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I only list games that were either originally made for the PC, or were ported within the same year of their original release.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:
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:
- Beneath a Steel Sky (FREEWARE)
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