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Software Library: MS-DOS Showcase

This collection is a hand-picked set of selections from the MS-DOS Software Library of the Internet Archive. They've been chosen because they represent major parts of the MS-DOS story, because they are particularly impressive, and because they're fun. The intention is to eventually link these games to manuals and other materials as time goes on.

Curation was done by Jason Scott, Internet Archive's Software Librarian. He can be reached at [email protected] with suggestion, questions and inquiries.

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Title
Date Archived
Creator
Software Library: MS-DOS Showcase
by Interplay Entertainment Corp.
software
eye 77,023
favorite 37
comment 11
Published by Interplay Entertainment Corp. Developed by Interplay Entertainment Corp. Released 1992 Also For Macintosh ESRB Rating Kids to Adults Genre Educational Perspective Side-Scrolling Educational Typing Misc Licensed TitleDescription Mario comes to the PC, in the form of a typing tutor. In this product you get to play one of four games, of progressing difficulty (as either Mario, Luigi or the Princess): Mario's Smash & Dash: Assist your character run past a series of boxes and...
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 11 reviews )
Software Library: MS-DOS Showcase
by id Software, Inc.
software
eye 31,930
favorite 55
comment 0
Published by Apogee Software, Ltd. Developed by id Software, Inc. Released Dec 15, 1991 Official Site Commander Keen 4: Secret of the Oracle Platform DOS Genre Action Perspective 3rd-Person Perspective, Platform, Side-Scrolling Theme Sci-Fi / FuturisticDescription Commander Keen 4: Secret of the Oracle is a platform game, the fourth in the Commander Keen series as a whole, and the first in the second series Goodbye, Galaxy. Eight-year-old genius Billy "Commander Keen" Blaze receives...
Software Library: MS-DOS Showcase
by id Software, Inc.
software
eye 18,474
favorite 34
comment 1
Published by Apogee Software, Ltd. Developed by id Software, Inc. Released Dec 14, 1990 Official Site Commander Keen 1: Marooned on Mars Platform DOS Genre Action Perspective Platform, Side-Scrolling Theme Sci-Fi / FuturisticDescription Billy "Commander Keen" Blaze, an eight-year-old genius, has flied to Mars in his Bean-with-Bacon Megarocket build out of common household objects. But while Keen was exploring Mars, the alien Vorticons stole vital parts from his ship and hid them in...
favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Software Library: MS-DOS Showcase
by Bitmap Brothers, The
software
eye 12,186
favorite 20
comment 1
Published by Konami, Inc. Developed by Bitmap Brothers, The Released 1992 Also For Acorn 32-bit, Amiga, Atari ST, BlackBerry, Genesis, PC-98, SNES | Combined View Genre Action Perspective 3rd-Person Perspective, Platform, Side-ScrollingDescription Hercules is aiming to achieve immortality by completing the task the Gods have set him. His task is presented as a platform adventure set in ancient Greece, featuring a variety of enemies as you play it through. Of more significance, however, is the...
favoritefavoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Software Library: MS-DOS Showcase
by id Software, Inc.
software
eye 11,019
favorite 26
comment 0
Published by Softdisk Publishing Developed by id Software, Inc. Released 1991 Also For Android Genre Action Perspective 3rd-Person Perspective, Platform, Side-Scrolling Theme ShooterDescription Commander Keen: Keen Dreams is a platform game. Its events take place after Commander Keen 3: Keen Must Die! but before Commander Keen 4: Secret of the Oracle. Eight-year-old genius Billy "Commander Keen" Blaze, the hero of the universe, the saver of planets has a problem: his mom forces him to...
Software Library: MS-DOS Showcase
by Interplay Productions, Inc.
software
eye 7,964
favorite 15
comment 1
Published by Electronic Arts, Inc. Developed by Interplay Productions, Inc. Released 1988 Also For Apple II, Commodore 64, Linux, Macintosh, Windows Genre Role-Playing (RPG) Perspective Top-Down Theme Post-Apocalyptic, Turn-basedDescription Wasteland takes place in the future after the nuclear holocaust of World War III. The player guides band of Desert Rangers from town to town, gradually uncovering a sinister plot that threatens what's left of mankind. Much of the game is played like most...
favoritefavorite ( 1 reviews )
Software Library: MS-DOS Showcase
software
eye 5,735
favorite 16
comment 3
Released 1984 Platform DOS Genre Action, Adventure Perspective 3rd-Person Perspective, Top-Down Theme Fantasy, Interactive Fiction, Puzzle-Solving, Real-TimeDescription This game is like a cross between a Kroz game and a text adventure -- the player moves through a castle using the arrow keys, picking up equipment and battling monsters in real-time along the way; however, at any time, it is also possible to type simple commands into the game's text parser, allowing a greater variety of actions...
favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite ( 3 reviews )
Software Library: MS-DOS Showcase
by Legend Entertainment Company
software
eye 4,744
favorite 9
comment 0
Published by Legend Entertainment Company Developed by Legend Entertainment Company Released 1990 Platform DOS Genre Adventure Theme Interactive Fiction with Graphics, Puzzle-SolvingDescription Ernie Eaglebeak is a young lad living with his cruel stepfather Joey Rottenwood, who keeps him locked up in the attic. Ernie is secretly in love with his neighbor Lola Tigerbelly, a young woman definitely out of his league. Things take a turn for the better when Ernie gets accepted as a freshman by the...
