18 Forgotten ’90s Software That’s Now Extinct
These 18 pieces of software were once everyday tools or icons of digital life, now largely forgotten or fully extinct.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
The 1990s were a golden era of experimentation in personal computing, where even the quirkiest programs could find their audience. As technology rapidly evolved, many of these once-beloved tools were swept aside by corporate acquisitions, internet disruption, or changing user habits. Revisiting them now is like flipping through an old digital yearbook filled with innovations that paved the way for everything we take for granted today.
1. Microsoft Bob
Image from Wikipedia
Launched in 1995, Microsoft Bob was a cutesy, cartoonish interface designed to make computers less intimidating. With a golden retriever named Rover guiding users through a house-themed desktop, Bob felt more like a toy than a tool. Sadly, people mocked it for being clunky and juvenile, and it vanished quickly.
2. HyperCard
Image from Wikipedia
Apple’s HyperCard was a precursor to the web that let users create interactive “stacks” of cards with text, images, and buttons. It was surprisingly powerful and helped inspire early versions of point-and-click games like Myst. However, Apple let it die quietly in the late ’90s, replaced by emerging web technologies.
3. Corel WordPerfect Suite
Image from Wikipedia
Once a dominant force in word processing, WordPerfect was the go-to software for legal professionals and academics. The 1990s brought it into conflict with Microsoft Word, and the tide turned hard. Today, it’s rarely seen outside of niche legal circles; its former glory is just a memory.
4. Lotus 1-2-3
Image from Wikipedia
This spreadsheet giant ruled the 1980s and early ’90s, setting the standard for business computing. But Lotus failed to pivot quickly during the Windows revolution, and Microsoft Excel took its crown. IBM eventually discontinued it, and Lotus became a ghost of its former self.
5. Netscape Navigator
Image from Wikipedia
Before Chrome, Safari, or even Internet Explorer, there was Netscape Navigator. It was the dominant web browser of the early internet, sleek and fast for its time. However, the browser wars were brutal, and Microsoft crushed Netscape by bundling Internet Explorer into Windows.
6. AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)
Image from Wikipedia
AIM wasn’t just software, it was a culture. In the late ’90s, it ruled after-school life with status messages, chat sounds, and buddy lists. As mobile texting and social media rose, AIM faded away, officially signing off in 2017.
7. RealPlayer
Image from Wikipedia
RealPlayer was one of the first ways to stream audio and video online, back when dial-up tones ruled the airwaves. Its interface was clunky, and it came loaded with ads and bloatware. By the mid-2000s, better players and cleaner interfaces like VLC left it obsolete.
8. Paint Shop Pro (Jasc Software version)
Image from Wikipedia
Before Photoshop became a verb, Paint Shop Pro was the accessible image editor for home users. It was straightforward, lightweight, and perfect for tweaking clip art or family photos. Once Corel bought it and bloated it with features, the original spirit was lost.
9. Encarta
Image from Wikipedia
Microsoft Encarta was the multimedia encyclopedia that killed a million door-to-door Britannica sales. It offered videos, quizzes, and sleek navigation that made learning almost fun. However, Wikipedia, free and always updated, buried it by 2009.
10. Kid Pix
Image from Wikipedia
Kid Pix was the wildly colorful art program made just for kids, filled with stamps, sound effects, and pure chaos. It turned computer time into playtime, long before iPads took over. While it tried to evolve, its charm never quite made it past the early 2000s.
11. Winamp
Image from Wikipedia
“Winamp, it really whips the llama’s ass!” went the catchy startup sound. This MP3 player was sleek, skinnable, and a rite of passage for digital music fans. It lost steam with the rise of iTunes and streaming, and its final updates felt more like echoes.
12. Director (by Macromedia)
Image from Wikipedia
Before Flash took over, Director powered interactive CD-ROMs, training videos, and early multimedia projects. It used a scripting language called Lingo that let creators do magic with animation and sound. Flash stole the spotlight, and Director faded into the archives.
13. ProComm Plus
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This terminal emulation software was essential for dial-up communication in the pre-web era. BBS operators and early internet tinkerers relied on it to access text-based forums and file transfers. Once the web matured, ProComm lost relevance and quietly disappeared.
14. ClarisWorks
Image from Wikipedia
Apple’s all-in-one office suite, ClarisWorks, was charming in its simplicity. It offered a word processor, spreadsheet, and drawing tools in a light, integrated package. However, Apple dropped it in favor of AppleWorks, which itself didn’t survive long against Microsoft Office.
15. ICQ
Image from Wikipedia
ICQ was an early messaging platform that introduced features we take for granted today, like offline messages and user statuses. It was quirky and slightly awkward but had a devoted global base. AOL eventually bought it, and as the messaging world evolved, ICQ was left behind.
16. Aldus PageMaker
Image from Wikipedia
PageMaker helped launch desktop publishing, letting people design newsletters and flyers right from their Macs. It opened the door to creative expression in print long before Canva existed. Adobe bought Aldus and eventually replaced PageMaker with InDesign.
17. GeoWorks Ensemble
Image from Wikipedia
GeoWorks tried to bring a graphical interface to DOS before Windows fully took over. It was sleek, resource-light, and had some surprisingly modern features. However, with Microsoft’s dominance, GeoWorks never stood a real chance.
18. Doom WAD Editors (like DEU or WinDEU)
Image from Wikipedia
In the ‘90s, Doom modding was its own subculture, and WAD editors like DEU let fans build custom levels from scratch. These tools empowered a generation of amateur game designers. As Doom evolved and new engines emerged, these early editors became part of history.