List of self-booting IBM PC compatible games

Many IBM PC compatible games released between 1981 and about 1990 were self-booting and did not use MS-DOS, IBM PC DOS, or compatible disk operating systems. The phrase "IBM PC compatible self-booting disk" is sometimes shortened to "PC booter". Self-booting disks were common for other computers as well.

These games were distributed on " or, later, ", floppy disks that booted directly, meaning once they were inserted in the drive and the computer was turned on, a minimal, custom operating system on the diskette took over. This was used as a form of copy protection until it became obsolete as games grew larger. Due to bit rot, original working versions of these floppy disks are rare. Some have been ported to other operating systems.

TitleReleasedGenrePublisher/developer3-K Trivia1984StrategyIBMAce of Aces1986Combat flight simulatorAccolade / ArtechAgent USA1984Adventure / strategyScholastic / Tom Snyder ProductionsAlley Cat1984PlatformIBM / Synapse SoftwareThe Alpine Encounter1985AdventureRandom HouseAmnesia1986AdventureElectronic ArtsApple Panic1982PlatformBroderbundArchon: The Light and the Dark1984StrategyElectronic Arts / Free Fall AssociatesAttack On Altair1983ActionWindmill SoftwareBannercatch1984ActionScholasticBattlezone1983ActionAtarisoftB.C.'s Quest for Tires1984ActionSierra On-line / Sydney DevelopmentBelow the Root1984AdventureWindham Classics / Dale DisharoonBeneath Apple Manor1983RPGQuality SoftwareBeyond Castle Wolfenstein1984StealthMuse SoftwareBig Top1983PlatformFuntastic / Michael AbrashThe Black Cauldron1986AdventureSierra On-lineBorrowed Time1985AdventureActivision / InterplayBoulder Dash1984PuzzleFirst Star SoftwareBoulder Dash II1985PuzzleFirst Star SoftwareBruce Lee1984PlatformDatasoftBuck Rogers: Planet of Zoom1984ActionSegaBuggy Ranger1988ArcadeDinamic Software / Iron ByteBurgerTime1983PlatformMattel ElectronicsBuzzard Bait1983Fixed ShooterSIRIUSCentipede1983ActionAtarisoftChampionship Lode Runner1984PlatformBroderbund SoftwareChess881984Board gameUnknownClimber 51987PlatformCOMPUTE! PublicationsCommando1987Run and gunQuicksilver / Data EastConflict in Vietnam1986SimulationMicroProseCongo Bongo1984Isometric platformerSegaConquest1983PlatformWindmill SoftwareCosmic Crusader1982Fixed shooterFuntastic / Michael AbrashCrossfire1982ActionSierra On-LineCrusade in Europe1985SimulationMicroProseCrypto Cube1983PuzzleDesignWareCutthroats1984Interactive fictionInfocomCyborg1982Interactive fictionSentient / SoftsmithCzorian Siege1983ActionComputer Applications Unlimited / Howard W. SamsDeadline1982Interactive fictionInfocomDecision in the Desert1985SimulationMicroProseDefender1983Scrolling shooterAtarisoftDefender of the Crown1987Strategy gameMaster Designer Software / Mirrorsoft Demon Attack1982Fixed shooterImagicDemon's Forge1987AdventureSaber SoftwareDestroyer1986SimulationEpyxDig Dug1982MazeAtarisoftDigger1983ActionWindmill SoftwareDonald Duck's Playground1986EducationalSierra On-LineDonkey Kong1982PlatformAtarisoftDr. J and Larry Bird Go One on One1983SportsElectronic ArtsDunjonquest: Morloc's Tower1983Dungeon crawlEpyx / Automated SimulationsEarthly Delights1983AdventureDatamostEden Blues1987AdventureERE InformatiqueEnchanter1986Interactive fictionInfocomEvolution1982ActionSydney Development CorporationExecutive Suite1982Life simulationArmonk CorporationThe Exterminator1982ActionNufekop / Bubble BusF-15 Strike Eagle1984Combat flight simulatorMicroProseFaceMaker1982EducationalDesignWare / Spinnaker Five-a-Side Indoor Soccer1986SportsMastertronic GroupFleet Sweep1983ActionMirror ImagesFloppy Frenzy1982ActionWindmill SoftwareForbidden Castle1985AdventureAngelsoft / Mindscape Forbidden Quest1983AdventurePryority SoftwareThe Fourth Protocol1985AdventureElectronic Pencil Company / Hutchinson Computer PublishingFreddy