PC Gaming Eras

Pre 1981

Not really PC games but these titles laid out the foundation for later games.

Primarially text and vector graphic based games with simple input and simple goals.

1981 - 1984

CGA Era games, as well as text

1984 - 1987

EGA Era games, as well as CGA

1987 - 1992

VGA Era Games, as well as EGA.

First sound card enabled titles through Adlib and Sound Blaster.

Multiplayer games typically relied on serial communications or a modem to a BBS type server.

1992 - 1996

VGA Era Games, Rollout of CD-ROM titles heavy on live action movies

Networked multiplayer became commonplace through IPX / SPX

1996 - 1998

First generation 3D Titles, primarially Glide and OpenGL.

Internet enabled games became commonplace through UDP / TCP, including first massivly multiplayer.

1998 - 2000

Games relying on DirectX became commonplace, Glide started phasing out.