DOS Strategy / Simulation
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!
Elite (1987) is a great space trading simulation, where 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.
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!
Mechwarrior (1989) is an abandoned vehicle simulation game (BattleMech) set in the BattleTech universe. Within the game, the players take control of a single BattleMech and combat other BattleMechs, tanks, infantry, and more, from within the cockpit of their machine. The visuals throughout Mechwarrior are expertly drawn, and the sim's filled vectors move along at a fair pace. Mechwarrior will not only appeal to fans of the board game, but also deserves a look from gamers entirely new to the BattleTech universe.
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.
Dune (1992) is a neat adventure/strategy hybrid with enough strategy elements to keep things interesting: you must allocate your followers on planet Dune (the native Fremen) to various jobs, maximize spice production, and ultimately fight the Harkonnen with armies. The game features beautiful VGA graphics depicting passages of time. Easily one of the most graphically stunning games ever made, and one of the most unique. Here's the walkthrough. Change the DUNE.BAT file to@echo off
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duneprg GER VGA EMS 386 SDB2207
und Sie haben das Spiel in Deutsch mit Musik. Und hier noch das Manual.
Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty (1992) is an RTS game developed by Westwood Studios and published by Virgin Interactive in 1992. It is loosely based 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, Dune II surely 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, commonly regarded as the best version. 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.
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. The download contains a Windows 10 compatible setup program for easy installation incl. DOSBox and extras such as music score files in WAV, OGG and MP3. 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. Here is the manual!
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.