News, February 8, 2024

In 2024, DOS_deck reaffirms its commitment to delivering the best gaming and emulation experience for classic MS-DOS games in the browser. This focus means bidding farewell to game distribution. Consequently, DOS_deck no longer hosts games or box art and all associated files have been removed from its servers.

As of now, DOS_deck solely functions as an emulator for games already available to you. This means:

1. Initially, the existing curated games offering is replaced with titles accessible through the preservation service The Internet Archive^*.
2. Soon, you will be able to add your own selection of games from the Internet Archive to play at DOS_deck.
3. Eventually, the capability to install games you own into DOS_deck will become available later this year.

Key changes in today's update include:

• Technical preparation for the plans mentioned above
• Removal of game hosting and images on DOS_deck
• Introduction of a new "Installed" tab to view installed games
• Inclusion of shareware episodes for Raptor and Duke Nukem, alongside public domain titles Rogue, Bio Menace and Skyroads Xmas Special
• Providing deeplinkable urls to tabs
• Updating the About page to more accurately reflect changes
• 30-day caching of box-art, hero and game logo images

Have fun with this update. Please tell your friends about DOS_deck and join the discussion or ask questions over at reddit.com/r/dosdeck.

What is DOS_deck?

Experience classic MS-DOS games with modern convenience at DOS_deck. Relive timeless classics and find hidden gems, all readily available for instant play in your web browser on devices you already own!

DOS_deck does not host games. All games are preserved and distributed by the Internet Archive^* and streamed directly from their servers to any MS-DOS emulator running in your browser. DOS_deck provides such an emulator, with full controller support, ease of navigation and a carefully curated legal game collection.

DOS_deck runs seamlessly on Steam Deck, Mac, and Windows using Chrome, Edge or Safari. Whether you prefer playing on a TV or a laptop screen, using a gamepad or mouse and keyboard, DOS_deck adapts to your gaming style.

Why choose DOS_deck?

DOS_deck features:

• 🕹️ Instant Play
  Dive into your favorite MS-DOS games without manual configuration. Just click, play, and relive the nostalgia.
• 🎮 Controller Support
  Enhance your gaming experience by connecting your gamepad for a modern convenient experience.
• 🥰 Modern gaming control patterns
  Use known console gaming patterns such as holding down a shoulder button to quickly navigate a "weapon wheel" or button actions.
• 🖥️ Go Full Screen
  Play distraction-free by going full screen and enjoying your games to the max.
• 📺 Classic CRT Monitor effects
  Get even more nostalgic by enabling visual effects such as a pixelated CRT monitor, classic TV and many others.
• 💾 Automatic Game Progress Saving
  Never worry about losing your progress. DOS_deck automatically saves your game state when you exit, so you can pick up where you left off.
• ⌨️ Virtual Keyboard
  A virtual keyboard is available for when you need to input text and don't want to leave the couch.
• ❤️ Game Favorites
  Keep track of your preferred games by adding them to your list of favorites. Easily access your beloved titles in one place.
• ℹ️ Detailed Control Info
  Each game is pre-configured for using a controller and DOS_deck lists keyboard keys and controller buttons to provide you with the best gaming experience.
• 🔗 Deeplinking
  Share your gaming adventures with friends through deeplinking to specific games. It's gaming nostalgia at your fingertips.
• 💻 Cross-Platform Support
  Whether you're on Mac, Windows, Linux, or the Steam Deck, DOS_deck has you covered.
• 🌐 Browser Compatibility
  DOS_deck works seamlessly with Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox, ensuring you can play your favorite games on your preferred browser.

Unlocking the Gaming Past with DOS_deck

In the modern era of gaming, we're spoiled for choice with instant access to games, thanks to game consoles and streaming services, all seamlessly controlled with our trusty gamepads. But let's rewind the clock. Long before these conveniences, there was an era where the gaming world was defined by the MS-DOS operating system, and it laid the foundation for what we enjoy today.

Between 1980 and 1995, MS-DOS reigned as the standard computer operating system. It was a period of innovation and creativity that introduced entirely new gaming genres. Wolfenstein pioneered the first-person shooter (FPS) genre, while Dune 2 set the stage for real-time strategy (RTS) games. Moreover, it was the birthplace of legendary franchises we adore today, including Grand Theft Auto, Fallout, Need for Speed and Warcraft.

However, as technology progressed, MS-DOS fell by the wayside, and in 2001, Microsoft ceased support for this iconic system. Many of these classic games became incompatible with modern versions of Windows, leaving a void in the hearts of gamers.

