Set up DOSBox in Ubuntu to Play Retro Video games

DOSBox is free and open-source software program that lets you emulate the MS-DOS working programs from the earlier century.

Why would you need that? For nostalgia because it lets you play the 8-bit video games that had been standard within the 80s and 90s.

That features legendary video games like Mario, Contra, DOOM, and so on.

Sounds good? Let me stroll you thru how one can set up DOSBox on Ubuntu. I may also present how one can set up and play retro video games.

Dosbox can be obtainable in different Linux distributions. Other than the set up, the remainder of the directions ought to be legitimate for all distros.

Putting in DOSBox on Ubuntu

The DOSBox bundle is out there in the universe repository. Which ought to already be enabled so DOSBox will be put in utilizing the next command:

sudo apt set up dosbox

As soon as accomplished, begin the DOSBox from the system menu.

Alternatively, you need to use the terminal for a similar:

dosbox

The primary run is important as it’s going to create a configuration file for us. Really, there’s nothing to do on the primary launch because it creates the configuration file.

So shut the DOSBox by executing exit on the DOSBox terminal:

exit

If you wish to tweak the configuration, the file is positioned at ~/.dosbox/dosbox-[version].conf.

Utilizing this configuration, you’ll be able to tweak virtually every part, like getting into full display screen whenever you begin DOSBox, altering cores, and so on.

However enabling the complete display screen made issues worse (for me) and needed to log again in to get to the default:

So know what you might be doing or depart the config to default.

Set up video games on DOSBox

You may entry a whole lot of standard video games from the software program library of the web archive.

Every sport is available in its personal zip file containing .exe file. Obtain those you want.

Subsequent, create a brand new listing named dosbox inside your property listing and likewise make directories for the video games you will have downloaded:

mkdir ~/dosbox && cd ~/dosbox
mkdir [game_name]

I’ve downloaded Mario. You may title the directories something. There is no such thing as a guidelines right here., It is for organizing video games. That is it.

Now, extract the .zip file to the dosbox listing that you’ve got simply created:

You are able to do the identical utilizing the unzip command within the terminal if you’d like:

unzip ~/Downloads/MARIO.zip -d ~/dosbox/mario/

As soon as you might be accomplished, begin DOSBox:

dosbox

Subsequent, mount the sport to the digital C drive:

mount c ~/dosbox/mario

Now, swap to the digital C drive:

c:

And eventually, begin the sport by typing the filename of the sport:

mario

And benefit from the sport.

Need extra retro stuff?

You probably have an previous system or a Raspberry Pi that you’re not utilizing anymore, you’ll be able to flip that machine right into a retro gaming console. There are numerous Linux initiatives only for this goal.

Linux Distros That Flip Your PC into Retro Gaming Console

Steam Deck is making information for all the proper causes. It’s a unbelievable piece of tech, powered by a variant of Arch Linux (SteamOS 3.0) developed by Valve. Whilst you can set up another working system in it, it’s best to have it as it’s for

And why cease at video games? You may get the classic laptop terminals again as properly.

Get a Classic Linux Terminal with Cool Retro Terminal

Nostalgic concerning the previous? Get a slice of the previous by putting in retro terminal app cool-retro-term which, because the title suggests, is each cool and retro on the similar. Do you bear in mind the time when there have been CRT screens in every single place and the terminal display screen used to flicker? You don’t

I hope one can find this information useful. How do you sport on Linux? Let me know within the feedback.