DOSBox
Free 1.4 MB GPL emulator that runs DOS programs on Windows, version 0.74-3
Classic PC games for Windows
This Windows category gathers older PC games and the tools that keep them running. The projects fall into a few groups, and knowing the group saves time. DOS emulators such as DOSBox and DOSBox Staging run original programs from the early PC era. Engine rewrites like ScummVM and OpenMW replace the executable of specific games. OpenTTD rebuilds a transport management classic, and SuperTux is a platformer in the spirit of old console favorites.
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Several of these projects need game data you already own. ScummVM and OpenMW both work that way, and OpenMW is built for Morrowind. Sizes vary a lot: DOSBox is only 1.4 MB, while SuperTux comes to 291.7 MB, so it helps to check the download size before you pick.
Apps in this category
DOSBox Staging
Free DOS emulator with SC-55 audio and CRT colour options in 0.83.0
ScummVM
Run over 325 classic point-and-click adventures on Windows, free
OpenTTD
Free, open-source Transport Tycoon Deluxe remake for Windows, 8.5 MB
SuperTux
Free open-source Mario-style platformer with Tux, now at version 0.7.0
OpenMW
Free GPL-3.0 engine that reimplements Morrowind on Windows, v0.50.0
OpenRCT2
Free GPL-3.0 rebuild of RollerCoaster Tycoon 2, 74.1 MB, from github.com
MAME
Free MAME 0.289 emulator for Windows covering arcade, console and calculator hardware
GnollHack
NetHack fork for Windows with graphics, sounds and voiceovers, free on GitHub
Nethack
Free 12.8 MB single-player roguelike for Windows from the Nethack DevTeam
Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup
Free open source roguelike for Windows, a 27.9 MB download from GitHub
Tales of Maj'Eyal
Free open source roguelike RPG with tactical turn-based combat for Windows
Ikemen GO
Open source fighting engine that runs M.U.G.E.N content with netplay
Pixel Wheels
Free top-down retro racer with weapons, bonuses and two-player PC play
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Top 5 picks
DOSBox Staging
The DOS emulation pick. DOSBox Staging continues the original DOSBox, and your existing configuration files should keep working in it. Defaults are set so most games run without tweaking, while deeper options remain for those who want them. The catalog lists version 0.83.0-7b400, updated August 27, 2026, at 31.3 MB. The older DOSBox 0.74-3 from June 26, 2019 is only 1.4 MB.
ScummVM
The adventure-game pick. ScummVM replaces the executables of classic adventure and role-playing games, so it is a rewrite and not an emulator. You must already own the data files. It supports over 325 games, including titles from LucasArts and Sierra On-Line. Version 2026.4.0 was updated October 10, 2026, and the download is 133.5 MB.
OpenTTD
The management-sim pick. OpenTTD is a transport simulation based on Transport Tycoon Deluxe, written by Chris Sawyer. It tries to follow the original closely and then adds new features on top. The catalog lists version 15.3, updated April 5, 2026, at 8.5 MB, which makes it one of the lighter downloads in the group. Its license is GPL-2.0.
MAME
The vintage-software pick. MAME is an emulation framework meant to preserve decades of older software by documenting how the hardware works. Its source code doubles as that documentation. The catalog lists version 0.289, updated July 31, 2026, at 83.6 MB. The license is mostly GPLv2, with some subcomponents under different terms.
Nethack
The roguelike pick. NetHack is a single-player roguelike, listed at version 5.0.0, updated June 10, 2026, and only 12.8 MB. GnollHack builds on the NetHack codebase and adds graphics, sounds and voiceovers, but its download is 504.1 MB. The two share a lineage and differ sharply in size, so choose by how much presentation you want.
Questions and answers
Which of these apps need game files I already own?
ScummVM requires the data files of the games you want to run. OpenMW is an engine reimplementation for Morrowind. Requirements differ for the other apps, so check each page.
What separates DOSBox from DOSBox Staging?
DOSBox 0.74-3 was last updated on June 26, 2019 and is 1.4 MB. DOSBox Staging is a continuation of it, listed at version 0.83.0-7b400 with an August 27, 2026 update and a size of 31.3 MB. It is described as a mostly drop-in replacement that keeps existing configurations working.
Do these apps cost anything?
All ten apps shown are free. Their licenses include GPL-2.0, GPL-3.0, the NetHack General Public License and NPGL.
Related categories
Best-of lists
Size is a practical filter. The ten apps shown range from DOSBox at 1.4 MB to GnollHack at 504.1 MB, and SuperTux sits at 291.7 MB. If disk space or bandwidth is tight, start with DOSBox, OpenTTD or NetHack.
Check the update date before installing. DOSBox was last updated on June 26, 2019, while DOSBox Staging, ScummVM and OpenRCT2 all have releases dated between August and November 2026. The newest of these is OpenRCT2 0.5.7, dated November 1, 2026.