Tyrian

SHOOTER 1995

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 corporation across a variety of exotic planets. Its mix of arcade intensity and lighthearted sci-fi themes makes it one of the standout shooters of the DOS era.

A key strength of Tyrian is its extensive customization system. Players can upgrade ships, equip different weapons, experiment with secondary fire modes, and fine-tune their loadouts between missions. This level of freedom gives the game surprising depth, encouraging replayability and experimentation as challenges increase.

Tyrian also gained recognition for its excellent soundtrack, humorous tone, and generous content, including a full campaign, arcade modes, and hidden secrets. Its polished design and rich feature set helped cement its reputation as a cult classic—one that still appeals to retro gaming fans today.

Genre: SHOOTER
Release: 1995
Developer: Eclipse Software
Publisher: Epic Games

Just play it!

Tip: Press Alt + Enter to toggle fullscreen mode

Quick tips — new to MS-DOS games?

Click inside the game to give it keyboard/mouse focus.
Ctrl + F10 — release or re-capture the mouse cursor.
Saving varies by game — look for Save in the in-game menu (Esc or F1), or try F5 / F7.
Some games use passwords instead of saves — note it down!
Controls are often shown on the game's intro or title screen — don't skip them.