Retro games, abandonware, freeware and classic games for PC and Mac
Author: GN Team - Published: 13 May 2025, 12:29 am
Transarctica, also known as Arctic Baron in the US, is a post-apocalyptic strategy game developed by French studio Silmarils and released in 1993. Loosely inspired by Georges-Jean Arnaud’s science fiction series *La Compagnie des Glaces*, the game offers a chilling vision of the future: Earth has been plunged into a permanent ice age after climate weapons were used in a global conflict. The remnants of humanity survive aboard massive armored steam trains that traverse frozen wastelands.
The game was designed by André Rocques, co-founder of Silmarils, studio famous for Ishar: Legend of the Fortress. You play as the commander of the Transarctica, a rebel train on a mission to break the monopoly of the Viking Union, a powerful corporation that controls the railways and hoards coal — the only remaining energy source. The gameplay is split between managing your train's cars, trading with isolated outposts, exploring derelict cities, rescuing survivors, and engaging in combat with enemy trains.
Read More
Author: GN Team - Published: 13 May 2025, 12:16 am
Magic Carpet, released in 1994 by Bullfrog Productions, was one of the most original and technologically ambitious games of its time. Designed and produced during Bullfrog's creative peak, the game showcased the studio's drive to explore uncharted territory, following their success with titles like Populous, Syndicate, and Theme Park.
The player controls a wizard flying on a magic carpet, navigating fully 3D landscapes that deform in real time—an impressive technical feat for the era. The goal is to collect mana by defeating monsters and rival wizards, then returning it to your balloon-like castle to expand your domain. The carpet-based movement felt fluid and intuitive, and the ability to reshape the terrain with spells added a level of dynamism that was unprecedented in 1994.
Read More
Author: GN Team - Published: 12 May 2025, 11:21 pm
The Incredible Machine 2 was created by Jeff Tunnell and released in 1994 for DOS and the following year for Windows and Macintosh. It's the sequel to The Incredible Machine and it adds new levels, new parts, a redesigned interface, and much better graphics, sounds, and music.
The Incredible Machine 2 is a refined and expanded version of the original game that blends creativity, physics, and puzzle-solving in a way few titles have matched. While the original game already offered a fresh and unique experience, this sequel improves on nearly every aspect, becoming a definitive entry in the series.
Read More
Author: GN Team - Published: 12 May 2025, 9:41 pm
Railroad Tycoon II is a railroad simulation and strategy game developed by PopTop Software and released for Windows in 1998.
As you can imagine, the game is a management game focused on building and operating a railroad empire. Despite its title, the game is not a direct sequel to Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon from 1990. Instead, PopTop acquired the rights to the name from MicroProse after it had been bought by Hasbro Interactive. Sid Meier was not involved in developing this second installment; PopTop worked independently, and Railroad Tycoon II was created as a spiritual successor rather than a continuation of his work.
Read More
Author: GN Team - Published: 12 May 2025, 12:37 am
FIFA International Soccer is a soccer/football sim released by Electronic Arts in 1993 for the Sega Mega Drive.
It marked the beginning of one of the longest-running and most profitable sports game franchises in history. Developed by Extended Play Productions, the game debuted on the Mega Drive and immediately stood out for its isometric viewpoint, smooth animation, and a more TV-style presentation compared to other soccer games of the time.
The original Mega Drive version was notable for several reasons. Unlike earlier titles like Sensible Soccer or Kick Off, FIFA used an angled, isometric perspective that brought the action closer to the look of a real televised match. Player animations were surprisingly fluid for the time, with detailed movement and many animation frames. Stadiums had some visual variety, and despite lacking official licenses for teams or players, the game compensated with a clean, immersive presentation and accessible gameplay. Matches were fast-paced, and although the control system wasn’t perfect, it allowed for a decent variety of actions including passing, shooting, crossing, and tackling.
Read More
Author: GN Team - Published: 12 May 2025, 12:03 am
Romance of the Three Kingdoms by KOEI is a foundational title in the world of historical strategy games. First released in Japan in 1985 for the PC-88, it was one of the earliest attempts to adapt classical literature into complex simulation gameplay. Based on the 14th-century Chinese novel of the same name, the game places the player in the role of a warlord during the chaotic final years of the Han dynasty, with the goal of unifying China under their banner.
The core gameplay blends turn-based strategy with elements of political simulation. Players manage cities, form alliances, recruit and train officers, conduct diplomacy, and engage in warfare. The emphasis is not just on brute force, but on resource management, loyalty of subordinates, and long-term planning. Each officer in the game is represented with stats like intelligence, war ability, and loyalty, making them vital assets or potential threats. This added a layer of personality and unpredictability to the strategic formula.
Read More