Top 10 · Strategy

The 10 best DOS strategy games

The 10 best DOS strategy games, as the players of dos.games rate them. Command & Conquer leads the list, ahead of Sid Meier's Civilization and Theme Hospital.

Every game on the list plays in your browser, with nothing to install. The order comes from players' ratings and real play time, so it moves as people play.

Updated November 2, 2026How the lists are ranked

113DOS strategy games in the archive
10 of 10Play in your browser
3.9Score of #1, out of 5

1. Command & Conquer
1995 · Westwood Studios, Inc. · Strategy / tactics
3.9 out of 5Played all the time
Westwood's 1995 MS-DOS strategy game Command & Conquer pits GDI against Nod in the war for Tiberium. Includes the Covert Operations add-on.
Play now: Command & Conquer About the game
2. Sid Meier's Civilization
1991 · MPS Labs · Strategy / tactics
3.9 out of 5Played all the time
In Sid Meier's 1991 strategy game, you build an empire from ancient history to spaceflight, spanning the widest scope of any strategy game in 1991.
Play now: Sid Meier's Civilization About the game
3. Theme Hospital
1997 · Bullfrog Productions, Ltd. · Strategy / tactics
3.9 out of 5Played all the time
Theme Hospital is a level-based hospital management simulation where players have to start on an empty building, and then assemble rooms with all kinds of material, from desks and file cabinets for the general diagnosis to the expensive ultra-scanners and x-rays to diagnose such bizarre diseases such as Bloaty Head, Slack Songue or Alien DNA, and treat them with with even more bizarre machines like an Head Inflator or a DNA fixer.
Play now: Theme Hospital About the game
4. Heroes of Might and Magic II (Deluxe Edition)
1998 · New World Computing, Inc. · Strategy / tactics
3.7 out of 5Played all the time
Heroes of Might and Magic II is a fantasy role-playing game which takes place in the land of Enroth, a place of magic.
Play now: Heroes of Might and Magic II (Deluxe Edition)About the game
5. Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness
1995 · Blizzard Entertainment · Strategy / tactics
3.6 out of 5Played all the time
For the kingdoms of Azeroth the real-time battle between Humans and Orcs continues with Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, the sequel to its highly succesful predecessor...
Play now: Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness About the game
6. Earth 2140
1997 · TopWare Programmy Sp. z o.o. · Strategy / tactics
3.6 out of 5Played all the time
It's the year 2140, earth is almost completely destroyed after numerous wars and environmental catastrophes, and the people primarily live underground.
Play now: Earth 2140 About the game
7. Z
1996 · The Bitmap Brothers · Strategy / tactics
3.6 out of 5Played all the time
Z is a real-time strategy game in which you fight for control of the sectors, some of which contains manufactories that can gain you additional units.
Play now: Z About the game
8. Master of Orion
1993 · SimTex, Inc. · Strategy / tactics
3.6 out of 5Played all the time
Master of Orion overlaps with Civilization insofar as you are the leader of one of several races.
Play now: Master of Orion About the game
9. Theme Park
1994 · Bullfrog Productions, Ltd. · Strategy / tactics
3.5 out of 5Played all the time
Dominating the exciting world of Theme Park ownership is your goal in this strategy game from Bullfrog.
Play now: Theme Park About the game
10. Command & Conquer: Red Alert
1996 · Westwood Studios, Inc. · Strategy / tactics
3.5 out of 5Played all the time
What if Hitler never existed?
Play now: Command & Conquer: Red Alert About the game

Ranks 11–20

More great DOS strategy games

11. Jagged AllianceSir-tech Software, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1995Played a lot
A lot
3.5 out of 5
12. Dungeon KeeperElectronic Arts, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1997Played all the time
All the time
3.4 out of 5
13. Heroes of Might and MagicNew World Computing, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1995Played all the time
All the time
3.4 out of 5
14. Command & Conquer: Red Alert - Red DawnSorry Software · Strategy / tactics · 1997Played all the time
All the time
3.4 out of 5
15. SpellcrossJRC Interactive · Strategy / tactics · 1997Played all the time
All the time
3.3 out of 5
16. Scorched EarthFreeware · Strategy / tactics · 1991Played all the time
All the time
3.3 out of 5
17. Panzer GeneralStrategic Simulations, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1994Played all the time
All the time
3.3 out of 5
18. Strip Poker Professional rev. BArtworx Software Company, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1995Played all the time
All the time
3.3 out of 5
19. Strip Poker Professional Volume IIArtworx Software Company, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1995Played all the time
All the time
3.3 out of 5
20. Steel Panthers III: Brigade Command - 1939-1999Strategic Simulations, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1997Played all the time
All the time
3.3 out of 5

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Questions

Frequently asked

How Best DOS Games are ranked

What is the best DOS strategy game?

Command & Conquer (1995, Westwood Studios, Inc.) is the best DOS strategy game by our players' ratings, ahead of Sid Meier's Civilization and Theme Hospital. The ranking follows players' ratings and real play time, so it changes as people play.

Can I play these DOS strategy games online?

Yes. 10 of the games on this list play free in your browser on dos.games, with no download and no emulator to set up. Press Play on any of them; your progress can be saved.

How many DOS strategy games are there on dos.games?

113. This list ranks the best 10 in full and the next ones below them; the catalogue has every one, with filters for year, studio and more.

Which year had the most great DOS strategy games?

1995. 2 of the games on this list came out that year: Command & Conquer and Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness.

How is this list ranked?

With the same score as our Best DOS Games ranking: players' ratings, pulled toward the archive's own rating while a game has few of them, plus a small bonus for the games people actually keep playing. No editor and no sponsor decides a place.