Thalion 1990
Genre: Puzzle
Rating: 4/6
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Known mainly as a developer of very unique and very colorful role-playing games for the Amiga, Thalion has produced several high-quality puzzle games as well. Probably the best puzzle was Atomix, a mix of timed puzzle and educational software. Over the course of ever fifty levels, the player had to combine atoms into molecules, in order to advance further.

Auswärtiges Amt 1991
Genre: Puzzle, Action
Rating: 3/6
Licence: Freeware
System: Amiga

In 1991, the EU wasn't nearly as prominent as it is now. In fact, it didn't even exist back then, because the treaties of Maastricht would only be signed a year later. However, there was the 'European Community' which was pretty much a predecessor of the EU. And it was obvious that the political and economic integration would continue, so there was a 'need' for political propaganda to soften the nationalist feelings of the population. Which part of the population is most easily influenced? Right, the children. Enter Auf dem Weg nach Europa.

Promotion Software 1994
Genre: Strategy
Rating: 2/6
Licence: Freeware
System: Amiga

We're slowly turning into a propaganda site for the government - this is already the third game financed by them we're presenting! No idea what we're trying to compensate with that, wishful thinking at our school days maybe (since they're all 'educational' games) or bad conscience because of the terrorist acts.... er... better stop talking about that now.

Art Department 1994
Genre: Adventure
Rating: 3/6
Licence: Freeware
System: PC

"Dunkle Schatten" (Dark Shadows) was released during the "Fairständnis" campaign of the German Ministries of Inner Affairs in 1994. The slogan was "respect human rights - against racial hatred", the development was executed by Art Department, a company well known for its advertising games at that time.

elefanten Schuh GmbH / WWF 1993
Genre: Strategy
Rating: 2/6
Licence: Freeware
System: Amiga

A well-known shoe company of the 80s teams up with a well-known environmental organization of the 80s to present you this economical simulation. Commercial advertisement mixed up with promotion for a 'good cause' - very, very questionable.

Rauser / BWMi 1993
Genre: Strategy
Rating: 2/6
Licence: Freeware
System: Amiga

Just a little more than ten years ago (in 1993), there was no 'Internet' of today's proportions. Computer magazines coming with CDs full of stuff were still uncommon, too. To be exact, the first 'one-shot issues' of this kind appeared in early 1994 in Germany. So, 1993 was still a year of game demos being spread on floppy disks, and those were available on quite a few magazine covers.

Deutscher Bundestag 1994
Genre: Strategy, Action
Rating: 3/6
Licence: Freeware
System: PC

This is a very special promotial game. It doesn't advertise a product or some company. It doesn't tell you 'buy this'. Or in fact, it does the latter. But in another meaning: it's political propaganda! And it does try to convince you to 'buy' all the stuff which is said there...

Frederic Vester 1989
Genre: Strategy
Rating: 2/6
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Every time I think of this game, I have to giggle. Falling back into childhood mentally like this has a very good reason. When the game first came out, I was still quite young. One guy who went to school with me kept talking about this game, obviously very fond and proud of it. Later, it turned out his enthusiasm was caused by a simple reason: His father had forbidden him to play computer games in general, but he had made an exception for this one - Ökolopoly was the only game he was allowed to play, so he had to pretend it's cool. And now that I've written it down, I can be sure I'll never forget this amusing anecdote myself...

ImagiSOFT 1993
Genre: Strategy, Puzzle
Rating: 4/6
Licence: Freeware
System: PC

The most vicious pirates of the Carribean want to find out who is the biggest cutthroat, so they make a bet. They're all sailing the same route, and whoever can show the biggest amount of loot at the end of the journey wins. Master pirate Redhook plays the judge, but there aren't many rules - everything is allowed as long as it earns gold.

Lawrence Productions 1992
Genre: Strategy
Rating: 5/6
Licence: Commercial
System: PC

Suddenly the mountain where you, along your tribe, lived exploded. Lava and stones covered the village, killing the chief and his best hunters, and creating a wasteland where the village was. The elders have chosen to find the home of the ancestors, and you will have to guide them through one of the six paths to your objective. But the ways are dangerous and a bad chief isn't forgiven.