Is the *website deleted* release of games legal?

The short answer is: not in a strict legal sense, generally speaking.

*website deleted* hosts older PC games that it describes as "abandonware"—games that are no longer sold or officially supported. According to its FAQ, the site focuses on titles that are out of print, removes games if they're re-released or if the copyright holder requests it, and links to official stores when they become available.

However, that policy does not automatically make distribution legal.

In most countries, including the United States:

"Abandonware" is not a legal category.
A game remains protected by copyright even if it is no longer sold or supported.
Distributing or downloading copyrighted games without the copyright holder's permission is generally copyright infringement unless a specific exception applies.

That said, there are some practical nuances:

Many publishers do not actively enforce their rights for decades-old games.
Some abandonware sites operate for years because rights holders choose not to pursue them.
If a publisher objects, they can send a takedown request, and *website deleted* states that it complies by removing the game.

So the legal picture is:

*website deleted* existence: Not necessarily illegal in every aspect, but it distributes games whose copyright status is often still active.
Downloading a game from it: Usually not authorized by the copyright owner unless the game has been released as freeware, entered the public domain, or the copyright holder has explicitly permitted redistribution.

If you're asking about a specific game on *website deleted*, I can check whether its copyright holder has since re-released it, made it freeware, or otherwise authorized redistribution.

Is the download of Discworld from this website legal or is still copyrighted?

Based on what's publicly known, the original 1995 Discworld game is still copyrighted. There is no evidence that it has been released as freeware or that its redistribution has been officially authorized.

*website deleted* itself acknowledges the copyright on its page:

"Discworld (the game) is © Perfect 10 Entertainment" and provides a download packaged with ScummVM.

The rights situation is unusually complicated. The original developer no longer exists, and there have been public discussions for years about untangling ownership so the games can be re-released. As recently as 2024, the game's original director said a remaster or re-release was being explored, but that the ownership is legally complex.

So, legally speaking:

The game remains under copyright.
*website deleted* does not appear to have publicly stated that it has a license from the rights holder to distribute the game.
Therefore, downloading it from *website deleted* is probably not an authorized copy under copyright law, even if the practical risk of enforcement is low.

If your goal is to stay clearly within copyright law, the safest approach is to:

use an original CD you own with a compatible engine such as ScummVM, or
wait for an official re-release if one eventually appears.

The unfortunate reality is that Discworld is one of those classic games that has become difficult to obtain legally because of its tangled ownership, not because it has entered the public domain or become freeware.