought to MS-DOS in 1987. Set in the realm of Britannia, it moves beyond the traditional quest to defeat a single…

Sensible World of Soccer is a legendary football management and arcade-style sports game developed by Sensible Software and released for MS-DOS in 1996. Combining fast-paced gameplay with deep team management mechanics, the game became famous for…

Gauntlet II is a classic arcade-style dungeon crawler developed by Atari Games and released for MS-DOS in 1989. As a sequel to the original hit, it expands on the fast-paced, top-down action that made its predecessor so popular. Players choose from…

Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe is a fast-paced, futuristic sports game that blends elements of handball, hockey, and pinball into a uniquely aggressive competition. Developed by The Bitmap Brothers and released in 1990, it places players in a brutal…

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…

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…

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…

Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness is a real-time strategy title released in 1995 for MS-DOS by Blizzard Entertainment. The game expands the conflict between Humans and Orcs into a larger, fully realized world, introducing naval warfare, air units, and…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Railroad Tycoon Deluxe, released in 1993 by MicroProse, is an enhanced version of Sid Meier’s groundbreaking railroad management simulation. Building on the 1990 original, the Deluxe edition expands the experience with improved VGA graphics, new…

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…

Knights of Xentar, released in 1995 by Megatech Software, is an English-localized version of the Japanese RPG Dragon Knight III. It’s a tongue-in-cheek, anime-styled role-playing game that mixes traditional fantasy storytelling with heavy doses of…

DreamWeb, released in 1994 by Creative Reality, is a dark, top-down point-and-click adventure that delves into themes of destiny, morality, and madness. Players control Ryan, a troubled bartender plagued by disturbing dreams, who is chosen by…

Grand Theft Auto is an open-world action game developed by DMA Design and released for MS-DOS in 1997. Played from a top-down perspective, the game lets players step into the shoes of a criminal rising through the ranks by completing missions,…

Power Drive is an isometric rally racing game developed by Rage Software and released for MS-DOS in 1994. Blending arcade-style handling with realistic rally elements, the game puts players behind the wheel of various licensed cars as they compete…

Raptor: Call of the Shadows is a top-down vertical-scrolling shoot-'em-up developed by Cygnus Studios and published by Apogee Software for MS-DOS in 1994. Set in a near-future world of mercenaries and high-tech warfare, players pilot the powerful…

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I is a role-playing adventure game developed by Interplay Productions and released for MS-DOS in 1990. Based on the iconic fantasy novel, the game invites players to step into the richly detailed world of…