Home of Retro PC Gaming
Currently hosting 19 educational games!
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Home of Retro PC Gaming Currently hosting 19 educational games! |
| Adventure Math 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Educational | ||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Epic MegaGames | ||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Epic MegaGames | ||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: VGA 320×200×256c | ||||||||||||||||||
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Adventure Math has easily the best graphics and sound of any DOS math game I've ever seen. Wave synthesis even produces a voice that says the numbers as you type them. In the normal game, you answer math questions in a form where one of the numbers from the question and the answer are provided, and you have to provide the other number, such as "5 + ? = 8" instead of the usual "5 + 3 = ?" format. Answer enough questions correctly and you can play a bonus level, in which you have a space ship at the bottom of the screen, a math problem to solve, and three answers at the top of the screen. Objects are bouncing around on the screen, so you have to shoot the correct answer and avoid being destroyed by the bouncing objects. There are 10 difficulty levels, designed to engage children between Grades 1 and 5. Unlike Mather, this game will not provide a challenge for adults. The shareware version includes only addition and subtraction questions, the registered "Deluxe" version adds multiplication, division, and a timer, which are really the only things missing from this program. Complete version history:
The registered version of this game is still sold through www.epicclassics.com for $12 on floppy disk only.
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| Amazing Learning Games With Rayman 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Educational | ||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Ubi Soft Entertainment | ||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Ubi Soft Entertainment | ||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: VGA 320×200×256c | ||||||||||||||||||
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Amazing Learning Games With Rayman was released as Rayman Junior in the United Kingdom, and re-released as Rayman Learning Centre in 1999. The game looks and plays exactly like the original Rayman game, except that the difficulty level has been reduced and the game is designed to be educational. Rayman can still punch enemies, grab onto ledges and use his helicopter hair. The game asks questions and Rayman has to choose which route to take. For instance, Rayman might be told to look for things that you find in the home, or given a math equation to solve. If he takes the route associated with the incorrect answer, he is killed instantly! There are still power-ups and Tings and everything you would expect in a Rayman game. Be sure to go into DEMO\RAYEDU and run SNDDEMO.BAT or you won't be able to hear the voice instructions! Only the first two levels are playable in the shareware version.
I have found no ordering information for this game.
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| Animal Quest 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Educational | ||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Alive Software | ||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Alive Software | ||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: EGA 640×350×16c | ||||||||||||||||||
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A turn-based game where you pick an animal to play and move about a grid, trying to catch prey and avoid predators. Plants and animals are assigned positions in the food chain, and each animal eats different kinds of food. Animals you're trying to eat may eat some of the plants and animals that you consider food before you do. There are options to click on each creature to get a description of them, or see where they stand in the food chain, as far as what creatures are their predators and their prey. You gain points for eating other creatures and lose points for being caught by predators. Eating animals adds more points to your score than eating plants. When you get a score of 49, you gain the ability to move diagonally, which makes it much easier to hunt and avoid predators. The ability is lost if your score drops below 49. There are 4 episodes in this game, with only Forest Animals being playable in the shareware version. Forest Animals
Alivesoft still sells the registered version of this game for $20 on floppy disk or CD-ROM, or $10 as a registered download.
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| Color Wizard, The 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Freeware (former shareware) | Educational | ||||||||||||||||
| Developed by ImagiSOFT | ||||||||||||||||||
| Published by ImagiSOFT | ||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: VGA 320×200×256c | ||||||||||||||||||
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At first glance, The Color Wizard appears to be just a coloring book for children. Actually, it's an advanced drawing program and tutorial. The Color Wizard makes it easy to apply shading, and uses dithering to simulate 700 colors. If you click on the Artist button, the artist teaches you drawing techniques, such as shading and the effect of light on objects, and reflections. The Book button gives information about the subject of the drawing, such as dinosaurs and sharks. It's educational and fun. There are 40 pictures in this game, with only 8 available in the shareware version. The full version is now freeware, but it can't be distributed without permission, so you'll need to go to ImagiSOFT's website to download it.
ImagiSOFT has generously released this game as freeware, which can be downloaded from their website.
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| Dinosaur Predators 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Educational | ||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Alive Software | ||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Alive Software | ||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: EGA 640×350×16c | ||||||||||||||||||
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A turn-based game where you pick a dinosaur to play and move about a grid, trying to catch prey and avoid predators. Plants and animals are assigned positions in the food chain, and different dinosaurs eat different kinds of food. There are options to click on each creature to get a description of them, or see where they stand in the food chain, as far as what creatures are their predators and their prey. You gain points for eating other creatures and lose points for being caught by predators. When you get a score of 49, you gain the ability to move diagonally, which makes it much easier to hunt and avoid predators. The ability is lost if your score drops below 49. Gameplay is identical to Animal Quest, except for a few things. Because we've never observed dinosaurs, they are strictly defined as either carnivore or herbivore, reducing competition in the food chain. A herbivore doesn't need to worry about predators eating the plants it wants to eat whereas, in Animal Quest, even the strongest predators will often eat leaves and berries, too. Dinosaur Predators adds an option to answer trivia questions to gain points. There are 4 episodes in this game, with only Jurassic Dinosaurs being playable in the shareware version. Jurassic Dinosaurs
Alivesoft still sells the registered version of this game for $20 on floppy disk or CD-ROM, or $10 as a registered download.
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| Googol Math Games 1989 | ||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (full version) | Educational | ||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Paul T. Dawson | ||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Paul T. Dawson | ||||||||||||||||||
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When I was in elementary school we had a monochrome computer with this game on it. Kids used to gather around to play and watch. Sometimes the children would help each other with the answers, sometimes students would insist upon answering the questions themselves. As educational games go, this is one of the best ever. In Googol Climber you play a character who bounces along in a room with several levels and a number on each side, while balls roll through the room. You must get to the level that has the correct answer to the math question without hitting your head on the ceiling or hitting the balls, and avoid getting the wrong answer. Googolpede is the classic "snake" game except that you try to hit either "T" for true or "F" for false to answer the math problem on the screen. Googolvaders is like Space Invaders with aliens made out of math problems. Shoot them with the correct answer before they reach the ground. All games can be played with any mix of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, and have different speeds to create levels of skill. Success is rewarded with congratulations from robots and cars and other "bells and whistles". The games are still fun after all these years.
I have been unable to locate the author online, but there is still a mailing address for registration. The games indicate that you can register for $10, or "super register" and get all 10 of Paul T. Dawson's educational games for $35.
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| Googol Review 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (full version) | Educational | ||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Paul T. Dawson | ||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Paul T. Dawson | ||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: CGA 320×200×4c | ||||||||||||||||||
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Googol Review is a straightforward math problem game where you simply enter the correct answer to addition, subtraction, multiplication or division questions and word problems. Has the same positive encouragement and bells and whistles as the other games by Paul T. Dawson.
I have been unable to locate the author online, but there is still a mailing address for registration. The games indicate that you can register for $10, or "super register" and get all 10 of Paul T. Dawson's educational games for $35.
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| Googolpede for Windows 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | Win16 Shareware (full version) | Educational | ||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Paul T. Dawson | ||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Paul T. Dawson | ||||||||||||||||||
| Screenshot | ||||||||||||||||||
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Googolpede is the classic "snake" game except that you try to hit either "T" for true or "F" for false to answer the math problem on the screen. Updated for Windows 3.1, Googolpede for Windows is highly configurable in everything from the math problems, speed, size of the playing field, background animation, and sound effects.
I have been unable to locate the author online, but there is still a mailing address for registration. The games indicate that you can register for $10, or "super register" and get all 10 of Paul T. Dawson's educational games for $35.
