Currently hosting 60 puzzle games!
| 1993 Holiday Lemmings 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by DMA Design | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Psygnosis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Due to popular demand, Pysgnosis created a complete Christmas-themed Lemmings in 1993. Gameplay is identical to the earlier Lemmings games, but the lemmings are dressed like Santa Claus, and Christmas music plays in the background. Lemmings are little guys with green hair who walk in a straight line until they bump into something or die, usually by falling off a cliff. Lemmings can be assigned tasks to perform from one of eight modes: climber, floater, blocker, builder, basher, miner, digger, and exploder. Players must use these modes to guide a required percentage of their lemmings to the exit, overcoming barriers, falls, and traps, all within a time limit. Lemmings splatter if they fall too far, get crushed, juiced, or decapitated by traps, and can blow themselves to bits, individually or en masse, in hilariously gruesome detail, which is a favorite feature of many players, and lessens the frustration of failure. Advanced problem solving and reflexes are necessary to save the lemmings. The are 32 levels in this game, with only four levels playable in the 4-level mini-version. 1993 Holiday Lemmings Shareware Demo (155k) I have found no ordering information for this game. The full version was widely distributed on BBSes with a different filename to diffentiate it from the demo, but there is no accompanying license file to prove that DMA Design declared the game freeware.
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| Adventures of Robbo 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: 6 | DOS Freeware (former commercial) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by xLand Games | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Epic MegaGames | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Adventures of Robbo is a fun little puzzle game by the creators of Heartlight PC. You guide Robbo through levels in which push objects but not pull them, and he can shoot at enemies or blow up bombs when he has enough battery power. He must collect all bolts in every level without being destroyed or blocking his access to the bolts or the exit, so planning is very important. Along with Heartlight PC and Electro Man, this game was part of the Epic Puzzle Pack, and was the only game not to be released as a shareware version. The original, unreleased shareware version has been lost, but programmer Maciej Miasik has generously recompiled it from the original source code. The full version features more levels and voice.
Developer xLand generously released this game as freeware under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 license on 25 June 2006.
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| Alpha Man 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Soleau Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Soleau Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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If you're looking for a really hard puzzle game, you've found it. Alpha Man features a 7×11 grid with the letters to a specific word located throughout the grid. Alpha Man must walk around and push letter blocks onto their corresponding locations on the grid. Once pushed, the letter blocks will slide until they hit a wall, another letter block, or the master block. The master block can be pushed one square at a time. This game is far too difficult for me, but someone out there must be up to the challenge. I wasn't able to complete any of the levels, but the shareware version includes the solution to the first five levels. It takes 193 moves to complete the first level! There are an 50 levels in this game, with only the first 25 playable in the shareware version. Complete version history:Alpha Man v1.1 Shareware (124k)Alpha Man v1.0 Shareware (92k) Soleau Software still sells the registered version of this game for $12 by download only.
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| Ant Run 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Soleau Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Soleau Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ant Run takes place in a grid maze made up of segments that can be rotated. The segments can contain a straight path, a corner, or a crossing path. The ant enters the maze through a starting point inside the maze, and you have ten seconds before gameplay begins. The segments can be rotated during gameplay, but you have to ensure that the ant has a clear passage ahead of it at all times. Segments turn yellow as the ant passes through them, preventing it from using them again, except for the crossing paths. Holes at both ends of each column and row wrap around to the hole on the opposite side. A progress meter counts the distance the ant has moved until it resets at 20 inches. Once it resets, the unusable segments of the path will be reset the next time the ant goes through a hole, and one segment of the maze will disappear. A certain score must be achieved in each level in order to advance. A "Fast" button causes the ant to move more quickly and doubles your score for the distance traveled, but you can no longer slow down or alter the maze until the ant reaches a hole or crashes. As the levels get harder, multiple starting points appear at the beginning of the maze, and there's no way to know which one the ant will come out of. Some levels have an ending point which the ant must enter in order to advance to the next level. Suitable for gamers of all ages, the game also manages to be educational by listing trivia about ants before each level. There are an infinite number of levels in this game, with only the first 7 playable in the shareware version. Ant Run v3.0 Shareware (149k) Soleau Software still sells the registered version of this game for $12 by download only.
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| Arcy 2 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: 3 | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by CAPS Softwaredesign ULM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by MVP Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics modes: VGA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Arcy 2 is a VGA puzzle game that might remind you a little of Kroz. You play a smiley face who must collect all of the keys in a level before you can leave. Each enemy moves in a specific way, so the puzzle is figuring out how to move through the level without getting killed. Some enemies will only move if you cross their path, some will kill you instantly, some move in straight lines and only turn left or right, and some will try to trap you. Rocks can be used to interpose something between yourself and your enemies, and sometimes must be used to destroy walls or barriers. The soundtrack gets old quickly (one stanza of "The Entertainer" plays in a loop forever), but the game is very challenging and should entertain anyone who is up to the challenge. There are 3 volumes in this game, with only the first volume playable in the shareware version. Arcy 2 Shareware Episode (440k) Play online I have found no ordering information for this game, and it is not listed on MVP's website.
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| Balloon Challenge 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Soleau Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Soleau Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Basically the opposite of Bolo Ball, Balloon Challenge is a very clever puzzle game that pits you against the computer. Both sides have a row of 25 balloons at the bottom of the screen. When you let one go, it will rise until it hits something, or reaches the top of the screen. Arrows will cause the balloon to move left or right, but it also changes the direction of the arrow. Hurricanes will teleport the balloon somewhere else in the level. Airplanes will destroy the balloons, but they move one column every turn. The higher the balloon gets, the more points it scores, and there are also bonus points scattered throughout the level. There is some random chance involved but, for the most part, the key to winning is to make the best use of each turn. A wonderfully addictive little game, the registered version can be played against a human opponent in addition to the computer. Balloon Challenge v2.0 Shareware (108k) Play online Soleau Software still sells the registered version of this game for $12 by download only.
