Backgammon (1984) from IBM is a solid rendition of the popular board game and one of the first ever backgammon games for the computer. Despite its age, Backgammon stands the test of time fairly well, with crisp graphics, decent computer opponent, and the usual assortment of options (hint, take back move, etc.) that are common in later backgammon games. If you like backgammon, this early classic is well worth a look. Recommended!
Battle Chess (1988) is a famous and funny variant of the good old strategy classic chess. The peculiarity of the program (besides the powerful game engine) lies in its 3D animations: hitting of pieces is represented by little action scenes in which fancy chess figures fight each other with hilarious animated moves. Since there are six types of pieces for each color, and a king cannot capture a king, there are 35 different battle sequences. Play against the computer or your friends, or let the PC play against itself; all approaches are a lot of fun! However, if you prefer a quicker match, you can also gamble in 2D mode without animations.
688 Attack Sub (1989) is an interesting early subsim and certainly a classic in the genre. It is well laid-out and can be controlled completely with the mouse. Most of the systems you would expect such as sonar and periscope are featured and nicely presented in VGA. The game offers ten missions for both the Soviet and American side in a Cold War scenario, that grows progressively hotter. Be sure to download the manual!
Populous: The Promised Lands (1989), a video game developed by Bullfrog Productions and published by Electronic Arts, is regarded by many as the first "God game" which involves the player taking on the role of a deity and leading followers into battle against opposing deities. Populous is a great marriage of war-game strategy, resource management, and pure originality. With over four million copies sold, it is one of the best-selling PC games of all time. You may need a manual, and there is a hint leaflet available.
Hidden Agenda (1989) is a fantastic political simulator that casts you as the new president of Chimerica, a fictitious Latin American country that has just overthrown a tyrant. The economy is in ruins, the country leaderless, massive factions fighting one another for control and your unenviable task is to create a cabinet and face the almost impossible challenge of rebuilding the country. Hidden Agenda is a rare gem that offers an open-ended gameplay and some frightening insights into the myriad paths and subtle traps of the world of politics. You will need the manual!
Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? (Deluxe Edition) (1991) is an educational detective-simulation game that will lead you traveling all across the globe in search for the legendary femme fatale Carmen Sandiego. Travel to various places such as (but not limited to) Kathmandu, Dar-es-Salaam, Baghdad, Manila, Lima, Port Moresby, Singapore, New Delhi, and Tokyo. The game contains hundreds of clues, attractive graphics and cartoons, and fun gameplay that will glue you to the screen for hours on end if you have even a slight interest in geography.
Sid Meier's Civilization (1991) is a staying power as one of the most dominant and recognizable PC franchises in history. The game is based on building and managing a civilization from its early stages to its modern era, while competing against other civilizations for resources, territory, and technological advancements. The player takes on the role of a leader of a civilization and guides its development through various eras of history. The gameplay involves exploration, diplomacy, trade, research, and warfare. Sid Meier's Civilization has become one of the most successful and critically acclaimed video game series of all time.
Elite Plus (1991) is the excellent 256-color MCGA update of the classic space trading simulation Elite, commonly regarded as the best version. It boasts a huge universe to explore, with many random elements to ensure virtually unlimited replayability. You you trade various cargoes, salvage enemy ships, and take on increasingly difficult missions as a mercenary for hire. The title derives from one of the player's goals of raising their combat rating to the exalted heights of "Elite". The open-ended game model and the then revolutionary 3D graphics led to it being ported to virtually every contemporary home computer system, and earned it a place as a classic and genre maker in gaming history.
Dune (10191) ist eine faszinierende Mischung aus Adventure und Strategie: Sie müssen auf dem Wüstenplanet Arrakis (Dune) Ihre Gefolgsleute (die einheimischen Fremen) auf verschiedene Aufgaben verteilen, die Spice-Produktion maximieren und schließlich das feindliche Haus Harkonnen bekämpfen. Dune zeichnet sich durch wunderschöne VGA-Grafiken aus, und ist mit Sicherheit eines der einzigartigsten und grafisch beeindruckendsten Spiele, die je gemacht wurden. Hier sind Komplettlösung in Deutsch und Handbuch in Englisch.
Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty (1992) is an RTS game developed by Westwood Studios and published by Virgin Interactive in 1992. It bases on David Lynch's 1984 movie Dune, an adaptation of Frank Herbert's eponymous science fiction novel. Even though it is not the first game in this genre, it sure is a milestone which introduced the format of modern real-time strategy games. Due to its success, it became an inspiration for Command & Conquer, the Warcraft series and other games as well.
Frontier: Elite II (1993) is the superb sequel to the classic space trading and combat simulator Elite. The game retains the open-ended gameplay, and adds realistic physics and an accurately modelled galaxy. It features two major factions: The "Federation", based in the Sol system, and the "Empire", based in the Achenar system. These two factions are bitter enemies, but at the time of the game they have established a tense cease-fire, akin to the Cold War. Players are free to side themselves with the Federation, the Empire, both, or neither; the game does not restrict one's political career. Consult the manuals to get a first impression.
SimCity (1993) is about building and maintaining a city. You have control over all buildings and all public functions, but can only indirectly influence your citizens. There are no specific goals to achieve in SimCity, but there is something satisfying about a well-run city humming along. The graphics were good for its day, and the game has a very nice user interface. SimCity isn’t just a simulation game. It is a video game that requires skill, patience and a lot of understanding. Still a fantastic DOS game to play.
UFO: Enemy Unknown (1994) gilt als Klassiker der rundenbasierten Strategiespiele. Der Spieler übernimmt die Rolle des Leiters einer geheimen Organisation namens X-COM, deren Aufgabe es ist, die Erde vor einer außerirdischen Invasion zu schützen. Er verwaltet sein Hauptquartier, sammelt Ressourcen, betreibt Forschung, rekrutiert und trainiert Soldaten, und führt Missionen gegen die außerirdische Bedrohung durch. Das Spiel ist für seine taktische Tiefe bekannt, da die Spieler Entscheidungen bezüglich der Ressourcenallokation, der Forschungsprioritäten und der taktischen Manöver treffen müssen, um die Menschheit vor der Invasion zu retten. Hier sind Handbuch und nützliche Lösungshinweise!
WarCraft: Orcs & Humans (1994) is an RTS video game and the very first game in the famous WarCraft series. You control either the human inhabitants of the kingdom of Azeroth or invading orcs from the world of Draenor. Gameplay revolves around resource management, base building, and commanding armies, and the ultimate goal is to destroy the opponent's base while protecting your own. WarCraft: Orcs & Humans laid the groundwork for future titles like the highly successful WarCraft II: Tides of Darkness. The download contains a Windows10 compatible setup program for easy installation incl. DOSBox and extras such as music score files in WAV, OGG and MP3. Here's the manual!
Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness (1995) is the second RTS game in the Warcraft series, following the original Warcraft: Orcs & Humans. In this beautiful game you have to choose between the human Alliance or orcish hordes, complete missions by gathering resources, building bases, training armies, and ultimately defeating your opponents. The game is considered a classic in the RTS genre, that introduced many gameplay mechanics and features that would become staples of the Warcraft series and influenced the development of future real-time strategy games. The download is huge (i recommend Free Download Manager) and contains a DOS IMG-file among other things, which you have to mount under Windows with WinCDEmu and then mount under DOSBox as drive D: for access to single player mode. It's a bit of a fiddle but worth the while. Here's the manual!
MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat (1995) is a classic 3D mech simulation. It was a groundbreaking title that provided players with a realistic and immersive experience of piloting BattleMechs, which are large, heavily armed and armored walking war machines. The game features detailed graphics, immersive gameplay, atmospheric soundtrack and a variety of mechs with different characteristics, weapons, and customization options. It remains a nostalgic favorite among fans of both the BattleTech franchise and mech-themed video games.
MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries (1996) is the fantastic semi-sequel to Activision's Mechwarrior 2: 31st Century Combat, that adds a notable twist: in 31st Century Combat, you were part of an honourable clan of mechwarriors, taking on mission after mission, with the aim of advancement through the clan. In Mercenaries, however, you are a mercenary, with the aim of making as much money as you can. So the game’s dynamic mission structure offers a sense of freedom, allowing you to choose contracts and alliances at will. A good balance of action and strategy, combined with an immersive gameplay, makes Mercenaries a must-play for fans of the genre. Here is the PDF manual to get a quick overview!
Master of Orion II: Battle At Antares (1996) is an impressive turn-based space strategy game. You are ruler of one of thirteen races, while also having the extra option of creating a custom one. You must manage planet resources to build ships and facilities, improving production. Exploration of the galaxy is done via scouts and colony ships, which can establish new planets as part of the empire. Research must also be done to discover and utilize new technologies. Alien civilizations which are encountered may be negotiated with, or ships can perform combat in a turn-based grid matrix. As new systems are discovered, random events are triggered and strange artifacts found in orbit around unexplored planets.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert (1996) was an ultra-popular RTS game in its time and a tremendous commercial and critical success. It is the second installment of the Command & Conquer series, but not exactly a sequel: set in an alternate universe where Hitler had been killed and Stalin has started invading the world, the game is based on the war between the Soviets and the Allies. This download here is the comprehensive double CD edition with plenty of sounds and movies, smoothly playable and overall a lot of immersive fun. It requires a bit of backdrop knowledge concerning DOSBox installation routines, so it's recommended for seasoned users only. During gameplay, consult reference cards and manual whenever necessary.
Sid Meier's Civilization II(1996) is the even greater successor of the fantastic original Civilization game, and considered one of the best strategy games of all time. You take on the role of a leader of a civilization, guiding it from humble beginnings through to the space age. Gameplay involves building cities, managing resources, researching technologies, conducting diplomacy, and waging war against other civilizations. Civ II is run through a pre-configured Windows 3.1 emulator (Win31DOSBox). All you have to do to play is unpack the downloaded archive and click the exe. Yes, believe it or not: Windows once was an MS-DOS application! Here is the manual.
Backgammon (1984) from IBM is a solid rendition of the popular board game and one of the first ever backgammon games for the computer. Despite its age, Backgammon stands the test of time fairly well, with crisp graphics, decent computer opponent, and the usual assortment of options (hint, take back move, etc.) that are common in later backgammon games. If you like backgammon, this early classic is well worth a look. Recommended!
Battle Chess (1988) is a famous and funny variant of the good old strategy classic chess. The peculiarity of the program (besides the powerful game engine) lies in its 3D animations: hitting of pieces is represented by little action scenes in which fancy chess figures fight each other with hilarious animated moves. Since there are six types of pieces for each color, and a king cannot capture a king, there are 35 different battle sequences. Play against the computer or your friends, or let the PC play against itself; all approaches are a lot of fun! However, if you prefer a quicker match, you can also gamble in 2D mode without animations.
688 Attack Sub (1989) is an interesting early subsim and certainly a classic in the genre. It is well laid-out and can be controlled completely with the mouse. Most of the systems you would expect such as sonar and periscope are featured and nicely presented in VGA. The game offers ten missions for both the Soviet and American side in a Cold War scenario, that grows progressively hotter. Be sure to download the manual!
Populous: The Promised Lands (1989), a video game developed by Bullfrog Productions and published by Electronic Arts, is regarded by many as the first "God game" which involves the player taking on the role of a deity and leading followers into battle against opposing deities. Populous is a great marriage of war-game strategy, resource management, and pure originality. With over four million copies sold, it is one of the best-selling PC games of all time. You may need a manual, and there is a hint leaflet available.
Hidden Agenda (1989) is a fantastic political simulator that casts you as the new president of Chimerica, a fictitious Latin American country that has just overthrown a tyrant. The economy is in ruins, the country leaderless, massive factions fighting one another for control and your unenviable task is to create a cabinet and face the almost impossible challenge of rebuilding the country. Hidden Agenda is a rare gem that offers an open-ended gameplay and some frightening insights into the myriad paths and subtle traps of the world of politics. You will need the manual!
Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? (Deluxe Edition) (1991) is an educational detective-simulation game that will lead you traveling all across the globe in search for the legendary femme fatale Carmen Sandiego. Travel to various places such as (but not limited to) Kathmandu, Dar-es-Salaam, Baghdad, Manila, Lima, Port Moresby, Singapore, New Delhi, and Tokyo. The game contains hundreds of clues, attractive graphics and cartoons, and fun gameplay that will glue you to the screen for hours on end if you have even a slight interest in geography.
Sid Meier's Civilization (1991) is a staying power as one of the most dominant and recognizable PC franchises in history. The game is based on building and managing a civilization from its early stages to its modern era, while competing against other civilizations for resources, territory, and technological advancements. The player takes on the role of a leader of a civilization and guides its development through various eras of history. The gameplay involves exploration, diplomacy, trade, research, and warfare. Sid Meier's Civilization has become one of the most successful and critically acclaimed video game series of all time.
Elite Plus (1991) is the excellent 256-color MCGA update of the classic space trading simulation Elite, commonly regarded as the best version. It boasts a huge universe to explore, with many random elements to ensure virtually unlimited replayability. You you trade various cargoes, salvage enemy ships, and take on increasingly difficult missions as a mercenary for hire. The title derives from one of the player's goals of raising their combat rating to the exalted heights of "Elite". The open-ended game model and the then revolutionary 3D graphics led to it being ported to virtually every contemporary home computer system, and earned it a place as a classic and genre maker in gaming history.
Dune (10191) ist eine faszinierende Mischung aus Adventure und Strategie: Sie müssen auf dem Wüstenplanet Arrakis (Dune) Ihre Gefolgsleute (die einheimischen Fremen) auf verschiedene Aufgaben verteilen, die Spice-Produktion maximieren und schließlich das feindliche Haus Harkonnen bekämpfen. Dune zeichnet sich durch wunderschöne VGA-Grafiken aus, und ist mit Sicherheit eines der einzigartigsten und grafisch beeindruckendsten Spiele, die je gemacht wurden. Hier sind Komplettlösung in Deutsch und Handbuch in Englisch.
Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty (1992) is an RTS game developed by Westwood Studios and published by Virgin Interactive in 1992. It bases on David Lynch's 1984 movie Dune, an adaptation of Frank Herbert's eponymous science fiction novel. Even though it is not the first game in this genre, it sure is a milestone which introduced the format of modern real-time strategy games. Due to its success, it became an inspiration for Command & Conquer, the Warcraft series and other games as well.
Frontier: Elite II (1993) is the superb sequel to the classic space trading and combat simulator Elite. The game retains the open-ended gameplay, and adds realistic physics and an accurately modelled galaxy. It features two major factions: The "Federation", based in the Sol system, and the "Empire", based in the Achenar system. These two factions are bitter enemies, but at the time of the game they have established a tense cease-fire, akin to the Cold War. Players are free to side themselves with the Federation, the Empire, both, or neither; the game does not restrict one's political career. Consult the manuals to get a first impression.
SimCity (1993) is about building and maintaining a city. You have control over all buildings and all public functions, but can only indirectly influence your citizens. There are no specific goals to achieve in SimCity, but there is something satisfying about a well-run city humming along. The graphics were good for its day, and the game has a very nice user interface. SimCity isn’t just a simulation game. It is a video game that requires skill, patience and a lot of understanding. Still a fantastic DOS game to play.
UFO: Enemy Unknown (1994) gilt als Klassiker der rundenbasierten Strategiespiele. Der Spieler übernimmt die Rolle des Leiters einer geheimen Organisation namens X-COM, deren Aufgabe es ist, die Erde vor einer außerirdischen Invasion zu schützen. Er verwaltet sein Hauptquartier, sammelt Ressourcen, betreibt Forschung, rekrutiert und trainiert Soldaten, und führt Missionen gegen die außerirdische Bedrohung durch. Das Spiel ist für seine taktische Tiefe bekannt, da die Spieler Entscheidungen bezüglich der Ressourcenallokation, der Forschungsprioritäten und der taktischen Manöver treffen müssen, um die Menschheit vor der Invasion zu retten. Hier sind Handbuch und nützliche Lösungshinweise!
