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 (by release years)

Related:

All Years 1990 1992 All Games

Paperboy 2
Paperboy 2 – MS-DOS cover art
Paperboy 2 is an action-packed arcade game released for MS-DOS in 1991 by Mindscape. As the sequel to the classic Paperboy, the game puts players in the role of a newspaper delivery boy or girl riding a bicycle through chaotic suburban…
Genre: Action
Release: 1991
Developer: Tengen
Publisher: Mindscape

Battle Isle
Battle Isle – MS-DOS cover art
Battle Isle is a turn-based strategy game developed and published by Blue Byte in 1991. Set on the fictional planet Chromos, the game puts players in command of futuristic military forces fighting across a series of tactical battlefields. With its…
Genre: Strategy
Release: 1991
Developer: Blue Byte
Publisher: Ubisoft

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

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

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: -

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

Street Fighter II
Street Fighter II – MS-DOS cover art
Street Fighter II by Capcom is a legendary fighting game that revolutionized the arcade gaming scene in 1991. The MS-DOS version brought the intense one-on-one battles to home computers, allowing players to choose from iconic fighters such as Ryu,…
Genre: Fighting
Release: 1991
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: -

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

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

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: -

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: -

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

The Adventures of Robin Hood
The Adventures of Robin Hood – MS-DOS cover art
The Adventures of Robin Hood, released in 1991 by Millennium Interactive, is an isometric action-adventure game that reimagines the classic English legend. Players take on the role of Robin Hood, recently outlawed after losing his lands to the…
Genre: RPG
Release: 1991
Developer: Millennium Interactive
Publisher: -

RoboCop 3
RoboCop 3 – MS-DOS cover art
RoboCop 3 is a 3D action game developed by Digital Image Design and released for MS-DOS in 1991. Based on the movie of the same name, it puts players in the role of RoboCop as he battles to protect the citizens of Detroit from the corrupt OCP…
Genre: Action
Release: 1991
Developer: Digital Image Design
Publisher: Ocean Software

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

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: -

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

Scorched Earth
Scorched Earth – MS-DOS cover art
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…
Genre: Strategy
Release: 1991
Developer: Wendell Hicken
Publisher: -

The Simpsons
The Simpsons – MS-DOS cover art
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 offers a single-player experience where players take on the role…
Genre: Action
Release: 1991
Developer: Novotrade
Publisher: Konami

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: -

The Games: Winter Challenge
The Games: Winter Challenge – MS-DOS cover art
The Games: Winter Challenge, released in 1991 by Accolade, is a thrilling winter sports simulation that brings the excitement of Olympic-style competition to the PC. Featuring eight challenging events, the game tests players’ reflexes, timing, and…
Genre: Sports
Release: 1991
Developer: MindSpan
Publisher: Accolade

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: -