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| Block-man 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Soleau Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Soleau Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Block-man is one of those refreshingly simple, yet incredibly challenging puzzle games. Block-man can move left and right, jump up one step, fall from any height, and pick up or drop blocks in his quest to reach the exit of each level. The PC speaker sounds and cut scenes can be a bit irritating, so you might want to play without sound. Other than the first few levels, this game will probably be too difficult for children, but it's lots of fun for adults. There are 17 levels in this game, with only the first 10 playable in the shareware version. Complete version history:Block-man v1.0 Shareware (95k)Soleau Software still sells the registered version of this game for $12 by download only.
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| Block Man 2 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Soleau Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Soleau Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Block Man 2 is a very different game from its predecessor. Instead of keyboard input, Block Man is now controlled with the mouse by clicking on where you want him to go. He has gained the ability to turn around without taking a step, and there is less emphasis on moving blocks around. This time the princess has scattered jewels in every level, and Block Man must collect them all and make his way to the exit. Levels can now be several screens in every direction, and the mouse can be used to scroll around. Block Man still needs to figure out how to use blocks to get where he needs to be, but there are also elevators, teleporters, rail slides, and boats to move him around the massive levels. There are 40 levels in this game, with only the first 10 playable in the shareware version. Complete version history:Block Man 2 v1.0 Shareware (216k)Soleau Software still sells the registered version of this game for $12 by download only.
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| Bolo Ball 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Soleau Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Soleau Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bolo Ball is basically the opposite of Balloon Challenge. Both sides have a row of 29 balls at the top of the screen. When you push one, it will fall until it hits something, or reaches the bottom of the screen. Arrows will cause the ball to move left or right, but it also changes the direction of the arrow. Black holes will teleport the ball somewhere else in the level. The farther the ball falls, the more points it scores, and there are also bonus points scattered throughout the level. Long term strategy should take gray blocks into account. The gray blocks disappear at the end of the stage, causes any balls on top of them to fall and get extra points. The short version is only one level. In the long version of the game, any balls remaining will turn into bonus points to be collected in the second round, and again in the third round. In the third and final round, purple arrow blocks appear which randomly change direction, causing the ball to move in whatever direction it is pointing at the time. The registered version can be played against a human opponent in addition to the computer.
Soleau Software still sells the registered version of this game for $12 by download only.
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| Boppin' 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: 7 | DOS Freeware (former shareware) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Accursed Toys | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Apogee Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics modes: VGA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Boppin' is an original puzzle game which takes place in a pocket universe created by an arcade machine. The villains from other games have been captured by a hero named Hunnybunz, putting all of the heroes out of work. Your job is to free the villains and defeat the good Hunnybunz. You clear levels by moving one of the "heroes", Yeet and Boik, and having him throw a block at one or more connected matching blocks, which destroys the entire set. If the block hits a group of blocks so that it creates a square or cross, a monster is released, earning bonus points. Each character has a "miss counter" which is reduced every time you miss a shot. If the game gives you a piece that you can't use at the moment, you can discard it at a cost of 20 points. If you don't have 20 points, it costs you a miss. Your character commits suicide if he runs out of misses, which can be censored in version 1.0 and is censored by default in 1.1. The game claims to be only for adults but, other than the suicide animations, it's fun for all ages. Each episode has 40 levels, for a total of 160 episodes (the final episode is for custom levels). There are 5 episodes in this game, with only the first episode playable in the shareware version. Episode 1 - Bothersome Hunnybunz! Complete version history:
Developer Accursed Toys has generously released this game as freeware. Boppin' v2.03, a Win32 port of the game, is available as a free download at the official home of Boppin'.
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| Brix 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Epic MegaGames, Radiesel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Epic MegaGames, Radiesel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics modes: VGA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A nearly identical clone of Puzznic, right down to the appearance of the pieces and brick backgrounds. Brix is a challenging and entertaining puzzle game in which you push blocks around the levels and to try get them beside identical blocks to eliminate them. Two or more of the same block will eliminate each other, and all must be eliminated to finish each level. Pushing the pieces will require you to think about how to make a path for them, how to eliminate them in the right order, and how to use gravity and elevators to your advantage while avoiding obstacles like lasers. Author Michael Riedel distributed v1.0, with 112 levels, under the developer name "Radiesel", and the documentation declares the game public domain. Version 2.0 added content developed by Epic MegaGames, adding a soundtrack, backgrounds, animation, and other bells and whistles. Many of the levels are recycled, but there a number of new levels with new gameplay elements like barriers that slowly break when a block is on top of them, levels where gravity reverses every time an hourglass runs out of sand, teleporters, and two kinds of acid: one which destroys blocks and counts as elimination, and one that destroys blocks and prevents you from completing the level. Registering the game gives you Brix 2 Deluxe, which adds 112 new levels and a level editor.
The registered version of this game is still sold with Brix 2 Deluxe through www.epicclassics.com for $14 on floppy disk only.
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| Cargo Bay 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Cytherean Adventures | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by MVP Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cargo Bay is a Sokoban clone that takes place on space station Altair-217. Five alien races have agreed to peaceful coexistence, but terrorists have placed iradium explosives in the cargo bays in order to destroy that peace. You must push all of the crates of explosives onto designated squares in order to clear the level. Instead of keeping track of how much time you've used, a timer ticks down to detonation, forcing you to complete the level within the time limit. A good soundtrack, EGA graphics and voice acting make this one of the more attractive Sokoban games for DOS. There are 60 levels in this game, with only the first 20 playable in the shareware version. Cargo Bay Shareware Episode (797k) I have found no ordering information for this game, and it is not listed on MVP's website.
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| Cipher 1990 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Arcanum Computing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Arcanum Computing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics modes: EGA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cipher is a cryptogram game. A quotation is encrypted by switching all instances of each letter to another letter. These look hard, but I have learned to really enjoy them. The most frequent letter in any phrase is often the letter E, and single letter words must be A or I. Two letter words often end with T, and by looking for three letter words that start with the same letter that could be "the", and four letter words that begin and end with the same letter that could be "that", you slowly fill the other words with letters until you can guess what the words might be. Cipher fills in every instance of a letter when you guess what it is, can show you every other instance of that letter in the phrase, and can offer hints like giving a list of letter frequency, remove your incorrect guesses, or tell you the correct answer for whatever letter you want to know. Scoring is based on things like completion time and incorrect guesses. There are 200 quotes in this game, with only the first 32 playable in the shareware version. Complete version history:
Arcanum Computing still sells the registered version of this game for $15 on floppy disk only.
