PC gaming awards

From thecrankyhermit

This is a guide to the best games that PC gaming has to offer, year-by-year. Each year will have a number of games that represent the best crop of that year, divided by genre.

A few notes about how this works:
This only covers PC games, and games on early home computers.

I only list games that were either originally made for the PC, or were ported within the same year of their original release. For example, Grand Theft Auto III was originally released for PS2 in 2001 and ported to PC in 2002, so it won't be listed here. But Grand Theft Auto IV was released on all platforms in 2008, PC included, so it will be listed here.

I hate MMORPGs, traditional sports games, and Maxis-style sim games. I don't include any of them.

I strongly encourage anyone who reads this to look into some of the games on this list, even if you've never heard of them! Even the really old games are easy to run, if you use a tool like DOSBox.

A few of these games are FREEWARE. Either they were originally commercial and have since been made free, or were free to start with. These will be designated so, with download links provided if you click on the word "FREEWARE."

Now then, onto the awards.

1980 awards!

Adventure:

  • Zork (TRS-80)



1981 awards!

Adventure:

  • Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz (TRS-80)

RPG:

  • Ultima (Apple II)
  • Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (Apple II)



1982 awards!

Adventure:

  • Deadline
  • Zork III: The Dungeon Master (TRS-80)



1983 awards!

Action:

  • Alley Cat (FREEWARE)
  • Digger (FREEWARE)
  • Jetpac (ZX Spectrum)
  • Jumpman (Atari 800)
  • Lode Runner

Adventure:

  • Enchanter
  • Planetfall

RPG:

  • Ultima III: Exodus (Apple II)

Strategy:

  • Archon (Atari 800)
  • M.U.L.E. (Atari 800)



1984 awards!

Action:

  • Elite (FREEWARE)
  • Ghostbusters (Atari 800)
  • H.E.R.O. (Atari 800)
  • Pitfall II: Lost Caverns (Atari 800)

Adventure:

  • The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
  • King's Quest

Strategy:

  • The Ancient Art of War



1985 awards!

Action:

  • Thexder (PC-88)
  • Winter Games (Commodore 64)
  • World Karate Championship (ZX Spectrum)

Adventure:

  • A Mind Forever Voyaging
  • Déjà Vu: A Nightmare Comes True!! (Macintosh)
  • King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne
  • Law of the West (Commodore 64)
  • Wishbringer

RPG:

  • The Bard's Tale (Apple II)
  • Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (FREEWARE)

Strategy:

  • The Oregon Trail (Apple II)
  • Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (Apple II)



1986 awards!

Adventure:

  • Ballyhoo
  • The Black Cauldron (FREEWARE)
  • King's Quest III: To Heir is Human
  • Space Quest: The Sarien Encounter
  • Uninvited (Macintosh)

RPGlike

  • Alter Ego
  • Dragon Warrior (MSX)
  • Starflight

Strategy:

  • Defender of the Crown (Amiga)
  • Tetris



1987 awards!

Action:

  • F-19 Stealth Fighter (Commodore 64)

Adventure:

  • The Fool's Errand (FREEWARE)
  • Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards
  • Maniac Mansion

RPG:

  • Dungeon Master (Atari ST)
  • NetHack

Strategy:

  • Sid Meier's Pirates!



1988 awards!

Adventure:

  • King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella
  • Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders

RPG:

  • The Bard's Tale III: Thief of Fate (Commodore 64)
  • Pool of Radiance
  • Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny
  • Wasteland



1989 awards!

Action:

  • Budokan: The Martial Spirit
  • Prince of Persia (Apple IIe)
  • Indianapolis 500

Adventure:

  • The Colonel's Bequest
  • Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
  • Quest for Glory
  • Space Quest III: The Pirates of Pestulon

RPG:

  • Dragon Wars (Commodore 64)

Strategy:

  • Populous



1990 awards!

Action:

  • Commander Keen: Invasion of the Vorticons
  • Red Baron
  • Wing Commander

Competitive action:

  • Ski or Die
  • Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe
  • Stunts

Adventure:

  • King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder
  • Loom
  • Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire
  • The Secret of Monkey Island

RPG:

  • Ultima VI: The False Prophet

Strategy

  • Centurion: Defender of Rome
  • Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon



1991 awards!

Action:

  • Commander Keen in Goodbye Galaxy!
  • Out of This World
  • Wing Commander II: Vengeance of the Kilrathi
  • World Circuit (Amiga)

Adventure:

  • Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood
  • Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge
  • Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers

RPG:

  • Eye of the Beholder
  • Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon
  • Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra

Strategy:

  • Civilization
  • Lemmings (Amiga)



1992 awards!

Adventure:

  • Alone in the Dark
  • Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
  • Star Control II (FREEWARE)

RPG:

  • Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss
  • Ultima VII: The Black Gate

Strategy:

  • The Incredible Machine



1993 awards!

Action:

  • DOOM
  • Privateer
  • X-Wing

Adventure:

  • Day of the Tentacle
  • Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers
  • Myst
  • Sam & Max Hit the Road

RPG:

  • Betrayal at Krondor
  • Ultima VII: Part Two - Serpent Isle

Strategy:

  • Master of Orion



1994 awards!

