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.
Released in 1992 for DOS, Die Hard 2: Die Harder brought the movie’s sweaty urgency into the PC world with a lean action package built for keyboard players. Developed to capture that bombastic chase-and-solve rhythm, it leaned into straightforward objectives rather than sprawling narrative. The premise centers on preventing a spiraling catastrophe in an icy, industrial setting, where every hallway feels like a shortcut to disaster and every checkpoint carries the pressure of not knowing what happens next.
What makes the game feel distinctive is its mix of arcade momentum and tactical pauses. You move through levels that alternate between corridors, stairwells, and wider spaces that encourage quick repositioning. Combat favors timing over button mashing: you clear threats, grab supplies, and keep pushing before enemies converge. Weapons range from dependable firearms to heavier choices that reward disciplined aim. Instead of endless combat loops, many segments nudge you toward switches, keys, and timed actions, so progress often depends on reading the environment as much as defeating opponents.
Technically, the DOS version reflects early 90s constraints while still delivering recognizable motion and cluttered atmosphere. Sprites and animations are readable, and the scrolling levels provide a sense of momentum even when the scenery repeats. Sound effects add to the intensity, from gunfire snaps to the thud of impacts, while the audio presentation stays consistent enough to avoid breaking focus during firefights. Load times and performance were typical for the era, but the game generally maintains pace on modest machines if you keep expectations aligned with DOS limitations.
The structure of its missions mirrors the film’s cadence, with escalating pressure as you chase key targets and disrupt hostile plans. Health management and item scarcity create small moments of tension, where retreating for a brief reset can be the difference between surviving a wave and starting over. Difficulty arrives in controlled bursts, often spiking when you enter cramped combat zones or when multiple hazards appear at once, such as enemies flanking from different angles or environments forcing you into predictable routes.
For many players today, the appeal is less about cinematic polish and more about straightforward, kinetic problem solving. Die Harder on DOS scratches the itch of immediate action with clear goals, rewarding quick thinking and careful weapon selection. If you approach it as a snapshot of early PC adventure shooting, it feels like a fast, gritty companion to the franchise, capturing the spirit of an on-the-clock rescue mission without overstaying its welcome.
Featuring the English national team in a top-down game of soccer, England Championship Special represents British publisher Grand Slam's attempt to capitalize on England's respectable qualification in the 1990 World Cup semifinals and the popularity of Anco's acclaimed Kick Off series.
Released in 1991, English Championship Special sits somewhat awkwardly between the 1990 World Cup (England reached the semi-finals, their best result since 1966, and then lost to Germany and Italy in the third-place play-off) and the 1992 European Championship, to which the 'Championship Special' part of the title refers. The squad composition is based on the 1991 status quo, meaning that they will go into the Euros with World Cup veterans like Waddle, Beardsley and Wright, but without 1992 players like Alan Shearer or Alan Smith, infamous replacement for Gary Lineker in the Sweden game.
Although Grand Slam got the England national team and manager to officially endorse the game (so it has names and photos of 20 squad members, from Robson to Gascoigne), it did not buy the Euro license. They will take on seven of the 22 European nations for the title of 'Champions of Europe' in a bland international tournament, from the group stage matches to the final.
Mimicking Kick Off in style and outlook, European Championship Special is geared towards high-speed gameplay with a very low level of complexity, with a single key action for kicks and headers. There are no cards and hardly any penalties, primitive AI and straightforward gameplay mean that there are goals in abundance, and the weather system turns out to be just wind speeds, which turn out not to affect the ball at all.
In 1988, a new game was released for DOS that took the gaming world by storm - HKM. This action-adventure game, developed by Microïds and published by ERE Informatique, captivated players with its unique blend of science fiction and role-playing elements. The game was initially released in France and soon gained popularity in other European countries before making its way to the United States. With its engrossing storyline, challenging gameplay, and impressive graphics for its time, HKM became an instant hit and is still remembered fondly by many gamers today.
