Where PPSSPP and DuckStation emulate game consoles, DOSBox emulates an IBM PC compatible machine running DOS. That makes it the tool for old PC games rather than handheld or console titles. This page covers the Windows build, version 0.74-3.
Free under the GPL, with no paid tier listed
DOSBox is free. It is released under the GNU General Public License v2.0, so the source is open. It has no ads or in-app purchases.
One job: a DOS computer inside Windows
The developer describes DOSBox as an emulator that imitates an IBM PC compatible computer running a DOS operating system. The install is small at 1.4 MB.
Version 0.74-3 dates from June 2019
Version 0.74-3 is the current build, and it was both released and last updated on June 26, 2019. For news on recent activity, the developer site at dosbox.com is the place to check.
DOSBox pros and cons
Pros
- Free to download and use
- Open source under GPL-2.0
- Small download at 1.4 MB
- Emulates a DOS-based IBM PC compatible
- Developer website listed at dosbox.com
Cons
- Last updated June 26, 2019
- Last updated in June 2019
- Emulator only, with no extra features beyond DOS emulation
Is DOSBox safe?
The installer comes straight from sourceforge.net, the official server for DOSBox, and TopDown APK keeps no copy of it. DOSBox is the publisher, and the license is GPL-2.0. No scan results are available for the file, so run your own check before opening it.
How to install DOSBox
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start DOSBox from the Start menu.