Fish1983ActionMirror ImagesFreddy Hardest1988PlatformDinamic SoftwareFreddy Hardest in South Manhattan1989PlatformDinamic Software/ Iron ByteFriendlyWare P.C. Action1983ActionFriendlySoftFriendlyWare PC Introductory Set1983ActionFriendlySoftFrogger1983ActionSierra On-LineFrogger II: ThreeeDeep!1984ActionSegaFull Count Baseball1984SportsLance Haffner GamesGalactic Gladiators1983Tactical combatStrategic SimulationsGalaxian1983Fixed shooterAtarisoftGame Over1987Run and gunDinamic Software / Imagine SoftwareGame Over II1987Shoot em' upDinamic SoftwareGamma Force in Pit of a Thousand Screams1988Interactive fictionTom Snyder Productions / InfocomGhostbusters1986MiscellaneousActivisionGremlins1984Fixed shooterAtarisoftGuerrilla War1987Run and gunQuicksilver / Data EastHacker II: The Doomsday Papers1986Puzzle / strategyActivisionHard Hat Mack1984Platform gameElectronic ArtsHarrier Combat Simulator1987SimulationMindscapeHellCat Ace1984First person shooterMicroProseHigh Stakes1986Card gameAngelsoft / MindscapeThe Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy1984Interactive fictionInfocomThe Hobbit1983Interactive fictionBeam Software / Melbourne House The Holy Grail1984AdventureHayden SoftwareI, Damiano: The Wizard of Partestrada1985Interactive fictionImagic / Bantam SoftwareIkari Warriors1987Run and gunQuicksilver / Data EastIkari Warriors II: Victory Road1988Run and gunQuicksilver / Data EastIndianapolis 500: The Simulation1989RacingElectronic ArtsInfidel1983Interactive fictionInfocomInternational Hockey1987SportsArtworx / Superior Quality SoftwareJ-Bird1983PuzzleOrion SoftwareJames Bond 007: Goldfinger1986Interactive fictionAngelsoft / MindscapeJet1985SimulationSublogicJohn Elway's Quarterback1988SportsLeland / Melbourne HouseJoust1983PlatformAtarisoftJumpman1984Platform / puzzleEpyx, IBMJungle Hunt1983ActionAtarisoftKarnov1989PlatformQuicksilver / Data East Kindercomp1983EducationalSpinnakerKing's Quest: Quest for the Crown1984AdventureSierra On-LineKing's Quest II: Romancing the Throne1985AdventureSierra On-LineKobyashi Naru1987AdventureMastertronicLane Mastodon vs. the Blubbermen1988AdventureTom Snyder Productions / InfocomLivingstone supongo1987ActionOpera SoftLivingstone supongo II1989ActionOpera SoftLock-On1987First person shooterTatsumi Electronics, Data EastLode Runner1983Platform / puzzleBroderbund / AriolasoftM.U.L.E.1983StrategyElectronic Arts, K-ByteMarble Madness1986Platform / racingBroderbund, AriolasoftMaster Miner1983ActionFuntasticMath Maze1983RacingDesignWareMetropolis1987SimulationArcadia Systems, Melbourne HouseMicroLeague Baseball1984SportsMicroLeagueMicrosoft Adventure1981Interactive fictionMicrosoft, IBMMicrosoft Decathlon1982SportsMicrosoft, IBMMicrosoft Flight Simulator 1.01982SimulationSublogic / MicrosoftMicrosoft Flight Simulator 2.01984SimulationSublogic / MicrosoftMindshadow1984AdventureInterplay / ActivisionMine Shaft1983PuzzleSierra On-Line, IBMMiner 2049er1983PlatformBig Five Software / Micro FunMontezuma's Revenge1984PlatformBCI SoftwareMoon Bugs1983ActionWindmill SoftwareMoon Patrol1983Scrolling shooterAtarisoftMorloc's Tower1983AdventureAutomated SimulationsMouser1983Platform / puzzleGebelli Software, IBMMs. Pac-Man1983MazeAtarisoftMundial de Fútbol1990SportsOpera Sports, Opera SoftMurder on the Zinderneuf1984AdventureFree Fall Associates, Electronic ArtsNarco Police1989Action / shooterIron Byte, Dinamic SoftwareNight Mission Pinball1982PinballSublogicNight Stalker1983MazeMattel ElectronicsOil's Well1984MazeSierra On-LinePac-Man1983MazeAtarisoftParatrooper1982ShooterGreg Kuperberg, Orion SoftwarePC Arcade1983ActionFriendlysoftPC Pool1983SportsHesware, IBMPC Pool Challenges1984SportsHesware, IBMPC-Man1982MazeOrion SoftwarePinball Construction Set1985PinballElectronic ArtsPitfall II: Lost Caverns1984PlatformActivisionPitstop II1984RacingSynergistic