Research-backed game lineage

The Oregon Trail

The Oregon Trail is included in the Series Atlas after independent recognition and an authoritative game-by-game roster audit. Editions, simple ports, DLC, bundles, canceled projects, and cameo-only appearances are excluded.

5 curated games 1971–2021 release span 0 connected branches
The Oregon Trail coverThe Oregon Trail coverThe Oregon Trail Deluxe coverOregon Trail II coverThe Oregon Trail cover

Genre profile

Primary-root profile.

The researched entries keep a consistent primary-root profile.

Observed shapeRPG5 researched entries
Primary roots
Frameworks

Subgenres representedRoad-Trip RPG 1

Entry points

Starting points.

Use the researched chronology, ratings, and remake relationships to select a starting title.

Chronological startThe Oregon TrailMainline · 1971Highest ratedThe Oregon TrailMainline · 1971Most recent mainlineOregon Trail IIMainline · 1995Remake routeThe Oregon TrailRemake · 1985

Release chronology

All researched entries.

Ordered by researched series position, then original release date. Ports, DLC, and duplicate editions are intentionally excluded.

5 games in this lineage

01 The Oregon Trail cover
Mainline1971

The Oregon Trail

The Oregon Trail is a computer game originally developed by Don Rawitsch, Bill Heinemann, and Paul Dillenberger in 1971 and produced by the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium (MECC) in 1974. The original game was designed to teach school children about the realities of 19th-century pioneer life on the Oregon Trail. The player assumes the role of a wagon leader guiding his or her party of settlers from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon's Willamette Valley on the Oregon Trail via a covered wagon in 1848.

Dec 3, 197182/100
02 The Oregon Trail cover
Remake1985

The Oregon Trail

The famous and iconic 1980s graphical version of the game where settlers travel west, featuring dysentery, river crossings, and an entire family of characters.

Sep 1, 198567/100
03 The Oregon Trail Deluxe cover
Remake1992

The Oregon Trail Deluxe

The version of Oregon Trail released in 1992 for DOS and Mac, published by Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium (MECC).

Dec 31, 199280/100
04 Oregon Trail II cover
Mainline1995

Oregon Trail II

Oregon Trail II is an educational video game and a revised version of the original 'The Oregon Trail'. It was redesigned with the help of American Studies PhD Wayne Studer. In contrast to the original version of the game, Oregon Trail II made an effort to include greater roles for women and racial minorities.

Feb 13, 199570/100
05 The Oregon Trail cover
Remake2021

The Oregon Trail

Experience The Oregon Trail like never before. A modern twist on the trials and tribulations of the road to Oregon, this official successor to the global phenomenon will immerse players in exhilarating journeys ranging from the historically accurate to the totally extreme.

Apr 2, 202176/100

Sources and method

Built from the public record.

Membership is researched from external official and independent sources. Mainline games, direct spin-offs, remakes, remasters, and standalone expansions are included; DLC, simple ports, duplicate editions, compilation-only duplicates, rumors, cancellations, and cameo-only crossovers are excluded.

  1. database The Oregon Trail collection — IGDB

    IGDB maintains a distinct collection record for The Oregon Trail and supplies the authoritative roster used for membership verification.

  2. reference List of best-selling video game franchises

    The independent catalog recognizes The Oregon Trail as a multi-game franchise and supports its inclusion in this major-series research sweep.