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| Cipher for Windows 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | Win16 Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Arcanum Computing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Arcanum Computing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Screenshot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cipher for Windows is a cryptogram game. A quotation is encrypted by switching all instances of each letter to another letter. These look hard, but I have learned to really enjoy them. The most frequent letter in any phrase is often the letter E, and single letter words must be A or I. Two letter words often end with T, and by looking for three letter words that start with the same letter that could be "the", and four letter words that begin and end with the same letter that could be "that", you slowly fill the other words with letters until you can guess what the words might be. Cipher fills in every instance of a letter when you guess what it is, can show you every other instance of that letter in the phrase, and can offer hints like giving a list of letter frequency, remove your incorrect guesses, or tell you the correct answer for whatever letter you want to know. Scoring is based on things like completion time and incorrect guesses. There are 200 quotes in this game, with only the first 32 playable in the shareware version. Complete version history:
Arcanum Computing still sells the registered version of this game for $15 on floppy disk only.
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| Combine 'Em 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | Win16 Shareware (full version) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Ron Balewski | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Ron Balewski | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Screenshot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Combine 'Em is a puzzle game where the object is to reduce a group of blocks to a single block by pushing them into each other, or destroying them with bombs. The blocks are called Combiners, and each one has a letter value between A and L. Combiners of the same letter can be combined. Each combiner also has a number value which indicates how many blocks are inside of the combiner. The rules are different in each level, and determine how far a piece slides when pushed, and how many blocks each Combiner can hold. If an A2 is combined with an A2, it will turn into an A4 if the limit is high enough, otherwise it will upgrade into a B1. Completely filled Bs become Cs, Cs become Ds, and so on. This is important because only combiners of the same letter can be combined. While moving Combiners and bombs, one must avoid or destroy Stoppers, of which there are two varieties. Regular Stoppers prevent pieces from being pushed, but can be destroyed by bombs, while Bomb-Proof Stoppers are indestructible. The level grid can be up to 50×50 in size, and custom levels can be designed. The game has very nice music. The game is fully unlocked, but a newer version, v2.0, is available only as a registered version. It adds new types of squares and bombs, teleporters, direction changers, one way gates, bomb-proof Combiners, and a built-in puzzle designer.
Ron Balewski still sells the registered version of this game for $20 on floppy disk or download.
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| Crates 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Summit Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Summit Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Crates is a Sokoban-type game with original levels. Each level is full of boxes which your character must push in four directions, one square at a time, onto designated squares to complete the level. Boxes can never be pulled, meaning they can get stuck against walls, and only one box can be pushed at a time. Starting play is really that simple, but the solutions are extremely challenging. This popularity of this type of game has endured for good reason. The registered version comes with 50 extra levels. Crates Shareware (36k) I have found no ordering information for this game.
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| Descartes Enigma 1998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | Win16 Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Descartes Enigma is a nonogram or "paint by numbers" game, familiar to gamers as Picross (picture crossword). The game is named after René Descartes, who developed the Cartesian coordinate system, which the graphs in nonograms somewhat resemble. For each row and column you're told how many squares in a row should be colored in, in the order that the groups appear. A row that has the hint "4 5 2" indicates that there is a group of 4, followed by a group of 5, followed by a group of 2, though it doesn't tell you where the groups are. Using the information from both the columns and rows, you can gradually deduce where the colored blocks would have to be, or not be, and you fill in the picture by left-clicking to color a square in, or right cicking to indicate the square is blank. There are 200 pictures and over 49 000 computer-generated puzzles in this game, with only 35 pictures and 10 computer-generated puzzles in the shareware version. Complete version history:
Everett Kaser Software still sells v2.0, a Win32 version of this game, for $19.95 by download or CD-ROM.
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| Dinner With Moriarty 1997 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | Win16 Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Screenshot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Also known as Sherlock II: Dinner With Moriarty, this game is the sequel to the popular game of deduction inspired by Sherlock Holmes. This time a group of people are sitting around a table, and one of them has had their food poisoned. To complete the puzzle you must determine who is seated at each chair, what color their plate is, what they're having to drink, and what food they are eating, based on a set of clues provided to the right of the table. At the most basic level, the game is very easy – much easier than Sherlock. However, the game concept scales very well. At higher difficulty levels, more people sit at the table, things can be set at the corners of the table, and you can have to figure out what hat everyone is wearing and what (presumably) their favorite number is. It's extremely easy to jump right into playing the game because hovering the mouse over the hints triggers a pop-up explanation of what the hint is telling you. The hints can tell you that two things are at the same place, between two other things, directly across from something, or above/below or to the left/right of something. Through the process of deduction, you eliminate possibilities until you know what's in each square. Every puzzle can be solved with the hints that are given, but if you ask for a hint, the game will explain to you in plain English how one of the hints helped you to eliminate one of the possibilities. Getting a hint will cost you 30 seconds on your clock. When you no longer need one of the clues, you can send it to a holding bin, where you can still see it if you change your mind. Version 2.0 converted the game to Win32-only. There are 65 536 puzzles in each of the six difficulty levels of this game, with only the first 25 from each difficultly level playable in the shareware version.
Everett Kaser Software still sells v2.0, a Win32 version of this game, for $19.95 by download or CD-ROM.
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| Floyd's Bumpershoot 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | Win16 Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Screenshot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Floyd's Bumpershoot is a puzzle game where the goal is to deduce where bumpers are on a pool table. You hit a ball across the table vertically or horizontally and see where the ball comes out. The ball may hit three kinds of barriers. Flippers deflect the ball at a 90 degree angle, and flip so that the deflect the ball in the opposite direction each time. Deflectors bounce the ball straight back, and holes swallow the ball completely. Seeing where the ball comes after shooting multiple times from different directions eventually allows the player to deduce where the barriers are. It's really quite a clever concept, but starts at a difficulty level which should be playable for most people. There are 65 536 puzzles for each of three table sizes, plus custom sizes, with only the first 12 puzzles for each table type playable in the shareware version. Complete version history
Everett Kaser Software still sells v2.0, a Win32 version of this game, for $19.95 by download or CD-ROM.