Software Library: MS-DOS Showcase
by id Software, Inc.
software
eye 3,984
favorite 24
comment 0
Published by Apogee Software, Ltd. Developed by id Software, Inc. Released Dec 14, 1990 Platform DOS Genre Action Perspective Platform, Side-Scrolling Theme Sci-Fi / FuturisticDescription Commander Keen 2: The Earth Explodes is the second game in the first trilogy of Commander Keen platform games, called Commander Keen: Invasion of the Vorticons. In this episode a Vorticon Mothership is poised above Earth, preparing to destroy the planet with their deadly Tantalus Rays! Commander Keen's mission...
Software Library: MS-DOS Showcase
by Legend Entertainment Company
software
eye 3,947
favorite 6
comment 0
Published by Legend Entertainment Company Developed by Legend Entertainment Company Released 1992 Platform DOS Genre Adventure Theme Interactive Fiction with Graphics, Puzzle-SolvingDescription It's spring break time for the students of the Sorcerer University! Ernie Eaglebeak and his friends from the Hu Delta Phart fraternity load their flying carpet with booze and sun lotion, and head to a beach resort. However, there they encounter students from a rival college, more specifically the Getta...
Software Library: MS-DOS Showcase
by IBM
software
eye 2,961
favorite 1
comment 0
Published by IBM Developed by IBM Released 1983 Platform DOS Genre Educational Perspective 1st-Person Perspective Educational Math / LogicDescription In Adventures in Math the player takes the role of a treasure hunter who explores a castle. The goal of the game is to find the exit while earning as much points as possible. Points are rewarded for picking locks and finding treasures. To achieve these tasks the player has to solve mathematical riddles while using the four basic arithmetic...
Software Library: MS-DOS Showcase
by Legend Entertainment Company
software
eye 2,925
favorite 7
comment 1
Published by Legend Entertainment Company Developed by Legend Entertainment Company Released 1993 Platform DOS Mature ESRB Rating Mature Genre Adventure Theme Interactive Fiction with GraphicsDescription An ancient prophecy states that King Fudd the Bewildered will die peacefully, his daughter accompanying him during his last hour. However, Princess Lorealle the Worthy mysteriously disappears, abducted by her stepmother Morgana, who intends to put her own daughter on the throne. In order to...
( 1 reviews )
Software Library: MS-DOS Showcase
by Delphine Software International
software
eye 2,852
favorite 2
comment 0
Published by Interplay Entertainment Corp. Developed by Delphine Software International Released 1991 Official Site Cruise for a Corpse Also For Amiga, Atari ST Genre Adventure Perspective 3rd-Person Perspective Theme Detective / Mystery, Puzzle-SolvingDescription 1927. When Inspector Raoul Dusentier is invited to a cruise upon a mighty sailing ship by the wealthy businessman Niklos Karaboudjan, he looks forward to nothing but a relaxing week on the sea. Instead, his host manages to get himself...
Software Library: MS-DOS Showcase
by Ebenel Enterprises
software
eye 1,761
favorite 1
comment 0
Developed by Ebenel Enterprises Released 1983 Platform DOS Genre Action Perspective 3rd-Person Perspective Theme Fighting, Martial ArtsDescription Bushido is an action fighting game set in feudal Japan - fight a multitude of enemies in a multitude of settings. From Mobygames.com. Original Entry
Software Library: MS-DOS Showcase
software
eye 1,363
favorite 4
comment 0
Published by International PC Owners Released 1981 Also For Commodore PET/CBM, TRS-80, Windows Genre Role-Playing (RPG) Theme Fantasy, Interactive Fiction, Turn-basedDescription A long time ago, the great wizard Zot forged an orb of power. He soon vanished, leaving behind a vast castle filled with monsters, traps, and great treasures including the orb of power. The player takes the role of a bold adventurer in search of the orb of power and whatever other treasures he can make it out of the...
Software Library: MS-DOS Showcase
by MOPS Computer Systems, Inc.
software
eye 892
favorite 0
comment 0
Developed by MOPS Computer Systems, Inc. Released 1983 Platform DOS Genre Action Theme ArcadeDescription Why did the chicken cross the road? I still don't know, but you'd better find out if you want to play this game, because that's all you'll be doing in this clone of Frogger. From Mobygames.com. Original Entry
Software Library: MS-DOS Showcase
by IBM
software
eye 813
favorite 1
comment 0
Published by IBM Developed by IBM Released 1984 Platform PC Booter Genre Adventure, Role-Playing (RPG) Theme Interactive Fiction, Real-TimeDescription A young man named Zyll, who lived in the Land of Magic and Enchantment, tried to become a black mage, with the intent of conquering and ruling the entire realm. However, he was banished before he could realize his plans. Determined to have his revenge, Zyll took possession of the Black Orb, an ancient artifact of immense power... The gameplay of...
Software Library: MS-DOS Showcase
software
eye 789
favorite 1
comment 0
Released Sep 22, 1984 Platform DOS Genre Role-Playing (RPG) Perspective Top-Down Theme Fantasy, Real-Time, Turn-basedDescription Caverns of Zoarre is a dungeon crawl role-playing game similar to Telengard. You may choose to be either a fighter or a sorcerer as you explore the multi-leveled caverns for gold and treasures. Your view of the maze like caverns is top down, and only the area near you is visible. Throughout the caverns are many different types of enemies you'll encounter; you can try...