Top 10 · Strategy

The 10 best DOS strategy games

The 10 best DOS strategy games, as the players of dos.games rate them. Sid Meier's Civilization leads the list, ahead of Command & Conquer and Theme Hospital.

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 10, 2026How the lists are ranked

123DOS strategy games in the archive
10 of 10Play in your browser
4.0Score of #1, out of 5

1. Sid Meier's Civilization
1991 · MPS Labs · Strategy / tactics
4.0 out of 5Played all the time
In Sid Meier's 1991 strategy game, you build an empire from ancient history to spaceflight, spanning the widest scope of any strategy game in 1991.
Play now: Sid Meier's Civilization About the game
2. Command & Conquer
1995 · Westwood Studios, Inc. · Strategy / tactics
4.0 out of 5Played all the time
Westwood's 1995 MS-DOS strategy game Command & Conquer pits GDI against Nod in the war for Tiberium. Includes the Covert Operations add-on.
Play now: Command & Conquer About the game
3. Theme Hospital
1997 · Bullfrog Productions, Ltd. · Strategy / tactics
3.9 out of 5Played all the time
Theme Hospital is a level-based hospital management simulation where players have to start on an empty building, and then assemble rooms with all kinds of material, from desks and file cabinets for the general diagnosis to the expensive ultra-scanners and x-rays to diagnose such bizarre diseases such as Bloaty Head, Slack Songue or Alien DNA, and treat them with with even more bizarre machines like an Head Inflator or a DNA fixer.
Play now: Theme Hospital About the game
4. Heroes of Might and Magic II (Deluxe Edition)
1998 · New World Computing, Inc. · Strategy / tactics
3.8 out of 5Played all the time
Heroes of Might and Magic II is a fantasy role-playing game which takes place in the land of Enroth, a place of magic.
Play now: Heroes of Might and Magic II (Deluxe Edition)About the game
5. Z
1996 · The Bitmap Brothers · Strategy / tactics
3.8 out of 5Played all the time
Z is a real-time strategy game in which you fight for control of the sectors, some of which contains manufactories that can gain you additional units.
Play now: Z About the game
6. Earth 2140
1997 · TopWare Programmy Sp. z o.o. · Strategy / tactics
3.7 out of 5Played a lot
It's the year 2140, earth is almost completely destroyed after numerous wars and environmental catastrophes, and the people primarily live underground.
Play now: Earth 2140 About the game
7. Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness
1995 · Blizzard Entertainment · Strategy / tactics
3.6 out of 5Played all the time
For the kingdoms of Azeroth the real-time battle between Humans and Orcs continues with Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, the sequel to its highly succesful predecessor...
Play now: Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness About the game
8. The Settlers II: Gold Edition
1997 · Blue Byte · Strategy / tactics
3.6 out of 5Played all the time
The Settlers II (Gold Edition) contains: The Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici The Settlers II Mission CD A full world atlas Contest entries of 130 fan-made custom maps Veni, Vidi, Vici is the sequel of the well-known Settlers game.
Play now: The Settlers II: Gold Edition About the game
9. Master of Orion
1993 · SimTex, Inc. · Strategy / tactics
3.6 out of 5Played a lot
Master of Orion overlaps with Civilization insofar as you are the leader of one of several races.
Play now: Master of Orion About the game
10. Theme Park
1994 · Bullfrog Productions, Ltd. · Strategy / tactics
3.6 out of 5Played a lot
Dominating the exciting world of Theme Park ownership is your goal in this strategy game from Bullfrog.
Play now: Theme Park About the game

Ranks 11–20

More great DOS strategy games

11. Strip Poker Professional rev. BArtworx Software Company, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1995Played all the time
All the time
3.5 out of 5
12. Heroes of Might and MagicNew World Computing, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1995Played all the time
All the time
3.5 out of 5
13. Command & Conquer: Red AlertVirgin Interactive Entertainment, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1996Played all the time
All the time
3.5 out of 5
14. Jagged AllianceSir-tech Software, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1995Played often
Often
3.5 out of 5
15. Machiavelli The PrinceMicroProse Software, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1995Played a lot
A lot
3.5 out of 5
16. Dungeon KeeperElectronic Arts, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1997Played all the time
All the time
3.5 out of 5
17. Command & Conquer: Red Alert - Red DawnSorry Software · Strategy / tactics · 1997Played all the time
All the time
3.4 out of 5
18. Panzer GeneralStrategic Simulations, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1994Played a lot
A lot
3.4 out of 5
19. SpellcrossJRC Interactive · Strategy / tactics · 1997Played all the time
All the time
3.3 out of 5
20. Star Control IIAccolade, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1992Played a lot
A lot
3.3 out of 5

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Questions

Frequently asked

How Best DOS Games are ranked

What is the best DOS strategy game?

Sid Meier's Civilization (1991, MPS Labs) is the best DOS strategy game by our players' ratings, ahead of Command & Conquer and Theme Hospital. The ranking follows players' ratings and real play time, so it changes as people play.

Can I play these DOS strategy games 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 strategy games are there on dos.games?

123. 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.

Which year had the most great DOS strategy games?

1997. 3 of the games on this list came out that year: Theme Hospital, Earth 2140 and The Settlers II: Gold Edition.

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.