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| God of Thunder 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Freeware (former shareware) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by CSE Games | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Impulse Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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It is 927 A.D., and Odin has summoned you, Thor, to rescue Midgard from your evil half-brother, Loki. This is a very clever puzzle game with action and fighting thrown in for fun. You navigate the world screen by screen, with different obstacles at almost every turn. Your enchanted hammer, Mjolnir, can be thrown and will always return to you. It will kill most, but not all enemies. Some of the screens can be very difficult and require a lot of thinking, but they're very rewarding to solve. Even the graphics and sound are enjoyable. Version 1.0 was published by Software Creations before it changed its name to Impulse Software, which published v1.1. There are 3 episodes in this game, with only the first episode playable in the shareware version. Part 1: Serpent Surprise! God of Thunder v1.1 Registered Version (1035k) Play online Author Adam Pedersen has generously released this game as freeware.
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| Heartlight PC 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Freeware (former shareware) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by xLand Games | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Epic MegaGames | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Heartlight PC is a simple, but challenging puzzle game in which you must guide a dwarf through levels by collecting all of the hearts in a level. You can move up, down, left and right, in levels where hearts, rocks, bombs, and other objects are suspended in a field of grass. The challenge comes from properly using gravity to drop obstacles out of your path without trapping yourself or the hearts, or strategically dropping explosives to reach new areas. The are 60 levels in this game, with only the first 20 playable in the shareware version. Heartlight PC Creative Commons Registered Version (455k) Play online Developer xLand generously released this game as freeware under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 license on 25 June 2006.
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| Hero's Heart 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics modes: EGA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Hero's Heart is a pure puzzle game that looks a bit like an adventure game. The hero must collect all of the hearts in a level by solving the puzzle. The game is turn-based rather than real time, which means that when you move and cause an action, you can't move again until the reaction is finished. If you cause a boulder to fall or an arrow to fire, you can't move out of the way to avoid it! You can cause boulders to fall, balloons to rise, and arrows to fire in any direction. There are hazards such as fire and water, Worms that head directly towards you with each step you take, and Creepers that simply move in circles around any barriers they find. Some hearts can't be collected until they have been changed from blue to red by a Creeper. Some puzzles involve figuring out how to use a raft or push a ball, you can use earth to fill up some water or put out a fire, or you can use a fire extinguisher. The hero normally moves one space at a time, although you can make the hero take several steps by clicking on where you want him to go with your mouse. Walking or pushing something over ice will slide it all the way to the other side in one turn. There are 25 levels in this game. The non-shareware version is called Hero GOLD, which has 80 levels and 10 new types of objects. Complete version history:
Everett Kaser Software still sells the registered version of this game for $20 by download or CD-ROM.
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| Holiday Lemmings 1994 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by DMA Design | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Psygnosis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In 1994, Pysgnosis released a second complete Christmas-themed Lemmings game. Gameplay is identical to the earlier Lemmings games, but the lemmings are dressed like Santa Claus. Lemmings are little guys with green hair who walk in a straight line until they bump into something or die, usually by falling off a cliff. Lemmings can be assigned tasks to perform from one of eight modes: climber, floater, blocker, builder, basher, miner, digger, and exploder. Players must use these modes to guide all of of their lemmings to the exit, overcoming barriers, falls, and traps, all within a time limit. Lemmings splatter if they fall too far, get crushed, juiced, or decapitated by traps, and can blow themselves to bits, individually or en masse, in hilariously gruesome detail, which is a favorite feature of many players, and lessens the frustration of failure. Advanced problem solving and reflexes are necessary to save the lemmings. The demo levels are very easy. The are 32 levels in this game (in addition to the 32 levels from 1993 Holiday Lemmings), with only four levels playable in the 4-level mini-version. Holiday Lemmings 1994 Shareware Demo (128k) DMA Design no longer sells this game.
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| Honeycomb Hotel 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | Win16 Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Screenshot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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At first glance, Honeycomb Hotel is the third game in the Sherlock series. Instead of a square, Honeycomb Hotel uses a hexagonal playing area composed of hexagons, and the player must use the provided clues to deduce what season, flower, fort, vegetable, animal, letter or insect goes in each space. The twist is that the bee has walked across each hexagon in the honeycomb, and you also have to figure out the path it took. Hints will tell you where a picture is relative to other pictures – with or without telling you if there is a path or a wall between them – or what path passes through that space. Since each space must have an entry point and an exit point, you can draw four walls around each space to indicate what path the bee didn't take, and this can be used to deduce what path it did take. The dual challenges don't necessarily make the game more difficult, since knowing the path can also help you deduce what goes in each space, but it does seem to make the game more fun. Another ingenious new feature is the "what if" mode, which allows you to try out what would happen if you made an assumption the contents of a space or the path taken through the honeycomb, which can then be discarded without making any changes to the board, for those who need some help visualizing the outcome of an assumption in their head. The board can look a bit intimidating to a first time player, but reduce the board to the smallest size and the game is incredibly easy, and you can quickly work your way up to the largest size. There are 65 536 puzzles in each of three of board sizes in this game, with only 24 from each size playable in the shareware version. Complete version history:
Everett Kaser Software still sells v2.0, a Win32 version of this game, for $19.95 by download or CD-ROM.
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| Hubie 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: 4 | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Serendipity Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Serendipity Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics modes: VGA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Hubie is another puzzle game where the object is to get to the exit of each level. To accomplish this, Hubie can break objects with his head, climb, "copter" short distances, push or blow objects, bounce on trampolines, use magnets and fans to push or pull objects, and ride on balloons. The wide array of actions that Hubie can perform and objects that he can use make for fun and varied gameplay, and the difficulty level ranges from levels for children to levels that are challenging for the smartest puzzle solvers. The graphics are decent, too. There are over 100 levels in this game, with only 17 playable in the shareware version.
