Top 10 · 1996

The 10 best DOS games of 1996

The 10 best DOS games of 1996, as the players of dos.games rate them. Z leads the list, ahead of Circle of Blood and Worms United.

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 7, 2026How the lists are ranked

95DOS games of 1996 in the archive
10 of 10Play in your browser
3.8Score of #1, out of 5

1. Z
1996 · The Bitmap Brothers · Strategy / tactics
3.8 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
2. Circle of Blood
1996 · Revolution Software Ltd. · Adventure
3.7 out of 5Played all the time
George Stobbart is an American tourist spending his autumn vacation in Paris.
Play now: Circle of Blood About the game
3. Worms United
1996 · Team17 Software Limited · Compilation
3.5 out of 5Played all the time
Worms United is a compilation that includes the turn-based strategy game Worms and its add-on pack Worms: Reinforcements.
Play now: Worms United About the game
4. F-22 Lightning II
1996 · NovaLogic, Inc. · Simulation
3.5 out of 5Played all the time
Yet another simulation of the yet to enter service F-22, probably the most advanced fighter of the world.
Play now: F-22 Lightning II About the game
5. 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
6. Final DOOM
1996 · TeamTNT · Action
3.4 out of 5Played all the time
Final DOOM is the last ID-Tech 1 Doom game.
Play now: Final DOOM About the game
7. The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall
1996 · Bethesda Softworks LLC · Role-playing (RPG)
3.4 out of 5Played all the time
Chapter 2 of the acclaimed Elder Scrolls series of RPGs; sequel to Arena.
Play now: The Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall About the game
8. Quake
1996 · id Software, Inc. · Action
3.4 out of 5Played all the time
An enemy with the codename ''Quake'', which is believed to come from another dimension, is using teleporter gates to invade Earth.
Play now: Quake About the game
9. Bust-A-Move Again
1996 · Taito Corporation · Puzzle
3.3 out of 5Played all the time
The idea is to burst colored bubbles by linking any three bubbles of the same color.
Play now: Bust-A-Move Again About the game
10. Duke Nukem 3D
1996 · 3D Realms Entertainment · Action
3.3 out of 5Played all the time
Aliens have landed in futuristic Los Angeles and it's up to the Duke to bring the pain and show them the door.
Play now: Duke Nukem 3D About the game

Ranks 11–20

More great DOS games of 1996

11. DOOM 2DPrikol Software · Action · 1996Played all the time
All the time
3.3 out of 5
12. Alien RampageSoftdisk Publishing · Action · 1996Played a lot
A lot
3.3 out of 5
13. Marvel Comics Spider-Man: The Sinister SixByron Preiss Multimedia Company, Inc. · Adventure · 1996Played all the time
All the time
3.3 out of 5
14. Descent IIInterplay Productions · Action · 1996Played a lot
A lot
3.3 out of 5
15. StrifeVelocity Inc. · Action · 1996Played a lot
A lot
3.3 out of 5
16. Rayman ForeverUbi Soft Entertainment Software · Action · 1996Played all the time
All the time
3.3 out of 5
17. Big Red RacingDomark Software Ltd. · Racing / Driving · 1996Played a lot
A lot
3.3 out of 5
18. Mutation of J.B.Riki Computer Games · Adventure · 1996Played a lot
A lot
3.3 out of 5
19. AlbionBlue Byte Software, Inc. · Role-playing (RPG) · 1996Played all the time
All the time
3.3 out of 5
20. Mutant PenguinsGameTek · Action · 1996Played a lot
A lot
3.3 out of 5

Keep exploring

More top lists by year

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Questions

Frequently asked

How Best DOS Games are ranked

What is the best DOS game of 1996?

Z (1996, The Bitmap Brothers) is the best DOS game of 1996 by our players' ratings, ahead of Circle of Blood and Worms United. The ranking follows players' ratings and real play time, so it changes as people play.

Can I play these DOS games of 1996 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 games of 1996 are there on dos.games?

95. 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.

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.