Go Back  DVD Talk Forum > Entertainment Discussions > Video Game Talk
Reload this Page >

Do DOS video games still work on modern PCs?

Community
Search
Video Game Talk The Place to talk about and trade Video & PC Games

Do DOS video games still work on modern PCs?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-05-24 | 09:02 PM
  #1  
DJariya's Avatar
Thread Starter
DVD Talk God
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 87,491
Received 6,122 Likes on 4,128 Posts
From: La Palma, CA
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.
Old 12-05-24 | 09:12 PM
  #2  
Dan's Avatar
Dan
DVD Talk Hero
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 29,326
Received 1,571 Likes on 1,123 Posts
From: The place beyond the pines
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...
Old 12-05-24 | 09:13 PM
  #3  
DVD Talk Hero
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 46,717
Received 1,401 Likes on 1,099 Posts
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.
The following users liked this post:
Jay G. (12-06-24)
Old 12-05-24 | 09:23 PM
  #4  
DJariya's Avatar
Thread Starter
DVD Talk God
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 87,491
Received 6,122 Likes on 4,128 Posts
From: La Palma, CA
Re: Do DOS video games still work on modern PCs?

Yeah I figured. The games are too fucking old to play.
Old 12-05-24 | 09:28 PM
  #5  
GatorDeb's Avatar
DVD Talk Legend
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 18,970
Received 335 Likes on 257 Posts
From: The "Real" Vice City
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
The following 2 users liked this post by GatorDeb:
Jay G. (12-06-24), RocShemp (12-05-24)
Old 12-05-24 | 10:28 PM
  #6  
DVD Talk Hero
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 42,269
Received 1,479 Likes on 1,152 Posts
Re: Do DOS video games still work on modern PCs?

Originally Posted by GatorDeb
GOG just started an initiative where they are bringing non-playable games to PC with an upgrade, GOG Preservation Program | GOG.COM
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).
Old 12-06-24 | 01:15 PM
  #7  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 20,099
Received 828 Likes on 577 Posts
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
The following 2 users liked this post by Jay G.:
DJariya (12-06-24), RichC2 (12-06-24)
Old 12-06-24 | 04:44 PM
  #8  
Josh-da-man's Avatar
DVD Talk Hero
 
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 49,638
Received 4,556 Likes on 2,996 Posts
From: The Bible Belt
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?



Old 12-06-24 | 07:35 PM
  #9  
DVD Talk Hero
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 46,717
Received 1,401 Likes on 1,099 Posts
Re: Do DOS video games still work on modern PCs?

Originally Posted by Josh-da-man
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?
DosBox is a dos emulator that runs in modern windows, all the games you mentioned are functional in Windows 10 thru it.
Old 12-08-24 | 01:41 PM
  #10  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 20,099
Received 828 Likes on 577 Posts
Re: Do DOS video games still work on modern PCs?

Originally Posted by Josh-da-man
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.
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


Originally Posted by RichC2
DosBox is a dos emulator that runs in modern windows, all the games you mentioned are functional in Windows 10 thru it.
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/

Last edited by Jay G.; 12-08-24 at 04:26 PM.
Old 12-08-24 | 02:34 PM
  #11  
andicus's Avatar
DVD Talk Legend
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 15,170
Received 1,861 Likes on 1,275 Posts
From: Canada
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.
The following users liked this post:
Jay G. (12-08-24)
Old 12-09-24 | 09:17 AM
  #12  
DVD Talk Hero
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 46,717
Received 1,401 Likes on 1,099 Posts
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.

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.