WarCraft: Orcs & Humans (1994) is an RTS video game and the very first game in the famous WarCraft series. You control either the human inhabitants of the kingdom of Azeroth or invading orcs from the world of Draenor. Gameplay revolves around resource management, base building, and commanding armies, and the ultimate goal is to destroy the opponent's base while protecting your own. WarCraft: Orcs & Humans laid the groundwork for future titles like the highly successful WarCraft II: Tides of Darkness. The download contains a Windows10 compatible setup program for easy installation incl. DOSBox and extras such as music score files in WAV, OGG and MP3. Here's the manual!
Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness (1995) is the second RTS game in the Warcraft series, following the original Warcraft: Orcs & Humans. In this beautiful game you have to choose between the human Alliance or orcish hordes, complete missions by gathering resources, building bases, training armies, and ultimately defeating your opponents. The game is considered a classic in the RTS genre, that introduced many gameplay mechanics and features that would become staples of the Warcraft series and influenced the development of future real-time strategy games. The download is huge (i recommend Free Download Manager) and contains a DOS IMG-file among other things, which you have to mount under Windows with WinCDEmu and then mount under DOSBox as drive D: for access to single player mode. It's a bit of a fiddle but worth the while. Here's the manual!
MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat (1995) is a classic 3D mech simulation. It was a groundbreaking title that provided players with a realistic and immersive experience of piloting BattleMechs, which are large, heavily armed and armored walking war machines. The game features detailed graphics, immersive gameplay, atmospheric soundtrack and a variety of mechs with different characteristics, weapons, and customization options. It remains a nostalgic favorite among fans of both the BattleTech franchise and mech-themed video games.
MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries (1996) is the fantastic semi-sequel to Activision's Mechwarrior 2: 31st Century Combat, that adds a notable twist: in 31st Century Combat, you were part of an honourable clan of mechwarriors, taking on mission after mission, with the aim of advancement through the clan. In Mercenaries, however, you are a mercenary, with the aim of making as much money as you can. So the game’s dynamic mission structure offers a sense of freedom, allowing you to choose contracts and alliances at will. A good balance of action and strategy, combined with an immersive gameplay, makes Mercenaries a must-play for fans of the genre. Here is the PDF manual to get a quick overview!
Master of Orion II: Battle At Antares (1996) is an impressive turn-based space strategy game. You are ruler of one of thirteen races, while also having the extra option of creating a custom one. You must manage planet resources to build ships and facilities, improving production. Exploration of the galaxy is done via scouts and colony ships, which can establish new planets as part of the empire. Research must also be done to discover and utilize new technologies. Alien civilizations which are encountered may be negotiated with, or ships can perform combat in a turn-based grid matrix. As new systems are discovered, random events are triggered and strange artifacts found in orbit around unexplored planets.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert (1996) was an ultra-popular RTS game in its time and a tremendous commercial and critical success. It is the second installment of the Command & Conquer series, but not exactly a sequel: set in an alternate universe where Hitler had been killed and Stalin has started invading the world, the game is based on the war between the Soviets and the Allies. This download here is the comprehensive double CD edition with plenty of sounds and movies, smoothly playable and overall a lot of immersive fun. It requires a bit of backdrop knowledge concerning DOSBox installation routines, so it's recommended for seasoned users only. During gameplay, consult reference cards and manual whenever necessary.
Sid Meier's Civilization II (1996) is the even greater successor of the fantastic original Civilization game, and considered one of the best strategy games of all time. You take on the role of a leader of a civilization, guiding it from humble beginnings through to the space age. Gameplay involves building cities, managing resources, researching technologies, conducting diplomacy, and waging war against other civilizations. Civ II is run through a pre-configured Windows 3.1 emulator (Win31DOSBox). All you have to do to play is unpack the downloaded archive and click the exe. Yes, believe it or not: Windows once was an MS-DOS application! Here is the manual.