The History of DOS and Windows PC Games in the 20th Century

PC games emerged as a viable alternative to console and arcade games during the 20th century. However, it took some time before the PC took off as a game platform. Atari dominated the 1970s and early 1980s, and the rise of Nintendo consoles in the 1980s further changed the gaming landscape.

Early DOS PC Games

The first genuine PC games would emerge during the decade of the 1980s, during which IBM PCs were prevalent. Microsoft began its Flight Simulator game series in 1982 with the release of Flight Simulator 1.0. This simulation game had little color, with limited monochrome graphics. However, it was certainly one of the first 3D games for the PC and an early flight simulator in which players could take to the sky.

Elite was also one of the blockbuster PC games of the decade. This space trading and exploration game was among the first to include wire-framed 3D graphics. This was quite revolutionary for its time, and Elite is generally considered one of the best games of the 1980s.

During the 1980s, many PC games were graphically based. Adventure games such as The Bard’s Tale were released in the mid-1980s for MS-DOS. The first Bard’s Tale game started a gaming trilogy. Pool of Radiance was another noteworthy example of an adventure game released for DOS.

The Sound Blaster

For much of the 1980s, PC game audio was limited to simple bleeps that weren’t great for sound effects. However, the emergence of the sound card in 1987 raised the bar for PC audio. The Creative Labs Sound Blaster, released in 1989, further provided superior audio quality for PC game titles.

The id Software Games

By the early 1990s, advances in audio and CDs provided new possibilities for PC games. The id Software developer would be among the first to take full advantage of this, with two PC game titles that would raise the bar for PC games. The first of these was Wolfenstein 3D, released in 1992. This game was one of the first FPS games on the PC and the first to have any notable impact. The game was set in the Nazi Castle Wolfenstein, in which the player must shoot down any Nazis that got in the way.

In 1993, id Software released Doom for PCs. Doom was also an FPS game and included pioneering 3D graphics, which set a benchmark for further PC games. Doom was also among the first to take advantage of networked multiplayer gaming. It is widely considered one of the finest PC game titles, and Doom provided fresh new momentum for PC games.

MicroProse Unleashes Civilization

Sid Meier’s MicroProse was another developer making a name for itself in the PC gaming industry during the early 1990s. MicroProse released Civilization in 1991, a game that defined the turn-based strategy genre. This was a turn-based game in which players could expand civilizations throughout the ages by researching new technologies, exploring the map, and fighting wars. Civilization had rave reviews from the gaming media and began one of the biggest PC gaming series, which had its seventh installment in 2025.

The 1996 Civilization 2 sequel was even better than the original. MicroProse gave this sequel a considerable graphical overhaul by adding a new isometric map perspective and high council that brought the game to life with motion video sequences. It also introduced new combat gameplay mechanics and units and refined the AI. With an Metacritic score of 94, Civilization 2 is among the most high-rated PC games in history.

The Rise of Windows

In 1995, Microsoft released Windows 95, which effectively began a new era of PC gaming after the DOS era. Windows had now become the standard platform for PC games. This coincided with the release of new 3D accelerator cards, which allowed for more detailed 3D games on the PC. A golden era for PC games began, during which developers released many hit PC titles. Command and Conquer, Quake, Age of Empires, and Tomb Raider were just a few of the great PC game series that began around this time.

All of a sudden, Windows PC games had become a good alternative to game consoles. One reason was that PCs supported global online gaming years before the first console (SEGA Dreamcast) did. Consoles were still restricted to split-screen multiplayer, while PC players could play global games on the internet. The Windows 95 PC platform was at the forefront of a global gaming revolution.

Newell Quits Microsoft to Establish Valve

Gabe Newell ported Doom from DOS to Windows 95 for Microsoft. In 1996, he and Harrington left Microsoft to establish a new gaming company called Valve. Newell was especially impressed with the id Software PC games. He visited id Software to secure a Quake game engine license for his fledging company.

Valve began developing an innovative first-person shooter game codenamed Quiver with the Quake game engine. Valve also secured publisher backing for this new game from Sierra. Quiver was the codename for Half-Life, which Valve first unveiled at E3 1997. The excitement generated by Half-Life at E3 convinced Valve to delay the game launch. Valve sensed Half-Life could be a big hit but with a rework needed to ensure the game fulfilled its promise.

The Late 1990s

PC games flourished in the late 1990s, as there were still some great game titles to come in the final couple of years of that decade. Half-Life made its debut on the PC in 1998. This was the first game to star Gordan Freeman, trapped at the Black Mesa research base after a catastrophic Resonance Cascade experiment resulted in an alien breakout. Freeman also faces off with the US Marines sent to clean up Black Mesa.

This was one of the first PC games to include scripted sequences and had a compelling storyline mixed in with the action. Half-Life also introduced innovative gameplay mechanics with puzzle elements throughout the game, the likes of which had not been seen in other first-person shooters before. Valve’s Half-Life certainly provided some fresh inspiration for FPS game titles and is one of the most highly rated PC games in history.

Half-Life also had a big modding community that Valve encouraged by releasing the Half-Life SDK kit. This modding kit enabled players to design new mod content for Half-Life. The Counter-Strike mod released by Jess Cliffe and Minh Lee in 1999 became one of the most popular. This new kind of multiplayer tactical first-person shooter gained Valve’s attention. Valve acquired Counter-Strike rights in 2000 to start one of the most popular multiplayer shooter franchises in gaming history.

StarCraft was another great PC game title released in the late 1990s. This science fiction real-time strategy game is widely regarded to be one of the best released on PC. It included the Terrans, Zerg, and Protoss factions at war in a distant part of the Milky Way. StarCraft’s multiplayer mode was its biggest highlight, which began a thriving esports scene.

PC gaming had come a long way by the end of the 20th century. From the flat and bland text-based games of the DOS era, PC games now had detailed 3D engines and some impressive audio effects. Classic game titles such as Command and Conquer, Doom, Wolfenstein, Half-Life, Civilization 2, and StarCraft made the Windows PC a great gaming platform for the 21st century.