Buzz
The Internet Archive hosts over 8500 MS-DOS games that are playable in almost any browser. Get ready to relive your childhood with a nostalgic trip back to the era of bulky computers and bid farewell to your free time.
1. The Oregon Trail
This timeless game, developed by a history teacher and his two roommates in the 1970s and inspired by the real-life journey of 400,000 settlers, will quickly immerse you in its challenges. Within minutes, one of your party members might perish, another could contract dysentery, you’ll struggle to cross a river, and then lose your food supply in a wagon fire. Life on the trail remains as unforgiving as it was in your school days.
2. Life & Death 2: The Brain
This follow-up to Life & Death (which centered on abdominal surgeries) puts you in the shoes of an aspiring brain surgeon. Attend classes, evaluate patients, and conduct diagnostic tests (where you’ll discover a crucial lesson: Never order an MRI for someone with a pacemaker). If the diagnosis calls for it, you’ll even perform intricate brain surgeries. A medical professional who reviewed the game awarded it exceptional praise.
3. Wolfenstein 3-D
This iconic first-person shooter is notoriously challenging, even on its easiest setting (“Can I Play, Daddy?”). You play as Allied spy B.J. Blazkowicz, who escapes Nazi captivity and battles through waves of enemies across the floors of Castle Wolfenstein. If you haven’t played since your youth, expect a steep learning curve before you can confront Hitler in his mechanized suit on the final level.
4. ALF: The First Adventure
In this Pac-Man-style game inspired by the popular '80s sitcom, players must gather four cats, two spaceship components, and a key from each level, storing them in a garage while evading Willie Tanner and the dog catcher. Additionally, ALF needs to consume pizza to gain the strength required to catch the cats, who have hidden the spaceship parts. All four levels must be completed within 24 hours. With speedy cats and a slow-moving, disembodied ALF, this game poses a significant challenge.
Also Available: ALF’s Thinking Skills
5. The Amazon Trail
Drawing inspiration from The Oregon Trail, this game incorporates similar mechanics like selecting guides, managing resources, and navigating. However, its storyline is more fantastical. A black jaguar, sent by the Inca king, appears in the protagonist’s dream, revealing that the Inca people are suffering from a fever and hiding from conquistadors in a hidden city. The objective is to travel back in time, explore the Amazon and its rivers, locate a specific plant, and deliver it to the Inca king.
6. Arachnophobia
Fans of the 1990 movie who struggle with video games will enjoy this straightforward game, which integrates several elements from the film. Players join Delbert McClintock’s extermination team, traveling from house to house to eliminate venomous spiders using spray and bug bombs. The spiders either crawl on the ground, hover in the air using webs, or leap toward you. Three bites result in death, leading to a video game version of a memorable death scene from the movie that fans will instantly recognize.
7. Eagle Eye Mysteries in London
In this game, players assist twin child detectives, Jake and Jennifer Eagle of the Eagle Eye Detective Agency, as they solve mysteries during their London vacation. The cases are rooted in English history, geography, and literature.
Also Available: Eagle Eye Mysteries
8. Inspector Gadget
Children who adored the Inspector Gadget cartoon and dreamed of being as clever as Penny will enjoy this game. Players take on the role of Gadget’s niece (and her dog Brain!) to assist the bumbling cyborg detective in rescuing kidnapped UN members from Dr. Claw—but first, they must save Gadget himself.
9. Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
In this iconic game, the objective is to chase down and arrest Carmen’s accomplices, who are stealing valuable treasures—and ultimately, catch Carmen herself. Don’t forget to enjoy Rockapella performing the theme song from the Carmen Sandiego game show.
Also Available: Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego? and Where in Space is Carmen Sandiego?
10. SimAnt
In this simulation game, you take on the role of an ant managing a colony in a suburban backyard. Your tasks include constructing burrows, battling humans and red ants, and expanding your territory to eventually invade the house, eliminating all adversaries. The game’s creator, Will Wright—known for SimCity, The Sims, and other titles—drew inspiration for SimAnt from biologist E.O. Wilson’s renowned work, The Ants.
Also Available: SimCity