Set in a post-apocalyptic world, HKM follows the story of a young soldier named Raff, who is on a quest to find his lost love, Leïla. As players guide Raff through the game, they encounter a myriad of difficult obstacles, fierce enemies, and various puzzles that must be solved in order to progress. The game's title, HKM, stands for "Haut-Königlich Militärische" - the name of the futuristic city where Raff and Leïla once lived before it was destroyed in a war between two powerful supercomputers.
One of the most unique aspects of HKM is its blend of action and role-playing elements. Players not only have to fight their way through levels but also manage Raff's inventory, interact with other characters, and make strategic decisions that ultimately affect the game's outcome. This adds depth and complexity to the gameplay, making it more engaging and challenging. The game also features an open-world environment, allowing players to explore different areas of the vast city and uncover its secrets.
HKM's graphics were remarkable for its time, featuring detailed pixel art and animations. The levels were designed to be visually striking, with various futuristic landscapes, abandoned buildings, and high-tech machinery. The game's soundtrack also added to the overall immersive experience, composed by the famous French artist Jean Baudlot. His use of electronic and symphonic elements beautifully captures the game's post-apocalyptic setting.
Another noteworthy aspect of HKM is its use of multiple story branches and endings. Depending on the player's actions and choices throughout the game, the outcome of the story can change drastically. This adds to the game's replay value, as different decisions can lead to entirely different endings. With a total of four possible endings, players are encouraged to complete the game multiple times to see how their choices affect the outcome.
Although HKM was released over thirty years ago, its impact on the gaming industry is still prevalent today. Many aspects of the game, like its combination of action and role-playing, multiple endings, and immersive soundtrack, have influenced modern games. HKM's success also paved the way for other post-apocalyptic video games, making it a true pioneer in its genre.
Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade: The Action Game arrived in 1989 as a license-driven outing from Lucasfilm Games. On DOS and Amiga, it fused arcade reflexes with puzzle cadences drawn from the studio's cerebral expeditions. Players step into the fedora of an archeologist who outwits rivals, booby traps, and shifting terrain with a whip. The mood shifts from museum halls to desert ruins with cinematic breath.
Gameplay unfolds as a sequence of brisk episodes, each one testing timing, memory, and nerve. Indy runs, climbs, and vaults through side-scrolling stages, punching or whirling the whip to clear enemies and snag distant ledges. Puzzles demand observation and the right item at the right moment, rewarding careful exploration rather than mindless rushing. The design baits you with a sense that every corridor hides a memory from the film, a visual cue that nudges you toward the correct switch, the correct path, or the correct jump over a deadly gap.
Graphically the game wears its era with pride: chunky sprites, a warm color bias, and flickering explosions that give pulse to the action. Soundscapes braid chiptune brass with sparse, atmospheric effects that convey peril without overpowering play. The control scheme leans on keyboard inputs, with responsive, if occasionally twitchy, movement that reminds you of arcade heritage. Difficulty sits high, catching newcomers by surprise while rewarding veterans who learn enemy patterns and trap rhythms. Crucial to the experience is the sense of momentum, a cinematic rhythm that makes progress feel earned rather than granted.
Critics and fans admired its ambition even when some faults showed through. Repeated runs sharpen your intuition about the environment, and the game manages to translate the movie's signature chase and tomb-hopping vibe into interactive form. It helped establish a lineage of licensed adventures from Lucasfilm Games that favored personality, pacing, and thoughtful puzzles over brute spectacle. In the years that followed, that approach would echo in later titles like the company’s own exploration of ancient myths, where storytelling and action braided together to forge memorable journeys through peril and wonder.
Now the title thrives in retro circles where preservation and curiosity spark replays on classic PC hardware and through emulation. Its blend of cinematic bite with arcade grit feels like a time capsule, showing license games once stretched narrative pace and tempo. The quirks invite patience, but the memory remains durable and fondly remembered by fans and historians alike.
International Rugby is a rugby game played from a top-down perspective. The game consists of tournament matches played as part of the world cup with countries such as England, USA, Argentina, France, Wales, Scotland, Fiji, etc. In the options you can determine the type of tournament, along with the amount of wind and the duration of the match. The multiplayer mode supports two players.
