Top 10 · 1980s

The 10 best DOS games of the 1980s

The 10 best DOS games of the 1980s, as the players of dos.games rate them. Dig Dug leads the list, ahead of Zork I: The Great Underground Empire and Pole Position.

Every game on the list plays in your browser, with nothing to install. The order comes from players' ratings and real play time, so it moves as people play.

Updated November 11, 2026How the lists are ranked

135DOS games of the 1980s in the archive
10 of 10Play in your browser
3.6Score of #1, out of 5

1. Dig Dug
1983 · Namco Limited · Action
3.6 out of 5Played often
Dig Dug is a 1-2 player arcade game in which you have to use your shovel to dig your way through the earth.
Play now: Dig Dug About the game
2. Zork I: The Great Underground Empire
1982 · Infocom, Inc. · Adventure
3.5 out of 5Played often
Zork: The Great Underground Empire is a classic text adventure game.
Play now: Zork I: The Great Underground Empire About the game
3. Pole Position
1988 · Namco Limited · Racing / Driving
3.5 out of 5Played often
Pole Position is the conversion of the arcade racing game.
Play now: Pole Position About the game
4. Amazon
1984 · Telarium · Adventure
3.5 out of 5Played often
The Amazon jungle.
Play now: Amazon About the game
5. King's Quest I: Quest for the Crown (1987)
1987 · Sierra On-Line, Inc. · Adventure
3.5 out of 5Played all the time
King's Quest is an adventure game where you play Sir Graham, a brave knight who is sent on a quest to retrieve three treasures that were stolen by deception and stealth: a shield that protects its bearer from invaders, a mirror that foretells the future, and a treasure chest that is forever filled with gold.
Play now: King's Quest I: Quest for the Crown (1987)About the game
6. King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne
1987 · Sierra On-Line, Inc. · Adventure
3.4 out of 5Played a lot
After having recovered the three treasures, King Graham has been crowned king.
Play now: King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne About the game
7. SimCity
1989 · Maxis Software Inc. · Simulation
3.3 out of 5Played a lot
SimCity sets you as the mayor of a new municipality, with the responsibility of building and maintaining a place where citizens can move to and work and be happy.
Play now: SimCity About the game
8. Ghosts 'N Goblins
1987 · Capcom Co., Ltd. · Action
3.3 out of 5Played often
Ghosts'n Goblins is a sideways scrolling action platformer spread over six levels, each of which must be completed within three minutes (or a life is lost), taking in forest, village, mountain and cavern settings with increasing difficulty.Arthur the brave knight must rescue his beloved Princess from the Demon King Astaroth and his forces - amongst them are the various undead (ghosts, zombies), bats, ogres and goblins.
Play now: Ghosts 'N Goblins About the game
9. Might and Magic II: Gates to Another World
1988 · New World Computing, Inc. · Role-playing (RPG)
3.3 out of 5Played a lot
The Sequel to the successful Might and Magic I, it boasted better graphics, a larger world, but still pretty much the same game engine and presentation.
Play now: Might and Magic II: Gates to Another World About the game
10. Ultima III: Exodus
1985 · ORIGIN Systems, Inc. · Role-playing (RPG)
3.3 out of 5Played often
The third title in the Ultima series, this was the first game in the series to feature a party of adventurers instead of a single player.
Play now: Ultima III: Exodus About the game

Ranks 11–20

More great DOS games of the 1980s

11. Ultima II: The Revenge of the EnchantressSierra On-Line, Inc. · Role-playing (RPG) · 1982Played often
Often
3.3 out of 5
12. Ultima I: The First Age of DarknessORIGIN Systems, Inc. · Role-playing (RPG) · 1987Played often
Often
3.3 out of 5
13. RogueA.I. Design · Role-playing (RPG) · 1984Played often
Often
3.3 out of 5
14. DesignasaurusBritannica Software · Educational · 1988Played a lot
A lot
3.3 out of 5
15. Strip Poker: A Sizzling Game of ChanceArtworx Software Company, Inc. · Gambling · 1985Played a lot
A lot
3.3 out of 5
16. Montezuma's Revenge (1984)Parker Brothers · Action · 1984Played often
Often
3.3 out of 5
17. Ultima IV: Quest of the AvatarORIGIN Systems, Inc. · Role-playing (RPG) · 1987Played often
Often
3.3 out of 5
18. Wizardry I: Proving Grounds of the Mad OverlordSir-tech Software, Inc. · Role-playing (RPG) · 1984Played often
Often
3.3 out of 5
19. King's Quest IV: The Perils of RosellaSierra On-Line, Inc. · Adventure · 1988Played often
Often
3.3 out of 5
20. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Action GameU.S. Gold Ltd. · Action · 1989Played often
Often
3.3 out of 5

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Questions

Frequently asked

How Best DOS Games are ranked

What is the best DOS game of the 1980s?

Dig Dug (1983, Namco Limited) is the best DOS game of the 1980s by our players' ratings, ahead of Zork I: The Great Underground Empire and Pole Position. The ranking follows players' ratings and real play time, so it changes as people play.

Can I play these DOS games of the 1980s online?

Yes. 10 of the games on this list play free in your browser on dos.games, with no download and no emulator to set up. Press Play on any of them; your progress can be saved.

How many DOS games of the 1980s are there on dos.games?

135. This list ranks the best 10 in full and the next ones below them; the catalogue has every one, with filters for year, studio and more.

How is this list ranked?

With the same score as our Best DOS Games ranking: players' ratings, pulled toward the archive's own rating while a game has few of them, plus a small bonus for the games people actually keep playing. No editor and no sponsor decides a place.