Classic MS-DOS Games from 1991

1991 produced some of the most foundational MS-DOS games ever made. Sid Meier's Civilization at MicroProse created a turn-based empire-building game of such depth and 'one more turn' compulsion that it spawned a genre and a franchise still active today. Commander Keen from id Software and Apogee brought console-quality platforming to the PC and proved the shareware distribution model could work at scale. Duke Nukem made his original side-scrolling debut. The Ultima Underworld prototype established the template for the first-person RPG.

Games from 1991

Related:

All Years 1990 1992 All Games

4D Sports Boxing
4D Sports Boxing – MS-DOS cover art
4D Sports Boxing, released in 1991 by Mindscape, is a pioneering 3D boxing simulation that brought an unprecedented level of realism to the sport on PC. Players create a custom fighter and climb the ranks of a global boxing circuit, facing…
Genre: SPORTS
Release: 1991
Developer: Distinctive Software
Publisher: Mindscape

Blockout
Blockout – MS-DOS cover art
Blockout, is a 3D puzzle game developed by California Dreams and released in 1991. The game offers a fresh and challenging twist on the classic Tetris formula by introducing a three-dimensional playing field. Players must rotate and manipulate…
Genre: PUZZLE
Release: 1991
Developer: Logical Design Works
Publisher: California Dreams

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

Civilization
Civilization – MS-DOS cover art
Sid Meier's Civilization, released in 1991 by MicroProse Software, is a groundbreaking strategy game that set the standard for the 4X (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate) genre. In "Civilization," players take on the role of a leader guiding…
Genre: STRATEGY
Release: 1991
Developer: MicroProse
Publisher: -

Commander Keen in Goodbye, Galaxy
Commander Keen in Goodbye, Galaxy – MS-DOS cover art
Commander Keen in Goodbye, Galaxy!, released in 1991 by Apogee Software, is a vibrant and humorous platformer that follows the adventures of Billy Blaze, an eight-year-old genius who dons the persona of Commander Keen to save the galaxy. This…
Genre: PLATFORMER
Release: 1991
Developer: id Software
Publisher: 3D Realms

Conan the Cimmerian
Conan the Cimmerian – MS-DOS cover art
Conan the Cimmerian, released in 1991 by Synergistic Software, is an action-adventure RPG that brings the brutal world of Robert E. Howard’s legendary barbarian to life. Players take on the role of Conan, rising from a pit-fighting slave to a…
Genre: ACTION
Release: 1991
Developer: Synergistic Software
Publisher: Virgin Interactive

Crystal Caves
Crystal Caves – MS-DOS cover art
Crystal Caves, released in 1991 by Apogee Software, is a colorful side-scrolling platform game starring the quirky space prospector Mylo Steamwitz. Always on the lookout for a quick profit, Mylo ventures into a series of dangerous caves on distant…
Genre: PLATFORMER
Release: 1991
Developer: 3D Realms
Publisher: -

D/Generation
D/Generation – MS-DOS cover art
D/Generation, released in 1991 by Mindscape, is a sci-fi action-puzzle game that immerses players in a suspenseful and challenging mission. Set in a high-tech skyscraper in near-future Singapore, players take on the role of a courier tasked with…
Genre: ACTION
Release: 1991
Developer: Robert Cook
Publisher: Mindscape

Duke Nukem
Duke Nukem – MS-DOS cover art
Released in 1991 by Apogee Software, Duke Nukem is the game that introduced one of PC gaming's most iconic action heroes. This classic side-scrolling platformer follows Duke as he battles the evil Dr. Proton and his army of Techbots across three…
Genre: PLATFORMER
Release: 1991
Developer: 3D Realms
Publisher: -

Elf
Elf – MS-DOS cover art
Elf, released in 1991 by Ocean Software, is a side-scrolling action-platformer that plunges players into a vibrant fantasy world filled with danger, magic, and whimsy. You play as Cornelius, a young elf on a quest to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend…
Genre: PLATFORMER
Release: 1991
Developer: Ocean Software
Publisher: -

Elite Plus
Elite Plus – MS-DOS cover art
Elite Plus, released in 1991 by Microplay Software, is an enhanced version of the classic space trading and combat simulation Elite. Building upon the original 1984 game, Elite Plus introduces improved graphics, smoother gameplay, and enhanced…
Genre: SIMULATION
Release: 1991
Developer: Microplay Software
Publisher: -

