Top 10 · 1997

The 10 best DOS games of 1997

The 10 best DOS games of 1997, as the players of dos.games rate them. Theme Hospital leads the list, ahead of Constructor and Blood.

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 11, 2026How the lists are ranked

68DOS games of 1997 in the archive
10 of 10Play in your browser
3.9Score of #1, out of 5

1. 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
2. Constructor
1997 · System 3 Software Ltd. · Simulation
3.8 out of 5Played all the time
Constructor gives the player the chance to run a construction company in a place where real estate is up for those who want to develop it first and where everything is allowed to get rid of the competition.
Play now: Constructor About the game
3. Blood
1997 · Monolith Productions · Action
3.8 out of 5Played all the time
Caleb was once a feared gunslinger, until he met a woman who was involved with a mysterious cult known as Cabal.
Play now: Blood About the game
4. Grand Theft Auto
1997 · DMA Design Limited · Racing / Driving
3.8 out of 5Played all the time
Play now: Grand Theft Auto About the game
5. Earth 2140
1997 · TopWare Programmy Sp. z o.o. · Strategy / tactics
3.7 out of 5Played a lot
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
6. Fallout
1997 · Interplay Productions · Role-playing (RPG)
3.7 out of 5Played all the time
Leave Vault 13 with a leather jacket, 10mm pistol, and 150 days to replace a failed Water Chip before your home dies of thirst in Interplay's 1997 RPG Fallout.
Play now: Fallout About the game
7. The Settlers II: Gold Edition
1997 · Blue Byte · Strategy / tactics
3.6 out of 5Played all the time
The Settlers II (Gold Edition) contains: The Settlers II: Veni, Vidi, Vici The Settlers II Mission CD A full world atlas Contest entries of 130 fan-made custom maps Veni, Vidi, Vici is the sequel of the well-known Settlers game.
Play now: The Settlers II: Gold Edition About the game
8. Lands of Lore: Guardians of Destiny
1997 · Westwood Studios · Role-playing (RPG)
3.5 out of 5Played a lot
Guardians of Destiny is the sequel to Throne of Chaos, the original Lands of Lore game.
Play now: Lands of Lore: Guardians of Destiny About the game
9. Armored Fist 2
1997 · NovaLogic, Inc. · Simulation
3.5 out of 5Played a lot
Based on the same engine as Comanche 3, Novalogic once again delivered a tank simulator using their VoxelSpace technology.
Play now: Armored Fist 2 About the game
10. X-Men: Children of the Atom
1997 · Capcom · Action
3.5 out of 5Played a lot
X-Men: Children of the Atom is a 2D fighting game and the first Capcom title to use licensed characters from the Marvel comic universe.
Play now: X-Men: Children of the Atom About the game

Ranks 11–20

More great DOS games of 1997

11. Dungeon KeeperElectronic Arts, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1997Played all the time
All the time
3.5 out of 5
12. Command & Conquer: Red Alert - Red DawnSorry Software · Strategy / tactics · 1997Played all the time
All the time
3.4 out of 5
13. Quake IIBethesda Softworks LLC · Action · 1997Played a lot
A lot
3.4 out of 5
14. Comanche 3NovaLogic, Inc. · Simulation · 1997Played all the time
All the time
3.4 out of 5
15. Championship Manager: Season 97/98Eidos, Inc. · Sports · 1997Played all the time
All the time
3.3 out of 5
16. SpellcrossJRC Interactive · Strategy / tactics · 1997Played all the time
All the time
3.3 out of 5
17. MDKPlaymates Interactive Entertainment, Inc. · Action · 1997Played a lot
A lot
3.3 out of 5
18. Mortal Kombat TrilogyGT Interactive Software Corp. · Action · 1997Played all the time
All the time
3.3 out of 5
19. Flying Corps: GoldEmpire Interactive · Simulation · 1997Played a lot
A lot
3.3 out of 5
20. Steel Panthers III: Brigade Command - 1939-1999Strategic Simulations, Inc. · Strategy / tactics · 1997Played a lot
A lot
3.3 out of 5

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Questions

Frequently asked

How Best DOS Games are ranked

What is the best DOS game of 1997?

Theme Hospital (1997, Bullfrog Productions, Ltd.) is the best DOS game of 1997 by our players' ratings, ahead of Constructor and Blood. The ranking follows players' ratings and real play time, so it changes as people play.

Can I play these DOS games of 1997 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 1997 are there on dos.games?

68. 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.