Enter a dedicated group of enthusiasts who weren't ready to let the classics fade into obscurity. They developed a PC emulator aimed at preserving the MS-DOS experience, and thus, DOSBox was born. This remarkable piece of software was the key to resurrecting the past.

DOSBox allowed these classic games to run, but it required installation, configuration and technical knowledge of computer systems, limiting accessibility. Fortunately, the magic of modern web technology came to the rescue. Some ingenious individuals managed to make DOSBox run within a web browser, giving rise to the marvelous software package known as JS-DOS.

DOS_deck is built upon the foundation of JS-DOS, which, in turn, relies on DOSBox. Together, they breathe new life into MS-DOS games by bringing them to your browser. However, there's a twist. Games from that era were designed for keyboard and mouse input, without established standards for interaction or control patterns. Here at DOS_deck, a tremendous effort was put into creating a seamless experience, enabling you to effortlessly navigate and play these games, ideally with the comfort of a controller in hand.

Rediscover a golden age of gaming with DOS_deck. It's the bridge between the past and the present, connecting you to a world of digital memories and timeless adventures.

A few tips

Playing these games in a browser is a blast. But browsers behave a certain way and it's good to know a few things:

1. Browsers only play sound effects and music after you've "interacted" with the page at least once. So click or press a key once to activate audio.
2. In many games, Escape activates a menu. But Escape also exits full screen in a browser. Therefore, you can press the equals key ("=") to simulate Escape at all times, without leaving your full screen experience.
3. Some browsers require you to click on the game once before you can actually use the mouse or emulate the mouse with a controller.

Steam Deck Installation

DOS_deck runs great on Chrome or Edge on a Steam Deck, but it needs a few steps to activate the controller properly. By default, browsers cannot detect the controller. Instead, controller input is received by Chrome and Edge as if you pressed a keyboard key. So follow these steps to install DOS_deck in Steam Deck game mode:

1. Press the Steam button, select Power > Switch to Desktop.
2. Open the Discover Software Center.
3. Select Applications > Internet > Web Browsers.
4. Find Chrome or Edge and select Install.
5. Once it's installed, return to the Desktop. Select Application Launcher.
6. Select Internet, right-click on Chrome or Edge and select Add to Steam.
7. Check the box next to Chrome or Edge. Select Add Selected Programs.
8. Back on the Desktop, open Application Launcher > System > Konsole (terminal window).
9. Chrome or Edge needs access to the Steam Deck controller.
   Enter this command in Konsole and press Enter:
   
   For Chrome:
   flatpak override --user --filesystem=/run/udev:ro com.google.Chrome
   
   For Edge:
   flatpak override --user --filesystem=/run/udev:ro com.microsoft.Edge
   
   
10. Open Steam
11. Navigate to Chrome or Edge, right-click and select Properties.
12. Change the name to DOS_deck
13. Append this to launch options (after @@u @@):
    
    --window-size=1200,800 --kiosk "https://dosdeck.com"
    
    
14. Restart your Steam Deck back into Game Mode
15. Go to DOS_deck in your library and select Manage > Controller Layout
16. Select BROWSE CONFIGS > Gamepad with Mouse Trackpad > APPLY CONFIGURATION > Done
17. Enjoy!

Copyright and legally distributable games

DOS_deck respects existing copyrights and only provides emulation of games that are checked and verified to be either:

• Shareware - Games that provide one episode for free, encouraging players to purchase remaining episodes.
• Freeware - Games released without monetary charge to the public.
• Demo - Game demonstrations, either playable or not, encouraging players to purchase the full game.
• Liberated - Games initially released commercially, of which the original developer or publisher eventually released the game into public domain.

You will not find full commercial games here that are available for purchase at stores such as Steam, GOG, Epic Games or somewhere else, unless they have explicitly been released into public domain.

If you feel that a game should not be playable on the DOS_deck emulator, kindly reach out via email. The streaming and playing capability for specific games can be removed upon request. Please note that actual game file hosting cannot be removed by DOS_deck.

Contact

If you'd like to request a game or discuss DOS_deck with other fans of these classics, head over to reddit.com/r/dosdeck or send an email.

Credits

DOS_deck is a one-man hobby project by Martin Kool. The service couldn't exist without DOS emulation thanks to DOSBox and the browser-based port by JS-DOS. Games are preserved and distributed by the Internet Archive^*. Box art and other game artwork is provided by SteamGridDB^* and a big ❤️ to Sander van Houdt for the logo design.

^*DOS_deck is not affiliated with The Internet Archive or SteamGridDB.