Disc Operating System (DOS) was an early form of computer operating system. Unlike modern operating systems like Windows and MacOS where most things are done with a mouse, in DOS input and output is all via text only. So changing between directories, copying and pasting files etc. is all done by typing commands. There are still active versions of DOS maintained if you want to try it for real, FreeDOS being a popular version.
Now, why is this interesting? For starters, playing around with an old operating system like DOS helps build a better understanding of how computers work. The DOS commands can often still be used in modern Windows systems in the “command line” to do advanced tasks, and to build scripts that automate tasks, for example.
And then there’s games! There are tons of games and other programs that have essentially no commercial value anymore. These games can still be pretty fun to play, and absolutely any computer will have the capacity to run them.
Some early DOS games were text-based. Playing these is a pretty interesting experience. Your own imagination will have to substitute for the graphics, so they can be surprisingly immersive. A classic game in this genre is Rogue, which was also my introduction to DOS gaming. I installed FreeDOS and Rogue onto a floppy disc and used this to play on an old computer we had lying around with a broken hard drive.
Rogue inspired a whole generation of similar turn-based role playing games. Nethack is probably the most famous, and is still a pretty popular game and under active development. It’s also ridiculously hard. You will need to read the manual, learn enless commands, and die, a lot. And when you die, you start again from the beginning. There are now also many tile sets to add graphics to the game, if you like.
For a more approachable and modern take on rogue-likes, Brogue is a pretty good place to start. You can even play it online!
Another interesting category are the point and click adventure games. One of the most fun games I’ve played was the Secret of Monkey Island, a hilarious puzzle adventure game (unfortunately not available for free, although you can play it online here). There are many similar games though, for example Beneath a Steel Sky.
There are also many iconic DOS first person shooters like Doom, Wolfenstein 3D, Quake, and Duke Nukem, side scrolling battle games like Clonk and WWI Flying sidescroller Sopwith, and so much more.
Some general links to find a game that appeals to you:
- DOSGames.com
- Amazing collection of games, with good filters. Many can be played online too!
- DOS Games Archive
- Another great collection with online play. Check out the list of most popular downloads for an introduction to some classics.
- Software Library: MS-DOS Games
- Big library of online playable DOS games on archive.org (some more information).
- WePlayDOS
If text based games appeal, there is another category of games called interactive fiction. These are still made to this day and so many are not DOS games anymore, but they can provide endless variety.
- Interactive Fiction Database
- Brass Lantern beginner resources
- Tales of the Traveling Swordsman
- SCUMMVM client used to play interactive fiction
-- Written on 8 March 2025