I grew up on a hand-me-down PC with a chunky screen that hummed. I kept floppies in a cracked plastic box. After school, I’d type little commands like “cd games” and “doom.exe” with sweaty hands. It felt like a secret door.
These are the DOS games that stuck to my brain. I’ve played each one a lot—some on that old clunker, and later in DOSBox on a newer laptop. They’re messy and old and great. And yes, a few made me cry, but we’ll get there.
Here’s the thing: my list leans fun over fancy. If it felt good then and still feels good now, it made it in. For a stroll through thousands more titles, the well-kept shelves over at DOS Games Archive can keep you clicking for hours.
Need another perspective? You can hop over to this roundup of classic favorites for a different top-ten take that might jog even more memories.
Doom (1993) — The First Game That Made Me Flinch
Doom is loud, fast, and somehow warm, like pizza after practice. I’d replay E1M1 just to hear the music kick in. When I finally got a Sound Blaster card, it felt like someone cleaned my ears.
- What I love: The shotgun thump. The map key (Tab) saving me when I get lost. Running sideways to go faster.
- What bugged me: Maze-y floors. Pink demons in tight halls. Motion sickness if I forget to blink.
Tip: Turn the gamma up a bit. Your eyes will thank you.
The Secret of Monkey Island (1990) — The Game That Made Me Laugh Out Loud
I learned wit from this one. “You fight like a dairy farmer.” “How appropriate, you fight like a cow.” I kept a little spiral notebook for puzzle notes and silly lines. I still say “Look behind you, a three-headed monkey!” for no reason.
- What I love: The mood. The music. The insult sword fighting that just… lands.
- What bugged me: A couple puzzles stretched me thin. I did call a hint line once. No shame.
Tiny brag: I guessed the root beer bit without help. Barely.
Prince of Persia (1990) — Timing Is Everything
This game is smooth like a cat. The jumps feel right when you hit them, and cruel when you don’t. The ticking one-hour timer made my palms sweat.
- What I love: The rotoscoped moves. The simple story that still feels big.
- What bugged me: Sword fights can get clunky. The timer can be mean if you just want to explore.
I learned to pause and breathe before a long jump. Sounds silly. Worked every time.
X-COM: UFO Defense (1994) — Little Soldiers, Big Feelings
I named my squad after my friends. Bad idea. When Ryan got melted by a plasma shot, I stared at the screen for a minute. Night missions felt like a horror movie with checkered floors and tiny flares.
- What I love: Base building. Panic meters. The hush before reaction fire kicks in.
- What bugged me: The menus fight you. Inventory clicks take forever. And yes, I lost a save and sulked.
Pro move: Smoke grenades first turn. Then step out. Live longer.
Dune II (1992) — Spice, Worms, And One Unit At A Time
This is the grandparent of the big base games. I picked Atreides for the music and the “good guy” vibe. Losing a harvester to a sand worm? You feel it in your gut.
- What I love: The loop—harvest, build, attack, repeat. It’s comfort food.
- What bugged me: You can only select one unit at once. Pathfinding will make you talk to your screen.
Tip: Place your refinery close to spice. Less driving, more money. Simple math.
Lemmings (1991) — Tiny Feet, Big Brain
We’d pass the mouse back and forth. My little brother would shout “Blocker!” like he was calling plays. I hummed those goofy songs for years.
- What I love: That click when a plan works. Builders saving the day by a single step.
- What bugged me: Precision clicks are tough. One wrong dig and it’s chaos.
I once spent a whole weekend on one level. Sunday night victory tastes sweet.
SimCity 2000 (1993) — Pipes, Power, Peace
I’d play late, lights off, and watch my city glow. I built bad water systems for months. Then it clicked, and my city finally stopped catching fire every five minutes.
- What I love: Chill music. Arcologies popping up like sci-fi trees. Zoning lines that tell quiet stories.
- What bugged me: Budgets feel like homework. Disasters hit when you brag.
Tip: Put water pumps on the edge by fresh water. Use a grid, but not too tight. Leave space for parks. People like trees.
Commander Keen 4: Goodbye, Galaxy! (1991) — Pogo Joy
Bright colors. Smart jumps. Secret rooms that feel like a wink from the dev team. I ran Keen with a goofy grin.
- What I love: The pogo stick. The gentle difficulty curve. It’s friendly without being dull.
- What bugged me: A few maze-y bits dragged. Save slots felt tight.
Fun memory: I launched “keen4e.exe” like a magic word.
Wolfenstein 3D (1992) — Walls, Dogs, And Secret Meals
Blue walls everywhere. Push on everything. Find a secret room with roast chicken and ammo. The dog barks made me freeze, no joke.
- What I love: Simple goals. Fast loops. Big boss fights that feel heavy.
- What bugged me: Same-looking halls cause loop brain. I needed a notepad map sometimes.
Yes, I got lost on Floor 2. More than once.
The Oregon Trail (1990 DOS) — We All Died, And We Learned Stuff
We played this at school. I always took too much ammo and not enough food. Hunting felt like a tiny arcade game. Tombstones made us giggle, then feel weird.
- What I love: Choices matter. Pace, rations, and when to ford—it all counts.
- What bugged me: Random events can be rough. Watching your friend “die of dysentery” hits harder now.
Hot take: I like being the carpenter, not the banker. The journey feels better.
A Few Quick Notes Before You Boot Them Up
- How I play now: DOSBox on a mid-range laptop. Works fine. I tweak cycles till the game feels right.
- What I use: A USB keyboard and a cheap two-button mouse. No need for fancy gear.
- Save often: Old games don’t care about your time. Love them anyway.
If you don’t have the original floppies, you can fire up many of these classics straight in your browser on DOS Games Online. You’ll find plenty of shareware builds on DOS Games too, ready to spin up in DOSBox.
Back when I needed a Sound Blaster card, I’d scour local classifieds for someone dumping old PC parts. That swap-meet spirit still lives online, and it isn’t limited to hardware—people post for every kind of connection, from trading boxed copies of Doom to finding a late-night gaming buddy. If you’re curious about how the more adult side of those listings works, this guide to the Craigslist hookup culture explains the history, safety tips, and modern alternatives in one convenient read, so you can explore (or avoid) that scene with confidence.
For a more structured, face-to-face way to meet people who might actually know what an IRQ conflict is, consider attending a local speed-dating night in Norman, where the quick-fire chats let you swap retro-gaming stories, scout for new co-op partners, or spark a connection that lasts longer than a DOS boot screen.
You know what? These games aren’t perfect. Some are clunky. Some are mean. But they have heart. They taught me patience, planning, and how to laugh at a puzzle that makes no sense, then cheer when it does.
If your fingers itch for that old feel, start with Doom or Monkey Island. If you want brain burn, try X-COM or Dune II. And if you just need a calm night, SimCity 2000 is still a soft blanket.
I’ll be over here, typing “cd games” like it still matters. Because it kind of does.
—Kayla Sox