Can I play Scorched Earth online for free?

Yes — you can play Scorched Earth right here in your browser for free, with no installation and no plugins, on both desktop and mobile.

Can I download Scorched Earth?

Yes, Scorched Earth is available to download here — use the Download button on this page.

What platform does Scorched Earth run on?

Scorched Earth is a MS-DOS / PC game from 1995.

When was Scorched Earth released?

Scorched Earth was released in 1995.

Who made Scorched Earth?

Scorched Earth was developed by Wendell Hicken.

What genre is Scorched Earth?

Scorched Earth falls under: Strategy.

How do I save my progress in Scorched Earth?

Save inside the game itself — via its own menu, or F2/F3. And if you log in (free), your position is also stored in the cloud, so you can continue on another computer or phone.

Is it legal to play Scorched Earth online here?

You play it in your browser via an emulator. For how we handle abandonware and copyright, see our "Is it legal?" page.

How do I control Scorched Earth?

The controls are in the Controls section on this page. The keyboard is usually all you need — arrow keys to move and Ctrl, Alt or Space for actions.

Can I play Scorched Earth on mobile?

Yes — it runs right in your browser on phones and tablets too. Just tap Play, nothing to install.

oldgame.cz › Strategy ›

Scorched Earth

_□✕

Log in and save your positions — continue on another computer or phone. Free.

Enter/Space start/select · Esc menu

Usual keys for Strategy games (rough guide):

Tab

Caps

Enter

Shift

Ctrl

Alt

space

Alt

↑

←

↓

→

move

Click the game to lock the cursor

Esc = in-game menu · save F2, load F3.

Emulator: DOSBox (js-dos)

Live chat — Scorched Earth_□✕

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1995 · Strategy · Wendell Hicken · MS-DOS / PC

Game info_□✕

About the game

Scorched Earth is one of the definitive shareware artillery games, released by Wendell Hicken in the early 1990s and cheerfully billed as "The Mother of All Games." The setup is elegantly simple: tanks are positioned across a jagged 2D landscape, and players take turns adjusting the angle and power of their shots to lob projectiles at one another, accounting for gravity, wind and the destructible terrain that crumbles away with every hit. It's turn-based, easy to grasp in seconds, and endlessly replayable.

What made it a classic was the sheer breadth of options layered on top of that core. Between rounds you spend winnings in a shop stocked with an absurd arsenal, from basic shells to guided missiles, napalm, MIRVs that split into multiple warheads, and the legendary Death's Head. Add shields, parachutes, guidance systems and a roster of tuneable AI opponents, and a single hotseat session with friends could stretch for hours. Up to ten players could take part on one machine, which made it a fixture of school computer labs and dorm rooms.

The formula it perfected has echoed through countless successors, from Worms to Pocket Tanks and beyond. Its VGA graphics are basic and there's no online play, but as a local multiplayer time-sink it remains genuinely fun, and its influence on the entire turn-based artillery genre is hard to overstate. Few shareware titles left a bigger footprint.

Video

▶ Longplay Walkthrough Soundtrack

Guides & FAQ

Can I play Scorched Earth online for free?: Yes — you can play Scorched Earth right here in your browser for free, with no installation and no plugins, on both desktop and mobile.
Can I download Scorched Earth?: Yes, Scorched Earth is available to download here — use the Download button on this page.
What platform does Scorched Earth run on?: Scorched Earth is a MS-DOS / PC game from 1995.
When was Scorched Earth released?: Scorched Earth was released in 1995.
Who made Scorched Earth?: Scorched Earth was developed by Wendell Hicken.
What genre is Scorched Earth?: Scorched Earth falls under: Strategy.
How do I save my progress in Scorched Earth?: Save inside the game itself — via its own menu, or F2/F3. And if you log in (free), your position is also stored in the cloud, so you can continue on another computer or phone.
Is it legal to play Scorched Earth online here?: You play it in your browser via an emulator. For how we handle abandonware and copyright, see our "Is it legal?" page.
How do I control Scorched Earth?: The controls are in the Controls section on this page. The keyboard is usually all you need — arrow keys to move and Ctrl, Alt or Space for actions.
Can I play Scorched Earth on mobile?: Yes — it runs right in your browser on phones and tablets too. Just tap Play, nothing to install.

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Scorched Earth

Info

Platform: MS-DOS / PC
Year: 1995
Developer: Wendell Hicken
Publisher: Wendell Hicken
Genre: Strategy
Also known as: Scorch
Players: 1 a více hráčů
License: Freeware

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Gaming platform: MS-DOS / PC_□✕

About the platform 1981–2000

For two decades MS-DOS was the main gaming platform on PCs. Games launched from the command line and used sound cards like Sound Blaster or AdLib. DOS is the home of legends such as Doom, Prince of Persia and Commander Keen.

Maker: IBM PC / Microsoft · Years: 1981–2000

Here on oldgame.cz you play it right in your browser via the js-dos emulator — no install, no plugins, on desktop and mobile.

Recommended controls: These games are controlled with the keyboard (see the controls table next to the game). A USB joystick/gamepad can make some titles more comfortable, but is not required.

» More about this platform on Wikipedia

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