The 90s took PC games from floppy disks to CD-ROMs, from blocky 2D to full 3D, and from single-player adventures to online multiplayer. Kids met The Oregon Trail at school, teens fought over the family computer, and the first LAN parties turned basements into arenas.
Quick answer
The best 90s PC games include Doom (1993), Myst (1993), SimCity 2000 (1993), Warcraft II (1995), Civilization II (1996), Diablo (1996), Quake (1996), Age of Empires (1997), StarCraft (1998), Half-Life (1998) and RollerCoaster Tycoon (1999), plus school classics like The Oregon Trail.
Shooters
| Game | Year | Why it mattered |
|---|---|---|
| Wolfenstein 3D | 1992 | Popularized the first-person shooter |
| Doom | 1993 | Defined the genre and modding |
| Duke Nukem 3D | 1996 | Interactive levels and attitude |
| Quake | 1996 | True 3D and online deathmatch |
| Unreal | 1998 | Stunning graphics engine |
| Half-Life | 1998 | Storytelling in a shooter |
Strategy
| Game | Year | Why it mattered |
|---|---|---|
| Civilization | 1991 | "One more turn" strategy |
| Command & Conquer | 1995 | Real-time strategy hit |
| Warcraft II | 1995 | Orcs vs humans and multiplayer |
| Civilization II | 1996 | Deeper empire building |
| Age of Empires | 1997 | History-based real-time strategy |
| StarCraft | 1998 | Three balanced races; a legendary esport |
Simulation and building
| Game | Year | Why it mattered |
|---|---|---|
| Lemmings | 1991 | Puzzle classic |
| SimCity 2000 | 1993 | City building for everyone |
| Theme Hospital | 1997 | Funny management sim |
| Dungeon Keeper | 1997 | Play as the villain |
| RollerCoaster Tycoon | 1999 | Build your dream theme park |
Adventure and RPG
| Game | Year | Why it mattered |
|---|---|---|
| Monkey Island 2 | 1991 | Point-and-click comedy |
| Myst | 1993 | Best-selling puzzle adventure |
| Day of the Tentacle | 1993 | Time-travel humor |
| Full Throttle | 1995 | Biker adventure |
| Diablo | 1996 | Dungeon crawling and loot |
| Fallout | 1997 | Post-apocalyptic role-playing |
| Baldur's Gate | 1998 | Classic fantasy RPG |
| Grim Fandango | 1998 | Noir afterlife adventure |
Computer lab and kids' classics
The Oregon Trail
You have died of dysentery.
Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?
Geography detective game.
Math Blaster
Math in space.
Reader Rabbit
Early reading.
Number Munchers
Eat the right numbers.
Kid Pix
Wacky art program.
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing
The typing tutor.
Zoombinis
Logic puzzles (1996).
The Incredible Machine
Contraption puzzles (1993).
Putt-Putt and Freddi Fish
Point-and-click for kids.
Commander Keen
Early-90s platformer.
SkiFree
Watch out for the yeti.
How to play 90s PC games today
Check digital stores
Many classics are sold with fixes for modern Windows and Mac.
Use DOSBox for DOS games
An emulator that runs old DOS games, if you own them.
Look for remasters
Several 90s strategy and adventure games have official remastered editions.
Fun fact: Myst was one of the best-selling PC games of the 90s and helped sell CD-ROM drives to families who had never owned one.
The computer lab generation
For many kids, their first computer games were played in school computer labs. Teachers used educational software to teach typing, math, geography and reading, and students raced to finish assignments so they could play. Historical survival games, detective geography games and math adventures became shared experiences for an entire generation, and their jokes and catchphrases are still remembered today.
From floppy disks to CD-ROMs
Early 90s PC games often came on stacks of floppy disks, with installation requiring a dozen disk swaps. CD-ROMs changed everything by holding far more data, enabling full-motion video, voice acting, music and much larger worlds. Some of the decade's biggest hits helped convince families to buy CD-ROM drives.
Shareware and demos
Many 90s gamers discovered new titles through shareware and demo discs. Developers released the first part of a game for free, encouraging players to buy the full version. Demo discs bundled with magazines let players sample dozens of games. This model helped some small studios become giants.
The birth of online and LAN gaming
By the late 90s, multiplayer gaming moved from shared keyboards to local networks and the internet. Friends carried bulky monitors and towers to each other's houses for LAN parties, and early online services connected strangers for strategy and shooter matches. These communities laid the foundation for modern esports.
Related reading: PC gaming grew alongside the web; see things invented in the 90s.
Conclusion
90s PC games invented whole genres that are still popular now. For the consoles of the decade, read 90s video game consoles, and for the hardware, see 90s tech gadgets.
Frequently asked questions
What were the most popular PC games in the 90s?
Popular 90s PC games included Doom, Myst, SimCity 2000, Civilization II, Warcraft II, StarCraft, Diablo, Age of Empires, Half-Life, Quake and RollerCoaster Tycoon.
What computer games did kids play at school in the 90s?
School computer labs ran educational games like The Oregon Trail, Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?, Math Blaster, Reader Rabbit, Number Munchers, Kid Pix, Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing and Zoombinis.
How can I play 90s PC games today?
Many 90s classics are sold legally on digital stores with compatibility fixes. Some can be played through emulators like DOSBox if you own the original.
What was the first-person shooter of the 90s?
Wolfenstein 3D (1992) and Doom (1993) popularized the first-person shooter, followed by Duke Nukem 3D, Quake and Half-Life.
What games came free with Windows in the 90s?
Windows included Solitaire, Minesweeper, FreeCell and Hearts, and some versions included a 3D pinball game.
What was a LAN party?
A LAN party was a gathering where friends connected computers on a local network to play multiplayer games, often all night, before fast home internet.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Doom (1993 video game) (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: Myst (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: The Oregon Trail (series) (opens in a new tab)
Dates and facts were checked against these references. Release dates can vary by region; we use North American dates unless noted. Spotted an error? Tell us.