Classic Personal Computer (PC) Games

Month: January 1970

  • Abrams Battle Tank

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Damon Slye GAME DEVELOPER:Dynamix GAME PUBLISHER:Dynamix Copyright 1988, Dynamix One of the first 3D tank simulator also remains to this day one of the finest. Designer Damon Slye created a game that offers both realism and great gameplay without sacrificing the fun factor. Control modern U.S.…

  • Abuse

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jonathan Clark & Dave Taylor GAME DEVELOPER:Crack Dot Com GAME PUBLISHER:Crack Dot Com Copyright 1995, Crack Dot Com Undoubtedly the DOOM of platform games, the only thing that’s different between this underrated gem and that highly regarded classic is the Abuse‘s lack of first-person perspective. Despite…

  • Achtung Spitfire!

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Charles Moylan GAME DEVELOPER:Big Time Software GAME PUBLISHER:Avalon Hill Copyright 1997, Big Time Software Games Domain review says it all about this underrated strategic flight simulation:”Achtung Spitfire (AS) is billed as the “prequel” to Over the Reich (OtR) since it covers the time period from 1939-1943,…

  • Action Sports Soccer

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Krisalis GAME PUBLISHER:Micro League Copyright 1992, Micro League Designer of excellent sport simulations broke the mold with this rare arcade-oriented soccer game. Choose among many European teams and compete in well-known events such as the UEFA Cup. The game offers standard options such as…

  • Action Stations!

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Alan Zimm GAME DEVELOPER:Internecine GAME PUBLISHER:RAW Entertainment Copyright 1989, Internecine Arguably the best RAW Entertainment game and one of the most comprehensive naval simulations ever designed, Action Stations! is a very comprehensive simulation of surface warfare before and during World War II (between 1922-45). In the…

  • Advanced Civilization

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Norv Brooks GAME DEVELOPER:Avalon Hill GAME PUBLISHER:Avalon Hill Copyright 1996, Avalon Hill Advanced Civilization is another one of Avalon Hill’s classic board games of which they made a faithfull conversion. Unless one has actually played the board game and realizes what’s going on, however, the can…

  • Advanced Thinking Skills

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Compedia GAME PUBLISHER:Compedia Copyright 1992, Compedia Advanced Thinking Skills is a fun edutainment / puzzle game released as an entrant in Compedia’s short-lived Top Class series. The game is a collection of five mini-puzzle games commonly used on psychometric exams and IQ test: Odd…

  • Adventures in Math

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:IBM GAME PUBLISHER:IBM Copyright 1983, IBM One of oldest education games ever made remains to this day one of the most well-executed: Adventures in Math teaches algebra in a treasure-hunting premise, putting you inside a castle where math problems must be solved to open…

  • Adventures in Serenia

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Roberta Williams GAME DEVELOPER:Sierra On-Line GAME PUBLISHER:Sierra On-Line Copyright 1986, Sierra On-Line Matthew Murray said it all in his review of this terrible PC version of Sierra’s (then On-Line Systems) Wizard And The Princess. I’m quoting it verbatim here as a proof that I’m not alone…

  • Adventures of Maddog Williams, The

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Game Crafters GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1992, Game Crafters The Adventures of Maddog Williams is a great shareware graphical adventure in the style of Sierra’s early King’s Quest (i.e. text parser with graphics). As genius inventor Maddog Williams, journey far and wide across the kingdom…

  • Adventures of Robin Hood

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:ISC GAME PUBLISHER:Millennium Copyright 1992, ISC In Robin Hood you must perform many heroic deeds to change the public impression of you from “villain” to “hero.” It’s a cutesy little game where NPCs do follow their own agenda, and are amusing to watch. Despite…

  • Adventures of Willy Beamish

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jeff Tunnell GAME DEVELOPER:Dynamix GAME PUBLISHER:Sierra On-Line Copyright 1993, Dynamix Adventures of Willy Beamish is the last adventure game designed by Dynamix’ founder Jeff Tunnell, the prolific designer of such puzzle classics as The Incredible Machine. You are precocious youngster and resident console-game addict Willy Beamish,…

  • Aha!

