DOS Puzzle / Arcade
Space Invaders (1978) was the revolutionary first SHMUP "shoot 'em up", which set the template for an entire genre. The goal is to defeat wave after wave of descending aliens with a horizontally moving cannon to earn as many points as possible. The download site claims it to be a Windows version, but it is of course a DOSBox game. Strg and Alt keys move the cannon and the Arrow Upwards key shoots. Space Invaders is a very simple game, but it was a technological marvel in its time.
Pac-Man (1983) is probably the most popular arcade of all times. Its graphics and audio are ancient by today's standards. Nevertheless, it continues to captivate new generations of players with its simple design and ever-increasing difficulty (just like Tetris and Boulder Dash). A yellow puck-shaped character has to eat all of the pellets in a maze without getting caught by four ghosts. There's only one maze in the whole game, but the ghosts move faster with each successive round. Noteworthy fact: the size of the zipped Pac-Man download is only incredible 11 KB!
Soko-Ban (1984) is one of the most difficult puzzle games for PC. The objective is simple: help a warehouse keeper (jap. Soko-Ban) move crates to their proper, final position. But like other classic puzzle games, it is easy to learn yet hard to master. The last few levels are very difficult in that you cannot afford even one false move.
Boulder Dash (1984) is a CGA puzzler that became a bestseller and a classic like Tetris. It sparked numerous clones even decades after its release. The concept is simple: guide an adventurous character through 16 caves packed with tricky puzzles to solve. Your basic goal on each level is to collect the specified number of diamonds and advance to the next level.
Tetris (1986) is yet another classic video game that deserves all the praise it gets. It was a smash hit, owing to the fact that it hides incredible gameplay depth behind a simple interface. Here I offer a link to an enhanced version of the original 1985 Russian puzzle game. It was ported to IBM PC in 1986 and is the first tetris game in full color. It is also part of the collective subconscience, needs no instruction book and still stands as a fun game, even today. There are better versions around, but for pure nostalgia you can't beat the original. Fun fact: the word Tetris is a combination of "Tetramino" and "Tennis", whereas Tetramino is a combination of "tetra" (greek: 'four') and "Domino".
Arkanoid (1988) is an improved version of the classic arcade game Breakout. You must control a ball with your paddle and attempt to break all of the colored panels. Work your way through the different levels and complete each one with a high score. With a plethora of rounds and panel configurations, this arcade game has great playability and is a huge amount of fun!
Pipe Dream (1989) is LucasFilm's classic and addictive puzzle game. Transfer fluid to a destination tile before time runs out. Move and rotate pipes to connect to each other. Some tiles have overlapping pipes, so the game becomes difficult very quickly as you must keep track of where the pipes really lead to. If you like fast action/puzzle games such as Tetris in general, you'll love Pipe Dream.
Mastermind (1989) is a nice abandoned DOS adaption of the popular eponymous logic puzzle game ("Superhirn" in german). Objective of the game is to guess a varying combination of colored tokens. The player gets up to ten tries to guess the combination. After each turn the PC shows how many tokens were guessed right, and how many tokens do occur in the combination, but in a different position. You use this information to guess the proper combination as fast as possible. Sounds easy? Give it a try!
Atomix (1990) is a fun puzzle game with an inventive educational twist: your task in this fiddly brainteaser is to combine atoms to form the required chemical molecule, e.g. 2 Hydrogen atoms and Oxygen for water. Each level also has a time limit in addition to the various obstacles you must maneuver around or avoid. Overall, it's a demanding combination of puzzle and education that should satisfy both camps.
Atomino (1990), not to be mistaken for Atomix by Thalion, is simple in concept, but addictive in gameplay. It's objective is to combine atoms into molecules in such a way as to leave no "orphan" atoms. Anyone who's taken chemistry will perhaps remember that each atom has a valance of one to four, i.e. they can combine with one, two, three, or four other atoms. A complete molecule is a structure of atoms in which there are no more free combinations. In each level, you must create a specified number of molecules from (randomly generated) atoms to move on to the next level. Highly recommended for all puzzle lovers!
In Supaplex (1991), one of the best Boulderdash clones, you play a computer bug made in the image of Pac-Man. On each level, your task is to consume all atoms and then reach the exit point. To do this you will have to evade anti-virus softwares which is represented by scissors, firewalls that look like big bombs, short-circuits that will fry you and many more interesting obstacles. There are 111 levels in total. It's a lot of fun, and best of all, it's free!
Lemmings (1991) was one of the cutest and most famous games in the nineties. Inspired by the legend of the dumb lemmings running straight in to danger, the lemmings pop from a portal and walk straight until they find an obstacle. The goal is to build a way to the exit with minimum casualties along the way. Of course dangers are everywhere: pitfall, traps, cliffs, etc...
Deluxe Trivial Pursuit (1992) is a solid follow-up to Virgin’s 1991 Trivial Pursuit. The game improves upon the original in every way imaginable: better graphics, more categories, more questions, and just about everything else. The interface is intuitive, although the addition of cartoon characters who ask questions is a bit redundant. With thousands of questions and fun gameplay that is very faithful to the boardgame, Deluxe Trivial Pursuit is one of the best computer versions of the family favorite. A must-have for every trivia fan’s collection – highly recommended!
Dynablaster (1992) is an excellent PC conversion of the popular arcade/puzzle hybrid Bomberman. Goal is to drop bombs at the right spots to destroy wall segments and enemies, find extras to increase your bomb's fire-range and the amount of bombs you can drop at once. You must, however, be careful to not get hit by your own bomb's fire. When you find the exit to the next level, you can enter it as soon as all the enemies are cleared from the screen. And yes, there are cheats!
The Lost Vikings (1993) is a puzzle-platform video game that follows the adventures of three Viking warriors named Erik the Swift, Baleog the Fierce, and Olaf the Stout, who are abducted by aliens and must work together to navigate through various levels and puzzles to escape their captors. Each Viking has unique abilities that players must use strategically to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles. Erik can run and jump, Baleog has a sword and bow for combat, and Olaf can block attacks with his shield and use it as a platform. The Lost Vikings is known for its challenging puzzles, humor, and cooperative gameplay mechanics. One of the most charming and unique puzzle games you'll ever come across!
The Incredible Machine (1993) is undoubtedly one of the most unique games ever produced for the PC, and a dream come true for anyone who likes to tinker with gadgets and toys. It is a puzzle game par excellence and beyond. You have to use wacky gadgets and tools given for each level to accomplish objectives: Rube Goldberg devices! Puzzles start out relaxing and get fiendish very quickly, as later levels require not only ingenuity but also precise timing. A brain twisting, world famous, creative puzzle game and a true classic.
The Incredible Machine 2 (1994) is the gorgeous successor of The Incredible Machine, with a lot of new and challenging puzzles to solve. The objects available range from simple sticks and ropes to electric generators and even living animals. If you enjoyed TIM, you'll love TIM 2. One can say this series is the precursor to all the puzzle solving video games existing today!