Action:

  • DOOM II: Hell on Earth
  • One Must Fall 2097 (FREEWARE)
  • System Shock

Vehicular action:

  • Descent
  • TIE Fighter
  • Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger

Adventure:

Strategy:

  • Colonization
  • X-COM: UFO Defense



1995 awards!

Action:

  • Dark Forces

Adventure:

  • The Dig
  • Full Throttle
  • Gabriel Knight II: The Beast Within

Strategy:

  • Command & Conquer (FREEWARE)
  • Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness



1996 awards!

Action:

  • Death Rally
  • Privateer 2: The Darkening
  • Tomb Raider
  • Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom

FPSlike:

  • Duke Nukem 3D
  • Quake

Adventure:

  • Bad Mojo
  • Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars
  • Leisure Suit Larry: Love for Sail!
  • The Neverhood

RPG:

  • Diablo
  • The Elder Scrolls: Chapter II - Daggerfall

Strategy:

  • Civilization II
  • Command & Conquer: Red Alert (FREEWARE)
  • Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares
  • The Settlers II



1997 awards!

Action:

  • Carmageddon
  • Grand Theft Auto
  • Tomb Raider II

FPSlike:

  • Blood
  • Outlaws
  • Quake II

Adventure:

  • Blade Runner
  • Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror
  • The Curse of Monkey Island
  • Riven: The Sequel to Myst

RPG:

  • Fallout

Strategy:

  • Age of Empires
  • Dungeon Keeper
  • Theme Hospital
  • Total Annihilation
  • Worms 2



1998 awards!

Action:

  • Descent: Freespace
  • Hardwar
  • Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit
  • Thief: The Dark Project

FPSlike:

  • Half-Life
  • Unreal

Adventure:

  • Grim Fandango
  • Resident Evil 2
  • Sanitarium

RPG:

  • Baldur's Gate
  • Fallout 2
  • Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven

Strategy:

  • StarCraft



1999 awards!

Action:

  • Quake III: Arena
  • System Shock 2
  • Unreal Tournament

RPG:

  • Planescape: Torment

RTS:

  • Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
  • Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun
  • Homeworld

Strategy (misc):

  • Dungeon Keeper 2
  • Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia
  • Jagged Alliance 2
  • RollerCoaster Tycoon
  • Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri



2000 awards!

Action:

  • American McGee's Alice
  • Counter-Strike
  • Deus Ex
  • No One Lives Forever
  • Thief II: The Metal Age

RPG:

  • Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
  • Diablo II
  • Icewind Dale

Strategy:

  • Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2



2001 awards!

Action:

  • Clive Barker's Undying
  • Max Payne
  • Red Faction
  • Return to Castle Wolfenstein
  • Serious Sam: The First Encounter

Adventure:

  • Myst III: Exile

RPGlike:

  • Anachronox
  • Arcanum: Of Steamworks & Magick Obscura
  • Gothic
  • Wizardry 8

Strategy:

  • Black & White
  • Civilization III
  • Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel



2002 awards!

Action:

  • Battlefield 1942
  • Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
  • Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
  • Mafia

FPSlike:

  • Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
  • Medal of Honor: Allied Assault
  • No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way

Adventure:

  • Syberia

RPG:

  • Dungeon Siege
  • The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
  • Gothic II
  • Icewind Dale II
  • Neverwinter Nights

Strategy:

  • Freedom Force
  • Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos



2003 awards!

Action:

  • Beyond Good & Evil
  • Freelancer
  • Need for Speed: Underground
  • Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

FPSlike:

  • Call of Duty
  • Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
  • XIII

RPG:

  • Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Strategy:

  • Command & Conquer: Generals



2004 awards!

Action:

  • DOOM³
  • Far Cry
  • Half-Life 2
  • Thief: Deadly Shadows
  • Unreal Tournament 2004

RPG:

  • Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines



2005 awards!

Action:

  • Battlefield 2
  • Cave Story (FREEWARE)
  • FEAR
  • Psychonauts

Adventure:

  • Indigo Prophecy

Strategy:

  • Age of Empires III
  • Civilization IV
  • Darwinia



2006 awards!

Action:

  • Half-Life 2: Episode One
  • Hitman: Blood Money
  • Prey

Adventure:

  • Dreamfall: The Longest Journey

RPG:

  • The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
  • Gothic 3
  • Neverwinter Nights 2

Strategy:

  • Company of Heroes
  • Star Wars: Empire at War



2007 awards!

Action:

  • Portal
  • Team Fortress 2

FPSlike:

  • BioShock
  • Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
  • Crysis
  • S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

RPG:

  • The Witcher



2008 awards!

Action:

  • Dead Space
  • Grand Theft Auto IV

Strategy:

  • World of Goo



2009 awards!

Action:

  • Batman: Arkham Asylum

RPG:

  • Dragon Age: Origins

Strategy:

  • Plants vs. Zombies



2010 awards!

Action:

  • Mass Effect 2
  • Super Meat Boy

RPG:

  • Fallout: New Vegas



2011 awards!

Action:

  • Portal 2

RPG:

  • The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim



2012 awards!

Action:

  • Mark of the Ninja
  • Mass Effect 3
  • Hotline Miami
  • Spec Ops: The Line


Adventure:

  • The Walking Dead


RPG:

  • Diablo III



2013 awards!

Action:

  • Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

Adventure:

  • The Wolf Among Us



2014 awards!

Action:

  • Wolfenstein: The New Order



2015 awards!

RPGlike:

  • Undertale
  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt