Due to the *enormous, unprecedented success* of the first volume, I'll keep going with the second episode -- list of games worth playing from the 1986-1988 period. Go and read the intro of the first thread if you want to understand my motivation for compiling this list, and the "rules". Links to the other episodes:
Games worth playing, Vol. I -- 1977-1985
Games worth playing, Vol. III -- 1989-1990
Games worth playing, Vol. IV -- 1991-1992
Games worth playing, Vol. V -- 1993-1994
Games worth playing, Vol. VI -- 1995-1997
The more perceptive among you might notice the debut of the "Simulation" category. That's because I've started developing an obsession with campaign/story-based simulators.
As always, suggestions for the best ports, patches/bugfixes, or classics that I somehow managed to miss are welcome. We're still a few years behind the time when PC/DOS asserted its absolute hegemony with the widespread adoption of VGA/SoundBlaster/MT-32, therefore the number of DOS entries is still in the single-digit range.
One of the more interesting highlights of this collection is the relative large number of C64 cartridge conversions (meaning zero load times!), especially the super-prestigious cartridge versions of Neuromancer, Wasteland and Ultima V!
RPG
Adventure
Tactics
Space
Simulation
Games worth playing, Vol. I -- 1977-1985
Games worth playing, Vol. III -- 1989-1990
Games worth playing, Vol. IV -- 1991-1992
Games worth playing, Vol. V -- 1993-1994
Games worth playing, Vol. VI -- 1995-1997
The more perceptive among you might notice the debut of the "Simulation" category. That's because I've started developing an obsession with campaign/story-based simulators.
As always, suggestions for the best ports, patches/bugfixes, or classics that I somehow managed to miss are welcome. We're still a few years behind the time when PC/DOS asserted its absolute hegemony with the widespread adoption of VGA/SoundBlaster/MT-32, therefore the number of DOS entries is still in the single-digit range.
One of the more interesting highlights of this collection is the relative large number of C64 cartridge conversions (meaning zero load times!), especially the super-prestigious cartridge versions of Neuromancer, Wasteland and Ultima V!
RPG
1986
- Bard's Tale II: The Destiny Knight, The (Interplay) [Apple IIgs]
All other ports are buggy
- Might and Magic: Book I: Secret of the Inner Sanctum (New World) [DOS]
Must use DOS version because MM2 expects a leveled-up party from MM1
- Phantasie II (SSI) [Atari ST]
Only 8-bit originals are bug-free (combat is easier on the 16-bit ports)
Amiga only has P1 and P3, hence the Atari ST version is recommended so we can import the winning party
- Rings of Zilfin (SSI) [Atari ST]
If it's a good port, otherwise the C64 version
- Shard of Spring (SSI) [C64]
- Starflight (Binary) [Amiga]
- Wizard's Crown (SSI) [C64]
- Wrath of Denethenor (Sierra) [C64]
- 2400 A.D. (Origin) [DOS]
- Alternate Reality: The Dungeon (Datasoft) [Atari 8-bit]
Must use original Atari VAPI disk images, or 100% cracked version, which is hard to find
Or 100% C64 crack: https://csdb.dk/release/?id=200257
- Deathlord (Independent) [C64]
Consider playing Apple II version with Rikkles' Deathlord Companion app
- Dungeon Master (FTL) [Amiga]
Use v3.6
Original Atari ST version does not have directional stereo sound like the Amiga port
- Eternal Dagger, The (SSI) [C64]
Sequel to Wizard's Crown
- Faery Tale Adventure: Book I, The (MicroIllusions) [Amiga]
- Legacy of the Ancients (Quest) [C64]
Use cartridge version for fast load times
https://csdb.dk/release/?id=128480
- NetHack (NetHack DevTeam) [Windows]
https://www.nethack.org/
- Phantasie III: Wrath of Nikademus (Westwood) [Atari ST]
Only 8-bit originals are bug-free (combat is easier on the 16-bit ports)
- Ranarama (Graftgold) [ZX Spectrum]
- Tower of Myraglen, The (Unknown) [Apple IIgs]
- Wizardry: The Return of Werdna - The Fourth Scenario (Sir-Tech) [SNES]
English translated SNES version
http://www.romhacking.net/translations/2061/
- Bard's Tale III: Thief of Fate, The (Interplay) [DOS]
16-bit ports are very buggy, must apply drifting's patch to the DOS version
https://github.com/ChrisAubuchon/BT3-DOS-patch/releases
- BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception (Westwood) [Amiga]
Has official HD installer
- Demon's Winter (SSI) [Amiga]
Has official HD installer
- Legend of Blacksilver, The (Quest) [C64]
Use cartridge version for fast load times
https://csdb.dk/release/?id=128480
- Might and Magic: Book Two - Gates to Another World (New World) [DOS]
Must use DOS version because MM2 expects a leveled-up party from MM1
Amiga port looks better otherwise
- Mines of Titan (Westwood) [DOS]
Extended remake of "Mars Saga" from the C64
- Omega (Independent) [DOS]
- Pool of Radiance (SSI) [Amiga]
Has official HD installer
- Questron II (Westwood) [Amiga]
- Sentinel Worlds I: Future Magic (Spaceport Malibu) [DOS]
- Star Command (SSI) [Amiga]
Has official HD installer
- Times of Lore (Origin) [C64]
C64 original is the best, every other version is a bad port
- Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny (Origin) [C64]
C64 cartridge version
https://csdb.dk/release/?id=187483
Or upgraded DOS version
https://exodus.voyd.net/projects/ultima5/
- Wasteland (Electronic Arts) [C64]
2021 IDE64 release
https://csdb.dk/release/?id=200139
SuperCPU + RamCard release
https://csdb.dk/release/?id=21049
- Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom (Sir-Tech) [Apple II]
Or C64 version
First D. W. Bradley game
Adventure
1986
- Alter Ego (Independent) [C64]
Cartridge conversion
https://csdb.dk/release/?id=177519
- Amnesia (Cognetics) [C64]
Or PC Booter
- Batman (Jon Ritman) [ZX Spectrum]
- Black Cauldron, The (Sierra) [Apple IIgs]
Has ScummVM support
- Cap'n Magneto (Al Evans) [Macintosh]
https://macintoshgarden.org/games/capn-magneto
- Detective, The (Argus) [C64]
- Forbidden Castle (Angelsoft) [Macintosh]
- Great Escape, The (Ocean) [ZX Spectrum]
- Heavy on the Magic (Gargoyle) [ZX Spectrum]
- Imogen (Acornsoft) [BBC Micro]
- Infiltrator (Chris Gray) [C64]
Cartridge release
https://csdb.dk/release/?id=109613
- Kayleth (Oliver Frey) [ZX Spectrum]
Consider enhanced Plus/4 conversion
http://plus4world.powweb.com/software/Kayleth
- Killed Until Dead (Artech) [C64]
- King's Quest III: To Heir Is Human (Sierra) [Apple IIgs]
Has ScummVM support
- Knight Tyme (Mastertronic) [ZX Spectrum]
Magic Knight 3
Use 128k version
- Labyrinth (LucasArts) [C64]
Cartridge conversion
https://csdb.dk/release/?id=175706
- Leather Goddesses of Phobos (Infocom) [Interpreter]
- Moonmist (Infocom) [Interpreter]
Earliest known video game to feature a gay character
- Mortville Manor (Kyilkhor Creation) [Amiga]
Has ScummVM support
- Movie (Imagine) [ZX Spectrum]
- Murder on the Mississippi (Activision) [C64]
- Portal: A Computer Novel (Nexa) [Amiga]
- Price of Magik, The (Level 9) [Amiga]
Play "Time and Magik: The Trilogy" (1989) version
Time and Magik trilogy 3
- Radical Castle (Christopher Kent Wigginton) [Macintosh]
World Builder adventure
- Space Quest: The Sarien Encounter (Sierra) [Apple IIgs]
Original AGI version
Has ScummVM support
- Tass Times in Tonetown (Activision) [Amiga]
Or Macintosh
- Trinity (Infocom) [Interpreter]
- Uninvited (ICOM) [Macintosh]
Or the Amiga version
- Where in the U.S.A. Is Carmen Sandiego? (Brøderbund) [Amiga]
Or Macintosh version
- Zoony (Bradley R. Pettit) [Macintosh]
World Builder adventure
- Border Zone (Infocom) [Interpreter]
- Bug Hunt (Richard E. Rae) [Macintosh]
World Builder adventure
- Bureaucracy (Infocom) [Interpreter]
- Deep Angst (Ronald Wartow) [Macintosh]
World Builder adventure
- Dizzy – The Ultimate Cartoon Adventure (Codemasters) [ZX Spectrum]
