Top 9 · 1986

All 9 DOS games of 1986, ranked

All 9 DOS games of 1986, ranked, as the players of dos.games rate them. King's Quest III: To Heir is Human leads the list, ahead of Risk and Gunship.

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 12, 2026How the lists are ranked

9DOS games of 1986 in the archive
9 of 9Play in your browser
3.3Score of #1, out of 5

1. King's Quest III: To Heir is Human
1986 · Sierra On-Line, Inc. · Adventure
3.3 out of 5Played often
King Graham and Queen Valanice had two children, Alexander and Rosella, and the kingdom was once peaceful.
Play now: King's Quest III: To Heir is Human About the game
2. Risk
1986 · Panther Programs · Strategy / tactics
3.2 out of 5Played often
Risk is a turn-based strategy game based on the board game of the same name.
Play now: Risk About the game
3. Gunship
1986 · MicroProse Software, Inc. · Simulation
3.2 out of 5Played now and then
Gunship depicts the Western world's finest attack helicopter: The AH-64A Apache.
Play now: Gunship About the game
4. Space Quest I: The Sarien Encounter
1986 · Sierra On-Line, Inc. · Adventure
3.2 out of 5Played now and then
Roger Wilco is one of the most important men on the starship Arcada: he is the janitor!
Play now: Space Quest I: The Sarien Encounter About the game
5. Where in the U.S.A. Is Carmen Sandiego?
1986 · Brøderbund Software, Inc. · Educational
3.2 out of 5Played now and then
This time you continue to catch Carmen Sandiego and her american gang in the U.S.A.
Play now: Where in the U.S.A. Is Carmen Sandiego?About the game
6. Starflight
1986 · Binary Systems · Role-playing (RPG)
3.2 out of 5Rarely played
A long time ago, a great empire comprised of Humans, Velox, Thrynn and Elowan ruled the stars.
Play now: Starflight About the game
7. Wizardry III: Legacy of Llylgamyn
1986 · Andrew Greenberg, Inc. · Role-playing (RPG)
3.2 out of 5Rarely played
A generation has passed since your band of adventurers reclaimed the Staff of Gnilda and the armor of the Knight of Diamonds, and the land has been at peace.
Play now: Wizardry III: Legacy of Llylgamyn About the game
8. Sherlock Holmes: The Vatican Cameos
1986 · Ellicott Creek Software · Adventure
3.2 out of 5Rarely played
Text adventure based on Arthur Conan Doyle's famous character.
Play now: Sherlock Holmes: The Vatican Cameos About the game
9. Karateka
1986 · Jordan Mechner · Action
3.2 out of 5Rarely played
The evil Akuma has destroyed the protagonist's homeland, killed many of his friends and kidnapped the princess Mariko.
Play now: Karateka About the game

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Questions

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How Best DOS Games are ranked

What is the best DOS game of 1986?

King's Quest III: To Heir is Human (1986, Sierra On-Line, Inc.) is the best DOS game of 1986 by our players' ratings, ahead of Risk and Gunship. The ranking follows players' ratings and real play time, so it changes as people play.

Can I play these DOS games of 1986 online?

Yes. 9 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 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.