Released in 1991 as shareware (written by Wendell Hicken) for MS DOS, Scorched Earth is a 2D turn based game, where the player controls a tank, with the sole goal of turning the opponent to rubble. For their turn, the player adjusts the angle and the power of their gun, in order to fill their opponent with lead. The arsenal is huge, from normal shells to Nuclear weapons. To counter tons of Napalm coming your way, there is another arsenal of useful tools, such as shields or parachutes. As well as computer opponents, you can play the game against your friend in a hot-seat fashion.

The game gained positive reviews from critics, who were praising its gameplay and low price.