Dizzy I
- Driller (Incentive) [Amiga]
...with C64 SID tune playing in the background
(C64 version runs at about 2-3 FPS)
- Fool's Errand, The (Miles) [Amiga]
Has official HD installer
Or Macintosh original
- Gnome Ranger (Level 9) [Amiga]
- Growing Pains of Adrian Mole, The (Level 9) [C64]
Adrian Mole 2
- Guild of Thieves, The (Magnetic Scrolls) [Amiga]
Amiga version in interpreter (Gargoyle)
- Head Over Heels (Ocean) [ZX Spectrum]
- Hollywood Hijinx (Infocom) [Interpreter]
- Inigo Gets Out (Amanda Goodenough) [Macintosh]
HyperCard adventure
- Jack the Ripper (St. Bride's School) [C64]
- Jinxter (Magnetic Scrolls) [Amiga]
Amiga version in interpreter (Gargoyle)
- Knight Orc (Level 9) [Amiga]
Has official HD installer
- Kobyashi Naru (Mastertronic) [C64]
- Last Ninja, The (System 3) [C64]
Use cartridge version for fast load times
https://csdb.dk/release/?id=99145
https://csdb.dk/release/?id=164564
- Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards (Sierra) [Apple IIgs]
Leisure Suit Larry 1
Has ScummVM support
- Lurking Horror, The (Infocom) [Interpreter]
- Maniac Mansion (LucasArts) [C64]
Use cartridge version
https://csdb.dk/release/?id=9867
Or Amiga version
Has ScummVM support
- Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head or Tail (Infocom) [Interpreter]
- Plundered Hearts (Infocom) [Interpreter]
- Police Quest: In Pursuit of the Death Angel (Sierra) [Apple IIgs]
Has ScummVM support
- Psychotic: The Escape (Anarchists United) [Macintosh]
World Builder adventure
- Rigel's Revenge (Ron Harris) [ZX Spectrum]
- Scarab of Ra (Rick Holzgrafe) [Macintosh]
- Shadowgate (ICOM) [Macintosh]
Or the Amiga version
- Shard of Innovar (Mastertronic) [C64]
- Slaine (Martech) [C64]
- Space Quest II: Vohaul's Revenge (Sierra) [Apple IIgs]
Has ScummVM support
- Spellbinder (Superior) [BBC Micro]
- Stationfall (Infocom) [Interpreter]
- Stormbringer (Mastertronic) [ZX Spectrum]
Magic Knight 4
- Three Musketeers, The (Greeve Graphics) [C64]
- Venom (Mastertronic) [C64]
- Village, The (Bill Cameron) [Macintosh]
World Builder adventure
- (Chris Gray) [C64]
Cartridge release
https://csdb.dk/release/?id=109613
- Batman: The Caped Crusader (Special FX) [ZX Spectrum]
Or C64 port?
- Beyond Dark Castle (Silicon Beach) [Macintosh]
Sequel of "Dark Castle"
- Colony, The (David Alan Smith) [Amiga]
Has official HD installer
- Corruption (Magnetic Scrolls) [Amiga]
Amiga version in interpreter (Gargoyle)
Has official HD installer
- Dark Side (Incentive) [Amiga]
...with C64 SID tune playing in the background (C64 version runs at about 2-3 FPS)
- Deja Vu II: Lost in Las Vegas (ICOM) [Macintosh]
Or the Amiga version
- Farmer's Daughter, The (Nocturnal) [C64]
- Fish! (Magnetic Scrolls) [Amiga]
Amiga version in interpreter (Gargoyle)
Has official HD installer
- Gold Rush! (Sierra) [Apple IIgs]
Has ScummVM support
- GrailQuest: Adventure in the Age of King Arthur (Robert Hommel) [Macintosh]
World Builder adventure
- Hotel Caper, The - The Rescue of Daring Drake (Bruce & Aeron Muckala) [Macintosh]
World Builder adventure
- Ingrid's Back (Level 9) [Amiga]
- Karth of the Jungle I (Erik Batzloff ) [Macintosh]
World Builder adventure
- King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella (Sierra) [DOS]
OPL soundtrack is very good
Has ScummVM support
- Lancelot (Level 9) [Amiga]
Has official HD installer
- Last Ninja 2, The (System 3) [C64]
Use cartridge version for fast load times
https://csdb.dk/release/?id=99145
https://csdb.dk/release/?id=167043
- Legend of the Sword (Silicon) [Amiga]
Has official HD installer
- Leisure Suit Larry Goes Looking for Love (in Several Wrong Places) (Sierra) [Amiga]
Play original AGI version
Leisure Suit Larry 2
Has ScummVM support
- Majik (Mastertronic) [C64]
- Manhunter: New York (Sierra) [Apple IIgs]
Has ScummVM support
- Mindfighter (Abstract Concepts) [C64]