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Computer Systems Odessa GAME PUBLISHER:Computer Systems Odessa Copyright 1999, Computer Systems Odessa Aha! is a great puzzle game that combines attractic SVGA graphics with simple gameplay that’s hard to master. It is one of the better variations on the Tetris theme: different enough to…

  • Air Ball

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ed Scio & Timothy Purves GAME DEVELOPER:Microdeal GAME PUBLISHER:Microdeal Copyright 1987, Microdeal This is one of the earliest isometric action games that is reminiscent of Marble Madness in look and feel, but with much more complex controls and gameplay. You’ve been turned into a ball (!)…

  • Air Bucks

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Ed Grabowski GAME DEVELOPER:Impressions GAME PUBLISHER:Sierra On-Line Copyright 1992, Impressions Air Bucks is an excellent business simulation game from the company now famous for Caesar series. The game succeeds in capturing the ins and outs of the airline industry without bogging the player down with details.…

  • Airlift Rescue

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Fleming GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1995, David Fleming Airlift Rescue is a fun variation of the classic Chopper game of yore in which, manning artillery, you must shoot all enemies that drop from parachutes before they get close enough to you. The game turns…

  • Airstrike USA

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Digital Integration GAME PUBLISHER:Digital Integration Copyright 1990, Digital Integration A solid modern flight sim that is DI’s most arcade-ish sim ever, Airstrike USA still features DI’s hallmarks of excellent flight models and details, despite the dumbed-down version of instrument panels and trigger-happy gameplay. Great…

  • Aladdin

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:David Perry GAME DEVELOPER:Virgin Interactive GAME PUBLISHER:Disney Copyright 1993, Virgin Interactive Another hero from Disney’s hit movie comes to life in this excellent platform game. Lead Aladdin from his carefree life as street urchin to princess Jasmine’s palace and beyond. Each level captures the movie’s plot…

  • Albion

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jurie Horneman & Marcus Pukropski GAME DEVELOPER:Blue Byte GAME PUBLISHER:Blue Byte Copyright 1996, Blue Byte Albion is a severely underrated RPG from the makers of two Thalion hits Amberstar and Ambermoon, which became instant hits on the Amiga but unknown on the PC. The game shines…

  • Alchemist, The

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Computer Systems Odessa GAME PUBLISHER:Computer Systems Odessa Copyright 2000, Computer Systems Odessa The Alchemist is one of the most addictive and beautiful puzzlers I’ve come across in quite a long time. As is typical of excellent puzzle games, the game concept is quite simple:…

  • Alien Carnage

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Robert Crane GAME DEVELOPER:Interactive Binary Illusions GAME PUBLISHER:Apogee Copyright 1993, Interactive Binary Illusions An instant hit for Apogee after its release as shareware and subsequent commercial game under the new name Alien Carnage, Halloween Harry is a great platformer that features cool weapons, numerous levels, tough…

  • Alien Fires 2199 A.D.

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Paragon Software GAME PUBLISHER:Paragon Software Copyright 1987, Paragon Software For its second game, Paragon made its first attempt at an action/RPG hybrid. Almost everything about the game is primitive, from the plot to simplistic gameplay (which comprise mostly static combat scenes that are seemingly…

  • Alien Legacy

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Joe Ybarra GAME DEVELOPER:Dynamix GAME PUBLISHER:Sierra On-Line Copyright 1993, Dynamix Designed by Joe Ybarra, designer of the classic Starflight games, Alien Legacy is an excellent space strategy game with a good dose of adventure and action elements thrown in. In the tradition of Starflight, explore and…

  • Alley Cat

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Bill Williams GAME DEVELOPER:IBM GAME PUBLISHER:IBM Copyright 1984, IBM If there were an award for “most enduring gameplay per KB of data,” Alley Cat would have won my vote. In what seems like an incredible feat of programming, Bill Williams was able to pack hours of…

  • Alpha Waves

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Christophe de Dinechin & Fr?d?rick Raynal GAME DEVELOPER:Infogrames GAME PUBLISHER:Infogrames Copyright 1990, Christophe de Dinechin An excellent action game similar in graphics style to Virus but much more unique in gameplay, Alpha Waves is hard to describe– the physical objective of the game is to maneuver…

