Free, Fun DOS Games – Action, RPG, Puzzle
Captain Comic, EGA Trek, Miner VGA, Duke Nukem, Commander Keen
Sep 8, 2009
Ranging from text-based role playing games to graphical point-and-click adventures, the DOS gaming culture was prolific and varied in its output. Thousands upon thousands of DOS games were created by studios and individuals in the earliest stages of formal game development for the PC – creating some truly stellar titles such as Captain Comic, Duke Nukem, Crystal Caves, King's Quest, and others.
Free Adventure and Role Playing Games for DOS
Adventure and role-playing games found an excellent platform for their respective genres on the personal computer, especially given the ability to present the games in DOS – a large step ahead from other operating systems and, in essence, one of the first standardized operating systems common to nearly all contemporary personal computers.
Captain Comic is likely one of the most popular and well-known platform adventure games available for free nowadays on the DOS platform. Featuring neatly coloured and defined sprites, a customizable control scheme, and a large playable area – Captain Comic is a great little game to pick up for a few hours and try to get into.
EGA Trek is also free, a nice little Star Trek homage that finds the player using text based entries to command their very own starship! Each game is randomized, creating a small, grid-like galaxy in which to play in. Players can transport down to planets on away-missions, set off a supernova by firing torpedos into dormant stars, engage in laser combat with the deadly Vandal race, manage the functions and repair of their starship, and play on any variety of difficulty levels.
Free Puzzle and Strategy Games for DOS
Hugo's House of Horror (Parts I, III, and III) are extremely fun little puzzle games that place the player in “spooky” scenarios such as a haunted house, jungle, or mansion and allow the player to explore as well as use text cues in order to interact with the environment. For example, the text entry “pick up key” is used in order to pick up a golden key that might be visible on the nearby carpet.The graphics are cute and simplistic, while retaining the classic feel of the age. Environments are quite detailed, enough to allow the player to spot a visual cue or anomaly and “look” at the object.
Miner VGA is another piece of free software that is the inspiration for the newer title Miner Dig Deep, available on Xbox Indie Games for a token fee. As a miner in a small town, Miner VGA allows the player to go hunting for silver, gold, platinum, and a variety of gems hidden deep within the earth. Earn enough coin from searching.
DOS Classic Games – Commander Keen and Duke Nukem
Though many people are familiar with Duke Nukem 3D, a large proportion of classic gamers are unaware that Duke Nukem got his start kicking alien tail in a two-dimensional DOS based sidescroller! Duke Nukem was a solid action platformer with a variety of weapons and a lot of attitude. Brightly coloured alien sprites combining with rock solid gameplay made for an experience that was successful enough to propel the franchise forward into history.
Commander Keen is another action platformer that held a prestigious spot resident in the hard drives of many early gamers, adult and child alike. With a slick interface complete with an overmap for level selection purposes, Commander Keen was offered in episodic fashion, the first episode being distributed entirely as shareware in the hopes that gamers would purchase the full version – a common example amongst many games produced and distributed in the 1980's and early 1990's.
How Can One Find Free DOS Games On the Web?
Some great resources for tracking down freeware and shareware for DOS at www.dosgames.com or www.dosgamesarchive.com. Most of the earlier titles have been reduced to shareware or freeware and are no longer pay-to-play – the full version is sometimes offered up free of charge!
Other Articles Discussing Retro Games, Classic Gaming
Those interested in older text based RPG's might also be interested in learning a little bit more about what a MUD, or Multi User Dungeon, is. Gamers interested in more recent Xbox 360 games might be interested in a review of Fallout 3, or perhaps a quick recap of Silicon Knights' Too Human.
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