Software, EpyxPlanetfall1983Interactive fictionInfocomPortal1986RPGNexa Corporation, ActivisionProwler1987SimulationIcon Design Ltd., MastertronicPsi-5 Trading Company1986StrategyAccoladeRasterscan1987PuzzleBinary Design, MastertronicRescue at Rigel1983RPGEpyxRescate en el Golfo1991ShooterOpera SoftRiver Raid1984Scrolling shooterActivisionRobotron: 20841983Fixed shooterAtarisoftRockford1988ArcadeArcadia SystemsRollo and the Brush Bros.1983PuzzleWindmill SoftwareSatan1990PlatformDinamic SoftwareScubaVenture1983ActionGebelli Software, IBMSeastalker1984Interactive fictionInfocomSerpentine1982ActionBroderbundSol Negro1988ArcadeOpera SoftThe Seven Cities of Gold1987AdventureOzark Softscape, Electronic ArtsShamus1984ActionWilliam Mataga, Synapse SoftwareSherlock Holmes: Another Bow1985AdventureImagic, Bantam SoftwareSid Meier's Pirates!1987Action / adventureMicroProseSidewinder1988Shoot em' upSynergistic Software, Arcadia SystemsSierra Championship Boxing1985SportsEvryware, Sierra On-LineSilent Service1986Submarine simulatorMicroProseThe Slugger1988SportsOcean Software, MastertronicSnack Attack II1982MazeFuntasticSolo Flight1983SimulationMicroProseSolomon's Key1988PuzzleU.S. GoldSorcerer1984Interactive fictionInfocomSpace Strike1982ActionMichael Abrash, DatamostSpellicopter1983EdutainmentDesignWareSpiderbot1988PlatformAddictive Games, EpyxSpitfire Ace1984Flying shooterMicroProseSpy Hunter1984Vehicular combatSegaStarcross1982Interactive fictionInfocomStargate1983Scrolling shooterAtarisoftStorm1987PuzzleMastertronicStrategy Games1983StrategyIBMStyx1983PuzzleWindmill SoftwareSub Mission1987ShooterTom Snyder Productions, MindscapeSummer Games II1986SportsEpyxSuper Boulder Dash1986ActionFirst Star Software, Electronic ArtsSuper Football Sunday1985SportsQuest / Avalon HillSuper Zaxxon1984Shoot em' upSegaSuspect1984Interactive fictionInfocomSuspended1983Interactive fictionInfocomTag Team Wrestling1985SportsQuicksilver / Data EastTapper1983ActionBally MidwayTass Times in Tonetown1986AdventureBrainwave Creations / Interplay, ActivisionThe Last Mission1987ActionOpera SoftTimothy Leary's Mind Mirror1986Interactive fictionFutique, Electronic ArtsTouchdown Football1984SportsImagic, IBMThe Tracer Sanction1984AdventureInterplay / ActivisionTrilogy1987AdventureMastertronicTrivia 1011984EducationalDigital Learning Systems, IBMTroll's Tale1984AdventureSierra On-LineTV and Cinema 101: Trivia from Talkies to Trekkies1984Game showDigital Learning Systems, IBMUlysses and the Golden Fleece1982Hi-res adventureSierra On-LineUp'n Down1984PlatformSega Enterprise, Ltd.Voodoo Island1985Interactive fictionAngelsoft / MindscapeWarrior of Ras: Volume I - Dunzhin1982RPGIntelligent Statements Inc., Computer Applications UnlimitedWill Harvey's Music Construction Set1984EducationalElectronic ArtsWinter Games1986SportsEpyxThe Witness1983Interactive fictionInfocomWizard and the Princess1982AdventureOn-Line SystemsWizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord1984RPGSir-TechWizardry II: The Knight of Diamonds1985RPGSir-TechWizardry III: Legacy of Llylgamyn1986RPGSir-TechWizardry IV: The Return of Werdna1987RPGSir-TechWizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom1988RPGSir-TechWizball1987Shoot 'em upSensible Software, Ocean SoftwareWord Spinner1984EducationalThe Learning CompanyWorld Games1986SportsK-Byte / EpyxWorld Karate Championship1986FightingEpyx / System 3The World's Greatest Baseball Game1985SportsQuest Inc., EpyxZaxxon1984ActionSegaZork: The Great Underground Empire1982Interactive fictionInfocomZork II: The Wizard of Frobozz1983Interactive fictionInfocomZork III: The Dungeon Master1984Interactive fictionInfocomZorkQuest: Assault on Egreth Castle1988AdventureTom Snyder Productions / InfocomZorkQuest: The Crystal of Doom1989AdventureTom Snyder Productions / InfocomZyll1984Interactive fictionIBM