I have found no ordering information for this game.
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| Jelly Bean Factory 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Summit Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Summit Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Jelly Bean Factory is a superb Columns clone. Columns of three jelly beans fall from the ceiling, and their order can be rotated. Get three or more of the same color jelly bean, horizontally, vertically or diagonally, and they disappear. Special jelly beans will destroy all jelly beans of one color on the entire screen. Striped jelly beans can only be destroyed by the special jelly beans. The graphics, music and sound are excellent, and there are a number of difficulty levels and soundtracks. Gameplay stops after the completion of any level in the shareware version.
I have found no ordering information for this game.
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| Jigsaws Galore 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | Win16 Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Gray Design Associates | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Gray Design Associates | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Screenshot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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This puzzle game is literally a puzzle game. The game allows you to put together a jigsaw puzzle, and you can select the difficulty level which determines how many pieces the puzzle is broken into. You can have the computer sort the pieces for you, and you can place pieces in a separate tray so that you can work on different parts of the puzzle separately. Version 1.0 was an internal release only. Version 3.0 converted the game to Win32 and increased the color depth from 256 color to true color. There are 10 jigsaw puzzles in this game, with 130 more on the Gold Edition CD-ROM. Complete version history:
Gray Design Associates still sells Version 6, a Win32 version of this game, for $25 by download or $39 on CD-ROM.
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| Kentris 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Freeware (always) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Ken Silverman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Ken Silverman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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If Tetris has gotten too easy for you, try Kentris. The playing fields move around the screen during gameplay and you can add garbage to the bottom of your opponent's screen as you compete. The background constantly changes colors and there are voices and sound effects. This can be a lot of fun if you like a challenge. Kentris v4.3 Freeware and source code in Microsoft C 6.00A (144k) Author Ken Silverman has generously released this game as freeware.
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| Knarly Works 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | Win16 Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Screenshot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Knarly Works is a plumbing game where your goal is to create a closed circuit of pipes. There is only one solution to each puzzle, and you must fill in the grid by placing the hints for each row and column into the correct place. Knowing that the pipes must create a closed circuit, you can eliminate possibilities and deduce where each pipe must go. When there isn't enough information to reduce the options to only one, you can figure out what each option has in common and what segments of the grid must or must not have pipe. At smaller sizes, the puzzles can usually be solved quickly. At least for me, at larger sizes, the need to monotonously go through cell in the grid and figure out what each option has in common becomes so burdensome that the game stops being fun. Fortunately there are thousands of puzzles in each size, so there should be enough puzzles to last a lifetime for even a novice player. There are 65 536 puzzles in each of 5 sizes in this game, with only 10 puzzles in each size playabe in the shareware version. Complete version history:
Everett Kaser Software still sells v2.0, a Win32 version of this game, for $19.95 by download or CD-ROM.
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| Kye 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | Win16 Freeware (former shareware) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Colin Garbutt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Colin Garbutt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Screenshot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Kye is a classic "collect the diamonds" game named after the author's dog. Kye must be navigated through some difficult levels, eating or pushing blocks out of his way, and figuring out obstacles and traps. There are balls that move in one direction, sticky blocks that can pull obstacles out of the way, and five kinds of monsters that pursue Kye in real-time. Besides the monsters, some levels have blocks that are constantly in motion, so reflexes and skill are required in addition to problem solving. There is no gravity and no boulders to drop, and the levels, blocks and monsters are entirely original, so this isn't just another Boulder Dash clone. You can design your own custom levels, and a number of third-party level packs exist. Version 2.0 added five extra levels, black holes, one way doors, time bombs, an on-screen level editor, and registration now required a charitable donation to Save the Children, instead of direct payment to the author. There are 15 levels in the shareware version, and originally there were 20 extra levels in the registered version. User-created levels were added over the years, with a final tally of 496 extra levels in the registered version. Complete version history:
Author Colin Garbutt generously released this game as freeware on 18 February 2008. He still asks that a donation be made to a childrens' charity.
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| Lemmings 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: 6.5 | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by DMA Design | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Psygnosis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The game that started it all! Lemmings are little guys with green hair who walk in a straight line until they bump into something or die, usually by falling off a cliff. Lemmings can be assigned tasks to perform from one of eight modes: climber, floater, blocker, builder, basher, miner, digger, and exploder. Players must use these modes to guide a required percentage of their lemmings to the exit, overcoming barriers, falls, and traps, all within a time limit. Lemmings splatter if they fall too far, get crushed, juiced, or decapitated by traps, and can blow themselves to bits, individually or en masse, in hilariously gruesome detail, which is a favorite feature of many players, and lessens the frustration of failure. Advanced problem solving and reflexes are necessary to save the lemmings. The shareware version includes one level from each difficulty level. There are 120 levels in this game, with only 4 playable in the shareware version. Lemmings Shareware (230k) I have found no ordering information for this game. It can be ordered from Amazon: Lemmings or as part of Lemmings and Oh No! More Lemmings.
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| MESH: Falling Hero 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | Win16 Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Screenshot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The third game in the MESH series, Falling Hero changes everything. The levels have gravity, which creates a need for a lot of new objects like springs. There are a bunch of new enemies, and the enemies introduce new gameplay elements, like climbing the web left by a spider. The hero can't jump for the first 10 levels because of shackles on his feet. Once removed, the hero can jump (another new twist) unless he traps himself in shackles again during the course of the level. The game is still turn-based rather than real time, so it's not a platform game in the arcade/action sense. Some levels are extremely hard, and most require hundreds of moves to complete. There are 102 levels in this game, with only 15 playable in the shareware version.
Everett Kaser Software still sells v3.0, a Win32 version of this game, for $19.95 by download or CD-ROM.
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| MESH: Hero Defiant 1998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | Win16 Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Screenshot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The sequel to MESH: Hero's Heart, Hero Defiant adds a number of block types and a challenging new set of levels. Hero Defiant is a pure puzzle game that looks a bit like an adventure game. The hero must collect all of the hearts in a level by solving the puzzle. The game is turn-based rather than real time, which means that when you move and cause an action, you can't move again until the reaction is finished. You can move the hero with the keyboard, or by clicking on where you want him to go with your mouse. There are over 100 levels in this game, with only the first 10 playable in the shareware version.
