10 Old PC Games That Defined the Early Internet Era

The early internet years were a period of experimentation and invention, particularly in gaming. Many of the venerable PC games from this era set the stage for modern online multiplayer experiences. This article discusses ten of these innovative games, each significantly shaping the gaming culture on the internet.

Tricia Quitales
March 4, 2025
4 min read

10 Old PC Games That Defined the Early Internet Era — Ron Lach on Pexels

From the late 1990s to early 2000s, the internet transformed gaming, and online multiplayer games sprang from this development allowing players to interact with others worldwide. Ten timeless PC games that not only characterized this era but also helped build the gaming community we know today are highlighted in the next page. From basic internet games to vast multiplayer environments, every one of these games has had a significant influence on gaming culture. These games constitute the building pieces of the contemporary gaming experience, not only sentimental memories.

1. Warcraft: Orcs & Humans

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In this game, players could connect over local networks and play against each other. Years later, it gave rise to the incredibly famous game World of Warcraft, which protects Blizzard’s legacy in the world of online games.

2. Doom

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Among the first PC games with an online multiplayer option, Doom lets users participate in cooperative or deathmatch games. By including smooth networked gameplay—which became a pillar of next-generation games; it transformed first-person shooting games. It was a real leader in online gaming with its creative multiplayer systems and immersive experience.

3. Diablo

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Diablo offers one of the first online multiplayer RPGs, allowing users to access Blizzard’s servers for cooperative or competitive action. It immediately became an instant classic because of its random dungeon creation and addicting loot-based advancement. Influencing many other games, such as Path of Exile and Diablo II, the game helped define the action RPG genre.

4. The Sims

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Among the most well-liked simulation games, The Sims lets users design and manage the lives of individuals in a virtual environment. It allowed for community involvement with downloaded content and custom-built dwellings despite lacking the conventional online multiplayer option. This community-driven material partly defined early online gaming, linking gamers worldwide.

5. Quake

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Another masterpiece from ID Software that elevated the standard for 3D first-person shooters was Quake. It lets players fight in fast-paced deathmatches and includes flawless online multiplayer. Its creative application of 3D visuals and internet play raised a new benchmark for the genre and helped competitive online shooters to flourish.

6. Command & Conquer

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Combining base-building with massive battle, Command & Conquer brought real-time strategy games into a fresh age. A first in its genre, its online multiplayer option lets players challenge one another across the internet. One of the most important strategic franchises, the game’s popularity helped start a run of spin-offs and successors.

7. StarCraft

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With its fair factions and competitive multiplayer mode, Blizzard’s StarCraft is sometimes considered the height of real-time strategy games. Thanks to its strong online presence, which lets players join multiplayer games via Blizzard’s Battle.net service, the game’s appeal shot. For eSports, especially in South Korea, StarCraft was a pivotal turning point in its evolution.

8. BBS Door Games

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In the early internet period, BBS Door Games were a mainstay, linking players for multiplayer experiences using bulletin board systems (BBS). Played over modems, games including Trade Wars 2002 and Gauntlet were meant to be interacted with in turn-based situations. Early internet multiplayer gaming emerged from these games’ groundwork.

9. Counter-Strike

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Initially a Half-Life mod, Counter-Strike exploded in popularity by stressing tactical, team-based first-person shooting. The game’s strategic gameplay and team-oriented goals made it popular in LAN centers and internet communities. Modern multiplayer shooters still show traces of its ongoing impact.

10. WarCraft III: Reign of Chaos

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A turning point in both the RTS and multiplayer game environments was WarCraft III. Its online fights gained popularity, and its creative mix of hero units and base-building produced a distinctive strategy experience. The game also unveiled the World of Warcraft universe, permanently changing the direction of internet gaming.