- Mormonoids of the Deep (Lamprey Systems) [Macintosh]
World Builder adventure
- Neuromancer (Interplay) [C64]
Use cartridge version for fast load times
https://csdb.dk/release/?id=164228
- Police Quest II: The Vengeance (Sierra) [DOS]
Has ScummVM support
- Quarterstaff: The Tomb of Setmoth (Simulated Environment Systems) [Macintosh]
- Rocket Ranger (Cinemaware) [Amiga]
- Snatcher (Konami) [PlayStation]
- Spear of Destiny (Lloyd Bernhardt) [Macintosh]
World Builder adventure
- Swamp Witch (Jim Thompson) [Macintosh]
World Builder adventure
- Total Eclipse (Incentive) [Amiga]
...with C64 SID tune playing in the background (C64 version runs at about 2-3 FPS)
- Treasure Island Dizzy (Codemasters) [ZX Spectrum]
Dizzy II
- Where Time Stood Still (Ocean) [ZX Spectrum]
- Where in Europe is Carmen Sandiego? (Brøderbund) [Amiga]
Or Macintosh version
- Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (Brøderbund) [Amiga]
Has official HD installer
Or Macintosh version
- Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders (LucasArts) [C64]
Use cartridge version
https://csdb.dk/release/?id=9867
Or Amiga version
Has ScummVM support
Tactics
1986
- Defender of the Crown (Cinemaware) [Atari ST]
The original Amiga version has the best graphics, but it misses a lot of originally planned features. The later Atari ST and C64 ports are more complete.
Best C64 crack
https://csdb.dk/release/?id=19181
C64 cartridge conversion
https://csdb.dk/release/?id=162966
- Rebelstar (Firebird) [ZX Spectrum]
- Roadwar 2000 (SSI) [Amiga]
Has official HD installer
- Sentinel, The (Firebird) [Amiga]
- Dark Sceptre (Maelstrom) [ZX Spectrum]
- Nether Earth (Argus) [ZX Spectrum]
- Roadwar Europa (SSI) [Amiga]
Has official HD installer
- Sid Meier's Pirates! (Microprose) [Amiga]
Has official HD installer
- Star Trek: The Rebel Universe (Mike Singleton) [DOS]
- Balance of Power: The 1990 Edition (Chris Crawford) [Amiga]
- Carrier Command (Realtime) [Amiga]
- Freedom: Rebels in the Darkness (Coktel Vision) [Amiga]
- Freedom: Rebels in the Darkness (Coktel Vision) [Amiga]
- Hidden Agenda (Trans Fiction Systems) [DOS]
- Laser Squad (Target) [C64]
C64 disk version contains all extra missions (the tape version doesn't)
Amiga port is OK too, the DOS port has vastly inferior mechanics
- Life & Death (Software Toolworks) [Amiga]
- Rebelstar II: Alien Encounter (Target) [ZX Spectrum]
Space
1986
- Star Raiders II (Atari) [Atari 8-bit]
Official version:
http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-star-raiders-ii_4994.html
Proper sequel release retrospectively by the original author:
http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-star-raiders-ii_30426.html
- Starglider (Argonaut) [Amiga]
- Mercenary (Novagen) [Atari 8-bit]
- Space Shool Simulator: The Academy (CRL) [ZX Spectrum]
Tau Ceti series 2
- Captain Blood (ERE) [Amiga]
- Reach for the Stars: The Conquest of the Galaxy - Third Edition (SSG) [Amiga]
Has official HD installer
- Starglider II (Argonaut) [Amiga]
Simulation
1986
- Arctifox (Dynamix) [Amiga]
- Falcon (Spectrum Holobyte) [Amiga]
Only DOS version supports analog joystick. Play later Falcons instead?
Has official HD installer
- Tilt - A Game of Medieval Jousting (Neil Shapiro, Mike Gilbert) [Macintosh]
HyperCard game
- Battlehawks 1942 (LucasArts) [Amiga]
Only DOS version supports analog joystick... but the sound is terrible in the DOS version
Has official HD installer
- F-19 Stealth Fighter (MicroProse) [Amiga]
Stealth Fighter 1.0
Supports analog joystick
- F/A-18 Interceptor (Intellisoft) [Amiga]
Supports analog joystick
- Ocean Ranger (Sher-Tek) [C64]
One sided version
https://csdb.dk/release/?id=148643
- Red Storm Rising (MicroProse) [Amiga]
Submarine simulator
Has official HD installer
- Silent Service (MPS Labs) [Amiga]
Submarine simulator
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