Everett Kaser Software still sells v3.0, a Win32 version of this game, for $19.95 by download or CD-ROM.
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| MESH: Hero's Hearts 1998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | Win16 Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Screenshot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Windows version of Hero's Heart increases the color depth from 16 to 256, you can now play as either a male or female hero (thus the name change to "Hero's Hearts"), and there are hint notes to teach you how to play. Hero's Hearts is a pure puzzle game that looks a bit like an adventure game. The hero must collect all of the hearts in a level by solving the puzzle. The game is turn-based rather than real time, which means that when you move and cause an action, you can't move again until the reaction is finished. If you cause a boulder to fall or an arrow to fire, you can't move out of the way to avoid it! You can cause boulders to fall, balloons to rise, and arrows to fire in any direction. There are hazards such as fire and water, Worms that head directly towards you with each step you take, and Creepers that simply move in circles around any barriers they find. Some hearts can't be collected until they have been changed from blue to red by a Creeper. Some puzzles involve figuring out how to use a raft or push a ball, you can use earth to fill up some water or put out a fire, or you can use a fire extinguisher. You can move the hero with the keyboard, or by clicking on where you want him to go with your mouse. Walking or pushing something over ice will slide it all the way to the other side in one turn. There are over 1000 levels in this game, with only the first 15 playable in the shareware version.
Everett Kaser Software still sells v3.0, a Win32 version of this game, for $19.95 by download or CD-ROM.
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| Moraff's Entrap 1990 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by MoraffWare | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by MoraffWare | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A turn-based strategy game where you attempt to reach the other end of the playing field while robots of progressively increasing intelligence home in on your position. You can move around in the eight compass directions, filling gaps to create new paths in the playing field, and putting holes in the playing field to block or entrap your enemies. A map allows you to see the entire level and the location of all of the enemies, which you can't otherwise do because screen only shows your immediate area and scrolls as you change position. There is only one episode in the shareware "Beginner's Version", but the registered "Advanced Version" has 10 difficulty levels. Moraff's Entrap v1.11 Shareware (104k) I have found no ordering information for this game, and it is not listed on Moraff's website.
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| Moraff's Radiation 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | Win16 Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by MoraffWare | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by MoraffWare | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Screenshot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Moraff's Radiation is a highly customizable version of Minesweeper. The game can be played with a number of grid sizes and bomb densities, and features a lot of sound effects and backgrounds. There are two differences in gameplay from Minesweeper: time bonuses are located randomly throughout the minefield which put a few seconds back on your clock, and hitting a mine doesn't end your game. The high score is the one with the fewest explosions, or the fastest completion without setting off any bombs. The registered version features more difficulty levels, voices, and 16 million color backgrounds.
MoraffWare still sells v3.51, a Win32 version of this game, for $10 by download only.
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| Moraff's Super Entrap 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by MoraffWare | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by MoraffWare | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The sequel to Entrap, Super Entrap is a turn-based strategy game where you attempt to reach the other end of the playing field while robots of progressively increasing intelligence home in on your position. You can move around in the eight compass directions, filling gaps to create new paths in the playing field, and putting holes in the playing field to block or entrap your enemies. The playing field is less attractive in Super Entrap, and the map is no longer visible at all times. On the upside, you can see farther to the left and right, and you can navigate from the new map screen, making it unnecessary to even view the playing field, unless you want to see what the enemies look like. There are now also impassable barriers. You can also create a "large hole" that destroys all of the squares around you, making it easier to isolate yourself from enemies. There is only one episode in this "Beginner's Version", but the registered "Advanced Version" has 10 difficulty levels. Moraff's Super Entrap v4.1 Shareware (86k) I have found no ordering information for this game, and it is not listed on Moraff's website.
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| MVP Word Search for Windows 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | Win16 Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Craig W. Kellogg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by MVP Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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MVP Word Search is a word search with some pretty challenging puzzles. Circling words is as easy as selecting the first letter and dragging a circle to the end of the word. The built-in MIDI music could be better, but you can choose your own music in the registered Deluxe version. MVP's website claims that the latest version requires Windows 98, but the game is still a Win16 application and comes with a Win16 installer. Originally there were 100 word lists in the registered version, but this was doubled by v2.1. There are 200 word lists in this game, with only the first 10 playable in the shareware version.
MVP Software still sells the registered version of this game for $4.95 by download only.
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| Mystic Towers 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Animation FX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Apogee Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics modes: VGA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Mystic Towers is 3D perspective action puzzle game starring an elderly wizard named Baron Baldric. Your mission is to destroy monster generators in the Lazarian Towers, and kill all of the monsters. Baldric can use a number of spells to kill monsters, levitate over obstacles, reveal secrets, and teleport. The game has very nice music and is full of imaginative monsters. Version 1.0 was an incomplete version that was only released in a UK Magazine. Version 1.1 was the first complete shareware version. The confusing part is that the installation file on Apogee's website states that the download contains v1.0, the installer claims to be installing v1.1, and the game screen says v1.11. This is, in fact, the only complete version that was ever released to the public. There are 6 episodes in this game, with only the first episode playable in the shareware version. Each episode has 2 towers, making for a total of 12 towers, and over 600 rooms to explore. Complete version history:
Apogee still sells the registered version of this game for $10 on floppy disk or registered download.
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| Next Generation Trivia 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Public domain | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Apogee Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Apogee Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics modes: ASCII | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A simple Star Trek: The Next Generation trivia game. Bonus points are awarded for answering within the time limit. Each volume has 100 multiple choice questions. There are 3 volumes in this game, with only the first volume playable in the shareware version. Next Generation Trivia Shareware Episode (33k) Play online NOTE: Apogee does not distribute, sell, register, or retain copyright on this game. This is officially abandonware.