At kickoff, during a scrimmage and whenever the ball goes over a sideline, a meter appears to determine the power and curve. It is automatically filled in and the player has to press a button twice to time both aspects. While running with the ball, it can be passed or kicked. In the defense position it is possible to tackle and switch players. Each player has individual statistics based on position, height, weight, speed, passes, rucks, tackles, tactics, kicks and injuries. World Cup matches can be viewed on a separate screen.
The Madden soccer series last appeared on the Genesis with Madden NFL 98. Since the PC and next-gen console versions have moved to 3D graphics, the Genesis version retains the classic look of the series. Most of the game modes are the same as on SNES, but the Genesis version has its own selection of teams and gameplay options.
Players can choose from 30 teams from the 1997 NFL season, the 1997 All-Madden team, an EA Sports team and a THQ team, plus 68 classic NFL teams from the 1950s through the 1990s. Game modes include exhibition games (now optionally as best-of-three or best-of-five series), seasons and playoffs. There is also an option to replay all Super Bowls since 1988. The game tracks records in 13 categories. A new feature is hot and cold streaks for teams, where their recent playing history influences their current statistics. Player creation and trading are again the same as in its predecessors. As in Madden 97 (but unlike the SNES version), player stats are set from a set of points. There are options for salary caps and trading deadlines in seasons and playoffs, and it is always possible to play with the normal rosters instead of the modified ones. During a match, it is again possible to control any player on the field by activating any player mode (a feature not available on the SNES).
Olympic Gold: Barcelona '92 was a highly-anticipated sports video game released in 1992 for the Sega Genesis console. Developed by U.S. Gold, the game was based on the 1992 Summer Olympics held in Barcelona, Spain. It was one of the first Olympic-themed video games to feature official licensed teams and athletes, providing players with an authentic experience of the international sporting event.
The game consisted of seven different events: 100m dash, 110m hurdles, hammer throw, archery, diving, skeet shooting, and freestyle swimming. Each event had its own unique challenges and controls, making it a diverse and engaging gameplay experience. One of the standout features of Olympic Gold was the ability to control the athlete's speed and timing, giving players a realistic sense of control and strategy.
What set Olympic Gold apart from other sports games at the time was its attention to detail and realistic graphics. The game featured 16-bit graphics, which was top-of-the-line for its time, and beautifully depicted the Barcelona Olympic Stadium and the various sports arenas. The character animations were smooth and fluid, adding to the overall immersive experience of the game.
Players could compete in single-player mode, with the goal of winning a medal in each event and ultimately becoming an Olympic champion. The game also offered multiplayer mode, allowing friends to compete against each other in a friendly (or competitive) manner. Additionally, players could choose to represent one of the 32 countries participating in the 1992 Summer Olympics, adding a sense of national pride to the gameplay.
Along with its realistic graphics and gameplay, Olympic Gold also had a compelling soundtrack. The game featured the official theme song of the 1992 Olympics, "Barcelona" by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé, which added to the excitement and energy of the gameplay. The sound effects were also well done, providing an immersive experience for players and adding to the overall atmosphere of the game.
Despite the many positives of Olympic Gold, the game did receive some criticism for its lack of depth and limited replay value. With only seven events, some players may have felt that the game lacked enough content to keep them engaged for a long period of time. However, at the time of its release, Olympic Gold was one of the most realistic and visually-striking sports games available, making it a must-have for any Sega Genesis owner.
Olympic Summer Games is the official 16-bit video game of the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta, the third and last official IOC title to be released for the console. A typical button-basher, it includes 10 events (100-meter dash, 110-meter hurdles, pole vault, long jump, triple jump, javelin, high jump, discus, skeet and archery) and 32 countries from around the world compete in custom or full Olympics, or just practice. Two players can compete head-to-head in the speed events, and a total of eight can play in the same game. The three difficulty levels allow both novices and veterans of the genre to compete.
The sprint events are a short and direct button mashing frenzy. 4 athletes compete simultaneously, with the first winner advancing to the next round (two heats and then the medal race). Only fast fingers and quick shotgun reaction can achieve world record times.
