The Oregon Trail video game is by far the most successful educational game in the industry. After its official release by the MECC in 1974, it became a must-play for students across America. To this day, nostalgic players look for the Oregon Trail game online so they can experience the quirkiness of the game again. In 2016, Oregon Trail was added to the World Video Game Hall of Fame. But the best part about it is that you don’t need a teleprinter to experience the game anymore. Remakes of the original with added features and improved graphics are available for PCs, consoles, and even mobile phones. If you’re looking to experience the Oregon trail game, here is a list of versions that you can play today.
Oregon Trail Games You Can Play Today
#1 The Oregon Trail: American Settler
iOS and Android
The latest addition to the long-standing Oregon Trail franchise, American Settler, captures the spirit of the original in various ways. Players can build a party with characters of different classes – each with unique skills, personalities, and starting items. It is the most comprehensive version of the Oregon Trail game to date, featuring 15 journeys and seven period-accurate events to complete. Players can monitor the party’s health, hygiene, and morale, manage their inventory, and maintain the wagon to prevent inventory loss and breakdowns.
After its official release by the MECC in 1974, it became a must-play for students across America. To this day, nostalgic players look for the Oregon Trail game online so they can experience the quirkiness of the game again. In 2016, Oregon Trail was added to the World Video Game Hall of Fame.
While the game is more involved and exciting than the original, it manages to remain an educational experience at the core. Players learn about real people and how they lived in the 19th century and also about the many fascinating animals on the trail. The fishing mini-game has been expanded upon, with American Settler boasting over 80 species of collectible fish. The hundreds of random events keep the gameplay fresh every time you play. However, party members can still die of dysentery, river fording, and all of the other classic hazards of the Oregon Trail. The beautiful 3D environments are blended with a charming pixel art visual effects and soundtracks to make it a version of the Oregon Trail fit for the era. You can try the Oregon trail game app for free on Android and iOS.
#2 The Oregon Trail 40th Anniversary Edition
Wii and 3DS
You can break out your 3DS or Wii to enjoy the 40th Anniversary Edition of the Oregon Trail. Developed by Gameloft in collaboration with the MECC, it involves you leading your family from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City. Traveling 2000 miles of rough terrain won’t be easy, and you must ensure that the family is fed and rested throughout the journey. Players will encounter different people, and how they treat them will influence the gameplay.
Players must also hunt and overcome random obstacles to keep the family fed and healthy. You can also customize the wagon to your liking in the game! The game allows you to play four unique stories, and each story can be played through three different periods.
Not everybody you meet on the trail wants to help you, so players must use their better judgment to decide what’s best for the family. The game is known for introducing the possibility of driving the wagon for the first time in the franchise. Players must also hunt and overcome random obstacles to keep the family fed and healthy. You can also customize the wagon to your liking in the game! The game allows you to play four unique stories, and each story can be played through three different periods. The 40th Anniversary Edition of the Oregon Trail will give you hours of fun gameplay, not to mention the random hurdles that add to the excitement.
#3 The Oregon Trail: Classic Edition
DOS
The Classic Edition is one of the most popular versions of the Oregon Trail game. This version inspired countless memes and introduced countless gamers to the franchise. It came out in 1990 for the DOS platform, so it is much smaller and primitive compared to the newer releases. That said, it serves as an excellent jaunt down memory lane. Most of your gameplay of this old version of the Oregon Trail will involve the hunting mini-game. You will need to shoot a variety of games every day to have a steady food supply and ensure that the party is fed.
After you complete the mini-game, players must wait to reach the next landmark and repeat the process till they reach the destination. While the later versions of the game, including Oregon Trail Deluxe (1992) and Oregon Trail II (1995), offer significant graphics and gameplay improvements, many grew up with the Classic Edition, making them no match for this version of the game. It will give you a chance to experience the classic UI of the game – without needing you to type “Bang” or “Pow” to hunt. There are many ways to play this game on modern computers. You can look for the Oregon Trail online and play it on your browser, or download a copy of the game and play it on an emulator such as DOSBox.