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| Paganitzu 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: 7 | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Apogee Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Apogee Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A puzzle adventure where you play Alabama Smith, an archaeologist on a quest to discover the secrets of an ancient pyramid. Extremely dated graphics and sound and a single difficulty level can make this game a bit frustrating. Objects must often be moved to protect yourself from enemies, much like God of Thunder, without all the fighting. There are 3 episodes in this game, with only the first episode playable in the shareware version. Episode 1 - Romancing the Rose Complete version history:
Apogee still sells the registered version of this game for $10 on floppy disk or registered download.
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| Puzzle Fun-Pak 1989 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Freeware (former shareware) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Apogee Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Apogee Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Puzzle Fun-Pak is a collection of simple games. Block Five is the ancient game of Gomoku, in which players take turns placing an X or an O on a 19×19 grid and attempt to get five in a row in any direction. It's basically an enormous game of tic-tac-toe. Asteroid Rescue places you in a ship that must maneuver its way through a dense asteroid field to rescue astronauts. Phrase Master is a mix between Wheel of Fortune and Hangman. You essentially spin a wheel to determine how much your guess will be worth, but there is no way to go bankrupt or miss a turn, other than guessing incorrectly. Players continue to guess any letter (there is no cost, but also no score for selecting a vowel) until they get one wrong. Like Hangman, both players have a limited number of guesses. The game continues until both players have guessed incorrectly six times, then the player with the higher score wins. A bonus guess is awarded to the player who completes each phrase. There are 500 phrases in 10 categories. Maze Machine is the only game that requires a graphics card, which it uses to generate a maze that is displayed on screen, and can be printed out. There are 4 games in the Puzzle Fun-Pak: Block Five Complete version history:Puzzle Fun-Pak v1.0 Freeware Episodes (298k)Apogee generously released Adventure Fun-Pak and Puzzle Fun-Pak as freeware under the Adventure & Puzzle Fun Packs Freeware License in May 2004. They are both in the same zip file.
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| Rescue Rover 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: 6 | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by id Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Softdisk Publishing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Robots have kidnapped your dog, Rover. Yes, really. In this simple puzzle game, you must guide Roger though levels that are full of robots, rescue your dog, and return to the exit. Roger can push, but not pull, items that he finds in the levels. Crates can block lasers or form a bridge across water. Mirror blocks can deflect lasers and destroy the robots. Star pearls are like crates except that they don't float and they don't stop until they hit something. Anti-grav carts are like star pearls, except that they can pass over water. At the beginning of each level, Rover is captured again, and Roger must rescue him again. There are 30 levels in this game, with only the first 10 playable in the shareware version. Rescue Rover v2.0 Shareware Episode (170k) Play online I have found no ordering information for this game, and it is not listed on Softdisk's website.
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| Rings of the Magi 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Cytherean Adventures | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by MVP Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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When the magi of Ac'Rianed realized that a mysterious force was draining the energy from their world, they created rings to store their power and hide it from evil. The rings are made of different materials, and whenever two or more come together, they release some of their power. As their apprentice, you must learn to control the rings so that their magic won't be forgotten. Rings of the Magi is a puzzle game in which colored rings are placed on a board and can be moved with arrows. You have to move them such that rings match up and eliminate each other, completely clearing the board. Levels are broken into four difficulty levels and can be very challenging. It was one of the most popular games of its genre. There are 80 levels in this game, with only 20 playable in the shareware version. Rings of the Magi v1.1 Shareware (1235k) MVP Software still sells v2.0b, a Win32 version of this game with six levels of difficulty and 300 levels, for $19.95 on CD-ROM.
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| Rings of the Magi for Windows 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | Win16 Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by David Bollinger (Cytherean Adventures) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by MVP Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Screenshot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Following v1.1 for DOS, Rings of the Magi for Windows v1.2 was released. Rings of the Magi is a puzzle game in which colored rings are placed on a board and can be moved with arrows. You have to move them such that rings match up and eliminate each other, completely clearing the board. Levels are broken into four difficulty levels and can be very challenging. It is one of the most popular shareware games of all time. Unlike his other games, the copyright is attributed to David Bollinger instead of his company, Cytherean Adventures, and there is no splash screen for Cytherean. There are 100 levels in this game, with only 12 playable in the shareware version.
MVP Software still sells v2.0b, a Win32 version of this game with six levels of difficulty and 300 levels, for $19.95 on CD-ROM.
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| Sea Run 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Soleau Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Soleau Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Based on Ant Run and Sea Run, but with a lot more items on the grid. The game takes place in a grid maze made up of segments that can be rotated. The segments can contain a straight path, a corner, or a red or regular crossing path. The arrows represent wind direction, and will guide the boat. The boat enters the maze through a starting point inside the maze, and you have eight seconds before gameplay begins. The segments can be rotated during gameplay, but you have to ensure that the boat has a clear passage ahead of it at all times. Segments disappear as the boat passes over them, preventing it from using them again, except for red crossing paths. Red arrows represent strong winds and give bonus points. Treasure chests give bonus points, while hitting whales reduces your score. Island and whirlpools will sink the ship. The edges of the screen wrap around to the segment on the opposite side. A progress meter counts the distance the boat has sailed until it resets at 1 mile. Once it resets, the unusable segments of the maze will be reset the next time the boat re-enters the maze, and one segment of the maze will permanently become an island. A certain score must be achieved in each level in order to advance. Raising the spinnaker causes the boat to sail more quickly and doubles your score for the distance traveled, but you can no longer slow down or alter the maze until the boat re-enters the maze or crashes. As the levels get harder, multiple starting points appear at the beginning of the maze, and there's no way to know which boat will begin sailing. Some levels have an ending point which the boat must enter in order to advance to the next level. Suitable for gamers of all ages, the game also manages to be educational by listing naval trivia before each level. There are 30 levels in this game, with only the first 7 playable in the shareware version. Complete version history:Sea Run v1.0 Shareware (166k)Soleau Software still sells the registered version of this game for $12 by download only.