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| Lost Mind of Dr. Brain, The 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | Win16 Shareware (partial game) | Educational | ||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Sierra On-Line | ||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Sierra On-Line | ||||||||||||||||||
| Screenshot | ||||||||||||||||||
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The third in the popular Dr. Brain series of educational games from Sierra. While performing an experiment to give his intelligence to a lab rat, Dr. Brain transfers his mind to the rat and leaves himself a vegetable! The player must reconstruct Dr. Brain's mind by completing puzzles in nine regions of the brain, and getting 100% in each puzzle. There are three difficulty levels in each puzzle, which are worth 5, 10 and 15%, respectively. File sorting is a memory game in which Dr. Brain asks you to place items in filing cabinets and remember where they are, even after the cabinets are re-arranged in the harder difficulty levels. The Music Region requires you to reconstruct a piece of classical music from a group of bars which are in the wrong order, and may also be vertically or horizontally flipped. Motor Programming is a simple programming language like Logo, which requires you to break a problem into smaller tasks and write subroutines to collect pieces of Dr. Brain's mind. The game is filled with beautiful animation, voice, and humor. There are 9 regions of Dr. Brain's mind, with only 3 playable in the shareware version. The Lost Mind of Dr. Brain Shareware Demo (48 750k) Sierra no longer sells this game. It can be ordered from Amazon: The Lost Mind of Dr. Brain.
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| Lugnut Math City 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (full version) | Educational | ||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Paul T. Dawson | ||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Paul T. Dawson | ||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: EGA 640×350×16c | ||||||||||||||||||
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Originally called Lugnut City, Lugnut Math City is an educational platformer where you use a robot to answer different types of questions to make your way through 10 mazes. Questions include true or false, multiple choice, adding, counting, and choosing the correct operator (add, subtract, multiply or divide). There are huge bonus points and lots of encouragement from the program. A level editor also allows you to create 10 of your own levels. Kids apparently love this game.
I have been unable to locate the author online, but there is still a mailing address for registration. The games indicate that you can register for $10, or "super register" and get all 10 of Paul T. Dawson's educational games for $35.
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| Math Rescue 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Educational | ||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Redwood Games | ||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Apogee Software | ||||||||||||||||||
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In this sequel to Word Rescue, the Gruzzles have stolen all of the world's numbers. Your character can run and jump. Hit a question to answer a math problem, which helps you progress to the next level. A pretty decent little math game. There are 3 episodes in this game, with only the first episode playable in the shareware version. Episode 1 - Visit Volcanos and Ice Caves Complete version history:
Apogee still sells the registered version of this game for $5.99 by download. Redwood Games still sells the registered version of this game for $12 by download.
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| Mather 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (full version) | Educational | ||||||||||||||||
| Developed by MoraffWare | ||||||||||||||||||
| Published by MoraffWare | ||||||||||||||||||
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One of the better math games I've seen. The questions become more difficult as you answer correctly, to the degree that it remains difficult even for me. Some of the multiplication and division questions reach four digits when an adult plays, forcing you to solve the problem first to the thousands place, then the hundreds, etc. The learner quickly realizes that large numbers are no more difficult to work with than small numbers, it just takes more steps. The concept of understanding the relationship between powers to understand the numbers themselves and, in so doing, understand the nature of math, is a good one. The game keeps track of your skill level for each of the four operands. Good for people of any age who need to brush up on their math skills, with prizes for answering correctly and within the time limit. Version 2.0 adds graphics and problems with three numbers, but removes the option to play with mixed (all four) operands. It also internally includes Moraff's Super Entrap. The documentation indicates that the game can be referred to as "Mathtrap".
I have found no ordering information for this game, and it is not listed on Moraff's website.
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| Paul's Classroom Math 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (full version) | Educational | ||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Paul T. Dawson | ||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Paul T. Dawson | ||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: ASCII 80×40×16c | ||||||||||||||||||
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A straightforward math quiz where you answer as many addition, subtraction, multiplication and division questions as you can within the time limit. Designed for the classroom, none of the bells and whistles of Paul T. Dawson's other games are present in this game. It's no frills and silent!
I have been unable to locate the author online, but there is still a mailing address for registration. The games indicate that you can register for $10, or "super register" and get all 10 of Paul T. Dawson's educational games for $35.
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| Salad Scribble 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | Win16 Freeware (always) | Educational | ||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Paul T. Dawson | ||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Paul T. Dawson | ||||||||||||||||||
| Screenshot | ||||||||||||||||||
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A straightforward paint program for Windows 3.1 that can do a few things that Paintbrush can't. Designed with fun in mind, there is a color randomizer, and lots of options for drawing shapes, typing text with any installed font, creating inverse images, and just generally messing around at an amateur level. Salad Scribble is free for non-commercial use, and can load and save BMP images.
