Retro games, abandonware, freeware and classic games for PC and Mac
Author: GN Team - Published: 31 March 2025, 2:31 pm
Released in 1991 by Apogee Software, Duke Nukem Episode 1 - Shrapnel City is a side-scrolling platform shooter. It introduced players to one of gaming’s most recognizable action heroes.
Duke Nukem was initially created in 1987 by Todd Replogle, but the game was supposed to be called "Heavy Metal". Scott Miller (Apogee co-founder) told Replongle they should do what they do with comic books: name the game after a lead character. Together they decided Duke Nukem. After that, George Broussard, Allen H. Blum III, and Jim Norwood created the graphics.
Read More
Author: GN Team - Published: 31 March 2025, 1:23 pm
Dangerous Dave in the Deserted Pirate’s Hideout! is the first game in the Dangerous Dave series, created by John Romero. The game originally debuted on the Apple II as a demo. Romero developed it using an Applesoft BASIC add-on called GraBASIC. It was later rewritten in Assembly language for the Apple II and also ported to MS-DOS, bringing its arcade-style platforming experience to a wider audience. Though simple in design, Dangerous Dave became an influential title that showcased the early talents of one of the key figures behind Doom and Quake.
Read More
Author: Adam - Published: 31 March 2025, 12:11 pm
Arnie Savage (also known as Arnie 2) was developed by Zeppelin Games as a follow-up to Arnie (1992). This overhead run-and-gun military shooter was released in 1993 for the Amiga and MS-DOS. Unlike its predecessor, which featured a mix of side-view platforming and shooting sections, Arnie 2 adopts a pseudo-isometric perspective, placing the player in larger, more open battlefields reminiscent of Commando or Cabal, though with a more tactical approach.
The game casts players as a lone commando sent on dangerous missions deep behind enemy lines. Each mission involves navigating through enemy bases, industrial complexes, and fortified outposts while engaging waves of enemy soldiers, tanks, helicopters, and turrets. The player can move in all directions while firing, creating a more strategic combat flow compared to the more linear action of its predecessor. The variety of available weapons, including machine guns, grenades, and rocket launchers, adds a level of tactical depth, as ammunition management is crucial for survival.
Read More
Author: Adam - Published: 29 March 2025, 7:34 pm
F1 Racing Simulation by Ubi Soft was an attempt to deliver one of the most realistic and immersive Formula 1 racing experiences of its time. Released in 1997 for PC, the game was developed by Ubi Soft’s French division and sought to rival the likes of Grand Prix II by MicroProse and Formula 1 by Bizarre Creations. Featuring officially licensed 1996 season tracks (but not teams or drivers), F1 Racing Simulation was a visually stunning and technically advanced game.
F1 Racing Simulation set a new standard for realism in PC racing games. With high-resolution textures, detailed car models, and advanced lighting effects, it provided a visually rich experience that few competitors could match at the time. The game also featured impressive weather effects, with dynamic rain and wet track conditions significantly impacting handling. Unlike earlier F1 sims, which often felt sterile, this game delivered an immersive atmosphere through realistic track environments and dynamic camera angles.
Read More
Author: Adam - Published: 28 March 2025, 7:06 pm
Released in 1991 by Core Design, Thunderhawk is a combat flight simulator that blends fast-paced action with light strategic elements. At a time when flight simulators on the Amiga leaned heavily towards realism, Thunderhawk stood out for offering an accessible and cinematic experience that prioritized thrilling missions over deep simulation mechanics.
Visually, Thunderhawk is an impressive achievement for the Amiga. Using fast polygonal 3D graphics, it delivers smooth, detailed landscapes and enemy units without sacrificing performance. Unlike the sluggish frame rates in more complex flight simulators like Falcon or F-19 Stealth Fighter, Thunderhawk keeps gameplay fluid and engaging. Explosions, missile trails, and dynamic camera angles add a sense of spectacle rarely seen in the genre at the time.
Read More
Author: GN Team - Published: 28 March 2025, 1:11 pm
Out Run is an arcade racing game created by Sega in 1986. It is one of the best-selling video games of all time. In 1987, it was ported to the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum. The Amiga and Atari ST followed in 1988, while the PC MS-DOS version was released in 1989. The Genesis version arrived late, in 1991.
OutRun is one of SEGA’s most legendary arcade racing games. Designed by Yu Suzuki and developed by SEGA AM2, it redefined the driving game genre with its exhilarating sense of speed, non-linear track design, and vibrant graphics. Unlike traditional circuit-based racers, OutRun is more about the joy of driving—blasting down open roads in a red Ferrari Testarossa, weaving through traffic, and enjoying a scenic, high-speed cruise while listening to an unforgettable soundtrack. The arcade version was a technical marvel, but its many home ports varied significantly in quality, leading to endless debates about which version best captured the arcade experience.
Read More