Here is a list of many of the games from 1981 thru 1989. Yes not 100% complete for that period but some 2200 games. Most run on an XT, not all but a large percentage...
There are many more from 1990 thru 1992 that will run on a XT as some are mentioned above. I think we should compile a real list of known games that do run on an XT.
This old topic also has some: IBM PC 5150 games?

I've confirmed no less than 320 games that will run on a 8088 with VGA, tested with my NuXT and FreeDOS 1.3:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PEavg … FoPFf9F8Oye_t8/

Sort the spreadsheet by game title, then by VGA, then by minimum CPU to see the list in alphabetical order.

zb10948 wrote on 2024-01-01, 00:46:

Prehistorik 2 requires a 286.

False, it will run on a 8088.

EDIT: Quick and dirty capture via OSSC, proving it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4_0X-fiI9I

DEAT wrote on 2024-01-05, 07:01:

I've confirmed no less than 320 games that will run on a 8088 with VGA, tested with my NuXT and FreeDOS 1.3:

Nice effort. What exactly do you mean by "run on a 8088 with VGA", that the game starts or that it's actually playable? Especially for games that do have a VGA mode does this mean they are playable in VGA? I'm pretty sure you can count the frames with naked eye for some on them in VGA. Also for games that don't have an EGA/VGA mode there is always the issue of wrong CGA palette with most VGA cards.

konc wrote on 2024-01-05, 07:24:

Nice effort. What exactly do you mean by "run on a 8088 with VGA", that the game starts or that it's actually playable?

Able to get in-game and not crash after 10 minutes - I didn't care about framerate, I was more interested in whether it can be done. You absolutely don't want to realistically play SEAL Team on a 8088, or even a 286 for that matter. That game reaches almost a minute per frame on a 8088 😀

DEAT wrote on 2024-01-05, 07:37:

konc wrote on 2024-01-05, 07:24:

Nice effort. What exactly do you mean by "run on a 8088 with VGA", that the game starts or that it's actually playable?

Able to get in-game and not crash after 10 minutes - I didn't care about framerate, I was more interested in whether it can be done. You absolutely don't want to realistically play SEAL Team on a 8088, or even a 286 for that matter. That game reaches almost a minute per frame on a 8088 😀

Thanks, that's what I though the list is about too, but wanted to confirm

Pinball Fantasies will run fine on a 10Mhz XT with NEC V20 (It needs 286 instructions) and sound disabled. The CPU can´t keep up with the MOD player used in the game.
I think it could be playable on a 4.77 XT with V20 processor.

Another World (Out of this Wolrd) runs perfectly on that machine without sound, and has just a little slowdown with audio (Soundblaster card). Try it without sound and it might be playable.

Another one is Dyna Blaster (Bomberman).

Day of the Tentacle will push your hardware on a fast Turbo XT (10MHz+ V20 recommended) but is actually playable. It'll work well on a NuXT too since it's got faster SRAM.

DEAT wrote on 2024-01-05, 07:01:

I've confirmed no less than 320 games that will run on a 8088 with VGA, tested with my NuXT and FreeDOS 1.3: […]
Show full quote

I've confirmed no less than 320 games that will run on a 8088 with VGA, tested with my NuXT and FreeDOS 1.3:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PEavg … FoPFf9F8Oye_t8/

Sort the spreadsheet by game title, then by VGA, then by minimum CPU to see the list in alphabetical order.

zb10948 wrote on 2024-01-01, 00:46:

Prehistorik 2 requires a 286.

False, it will run on a 8088.

EDIT: Quick and dirty capture via OSSC, proving it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4_0X-fiI9I

Thanks for correction and for the list! 😀

Yes thanks for the list DEAT but have some reservations about many of the the games in the list running on a true original XT at 4.77Mhz as the OP asked.
I do appreciate your list but wish you created it using a known old XT or old XT Turbo model, not a modern recreation using modern parts.
Glad you commented on not actually playable but did load.....

https://youtu.be/Z1u-IrBT9hE?t=479

On this video author gets a character rate of 517 with a (presumably) TVGA8800 type on a 8MHz Intel. I get 536 on TVGA8900C on a 4.77MHz clone chip (Siemens).
His rate jumps to 721 once V20 8MHz is in. I was targeting that bracket of ~750 with V20 upgrade solely over the clock increase. We'll see what will benchmark tell once i pop V20 in there.

In the end I won't be able to use the 8900C due to form factor but still to be tested NEC branded 9000C. I just hope that chip does not underperform compared to 8900C, equal performance would suit me fine.

For the conclusion of base VGA ugprade, it's worthwhile, not just for connecting commodity screens to the machine, but having the option to reprogram the charset and a significant text output boost over anything 'contemporary' make it great for text-mode productivity software also, like programming IDEs. Indeed, something like Turbo C, Norton suites, latter MS-DOS help/edit/qbasic system, etc...feel a lot snappier and look way better.