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| Sherlock 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics modes: EGA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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If you like Sudoku, but find it too easy, Sherlock is the game for you. The game is played on a 6×6 grid, and each row has a different set of six pictures that have to be arranged within the row. You get two sets of hints that tell you what relationship the pictures have to each other: one for to their vertical relationship and one for their horizontal relationship. There are two kinds of vertical hints and five kinds of horizontal hints. For column hints, you might be told that the H and the 6 are in the same column, or that red house and the banana are not in the same column. For row hints, you might be told that the strawberry is an adjacent column to the baby, the L is not in an adjacent column to the orange, the stop sign is in a column between the apple and the pear, there is one space between the old man and the hospital sign that does not contain the speed limit sign, or the 4 is one or more rows to the left of the 2. Through the process of deduction, you eliminate possibilities until you know what's in each square. Every puzzle can be solved with the hints that are given, but if you ask for a hint, the game will explain to you in plain English how one of the hints helped you to eliminate one of the possibilities. Getting a hint will cost you 30 seconds on your clock. When you no longer need one of the clues, you can send it to a holding bin, where you can still see it if you change your mind. You will always be told what a few of the squares are, but you can make the game easier by increasing the handicap level to get more free squares. Originally all of the puzzles were playable in the shareware version, but it was reduced to 200 in v2.0 and to 100 by v2.07. There are 65 536 puzzles in this game, with only the first 100 playable in the shareware version. Complete version history:
Everett Kaser Software still sells the registered version of this game for $15 by download or CD-ROM.
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| Sherlock for Windows 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | Win16 Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Everett Kaser Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Windows version of Sherlock increased the color depth from 16 to 256, and hovering the mouse over the hints triggers a pop-up explanation, which was replaced with a less intrusive dedicated explanation area in v4.0. Sherlock is a game of logic played on a 6×6 grid, and each row has a different set of six pictures that have to be arranged within the row. You get two sets of hints that tell you what relationship the pictures have to each other: one for to their vertical relationship and one for their horizontal relationship. Through the process of deduction, you eliminate possibilities until you know what's in each square. Every puzzle can be solved with the hints that are given, but if you ask for a hint, the game will explain to you in plain English how one of the hints helped you to eliminate one of the possibilities. Getting a hint will cost you 30 seconds on your clock. When you no longer need one of the clues, you can send it to a holding bin, where you can still see it if you change your mind. In the first 65 536 puzzles, you will always be told what a few of the squares are, while the second 65 536 will never complete any of the squares for you unless you increase the handicap. There are 131 072 puzzles in this game, with only 100 playable in the shareware version.
Everett Kaser Software still sells v5.0, a Win32 version of this game, for $19.95 by download or CD-ROM.
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| Solder Runner 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Freeware (former shareware) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by SumWare Software (Tactical Neuronics) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by SumWare Software (Tactical Neuronics) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Solder Runner is one of the most creative and entertaining adventure games I have ever played. The game is played inside a computer that is infected with viruses. You navigate through a world that looks like a circuit board and zap viruses while solving puzzles. Beads of solder can be pushed from screen to screen to block the attacks of zappers. Electrical fields can be turned off with dip switches, there are diodes that can only be passed through in one direction, there are gateways that require transistors to access, circuit breakers that can cut through voltage lines, and transformers to teleport from place to place. Data is scattered throughout the game that can be collected for points, but the viruses will destroy it. One of the best features is the map screen. There are still a few secret passages, but the game focuses on problem solving instead of finding secret passages through the frustrating systematic testing of walls and random chance. I'm reminded of God of Thunder, except that the scope is larger because a single bead of solder from one room may be needed in a room several screens away. The level design is superb. All of the elements in this game can be found in other games, but I have never seen them put together so elegantly in a game that simulates the look and feel of being inside a computer. John Reder originally published Solder Runner under the name SumWare Software. There are 3 episodes in this game, with only the first episode playable in the shareware version. Episode 1: Diagnostics Solder Runner v1.0 Registered Version (1578k) Author John Reder has generously released this game as freeware.
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| Spider Run 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Soleau Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Soleau Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The sequel to Ant Run, Spider Run is identical except that the grid is no longer rectangular (the corners have been removed), and a fly will occasionally land on the web, which will award bonus points if the spider can cross its path. The game takes place in a grid maze made up of segments that can be rotated. The segments can contain a straight path, a corner, or a crossing path. The spider enters the maze through a starting point inside the maze, and you have ten seconds before gameplay begins. The segments can be rotated during gameplay, but you have to ensure that the spider has a clear passage ahead of it at all times. Segments turn blue as the spider passes through them, preventing it from using them again, except for the crossing paths. Strands around the edge of the web wrap around to the strand on the opposite side. A progress meter counts the distance the spider has moved until it resets at 20 inches. Once it resets, the unusable segments of the path will be reset the next time the spider re-enters the web, and one segment of the maze will disappear. A certain score must be achieved in each level in order to advance. A "Fast" button causes the spider to move more quickly and doubles your score for the distance traveled, but you can no longer slow down or alter the maze until the spider re-enters the web or crashes. As the levels get harder, multiple starting points appear at the beginning of the maze, and there's no way to know which one the spider will come out of. Some levels have an ending point which the spider must enter in order to advance to the next level. Suitable for gamers of all ages, the game also manages to be educational by listing trivia about spiders before each level. There are 30 levels in this game, with only the first 7 playable in the shareware version. Spider Run v2.1 Shareware (146k) Soleau Software still sells the registered version of this game for $12 by download only.
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| Squarez Deluxe! 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Freeware (former shareware) | Puzzle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Adam Pedersen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Adam Pedersen, Impulse Software | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Squarez is a puzzle game in which blocks of various shapes can enter the screen from the bottom corner of the screen and can be rotated and placed anywhere, provided that they can be moved through the blocks that are already sitting in the playing field. The goal is to place the blocks so that squares of at least 3×3 are formed, which causes them to disappear. There are also special blocks, such as bombs, missiles, and goo, that can remove blocks or hinder your ability to move or place blocks. The game ends when you can no longer move pieces onto the playing field. Originally known as just Squarez, the game was renamed Squarez Deluxe! and the version number returned to v1.0 when it began to be published by Software Creations, which was renamed Impulse Software by v1.2.
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