Game Creation Systems

Game Maker by Mark Overmars: A versatile system for about any kind of 2D game, Windows 95+, older versions freeware, now a rather lenient shareware.
DarkBASIC: More a programming language than a game creation system, it shall nevertheless be mentioned here.
RPG Maker 2000 by Yoji Ojima: For SNES-style RPGs and, to a certain extent, adventure games, Windows 95+, questionable legal status.
RPG Maker 2003 by Yoji Ojima: More or less an update to the aforementioned that was not really an improvement.
RPG Maker XP by Yoji Ojima: Similar to the previous makers, but with a more PC-like screen resolution and extended scripting capabilities.
O.H.R.RPG.C.E: For console-style RPGs, DOS, VGA, freeware.
DCGames by David Hernandez: A bit similar to O.H.R.RPG.C.E., more features, but not developed any more and mostly dead.
ZZT: Various types of games with ASCII graphics. DOS, formerly shareware, now freeware.
MegaZEUX: Similar to ZZT, more advanced, but less popular. DOS, open source.

Specialized

There are many game makers for the development of special game types. This should never be taken too literal, due to the very nature of software construction kits, you can use them for other things too. People have cloned games like Minesweeper and even Tetris on RPG Maker 2000, for example.

Reviews and Directories