If you typed "where to" and want a free, legal place to go right now, the best answer is the Internet Archive’s software library, because it hosts public-domain and preservation-focused game files you can play or download without paying, and it is the only major archive that clearly documents its legal basis for what it hosts. The Underdogs is a second option, but it does not host game files at all, it is a catalog of reviews and legal re-release links. For actual downloads, stick with the Internet Archive first, then check the other sites below with their limits in mind.
The Internet Archive: The Only Clear Legal Download Source
The Internet Archive runs a software library where you can find public-domain games and programs, plus many DOS/PC titles playable in your browser. Some items carry an explicit Public Domain Mark 1.0, meaning you can download and redistribute them freely. Others are available for browser-based play under a scholarship-and-research framing, not as a general retail replacement. That means you can play them, but you should not assume every file is free to keep or share.
The free offering includes both downloadable items and browser-playable games. You do not need to sign up for an account or enter a card to use the basic library, and the site does not state any country restrictions on its main software pages. However, the site does not give you a single site-wide "everything is free" guarantee, each item has its own rights tag, so check the individual page before downloading. If you want a game that is clearly marked public domain, that is your safest bet. If it is not marked, treat it as copyrighted and only play it in the browser where the Archive says it is for research.
This site suits anyone who wants to actually play old games without paying, especially DOS classics and public-domain shareware. It is not the place to find every commercial game ever made, because many are still under copyright and not hosted here. But for a free, legal, no-account-required starting point, it is the only one of the four main options that clearly documents why its files are legal.
The Underdogs: A Legal Catalog, Not a Download Site
The Underdogs is often listed alongside abandonware sites, but it is different in a way that matters. It does not host installers, ROMs, or disc images. Instead, it provides reviews, game history, legal status notes, and pointers to legitimate modern re-releases where those exist. If a game has been re-released on a store like GOG or Steam, The Underdogs will usually tell you where to buy it legally rather than giving you a free copy.
This site is free to browse, and there is no account or card required to read its pages. It works in any country because it is just text and links. However, it will not give you a single downloadable game file. If you want to play something right now, The Underdogs will send you elsewhere, usually to a paid store or to the Internet Archive if the game is public domain. It is useful for research, for finding out whether a game is still sold, and for learning the legal status of a title before you go looking for it elsewhere. But do not come here expecting to play anything directly.
My Abandonware and Old Games Download: Tempting but Unclear
My Abandonware says you can download old video games for free and offers game archives, manuals, and instructions. Old Games Download says it is an archive of abandoned video games and offers game files, patches, manuals, screenshots, and artwork. Both sites are easy to use and have large libraries. However, neither site clearly documents why the games are free in licensing terms. They do not state whether an account or card is required (though in practice you can download without either on most pages), and they do not list which countries they work in.
The bigger problem is legal. These sites call the games "abandoned," but being abandoned does not make a game public domain. The copyright still belongs to someone, even if the owner cannot be found or does not care. The sites do not explain their legal basis for hosting the files, and no official page on either site says "this is legal because the copyright holder released it." That does not mean every file on those sites is illegal, some games genuinely are public domain or have been re-released for free by the rights holder. But you have no way to tell which ones are which from the site itself.
If you are willing to take the risk, these sites offer a wider selection of old commercial games than the Internet Archive. But you are gambling on the legal status, and you have no guarantee that the download is authorized. For a reader who asked for something free and legal, these sites are a poor fit unless you already know a specific game is public domain. The safer route is to check the Internet Archive first, then use The Underdogs to see if a game has a legal modern re-release.
What People Get Wrong About Abandonware
The most common mistake is assuming that "abandonware" means "free to download." It does not. A game becomes abandonware when the copyright holder stops selling it, but the copyright remains in force for decades. The term describes a practical situation, no one is actively selling it, but it does not change the law. Downloading a game that is still under copyright, even if no one sells it anymore, is copyright infringement unless the rights holder has explicitly allowed it.
Public-domain software is different. If a game or program has entered the public domain, either because the copyright expired or because the creator released it with a public-domain mark, then you can download, share, and even sell it without restriction. The Internet Archive is the only site in this list that clearly marks these items. The other sites blur the line by calling everything "abandoned" and treating that as if it were the same as public domain. It is not.
Another mistake is assuming that browser-based play on the Internet Archive is the same as a general free license. The Archive describes its DOS/PC games as available for scholarship and research purposes only. That means you can play them for study or personal research, but you should not assume you can download the file and redistribute it. The Archive hosts these games as a preservation library, not as a retail replacement.
What to Check Before You Commit
Before you download anything, check the individual item page for a rights statement. On the Internet Archive, look for a "Public Domain Mark 1.0" or a note that the item is in the public domain. If you see that, you are clear. If you see nothing, or if the page says "All Rights Reserved," then the item is not free to download, even if it is playable in the browser.
On My Abandonware or Old Games Download, look for a note about the game's legal status. If the site does not say who owns the copyright or why the game is free, that is a red flag. You can also check The Underdogs for a legal status note, it will often tell you if a game has been re-released or if the rights holder has made it free. If The Underdogs says a game is still under copyright and not officially free, then downloading it from another site is not legal, no matter how abandoned it seems.
Finally, ask yourself what you want the game for. If you just want to play an old DOS classic for an hour, the Internet Archive's browser emulation is the safest and easiest option. If you want to own a copy or mod it, you may need to find a legal re-release on a store like GOG or Steam. If you want to archive a game for preservation, the Internet Archive is the only site that documents its legal basis for doing so.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to download games from My Abandonware?
Not necessarily. The site does not document why its games are free, and most old commercial games are still under copyright. If the game is not public domain and the rights holder has not given permission, downloading it is likely infringement, even if the site calls it abandoned.
Can I play DOS games on the Internet Archive without downloading anything?
Yes. Many DOS/PC games on the Internet Archive are playable directly in your browser through an emulator. You do not need an account or a card, and you do not need to download the file. Just click the play button on the item page.
What does "public domain" mean for a game?
It means the copyright has expired or the creator has explicitly released the work without any restrictions. You can download, share, modify, and even sell it. The Internet Archive marks these items with a Public Domain Mark 1.0, and those are the only files you can treat as completely free.
Does The Underdogs host any game files?
No. The Underdogs is a review and catalog site. It provides legal status notes and links to legitimate modern re-releases, but it does not host installers, ROMs, or disc images. You cannot download a game from The Underdogs.
Are all games on the Internet Archive free to keep?
No. Only items marked with a public-domain license are free to keep and redistribute. Other items are available for browser-based play under a scholarship-and-research framing, which means you can play them for study but should not download and share the files.
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