This game was originally released under a freeware license.
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| Talking ABC's: A Day At The Beach 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (full version) | Educational | ||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Karen Crowther (Redwood Games) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Karen Crowther (Redwood Games) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: CGA 320×200×4c EGA 640×350×16c | ||||||||||||||||||
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Talking ABC's: A Trip To The Beach is an early spelling game for children 2 to 6 years old. The game uses software called TurboSound to produce voice through the PC speaker, while the vast majority of games required a soundcard. There are three modes of play. In the first mode, the game announces a letter, which the player must find on the keyboard, and then an object that starts with that later is introduced and drawn onto the screen. In the second mode, the player can press any letter and the corresponding object is drawn to the screen, which the player can move wherever they want. In the third mode, three letters and three objects are displayed, and the player must draw a line between the letters and objects to make them match. Registered users received a copy of the game which displayed their child's name, and could request a CGA optimized version which was much faster for CGA users. Additionally, they were promised a free game. Later versions promised a copy of Millions of Mazes, which may or may not have been the original free game.
I have found no ordering information for this game.
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| Trivia Whiz 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Freeware (former shareware) | Educational | ||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Micro F/X Software | ||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Apogee Software, Micro F/X Software | ||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: ASCII 80×40×16c | ||||||||||||||||||
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A simple trivia game with questions on a large variety of topics, using the same engine as Next Generation Trivia. Bonus points are awarded for answering within the time limit. Trivia Whiz was developed by Micro F/X Software, before George Broussard merged his operations with Scott Miller's Apogee Software. Apogee took over distribution after Micro F/X ceased to be a separate company. Each volume has 100 multiple choice questions. There are 5 volumes in this game, with only the first episode playable in the shareware version. Trivia Whiz Registered Version (138k) Play online Apogee generously released this game as freeware under the Trivia Whiz Freeware License in December 2005.
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| Wolfie's Music Games 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (full version) | Educational | ||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Paul T. Dawson | ||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Paul T. Dawson | ||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: EGA 640×350×16c | ||||||||||||||||||
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Self described as being "90% game and 10% music", Wolfie's Music Games is a collection of 10 games that teaches the notes of the scale and the relationship between sharps and flats. Sonic Googolpede, for instance, is the same snake game as regular Googolpede, except that you're given a note on either the bass or treble clef and you have to eat the correct note. Raindrops is like Googolvaders, but you have to fire the correct note to destroy the invaders. An unadvertised feature is that if you leave the game sitting on the menu screen, a fancy EGA screensaver starts up.
I have been unable to locate the author online, but there is still a mailing address for registration. The games indicate that you can register for $10, or "super register" and get all 10 of Paul T. Dawson's educational games for $35.
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| Word Rescue 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Educational | ||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Redwood Games | ||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Apogee Software | ||||||||||||||||||
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A spelling adventure game. Apogee continues to distribute v2.0, while Redwood Games distributes v3.0, which has a Win32 installer but is still a DOS game. The most obvious difference is that the title screen lists the game as a Redwood Games production rather than a Karen Crowther and Bud Pembroke production. There are 3 episodes in this game, with only the first episode playable in the shareware version. Episode 1 - Visit Gruzzleville and the Castle Complete version history:
Apogee still sells the registered version of this game for $5.99 by download. Redwood Games still sells the registered version of this game for $12 by download.
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| Word Whiz 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Freeware (former shareware) | Educational | ||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Apogee Software | ||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Apogee Software | ||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: ASCII 80×40×16c | ||||||||||||||||||
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A program that teaches difficult and commonly misspelled words, using the same engine as Trek Trivia. There are 4 volumes in this game, with only the first volume playable in the shareware version. Each volume has 100 words. Word Whiz v3.0 Registered Version with source code in Turbo Pascal 5.0 (189k) Play online Apogee generously released this game as freeware under the Word Whiz Freeware License in December 2005.
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