How to Run Old DOS Games and Apps Using DOSBox-X

Ever wanted to play classic DOS games or run old compilers like Turbo C++ or MASM for assembly programming? If you’ve been curious about how to make these vintage applications work on modern systems, then DOSBox-X is your new best tool.

What is DOSBox-X?

DOSBox-X is an enhanced fork of the original DOSBox emulator, which replicates a complete MS-DOS environment and adds modern features such as better hardware support, customizable UI, long filename support, and improved compatibility with a wide variety of software.

It is actively maintained and continues to be ported to Linux, Windows, macOS, and other platforms thanks to its use of the Simple DirectMedia Layer (SDL).

Installing DOSBox-X in Linux

If you’re on Ubuntu, Linux Mint, or another Debian-based system, DOSBox-X is not typically available in the default repositories, so you can download and install the latest release from the official site or GitHub, or build it from the source code.

To compile DOSBox-X in Ubuntu:

sudo apt install automake gcc g++ make libncurses-dev nasm libsdl-net1.2-dev libsdl2-net-dev libpcap-dev libslirp-dev fluidsynth libfluidsynth-dev libavdevice58 libavformat-dev libavcodec-dev libavcodec-extra libavcodec-extra58 libswscale-dev libfreetype-dev libxkbfile-dev libxrandr-dev
wget https://github.com/joncampbell123/dosbox-x/archive/refs/tags/dosbox-x-v2025.05.03.tar.gz
tar -xvf dosbox-x-v2025.05.03.tar.gz 
cd dosbox-x-dosbox-x-v2025.05.03/
./build-debug
sudo make install

To compile DOSBox-X in Fedora Workstation:

sudo dnf group install "C Development Tools and Libraries"
sudo dnf install SDL_net-devel SDL2_net-devel libxkbfile-devel ncurses-devel libpcap-devel libslirp-devel libpng-devel fluidsynth-devel freetype-devel nasm
wget https://github.com/joncampbell123/dosbox-x/archive/refs/tags/dosbox-x-v2025.05.03.tar.gz
tar -xvf dosbox-x-v2025.05.03.tar.gz 
cd dosbox-x-dosbox-x-v2025.05.03/
./build-debug
sudo make install

How to Use DOSBox-X in Linux

Once installed, you can launch DOSBox-X from a terminal, which will open up a familiar DOS-like interface, usually starting at the Z:\ prompt.

To access a directory from your host system in DOSBox-X, mount your home directory as drive C:, then switch to it.

mount C ~
C:

If you want this to happen automatically every time, edit the startup section in the DOSBox-X config file. You can generate and edit it by choosing “Save Configuration File” from the DOSBox-X menu, or manually edit:

nano ~/.config/dosbox-x/dosbox-x.conf

Add the following at the end:

mount C ~
C:
cd TC

You can also enable full-screen mode, adjust CPU cycles, change video settings, and more, all inside the configuration file.

Installing Classic Tools and Games

In this section, we’ll walk through how to install and run some popular DOS-era tools and games using DOSBox-X.

Installing Prince of Persia

First, download the Prince of Persia zip file and extract it to a folder in your home directory, for example: ~/prince and enter the following commands to start it.

mount C ~
C:
cd prince
prince

Installing Wolfenstein 3D

This fast-paced first-person shooter from id Software defined an entire genre and still delivers a fun, nostalgic experience.

First, download the game, extract the downloaded ZIP file to your home directory (e.g., \~/wolf3d), and then launch DOSBox-X and enter the following commands:

mount C ~
C:
cd wolf3d
install
cd \WOLF3D
wolf3d

Wrapping Up

DOSBox-X makes running classic DOS software smoother than ever, especially with its rich feature set and regular updates. Whether you’re trying to revisit old games or work with legacy development tools, DOSBox-X is a robust and flexible solution.

Have fun exploring the DOS era again! If you run into any issues, feel free to ask questions or share feedback.