  • Al-Qadim: The Genie’s Curse

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Herb Perez GAME DEVELOPER:Stormfront Studios GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1994, Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) A fun action-oriented RPG, Al-Qadim puts you in a role of a hapless Arab merchant returning home to wed his beloved, only to find that not all is well in…

  • Alter Ego: Female

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Dr. Peter Favaro GAME DEVELOPER:Activision GAME PUBLISHER:Activision Copyright 1983, Activision Alter Ego is one of the rare games that’s not only outstanding in every respect, but, like Fool’s Errand, is so original in concept that it’s hard to categorize. You play your own alter ego in…

  • Alter Ego: Male

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Dr. Peter Favaro GAME DEVELOPER:Activision GAME PUBLISHER:Activision Copyright 1983, Activision Alter Ego is one of the rare games that’s not only outstanding in every respect, but, like Fool’s Errand, is so original in concept that it’s hard to categorize. You play your own alter ego in…

  • Altered Destiny

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Michael Berlyn GAME DEVELOPER:Accolade GAME PUBLISHER:Accolade Copyright 1990, Accolade Designed by Michael Berlyn (of Infocom’s Infidel and Polarware’s Oo-Topos fame), this is a bizarre text-parser/graphical adventure game with a cliche premise: after being sucked into your TV by a powerful alien, it is up to you…

  • Alternate Reality: The City

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Phillip Price GAME DEVELOPER:Datasoft GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1991, Datasoft This is yet another Commodore 64 classic that failed to attract a following among PC crowd. An immensely detailed RPG (with various weather effects!) on an epic scale, Alternate Reality, like Might and Magic, integrate science and…

  • Amazing Spider-Man, The

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:John Wood & Richard Horrocks GAME DEVELOPER:Paragon Software GAME PUBLISHER:Paragon Software Copyright 1989, Paragon Software A fun platform game featuring Spider-Man, this game makes good use of his unique superpowers: you can climb walls, throw spider bombs, and shoot grappling hooks. Enemies are numerous but dumb,…

  • Amazon

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Michael Crichton GAME DEVELOPER:Telarium GAME PUBLISHER:Telarium Copyright 1984, Telarium As an agent of the NSRT (National Satellite Resources Technology), you happen to be the first witness of the sad fate suffered by all members of an archeological expedition sent to uncover the fabled Lost City of…

  • Amazon: Guardians of Eden

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Chris Jones & Doug Vandegrift GAME DEVELOPER:Access Software GAME PUBLISHER:Access Software Copyright 1992, Access Software An underrated “cinematic adventure” by the company famous for Tex Murphy games, Amazon is a fun romp in the style of B-movies in the 50s. As a hapless scientist who willingly…

  • Amber: Journey Beyond

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Frank Wimmer & Susan Wimmer GAME DEVELOPER:Hue Forest Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Hue Forest Entertainment Copyright 1997, Hue Forest Entertainment If I haven’t made clear already, let me say it again: I *don’t* like Myst and the clones of lifeless worlds it inspired. Myst to me is just…

  • Amberstar

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Karsten K?per & Jurie Horneman GAME DEVELOPER:Thalion GAME PUBLISHER:Thalion Copyright 1990, Thalion An Amiga hit that failed miserably on the PC, Amberstar is a novel top-down RPG that combines conventional RPG elements with adventure-game puzzles and ingenious riddles. The hallmarks of Amberstar, other than its excellent…

  • American Challenge: Sailing Simulation, The

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Chris A. Lutes Jr. & Thomas F. Snyder GAME DEVELOPER:Tom Snyder Productions GAME PUBLISHER:Mindscape Copyright 1986, Mindscape Perhaps the earliest “realistic” sailing game, American Challenge pits your mettle and sailing skills against other computer-controlled opponents in sailboats or motorboats. Wind direction, waves, and weather effects all…

  • Amnesia

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Thomas Disch GAME DEVELOPER:Electronic Arts GAME PUBLISHER:Electronic Arts Copyright 1986, Thomas Disch This is a lengthy and complex IF based on an intriguing premise: waking up one day, you suddently find yourself having an amnesia, with no recollection of who you are. Along the way, you…