Eye of the Beholder
Eye of the Beholder – MS-DOS cover art
Eye of the Beholder is a legendary first-person dungeon crawler released for MS-DOS in 1991 by Westwood Associates and published by Strategic Simulations, Inc.. Set in the famous Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms, the game sends a party…
Genre: RPG
Release: 1991
Developer: Westwood Studios
Publisher: Strategic Simulations

Falcon 3.0
Falcon 3.0 – MS-DOS cover art
Falcon 3.0 is a landmark combat flight simulator released in 1991 for MS-DOS, developed by Spectrum HoloByte. Renowned for its unprecedented realism at the time, the game puts players in the cockpit of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, delivering a deeply…
Genre: SIMULATION
Release: 1991
Developer: Sphere Inc.
Publisher: Spectrum HoloByte

Fantastic Dizzy
Fantastic Dizzy – MS-DOS cover art
Fantastic Dizzy, released in 1991 by Codemasters, is a charming puzzle-platformer that follows the adventures of Dizzy, a brave egg-shaped hero, on a quest to rescue his girlfriend Daisy and defeat the evil wizard Zaks. Set in the whimsical land of…
Genre: PLATFORMER
Release: 1991
Developer: Codemasters
Publisher: -

Gobliiins
Gobliiins – MS-DOS cover art
Gobliiins (1991) is a puzzle-adventure game developed and published by the French studio Coktel Vision for MS-DOS. It is the first entry in the well-known Gobliiins series and stands out for its unusual spelling, stylized visuals, and focus on…
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1991
Developer: Coktel Vision
Publisher: Sierra On-Line

Gods
Gods – MS-DOS cover art
Gods, released in 1991 by The Bitmap Brothers, is a mythological action-platformer that plunges players into a dangerous world of ancient gods and mythical creatures. Set in a crumbling city overrun by chaos, players assume the role of Hercules,…
Genre: PLATFORMER
Release: 1991
Developer: The Bitmap Brothers
Publisher: Renegade Software

Gunship 2000
Gunship 2000 – MS-DOS cover art
Gunship 2000, released in 1991 by MicroProse, is a highly detailed combat flight simulator that puts players in the cockpit of advanced attack helicopters. As the sequel to Gunship, the game expands on its predecessor with improved graphics,…
Genre: SIMULATION
Release: 1991
Developer: MicroProse
Publisher: -

Heart of China
Heart of China – MS-DOS cover art
Heart of China, released in 1991 by Dynamix, is a cinematic point-and-click adventure that whisks players away to a romantic and dangerous journey across 1930s Asia. Blending action, drama, and light-hearted charm, the game follows Jake “Lucky”…
Genre: ADVENTURE
Release: 1991
Developer: Dynamix
Publisher: Sierra On-Line

HeroQuest
HeroQuest – MS-DOS cover art
HeroQuest (MS-DOS, 1991) is a classic fantasy role-playing game developed by Gremlin Interactive, inspired by the popular board game of the same name. It brings the tabletop dungeon-crawling experience to computers, allowing players to step into the…
Genre: RPG
Release: 1991
Developer: Gremlin Interactive
Publisher: -

Lemmings
Lemmings – MS-DOS cover art
Lemmings, released in 1991 by Psygnosis, is a pioneering puzzle game that captivated players with its unique gameplay and charming characters. In the game, players are tasked with guiding a group of small, green-haired creatures called Lemmings…
Genre: PUZZLE
Release: 1991
Developer: DMA Design
Publisher: Psygnosis

Lost Patrol
Lost Patrol – MS-DOS cover art
Lost Patrol is an atmospheric action-strategy game released for MS-DOS in 1991 by Ocean Software. Set during the Vietnam War, the game follows a small squad of American soldiers stranded deep behind enemy lines after their helicopter crashes. With…
Genre: ACTION
Release: 1991
Developer: Astros Productions
Publisher: Ocean Software

Metal Mutant
Metal Mutant – MS-DOS cover art
Metal Mutant, released in 1991 by Silmarils, is a unique side-scrolling action-adventure game that puts players in control of a powerful biomechanical warrior on a mission to overthrow an evil robotic empire. What sets Metal Mutant apart is its…
Genre: ACTION
Release: 1991
Developer: Silmarils
Publisher: -