Do DOS video games still work on modern PCs?
 

This thread might be an extremely short one, so not going to expect much compelling comments.

I have a bunch of old DOS games. Some are Full Motion Video FPSs from American Laser Games. Yes, Mad Dog McCree, Crime Patrol and more.

Would they still work on a current modern PC? Or is it a complete and utter waste of time to even try because the tech to create this games is from the stone ages?

I'm not a PC gamer and don't own one. The PC I use is from 2018 and it's an All-In-One PC.

Re: Do DOS video games still work on modern PCs?
 

it can be a bit daunting for someone not familiar, but Dos Box is the way to play these. You'll have to look up tutorials, but it shouldn't be that hard.

or, peruse the internet archive to find a playable copy...

Re: Do DOS video games still work on modern PCs?
 

Generally speaking yes, you can also buy preconfigured titles off sites like GoG.com that work with little to no effort or configure Dosbox on your own.

Re: Do DOS video games still work on modern PCs?
 

Yeah I figured. The games are too fucking old to play.

Re: Do DOS video games still work on modern PCs?
 

GOG just started an initiative where they are bringing non-playable games to PC with an upgrade, GOG Preservation Program | GOG.COM

Re: Do DOS video games still work on modern PCs?
 

Beat me to it.

What's great is the program even applies to games that have been delisted from GOG (such as the recent case with Warcraft and Warcraft II).:up:

Re: Do DOS video games still work on modern PCs?
 

PCGamingWiki is a good resource for getting a PC game, new or old, to work:
https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Home

There doesn't seem to be any info on the Mad Dog McCree game page on how to get it working, but there's some other pages on people configuring it for DOSBox
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/...dos-box-help/9


Another option for that game is to get the DVD-Video release, which you can play on anything that plays DVDs:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw...490.m570.l1313

Other FMV games may have DVD, or even Blu-ray, releases, like Dragon's Lair and Space Ace

Re: Do DOS video games still work on modern PCs?
 

Occasionally I get the urge to fire up Myst, Burn: Cycle, or Doom II, but I know they wouldn't run easily on a newer version of Windows. Oldest PC I currently have is a Dell Studio laptop with Windows 7.

Not sure if these old DOS games still ran on XP systems, but I'm pretty sure Vista is probably a no-go.

I'd guess that these days, the easiest route for most people would be a using an emulator and a game ROM of some kind?

Re: Do DOS video games still work on modern PCs?
 

DosBox is a dos emulator that runs in modern windows, all the games you mentioned are functional in Windows 10 thru it.

Re: Do DOS video games still work on modern PCs?
 

Myst received a remake on PC in 2021. Or you can buy the 1999/2000 Masterpiece Edition or 2014 realMyst Masterpiece Edition on GOG.

https://www.gog.com/en/game/myst
https://www.gog.com/en/game/myst_masterpiece_edition
https://www.gog.com/en/game/real_mys...rpiece_edition


Doom II is part of a Doom + Doom II remaster that came out earlier this year, with extra levels and such.
https://www.gog.com/en/game/doom_doom_ii

You can also get both games on Steam, or on consoles, in their latest remake/remaster version.


Burn:Cycle hasn't had a modern re-release though. The PCGamingWiki entry indicates it won't run on 64-bit Windows, but ran on 32-bit Windows up through at least Windows Vista:
https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Burn:Cycle


Myst and Burn:Cycle originally ran on either Mac OS or Windows 3.1, so DOSBox doesn't support them out of the box. There is a way to install Windows 3.1 into DOSBox, but it's more steps. The original DOS Doom II should run in DOSBox fine.

You can also use a Doom source port to play Doom II on Windows, using the open-source engine and original game files.
https://doom.fandom.com/wiki/How_to_...modern_Windows

ScummVM does support the original versions of the first 3 Myst games, so that's another option for Myst.
https://www.scummvm.org/compatibility/

Re: Do DOS video games still work on modern PCs?
 

^ Yeah, I've been having a blast with Doom + Doom II. The new levels are fun, along with the new enemies and weapons.

The other option for Doom is GZDoom. Friends and I have been using that to play some multiplayer Doom.

Re: Do DOS video games still work on modern PCs?
 

Good point, yeah there are a ton of options and improved versions on most titles.