The jumping events are a mix of shorter bursts of button presses combined with timed press jumps. From the straightforward high jump and long jump tests (running and then setting the jump angle) to the more elaborate triple jump (as the name implies, three jumps must be carefully measured for world-class results) and the complex pole vault, where a strong run must be followed by a sharp pole setting and a good upward throw. Both the long jump and triple jump have a first round consisting of three jumps, with the best eight moving on to the second round, where three more jumps are taken. In the high jump and pole vault the competition continues until all athletes miss three consecutive jumps.
The throwing events (discus and javelin) work in the same way as the jumping events, although they are more complicated to perform, as the setting of the angle must be followed by a timely release. Each player is entitled to three throws, and the top eight can make three more attempts.
Finally, the shooting events. Archery is a three-round competition in which the goal is to accumulate as many points as possible by shooting at the inner rings of the target. With six arrows per round, each shot must be calculated according to the wind, choosing between steady aiming and lower tension (must aim up and compensate for the wind) or higher tension but nervous aiming (can aim directly at the 'gold' points). Skeet is a five-round competition in which the aim is to hit five clay pigeons before they disappear from the screen with two bullets apiece.
Released in 1993 for the SEGA Master System, Star Wars was an iconic game that allowed players to immerse themselves in the epic sci-fi universe created by George Lucas. As one of the first games to be based on the original Star Wars trilogy, it quickly gained popularity among fans and gamers alike.
The game followed the plot of the first Star Wars movie, A New Hope, allowing players to play as the notorious Jedi, Luke Skywalker. The game was a platformer that featured stunning 8-bit graphics and an engaging soundtrack that perfectly captured the essence of the movie. From the iconic opening crawl to the climactic final battle against Darth Vader, the game kept players on the edge of their seats.
In Star Wars, players could explore familiar locations from the movie, such as the deserts of Tatooine, the Death Star, and the epic battle on the surface of the moon-sized space station. Along the way, they encountered memorable enemies, including stormtroopers, TIE fighters, and the notorious Darth Vader. To defeat these foes, players could use Luke's lightsaber or his trusty blaster, adding an element of versatility to the gameplay.
One of the most innovative features of Star Wars was the inclusion of alternate paths and secret areas. This added a layer of replayability, as players could go back and explore different routes, uncovering hidden power-ups and bonuses. The game also offered a challenging difficulty level, with players having to master precise platforming and combat mechanics to progress through the levels.
Despite being released more than 25 years ago, Star Wars still holds a special place in the hearts of fans and gamers today. It has been re-released on multiple platforms, including the SEGA Genesis and the Nintendo Game Boy. Its gameplay and graphics may seem outdated now, but at the time of its release, it was an impressive achievement and a must-play for any Star Wars enthusiasts.
In addition to its gameplay, Star Wars also received praise for its faithful adaptation of the movie's iconic scenes and dialogues. Players could feel like they were a part of the action, reenacting the heroic moments from the movie themselves. It was also one of the first games to feature digitized speech, making it a groundbreaking title in terms of audio capabilities.
Strider 2 is an action-platform game released in 1993 for the Sega Genesis game console. Developed by Capcom, the game is a sequel to the original Strider, released in 1989. Strider 2 follows the protagonist of the original game, Hiryu, a cybernetic ninja with superhuman agility.
Strider 2's story is set ten years after the original game. Hiryu is called back into action to face an evil dictator called Grandmaster Meio, who is attempting to take over the world. The game consists of seven levels, four of which are side scrolling levels, and the remaining three are vertically-scrolling levels.
Gameplay in Strider 2 is mostly similar to that of the original game, with Hiryu running, jumping, and slashing his way through enemies with his trusty Cypher sword. Along the way, he will find power-ups and items that will help him in his quest. The game also features some light puzzle-solving elements, such as having to figure out how to open certain doors or reach certain platforms.
The graphics in Strider 2 are much improved over the original game. The characters are more detailed, and the backgrounds are much more detailed and colorful. The music is also much better, with a great soundtrack that fits the game's tone perfectly.
Strider 2 is an enjoyable experience for fans of the original game, as well as those who are new to the series. The improved graphics, soundtrack, and gameplay make it a fun and challenging game that is worth checking out.