  • An American Tail: Fievel Goes West

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Capstone GAME PUBLISHER:Capstone Copyright 1994, Capstone A fun game for kids based on the Disney movie of the same name, Fievel Goes Westfollows the adventures of a young mouse Fievel as he searches for his family in the New World. Both the interface and…

  • Anacreon: Reconstruction 4021

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:George Morimisato GAME DEVELOPER:TMA GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1988, TMA Anacreon: Reconstruction is, without a doubt, one of –if not THE– best strategy games ever made. It was released in the 1988 and bombed, mostly due to its high price and ASCII graphics. It is a 1…

  • Ancient Art of War at Sea, The

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Dave & Barry Murry GAME DEVELOPER:Evryware GAME PUBLISHER:Brderbund Copyright 1987, Brderbund Barry and Dave Murry follows up on the ground-breaking Ancient Art of War (AAOW) with Ancient Art of War in The Sea, a logical offshoot. Although the game engine remains virtually unchanged, much more content…

  • Ancient Art of War in The Skies, The

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Dave Murry & Barry Murry GAME DEVELOPER:Evryware GAME PUBLISHER:MicroProse Copyright 1990, Evryware In 1992 MicroProse published the brothers’ last game in the series, The Ancient Art of War in the Skies, which disappointed fans because it introduces arcade elements into the game, isn’t as deep as…

  • Ancient Art of War, The

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Dave & Barry Murry GAME DEVELOPER:Evryware GAME PUBLISHER:Brderbund Copyright 1984, Brderbund Before Dave Murry and Barry Murry designed the seminal The Ancient Art of War in 1984, best-selling wargames like SSI’s Kampfgruppe bear no resemblance to best-selling strategy games like M.U.L.E. As a result, strategy gamers…

  • Annals of Rome

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:A. D. Boyse & J. G. Langdale-Brown GAME DEVELOPER:PSS GAME PUBLISHER:PSS Copyright 1986, PSS This early precursor to Impression’s superb Caesar series is a complex strategy/war game that, unlike its contemporaries, emphasizes economic and personnel aspects as much as military ones. Contend with internal affairs, including…

  • Anvil of Dawn

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Dreamforge Intertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) Copyright 1996, Dreamforge Intertainment Definitely a “return to form” for Dreamforge after a string of disappointing RPGs, Anvil of Dawn is an RPG masterpiece that’s sadly ignored despite winning CGW’s “RPG of the Year” award. In this…

  • Apache Longbow

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Digital Integration GAME PUBLISHER:Interactive Magic Copyright 1995, Digital Integration Digital Integration’s first successful foray into the helicopter simulator market was very successful. Sporting a very realistic flight model which could be dumbed down to beginner levels, Apache Longbow had everything. The cockpit is very…

  • Apocalypse Abyss

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Software Visions GAME PUBLISHER:Software Visions Copyright 1994, Software Visions A somewhat uninspired shareware puzzle game, Apocalypse Abyss doesn’t have much you haven’t seen in many other puzzlers. You must guide a dwarf to the exit of each room through a variety of obstacles, pushing…

  • Arachnophobia

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:BlueSky Software GAME PUBLISHER:Disney Copyright 1990, Disney This PC adaptation of the bizarre Disney movie of the same name is fun, if a little too frustrating due to unintuitive controls and way too many spiders. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has hired your extermination…

  • Arctic Moves

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Dinamic Multimedia GAME PUBLISHER:Dinamic Multimedia Copyright 1993, Dinamic Multimedia Arctic Moves is a good platform game that puts you in the role of a futuristic commando sent to infiltrate terrorists’ bases in the Arctic. Although the gameplay is no diferent from a zillion other…

  • Are We There Yet?

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Carol Manley GAME DEVELOPER:Manley Associates GAME PUBLISHER:Accolade Copyright 1991, Manley Associates Although it utilizes the same engine as The Fool’s Errand, Are We There Yet? isn’t as original or as fun to play as that classic. However, it is a pretty good puzzle game, featuring a…

  • Armada 2525

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    From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:R. T. Smith GAME DEVELOPER:Interstel GAME PUBLISHER:Interstel Copyright 1991, Interstel Interstel ended its troubled career on a strong note that unfortunately went unnoticed: Armada 2525 is a space strategy game that looks and feels like a solid update of the venerable Starfleet, although computer AI is…