Ecter's TrashSmells Like Windows Ninety
Games made to look like my fave era of a certain OS
Completely unordered list of games with a certain "Windows 9x" feel to them. Not gonna list any that imitates Windows XP or later - there are way too many, while 9x is still somewhat rare (especially done well).
My faves
- Kingsway (2017)
- It's just wonderful! It's a randomly generated adventure (so, "roguelike" in modern terms) played on a PC desktop. Visually it's its own thing, which blends GUI of several systems from 1990's, and it's all used for game's mechanics. Inventory management is done by dragging icons between windows. Sneak attacks and traps are pop-ups that you need to close to dodge / disarm them. Some enemy spells minimize your windows. Overall, the best in class for old system feel integrated with gameplay! Love it <3
- It's just wonderful! It's a randomly generated adventure (so, "roguelike" in modern terms) played on a PC desktop. Visually it's its own thing, which blends GUI of several systems from 1990's, and it's all used for game's mechanics. Inventory management is done by dragging icons between windows. Sneak attacks and traps are pop-ups that you need to close to dodge / disarm them. Some enemy spells minimize your windows. Overall, the best in class for old system feel integrated with gameplay! Love it <3
- dreamcore95idle.exe (2023)
- Incremental game with an ending (so, the best kind!). Its interface and mechanics are pure "messing around with preinstalled software in win95", which i adore :3
- Incremental game with an ending (so, the best kind!). Its interface and mechanics are pure "messing around with preinstalled software in win95", which i adore :3
- Into The Deep Web (2021)
- Simple, short and fun dungeon crawler that uses minesweeper board lookalike as a map. Wonderful idea!
Combat is somewhere between Kingsway and Dicey Dungeons and pretty easy to get the hang of. I'd love to see a longer game made out of it some day.
- Simple, short and fun dungeon crawler that uses minesweeper board lookalike as a map. Wonderful idea!
- TRAUMAKT~4.SEXE (2023)
- This thing here is surely an unforgettable experience - at least it was for me. It features several styles of presentation (just check out the screenshots section on its itch page) and one of them happens to be a fictional medical OS with beautiful retro grey look. Its story is positively unhinged and it's just elevated by this game's looks. Check out content warnings (they're not a joke) and give it a try if you're not put off by any of it :T
- This thing here is surely an unforgettable experience - at least it was for me. It features several styles of presentation (just check out the screenshots section on its itch page) and one of them happens to be a fictional medical OS with beautiful retro grey look. Its story is positively unhinged and it's just elevated by this game's looks. Check out content warnings (they're not a joke) and give it a try if you're not put off by any of it :T
Others that i played
- Microsoft Entertainment Pack for GameBoy Color (2001)
- Just a collection of games on GBC that uses win9x-like desktop as the game selection screen. Worth a mention here because it's a thing that MS released for Nintendo's handheld - an actual game that was on store shelves, not just a homebrew inspired by win9x! Pretty neat.
Since i can't link to a download here, have a gameplay video at least: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3UUnAtei40
- Just a collection of games on GBC that uses win9x-like desktop as the game selection screen. Worth a mention here because it's a thing that MS released for Nintendo's handheld - an actual game that was on store shelves, not just a homebrew inspired by win9x! Pretty neat.
- Zachtronics Solitaire Collection (2022)
- Pretty good collection of creative and unique solo card games. I'm putting this here mostly because of that UI featured as background in Sawayama Solitaire which comes from Last Call BBS - a game that probably would have been a better fit for this list, but i have never played it. But at least it got a side mention here. Huh!
- Pretty good collection of creative and unique solo card games. I'm putting this here mostly because of that UI featured as background in Sawayama Solitaire which comes from Last Call BBS - a game that probably would have been a better fit for this list, but i have never played it. But at least it got a side mention here. Huh!
- Factory 95 (in progress)
- It's a puzzle game presented as an automation style experience inside of an old win9x application. You get tasks delivered via e-mails, purchase upgrades in an online store - all in-universe of course.
While i appreciate the vibe that its author is going for - i did not like the demo enough to put it on that first list (it's somewhat fun, just not enough for a list of faves). Still worth taking a look at its demo if you like win9x-like look in games - just be warned that it looks very off because of poor scaling of UI elements (it's especially hard to look at if you enjoy pixel art, really), at least it did when i played it in late 2025.
- It's a puzzle game presented as an automation style experience inside of an old win9x application. You get tasks delivered via e-mails, purchase upgrades in an online store - all in-universe of course.
Haven't played, but they seem to fit the theme
- Home Safety Hotline (2024)
- Horror that uses 90's desktop UI. Never played it myself, but i appreciate the look.
- Horror that uses 90's desktop UI. Never played it myself, but i appreciate the look.
- Project RyME (2024)
- Similar to the previous entry, but it's a puzzle adventure rather than horror. I should check its demo out eventually ._.
- Similar to the previous entry, but it's a puzzle adventure rather than horror. I should check its demo out eventually ._.
- The Roottrees are Dead (2025)
- Another one to add to my wishlist. Seems to be a recurring theme to put a horror/investigation game in a mock win9x desktop, and i love that it's something of a trend now...!
- Another one to add to my wishlist. Seems to be a recurring theme to put a horror/investigation game in a mock win9x desktop, and i love that it's something of a trend now...!
- Progressbar95 (2020)
- Never played it, but it was mentioned in a bsky thread where i gathered my list of win9x looking games for the first time. I should give it a try.
- Never played it, but it was mentioned in a bsky thread where i gathered my list of win9x looking games for the first time. I should give it a try.
Close, but no Chicago
- Hypnospace Outlaw (2019): I could give it a pass like i did for Kingsway's "not exactly win9x but feels like it" UI, but, uhh. This one looks a bit too busy to fit the vibe i'm going for.
- Pony Island (2016), No Players Online (2025): Desktop used for puzzles, but it's not win9x. Worth a mention because of the mechanics, though.
- Her Story (2015): Points for teal desktop and pretty icons, but the windows are completely not that :T