Games that run on DOS Box?

[ZombieKidzRule!]

I just saw that some of most favorite games from way back when (read ancient times) were just added to Steam and most of them run on DOS Box. I have played these no problem after buying them on GOG.

Does anyone have any idea if the Steam Deck will be generally capable of playing games that use DOS Box? Without extraordinary steps? Meaning I can just start the game from Steam and play it. Maybe after setting the controls.

Just curious since I won't get my Steam Deck for quite a while and I have a lot of older games that I would like to play on the go that use DOS Box.

Thanks!

[Zoot]

Yes. There's no reason to think that it shouldn't. I've played through many DOSBox titles on Linux.

[Bee🐝]

Also, Retroarch has Dosbox (don't know which version) as a standard core, so that should make it way easier.

Download it from Steam, it's free.

Edit: It also has Scummvm but that's less of an issue.

[Marlock]

See items 10.4 (3rd-party compatibility layers) and 10.4.2 (Boxtron) here:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/221410/discussions/0/1636417404917541481/

In short, boxtron is a compatibility layer like Proton, but for DOS games instead of Windows games, and based on DOSBox instead of Wine

You can also add DOSBox as a 3rd-party app, but the extra work to make Boxtron morr integrated into Steam is probably going to make you prefer it over plain DOSBox

ps: RetroArch is amazing too, you should give it a try if you're going to use several retro gaming emulators, not just DOS stuff

[Zoot]

Originally posted by Marlock:

See items 10.4 (3rd-party compatibility layers) and 10.4.2 (Boxtron) here:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/221410/discussions/0/1636417404917541481/

In short, boxtron is a compatibility layer like Proton, but for DOS games instead of Windows games, and based on DOSBox instead of Wine

You can also add DOSBox as a 3rd-party app, but the extra work to make Boxtron morr integrated into Steam is probably going to make you prefer it over plain DOSBox

ps: RetroArch is amazing too, you should give it a try if you're going to use several retro gaming emulators, not just DOS stuff

I love your guide but I suspect OP meant games released on Steam that are packaged with their own copy of DOSBox. In that case it ought to be no harder than clicking "play". (Some titles may require fiddling with controls but that is true of many non-DOSBox titles too.)

[Marlock]

if that's the case then yes, just click play...

although those titles CAN also be ran via Boxtron, and this may be useful as a workaround in case the shipped DOSBox version has issues

[darrenphillips666]

Yes, some will work, the original Tomb Raider (1996) is Dos, it works

[ZombieKidzRule!]

Awesome! Thanks for all these responses! I have never used Linux before, but I can’t wait to explore when I finally get my Deck.

Thanks again!

[Marlock]

If you're curious about Linux in general, not just for the Deck's SteamOS3 (which is pretty one-of-a-kind in many ways), you could try it on a normal PC too... and for short tests that can be done from an usb "liveboot" pendrive without even installing anything

[Color]

I tested commander keen and it worked with some tweaks. I needed to use the experimental proton for compatibility and create a steam input macro for F4 (why doesn't the standard keyboard not have that available?!) to enable joystick.