The 80s were a transformative period for video games, and the MS-DOS platform emerged as a powerhouse, hosting a plethora of groundbreaking and unforgettable titles. From thrilling adventures to heart-pounding action, these games captivated a generation of gamers and set the stage for the evolution of the industry. In this article, we take a nostalgic journey through 100 remarkable MS-DOS games from the 1980s that left an indelible mark on gaming history.
100 Best MS-DOS games from the 1980s, ranked
- The Secret of Monkey Island (1990): This game is a classic point-and-click adventure that introduced gamers to Guybrush Threepwood and his quest to become a pirate.
- Prince of Persia (1989): An action-adventure game that is highly regarded for its animations and level design.
- SimCity (1989): The original city-building game that started a whole genre of simulation games.
- Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (1985): A role-playing game that was innovative for its time, with complex gameplay and ethical choices.
- Zork I: The Great Underground Empire (1980): One of the first interactive fiction games, its text-based gameplay led players through a series of challenging puzzles.
- King’s Quest III: To Heir Is Human (1986): A part of the classic adventure game series by Sierra.
- Sid Meier’s Pirates! (1987): This game offered a mix of action, strategy, and adventure, allowing players to live the life of a pirate.
- Elite (1987): A space trading game that was one of the first to feature 3D graphics and open-world gameplay.
- Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards (1987): An adult-themed adventure game known for its humor and risqué content.
- The Bard’s Tale (1985): An influential role-playing game with deep gameplay and 3D graphics.
- Maniac Mansion (1987): An innovative point-and-click adventure game that offered multiple endings and ways to solve puzzles.
- Police Quest: In Pursuit of the Death Angel (1987): A realistic police procedural game where you play as a detective solving crimes.
- Lode Runner (1983): A fast-paced platformer that was highly popular in arcades.
- Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (1981): One of the first role-playing games that was a forerunner of the genre.
- M.U.L.E. (1983): An early strategy game that introduced many economic and resource management concepts.
- Space Quest II: Vohaul’s Revenge (1987): A fun and humorous adventure game that takes you across the galaxy.
- Test Drive (1987): One of the first driving games to offer a first-person perspective and real-world car models.
- Wasteland (1988): A post-apocalyptic role-playing game that was a precursor to the popular Fallout series.
- Archon: The Light and the Dark (1983): A unique mix of strategy and action where you control mythical creatures in a battle between light and dark.
- Rogue (1980): The game that started the “roguelike” genre, known for its challenging gameplay and permadeath mechanic.
- Battle Chess (1988): This game brought chess pieces to life with animated battles between the squares.
- Alley Cat (1984): An action game that involves accomplishing various tasks in an apartment complex as a small cat.
- Starflight (1986): An early space exploration and trading game with an open world.
- Populous (1989): Regarded as one of the first “god games”, it allows players to manipulate the environment and civilization.
- Tetris (1986): The DOS version of this incredibly popular puzzle game.
- The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (1984): A text-based adventure game based on the book of the same name by Douglas Adams.
- Ultima III: Exodus (1983): The third game in the Ultima series, it significantly influenced the development of RPGs.
- Dungeon Master (1987): A real-time role-playing game with innovative 3D graphics.
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2.0 (1984): An early version of the popular flight simulation series.
- Defender of the Crown (1987): A strategy game that involves becoming the ruler of England by conquest or by lawful succession.
- Might and Magic Book One: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum (1986): The first game in the Might and Magic series, it’s one of the most enduring RPG franchises.
- Frogger (1981): A classic arcade game that was also popular on home computers.
- Karateka (1984): A side-scrolling martial arts game known for its large characters and fluid animation.
- The Oregon Trail (1985): A popular educational game about pioneer life on the historic Oregon Trail.
- Hardball! (1985): One of the first baseball games to include realistic graphics and gameplay.
- Adventure Construction Set (1985): A game creation system that allows players to design their own adventures.
- Wing Commander (1990): A space combat simulator known for its strong narrative and character interaction.
- Gauntlet (1988): A port of the popular arcade game, offering cooperative multiplayer gameplay.
- Nethack (1987): A roguelike game where each playthrough is different, it’s known for its complexity and depth.
- Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz (1981): The second game in the Zork series, continuing the challenge of text-based puzzle solving.
- Pinball Construction Set (1983): This game allowed users to design and play their own pinball tables.
- The Bard’s Tale II: The Destiny Knight (1986): The sequel to the popular RPG game, offering a larger world and more complex puzzles.
- Space Quest III: The Pirates of Pestulon (1989): Another installment in the humorous point-and-click adventure game series.
- Planetfall (1983): A text-based science fiction adventure game from the creators of Zork.
- Silent Service (1985): A submarine simulation game set in the Pacific Ocean during World War II.
- Archon II: Adept (1984): The sequel to the popular strategy game Archon, it introduced more complex gameplay mechanics.
- Leisure Suit Larry Goes Looking for Love (in Several Wrong Places) (1988): The second game in the Leisure Suit Larry series.
- Pool of Radiance (1988): The first official Dungeons & Dragons computer game.
