Classic MS-DOS Games from 1990

1990 was the year VGA became the new standard, and MS-DOS games grew dramatically more colourful and detailed overnight. Wing Commander from Origin Systems delivered cinematic space combat that felt like playing a science-fiction film. The Secret of Monkey Island — LucasArts' debut SCUMM masterpiece — reinvented the adventure game with perfect comic writing and clever puzzles. King's Quest V transitioned Sierra's flagship series to a fully point-and-click interface. The golden age of DOS gaming had definitively arrived.

Games from 1990 (alphabetical)

Related:

All Years 1989 1991 All Games

Rise of the Dragon
Rise of the Dragon – MS-DOS cover art
Rise of the Dragon, released in 1990 by Dynamix, is a cyberpunk adventure game that blends noir storytelling with point-and-click gameplay in a gritty, dystopian future. Set in a crime-ridden Los Angeles in the year 2053, players assume the role of…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1990
Developer: Dynamix
Publisher: Sierra On-Line

Sharkey's 3D Pool
Sharkey's 3D Pool – MS-DOS cover art
Sharkey's 3D Pool is a classic billiards simulation released for MS-DOS in 1990 by MicroProse. The game aimed to deliver one of the most realistic pool experiences available on home computers at the time, combining detailed 3D table rendering with…
Genre: Simulation
Release: 1990
Developer: Aardvark Software
Publisher: MicroProse

Silent Service II
Silent Service II – MS-DOS cover art
Silent Service II, released in 1990 by MicroProse for MS-DOS, is a realistic submarine warfare simulator set in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. As the sequel to the acclaimed Silent Service, the game puts players in command of an American…
Genre: Simulation
Release: 1990
Developer: MPS Labs
Publisher: MicroProse

Ski or Die
Ski or Die – MS-DOS cover art
Ski or Die, released in 1990 by Electronic Arts, is a high-energy sports game that brings the thrill of extreme winter sports to life. Packed with humor and adrenaline-pumping action, the game offers players a variety of quirky and challenging…
Genre: Sports
Release: 1990
Developer: Electronic Arts
Publisher: -

Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe
Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe – MS-DOS cover art
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…
Genre: Sports
Release: 1990
Developer: The Bitmap Brothers
Publisher: Image Works

Stunts
Stunts – MS-DOS cover art
Stunts, released in 1990 by Broderbund, is a groundbreaking racing game that lets players experience high-speed thrills on insane stunt tracks. Known for its innovative gameplay and freedom of creativity, Stunts allows players to race against the…
Genre: Racing
Release: 1990
Developer: Distinctive Software
Publisher: Broderbund

Test Drive III: The Passion
Test Drive III: The Passion – MS-DOS cover art
Test Drive III: The Passion, released in 1990 by Accolade, is a revolutionary entry in the Test Drive series that brought open-world exploration and advanced 3D graphics to the racing genre. Departing from the linear courses of its predecessors, the…
Genre: Racing
Release: 1990
Developer: Accolade
Publisher: -

The Gold of the Aztecs
The Gold of the Aztecs – MS-DOS cover art
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…
Genre: Platformer
Release: 1990
Developer: U.S. Gold
Publisher: -

The Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail – MS-DOS cover art
The Oregon Trail (1990), developed by MECC for MS-DOS, is a landmark educational simulation that blends historical learning with strategic resource management. Set during the 19th-century westward expansion of the United States, the game places…
Genre: Simulation
Release: 1990
Developer: MECC
Publisher: -

The Secret of Monkey Island
The Secret of Monkey Island – MS-DOS cover art
The Secret of Monkey Island, released in 1990 by Lucasfilm Games, is a seminal point-and-click adventure game that has become one of the most beloved titles in gaming history. Set in a whimsical and humorous pirate-themed world, the game follows the…
Genre: Adventure
Release: 1990
Developer: LucasArts
Publisher: -

Turn It
Turn It – MS-DOS cover art
Turn It is a puzzle game developed by Tale Software and published by Kingsoft in 1990 for MS-DOS. Inspired by traditional Mahjong solitaire, the game introduces a distinctive twist on the classic tile-matching formula. Instead of stacked tiles,…
Genre: Puzzle
Release: 1990
Developer: Tale Software
Publisher: Kingsoft GmbH