Games developed by LinEL
We provide a list of companies that developed abandonware games.
Select a company to view its games.
To make searching easier, use pagination by number or letter.
Crack
Releasing in 1988 for the Amiga, the title Crack landed amid a crowded scene where hobbyists stretched the limits of home computers. Its creators carved out a brisk, arcade flavored adventure that invited quick reflexes and wily planning. The presentation drew players in with bold color, smooth animation, and a sense of motion that felt unusually tangible on late eighties hardware. On screen, bright corridors, flickering hazards, and distant skylines rolled by, giving the impression of a living machine rather than a static puzzle. Controls lean toward immediacy, with a compact set of commands that rewarded precise timing and a steady, unhurried tempo when needed. Its legacy still echoes in small studios.
At its core the game challenges you to traverse a sequence of stages where danger hides in clever placements and trap layouts. You guide a single avatar through rooms filled with switches, doors, and shifting walls. Each level asks for careful observation before action, as a single misstep can cost precious lives. Power ups appear as bright icons that alter your capabilities briefly, inviting risk reward decisions. The pace alternates between burst runs and quiet reconnaissance, a rhythm that keeps tension high while giving you space to plan ambitious routes and execute them with surgical accuracy.
Visually Crack embraces the palette and texture of Amiga artistry. Sprites are bold and crisp, parallax scrolling provides a sense of depth, and animation carries a tactile snap that makes the world feel responsive. The soundtrack features punchy synthesized melodies that echo through long corridors, while sound effects punctuate impacts and discoveries with satisfying thunks and chimes. The overall atmosphere blends urgency with a quirky charm, leaning into a slightly surreal sci fi mood that suits the abstract design of its circuits and locks.
Critics in the time often praised its brisk tempo and tight controls, noting that it rewarded careful planning as much as quick hands. Over the years the game has earned a place in the memory of Amiga players who recall long sessions spent mastering treacherous sections and hunting for hidden paths. Collectors now seek out original disks, manual art, and faded wrappers, appreciating Crack as a snapshot of late eighties ingenuity. Its influence shows in later maze based action titles and in the enduring appeal of compact, skill oriented design. In retrospective, the title stands as a compact micro adventure that captured the spirit of its hardware and era.
Kaiser Deluxe
Kaiser Deluxe, released in 1995, is a classic DOS game that has stood the test of time. Developed by Frank Hunter, this strategy game puts players in the shoes of a 19th century ruler, aiming to build and expand their empire through diplomacy and war. With its simple yet addictive gameplay, Kaiser Deluxe quickly gained a loyal following and became a cult favorite among DOS gamers.
The game offers a unique blend of turn-based strategy and political simulation, giving players the freedom to shape their empire as they see fit. From managing resources and economy to making alliances and conquering territories, every decision matters in this game. The variety of options and outcomes keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting, making each playthrough a unique experience. Additionally, the game has a well-designed tutorial that eases players into the complex mechanics, making it accessible for both novice and experienced players.
One of the standout features of Kaiser Deluxe is its attention to historical accuracy. The game is set in Europe during the 19th century, a time of great political turmoil and change. With over 150 different countries and regions to choose from, players can relive major events and shape the course of history. The game also offers a detailed encyclopedia, providing players with valuable information about the countries and their leaders, making the experience even more immersive.
The graphics and sound may seem outdated by today's standards, but the gameplay and depth of content more than make up for it. The pixelated graphics have a retro charm that adds to the nostalgic feeling of playing a DOS game. The soundtrack, though simple, sets the tone for the game perfectly, creating a sense of tension and excitement as players make critical decisions.
Kaiser Deluxe is a timeless DOS game that offers a unique and engaging experience for strategy enthusiasts. With its historical accuracy, deep gameplay, and nostalgic charm, it's not difficult to see why this game has stood the test of time. Whether you're new to the world of DOS gaming or a seasoned veteran, Kaiser Deluxe is a must-play for anyone looking for a challenging and rewarding strategy game. So why not step into the shoes of a 19th century ruler and see if you have what it takes to build an empire?
Traders: The Intergalactic Trading Game
Linel's Traders is an ambitious clone of Dani Bunten's classic M.U.L.E. that, unfortunately, adds too many new gameplay elements with poor AI that loses the elegant simplicity of M.U.L.E. No wonder, then, that the game was only mildly successful in Germany, and that the English version (here on this site) published by Merit Studios was virtually unknown.
The game looks and plays like M.U.L.E. with a VGA facelift, except for a few options that M.U.L.E. fans will quickly learn. For those unfamiliar with M.U.L.E., it is basically a galactic trading game for 1-4 players, of which up to 3 can be controlled by the computer. Players first choose a species to control, each with its own appearance, and some have special disadvantages. Players are then allocated money and supplies. Each game round includes a land grant, during which players compete for plots of land on the planet's surface. During each turn, a player can choose to produce energy or food, or to mine a plot of land they own. After having paid and obtained a rocket (which replaces a mule in the original classic), you send it to drop the production symbol on the plot. It's that simple: literally, you're in business.
Random events occur throughout the game, such as planetary earthquakes, acid rain and plague attacks. At the end of each round, there is a production sequence in which all players watch how their little colony is doing. Then comes the most fun event of the game: the market phase. Here you can see your surplus in any raw material, and buy what you lack in the warehouse or from other players. For each commodity in each round there is an auction. Each player can declare himself a buyer or a seller, and parade his characters around the screen, setting prices for sellers and buyers. Trade takes place when a seller's line meets a buyer's line (supply meets demand, so to speak). Since there is a time limit, trading is usually frantic and cutthroat. This is where Traders really retains all the fun that was in M.U.L.E.'s auction sequences.
Unfortunately, Traders' AI is flawed. It is all too easy to spot a pattern in the movements of the computer players, and corner the market on the commodity of your choice. The game also adds many commodities and building types, most of which add no additional gameplay value, and simply become extra information you have to keep track of. Fans of M.U.L.E., once they get over the 'wow' effect of seeing the VGA graphics, will probably find Traders an all-too-easy M.U.L.E. clone.
Definitely a worthwhile game for all business simulator fans, but nowhere near the addictiveness of the original. If you want a really excellent clone, play Subtrade: Return to Irata.