- Chuck Yeager’s Advanced Flight Trainer (1987): A flight simulator game that covers various types of aircraft.
- Empire: Wargame of the Century (1987): A turn-based strategy game where players aim to build an empire and conquer the world.
- Pirates! Gold (1987): A remake of Sid Meier’s Pirates!, with improved graphics and gameplay.
- California Games (1988): A collection of outdoor sports games, including skateboarding and surfing.
- Wings of Fury (1987): A World War II flight game where players complete missions in the Pacific theater.
- A Mind Forever Voyaging (1985): A text adventure game known for its experimental narrative and political themes.
- Impossible Mission II (1988): A platform game where players must stop an evil genius from destroying the world.
- Below the Root (1984): An adventure game based on the Green Sky Trilogy books by Zilpha Keatley Snyder.
- King’s Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella (1988): The fourth installment of the popular King’s Quest series, it’s the first to feature a female protagonist.
- Jordan vs Bird: One on One (1988): A basketball game featuring two of the most iconic players of the era.
- Lords of Conquest (1986): A strategy game based on the board game Borderlands by Eon Games.
- Commando (1985): A run and gun arcade game, where players control a soldier who must fight his way into enemy territory.
- Star Control (1988): A science fiction video game that combines elements of a strategy game with a space combat simulator.
- The Bard’s Tale III: Thief of Fate (1988): The third installment of the Bard’s Tale series continues the story with more spells, character classes, and a larger game world.
- Elite Plus (1991): An enhanced version of the pioneering space trading game, with improved graphics and expanded gameplay.
- 688 Attack Sub (1989): A submarine simulator where players can take control of American or Soviet submarines.
- Police Quest II: The Vengeance (1988): This continuation of the Police Quest series further explores the life and challenges of a police officer.
- Leisure Suit Larry III: Passionate Patti in Pursuit of the Pulsating Pectorals (1989): The third game in the series continues the comedic and risqué adventures of Larry.
- Gold Rush! (1988): A graphic adventure game where players journey from New York to California during the gold rush of 1849.
- Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders (1988): A point-and-click adventure game that combines humor with science fiction themes.
- F-15 Strike Eagle (1985): A flight simulator where players control an F-15 fighter jet.
- Microsoft Decathlon (1982): An early sports game where players compete in decathlon events.
- Conquests of Camelot: The Search for the Grail (1989): An adventure game based on Arthurian legend.
- Manhunter: New York (1988): A post-apocalyptic adventure game set in a dystopian New York City.
- Balance of Power (1985): A geopolitical simulation game where players try to prevent nuclear war.
- Red Storm Rising (1988): A submarine simulation game based on the Tom Clancy novel of the same name.
- Test Drive II: The Duel (1989): The sequel to the original Test Drive, with more cars and tracks.
- Autoduel (1985): A game that combines elements of role-playing, driving, and action, based on the Car Wars tabletop game.
- Gunship (1986): A combat flight simulator where players pilot a helicopter.
- Borrowed Time (1985): A noir-inspired graphic adventure game set in 1930s San Francisco.
- Space Quest I: The Sarien Encounter (1986): The first game in the Space Quest series, featuring a blend of science fiction and comedy.
- LHX Attack Chopper (1990): A combat flight simulator where players control an experimental attack helicopter.
- The Faery Tale Adventure (1987): An adventure game that takes players on a magical journey to save a kidnapped princess.
- Stunts (1990): A 3D racing game that allows players to design their own tracks and perform stunts.
- Blue Max: Aces of the Great War (1990): A World War I flight simulator that puts players in the cockpit of a fighter plane.
- Microsoft Adventure (1981): A version of the mainframe adventure game Colossal Cave Adventure, one of the earliest examples of an adventure game.
- King’s Quest II: Romancing the Throne (1985): The second installment in the popular adventure game series.
- Raid on Bungeling Bay (1984): A helicopter combat simulator where players must destroy enemy factories and protect their home base.
- Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny (1988): The fifth game in the influential RPG series.
- F-19 Stealth Fighter (1988): A flight simulator where players pilot a stealth fighter jet.
- Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers (1991): The fourth game in the Space Quest series with a time travel twist.
- GATO (1984): A real-time submarine simulator set during World War II.
- Akalabeth: World of Doom (1980): A precursor to the Ultima series, it’s one of the earliest known examples of a role-playing video game.
- Shamus (1982): A top-down action game inspired by the film noir genre.
- Temple of Apshai (1982): An early dungeon crawler RPG that was a predecessor to modern action RPGs.
- Echelon (1988): A space flight simulator that introduced voice recognition to the genre.
- Project Stealth Fighter (1987): A flight simulator that allowed players to pilot the advanced stealth fighter.
- Times of Lore (1988): An action RPG that offered a large open world and real-time combat.
- Hacker (1985): A game that simulates the life of a computer hacker.
- Sorcerer (1984): A text adventure game from the creators of Zork.
- Nobunaga’s Ambition (1988): A historical strategy game set in feudal Japan.
- Heroes of the Lance (1988): A game based on the first Dragonlance campaign module for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.
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