How to Play DOS Games in 2024 - Including DOSBox Tutorial!

Hi! It's a video about how to play DOS games on your PC! People ask me about this a lot, particularly during DOSember (dosember.com).
S.N. I said that Archive supports save states -- I meant saves in general. It stores 'em in ya cookies. But download DOSBox and you won't even have to worry about it. ;)
I tried to include my most used DOSBox commands - enough to get you going, and to give you a little flair/optimisation. I hope it helps!
Obviously I didn't cover anything, so if you're desperate for answers -- or to WELL ACKCHYUALLY me -- feel free to leave a comment below and I'll do my best to help out!
SUPER TL;DR:
1. What's a DOS game?
A game that runs on DOS, lol. (Disk Operating System)
2. How do I play them?
There are lots of ways! Some of the easiest are:
a. In your browser, b. ExoDOS, c. DOSBox.
3. DOXBox is scary, how do I use it? Click the DOSBox timestamp below and watch for about 2 minutes, you'll get the general gist.
Time Stamps:
00:00 - Intro!
01:16 - DOS in your browser!
03:17 - ExoDOS!
04:43 - DOSBox tutorial!
11:08 - Outro!
P.S. The magnificent EGA pixel art on my desktop is by / pixelapothecary - who deserves all your follows and admiration.
LINKS:
archive.org/
dosdeck.com/
www.retro-exo.com/
www.dosbox.com/

[@bumflufftornado]

Wow, [Friend's Name]! This video is amazing! 🎉 Your editing skills are on point, and the content is so engaging. I loved how you explained [specific aspect/topic]-it was really clear and informative. Keep up the fantastic work! Can't wait to see more from you! 👍

[@emmxyzzy]

I feel so seen. :')

[@bumflufftornado]

@@emmxyzzy Absolutely deserved! Your hard work shines through in every frame. Looking forward to more awesome content from you! :)

[@stelthface]

Tremendous, nostalgia OD. DOS lust re-awakened. Well done.

[@knekk_]

I followed this tutorial exactly and now I can't stop moving my cursor in large spiraling patterns, promoting good cursor visibility. Thanks! (✿◠‿◠)

[@emmxyzzy]

cursoreffects.com/

[@james_neko]

After watching this video and following its steps exactly, I was soon DOS gaming like a pro! Then my doorbell rang - it was a trio of beautiful ladies who had been on a road trip until their car broke down. The car's manual was only available on floppy disk as a WordPerfect file, and what luck! I was able to save the day thanks to my newfound DOS skills. I showed them how good I was at playing Girlfriend Construction Set and pretty soon after, things got quite heated if you know what I mean...

[@emmxyzzy]

@@james_neko Hope you got into THE BIG PARTY. P.S. Please write a sequel to Love's Fiery Imbroglio.

[@JohnRineyIII]

"Consumed By DOS Lust", available anywhere fine books are sold.

[@emmxyzzy]

@@JohnRineyIII It's a coffee table book featuring screenshots of all the vore found in DOS games. It is roughly 40 inches thick.

[@user-fq1zu2qr6y]

Cool video!

[@sherekhangamedev]

Thank you, Missy, this filled my old soul with memories, not just playing great games. In the 90s when I was a teenager, I built 286, 386 and 486 PCs from old parts and sold them. Many times I had to migrate my costumers files to their new, larger disks, install DOS with my own original copy, games, create batch files, install Windows 3.11, or in some W95. Simpler good times. Again, thanks, a lot of classics there, good choices.

[@markghughes]

Be careful about getting consumed by DOS lust. Next thing you know, you're flirting with TIM.EXE

[@emmxyzzy]

​@@markghughes T.V. Says Donuts Are High in Fat, Kazoo.

[@emmxyzzy]

(I nearly took that file out of there, but thought you'd get a kick out of it.)

[@maxmuster7003]

😅 This is the way for a high rank wizzard of DOS.

[@DarkwyndPT]

Great video! I was thinking about doing something very similar for my channel but you've covered all the bases I had in mind. I can still make something similar but for Steam Deck though. I'm currently using the Dosbox-Pure core in RetroArch for playing DOS games (mostly action titles) in my Steam Deck.

[@maxmuster7003]

For local installation of DosBox: There is a config file for DosBox in the start menu of Windows and at the end of the DosBox config file is a [autoexec] part where we can place our mount command, the drive to change and an executable to start. I start a batch file with a menu inside made with the external choice command(download/extract) and with checking the errorlevel in reverse order highest first to jump forward in the batch file with the goto command to a jump label.

[@sirbittle]

Great tutorial!

[@maxmuster7003]

Good work.❤

[@martydotzone]

ur so much fun but also inform🧘‍♂️

[@emmxyzzy]

@@martydotzone ur so much marty but also dot zone ✨ Seriously, you have such a constant aura of good vibes about you, thank you for sharing them with me. 🙏

[@Goati_]

thanks, finally I know how to play Apocalypse Cow on DOS

[@emmxyzzy]

The perfect co-op game for a DOS date. There are even cows made of non-meat for vegans and vegetarians. No woman will ever turn you down again! You're welcome.

[@EmmaPenrose]

Great video 😊

[@emmxyzzy]

@@EmmaPenrose You are a GREAT PERSON. Thank you Emma. 🥰

[@thecheddarman]

I've been using DOSBox for ages but I had no idea you could set the cycles from the command prompt.

[@emmxyzzy]

@@thecheddarman Hooray! Video worth it.

[@unj]

Devo @ 1:24 anyone else notice. thanks for the video (anyone else notice)

[@emmxyzzy]

@@unj I love that every time you comment on one of my videos I'm like, "oh no some weirdo is comment????oh it's un-j nvm. 😅"

[@morchela]

For DOSBox there are also a bunch of frontends that helps you to manage your games and config in a windows friendly way :-)

[@emmxyzzy]

@@morchela This is true! Do you have one you prefer to use?

[@morchela]

@@emmxyzzy I use DBGL but D-Fend looks nice too

[@cyningstan]

I thought I was adept at DOSBox, but I didn't know about Ctrl+F4 to rescan. I've been quitting whatever program I was running and typing 'rescan' till now.

[@maxmuster7003]

I use an Android tablet with a DosBox app installed to make new executable files for DosBox open source projects. I am not a DOS gamer, but a made a text based mini game and it is very easy to change the story of the game and easy to add new chacter to play. I made a video to show how it works and to share the game. Feel free to modify and use it with your own project. No license. Freeware and open source. Have fun.😊

[@VeritasUnae]

Yay, Skyroads!

[@VeritasUnae]

Wonderful and informative video, glad that most of the usual command-line jargon’s usable here, I don’t have to relearn anything. Yay computers!

[@emmxyzzy]

"Yay, Skyroads!" is possibly the most important thing anyone could take away from this video. Well done Veri, A+.

[@Sakanakao]

What are the telltale signs of doslust consumption?

[@emmxyzzy]

@@Sakanakao Lotsa hair, signed archival Commander Keen poster, makes DOS videos...

[@Sakanakao]

@@emmxyzzy I guess I'm safe for now. I only do one of those 3.

[@20000lbs_of_Cheese]

play dos games dang it!

[@1425osint]

can u make a tutorial on how to loose weight as well

[@emmxyzzy]

@@1425osint Yeah it's easy, I have an axe.

[@emmxyzzy]

Wait, did you mean lose or loose?