Note: This is a creative first-person style review.
You know what? I still think about that big beige PC case that hummed like a fridge. Boot beep, blinking cursor, and a pile of floppies that smelled like paper and dust. I can almost hear the Sound Blaster hiss before the music kicks in. Old, sure. But these games still sing.
My quick rulebook
- They feel great today, not just “back then.”
- They start fast. No fuss. No 20-minute tutorial.
- The sound or music makes me smile.
- I can play with DOSBox or ScummVM without a headache.
Let me explain. Some games age like milk. These didn’t. They’re still fun, still sharp, still worth your time.
Need a fresh copy for your virtual shelf? Many of these gems are just a click away over at DOS Games Online.
For an even deeper dive, I’ve put together a separate rundown of the best DOS games ever—perfect if you want an expanded hit list before booting up DOSBox.
If you’re curious how these classics stack up against other era staples, my quick comparison of MS-DOS games I still think about offers some extra food for thought.
DOOM (1993)
Fast. Loud. Chunky shotgun bliss. E1M1 hits and my shoulders relax. The controls feel snappy even now. I still get lost in those tin maze halls, but that’s part of the charm. Motion blur? A little. And yes, I quick-save like a gremlin.
The chainsaw buzz, the pink demon bark, the doors that hiss—good grief, what a mood.
Prince of Persia (1989)
Silky moves. Every step matters. The rotoscoped run looks human in a way that’s almost spooky. I breathe in and count my jumps. The timer adds a little pain, but in a good way. Sword fights? Simple but tense. Sometimes the jumps feel slippery, but when you stick a long leap, it’s pure joy.
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge (1991)
I laughed then. I laugh now. The writing crackles. The puzzles can go weird, so I kept a notepad. ScummVM makes it smooth, and the music is warm and bouncy. When a riddle feels too strange, I step away, make tea, and it clicks later. It’s goofy, but it’s smart goofy.
X-COM: UFO Defense (1994)
Turn-based terror. I name my squad and then panic when they panic. Night missions make me sweat; flares help, but barely. The menus are a bit clunky, sure. But that first crash site? Chef’s kiss. Miss a shot, break a barn window, scare your own team—it’s messy and perfect.
Lemmings (1991)
Tiny workers. Big brain twist. The tunes live in my head rent-free. Early stages are chill. Later ones want precision, and my hands get tense. Still, flipping a whole crowd from doom to safety with one blocker? Feels like magic.
Dune II (1992)
Spice, sand, and stubborn tanks. This one built the road for real-time strategy. Harvesters wander off like toddlers, and pathfinding throws tantrums. But placing a base on clean rock, hearing the carryall thrum, watching the map fill—sweet. Pick a house, crush worms, rule Arrakis. Simple plan.
Warcraft: Orcs & Humans (1994)
Peons say “Zug-zug,” and my brain melts with joy. The single build queue is slow, yeah. But the vibe is right. Click, chop, farm, push. I played on a lazy weekend and kept saying, just one more map. Famous last words.
Wing Commander (1990)
Dogfights with drama. The chatter sells it. I like it with a real stick, but a keyboard can work fine. The briefings feel like you’re part of a squad, not just a mission feed. When the lasers hit, that deep Sound Blaster growl makes me grin.
SimCity (1989)
Quiet play. Build, wait, tweak, repeat. Traffic gets gnarly, and fires hit when you’re low on cash—how rude. But the loop is calm. I zone a tiny town, add a park, watch it grow, then leave it running while I make a sandwich.
The Oregon Trail (DOS)
It’s school-lab nostalgia. It’s also fun on a rainy night. You plan, you hunt, you lose half the family to bad water, and you still try again. It’s not fair. That’s kind of the point. I still misjudge river depth. You’d think I’d learn.
Quick shout-outs (still great)
- Descent: 360-degree tunnels that make my brain flip—and I love it.
- Commander Keen: Bouncy, bright, and friendly.
- Star Control II: Space, story, and weird aliens who talk smack.
- Duke Nukem 3D: Crass, fast, and chunky fun.
- Jazz Jackrabbit: Speedy platforming with candy colors.
- Tyrian: A shooter with upgrades that feel tasty.
How I play them now without headaches
- DOSBox for most games. I keep cycles around “auto,” then bump up if it drags.
- ScummVM for point-and-click—so clean.
- I switch to 4:3 with black bars. No stretch. Looks right.
- A cheap USB pad helps for platformers, but for DOOM I stick with keys and mouse.
- Save often. Don’t be proud. DOS games can be mean.
Here’s the thing. You might need a tiny bit of tinkering—sound settings, controls, maybe a config tweak. It sounds scary. It’s not bad. Think of it like tuning a bike chain. Small mess, big payoff.
While you’re elbow-deep in retro fun, you might also notice how much time everyone in the room (yourself included) spends glued to a phone. If your partner suddenly guards their screen like you guard the red keycard, you could be dealing with more than just casual texting. A quick reality check can spare a lot of guesswork—this rundown of Signs Your Husband Is Sexting lays out clear behavioral clues to watch for and practical next steps, so you can pause the game and address concerns with confidence instead of suspicion.
On the flip side, if you’re single and your social circle feels as dusty as your floppy collection, stepping away from the monitor for an evening might be the power-up you need—consider reserving a spot at Speed Dating Manitowoc where a string of quick, face-to-face chats can help you forge new connections faster than you can load a save file, complete with schedules, sign-up info, and tips to turn small talk into a potential co-op campaign.
Tiny gripes I still make
- Some games need memory set right. It’s like a picky cat.
- Old UIs hide key stuff. Keep a short cheat sheet.
- Sound can hiss on first run. I nudge volume and it clears.
Funny, right? We call them old. But they still feel alive.
So… which one first?
If you want speed, start with DOOM. For brainy laughs, try Monkey Island 2. Want nerves and tactics? X-COM, no question. If you need quiet, build a tiny town in SimCity and watch the lights come on.
I could go on, but I’ll stop here. Grab a snack, dim the room, and let the CRT glow—okay, an LCD with a light filter works too. These games aren’t just memories. They’re still a good night.
If your backlog still isn’t full after this tour, my roundup of the top 10 old DOS games should keep your weekend busy.