Compatibility tool to run DOS games on Steam through native Linux DOSBox.

Official mirrors: GitHub, GitLab.

Game compatibility reports: Steam, GOG.

• Lower input lag (compared to DOSBox inside Proton)
• Steam features working as expected (e.g. Steam Cloud, Controller settings or recording of time played)
• Better fullscreen support, especially on multi-monitor setups*
• Steam Overlay working out of the box*
• More configuration options and better defaults*
• Auto-start of software MIDI synthesiser
• Auto-setup of MIDI for supported titles (click Play and enjoy pre-configured MIDI music)

_{* - compared to vanilla DOSBox}

You will need Python (>= 3.5), DOSBox (>= 0.74) and inotify-tools. Optionally for MIDI support: TiMidity++ or FluidSynth and a soundfont.

$ sudo dnf install dosbox inotify-tools timidity++ fluid-soundfont-gm

$ sudo zypper install dosbox inotify-tools timidity fluid-soundfont

$ sudo apt install dosbox inotify-tools timidity fluid-soundfont-gm

$ sudo pacman -S dosbox inotify-tools timidity++ soundfont-fluid

1. Close Steam.

2. Download and unpack tarball:

   $ cd ~/.local/share/Steam/compatibilitytools.d/ || cd ~/.steam/root/compatibilitytools.d/
   $ curl -L https://github.com/dreamer/steam-dos/releases/download/v0.4.0/steam-dos.tar.xz | tar xJf -
   

3. Start Steam.

4. In game properties window select "Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool" and select "DOSBox (native)".

Read Configuration article on project Wiki.

To easily install a DOS game from GOG to your Steam library, use included script:

$ ./install-gog-game ~/Downloads/setup_warcraft_orcs__humans_1.2_\(28330\).exe

It will unpack the game to ~/.local/share/games, prepare a setup that works around all known Steam bugs and generate .desktop file to be added to your Steam library. After that you can play the game using steam-dos or Proton.

Installation script depends only on Python standard library, you can put it in your PATH or wherever you like.

steam-dos preconfigures selected titles to turn MIDI music on/off, depending on user preferences. Supported games are:

• STAR WARS™ - Dark Forces
• STAR WARS™ - X-Wing: Classic Edition
• STAR WARS™ - X-Wing: Collector's CD-ROM Edition
• X-COM: UFO Defense
• X-COM: Terror From the Deep
• Jagged Alliance Gold
• Jagged Alliance Deadly Games
• System Shock: Classic
• The Ultimate DOOM
• Final DOOM
• DOOM II
• Master Levels for DOOM II
• Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders
• Hexen: Beyond Heretic

Just click "Play" and enjoy glorious MIDI music, there's no need to hunt those pesky SETSOUND.EXE programs.

Sythesiser running does not automagically turn on MIDI music in every game, sometimes you need to enable it manually (usually there's a file called SETUP.EXE, IMUSE.EXE or similar somewhere in the game directory). Use following settings:

Music/device: Roland MPU401/General MIDI, Music Port: 330

If you'll find a game, that supports MIDI and you need to enable it manually, create a bug report, please!

Some game collections on Steam use "Sierra Classics Launcher" graphical frontend. There's no support for graphical version of this launcher - the first game in a collection will be started by default. You can select different game to run with SDOS_SIERRA_GAME environment variable.

For example, to start King's Quest 6 from King's Quest Collection:

SDOS_SIERRA_GAME=6 %command%

Check SierraLauncher.ini file in game's installation dir to learn which number corresponds to which game.

Read all about it in the contributing guide :)

As of June/July 2019 you are likely to encounter one of these bugs:

• Steam Overlay causes visual glitch. DOSBox issue, fixed in 0.74-3.
• Mouse cursor issues in Gnome 3.30. Gnome issue, fixed in 3.32.
• Some games experience random KeyUp events. DOSBox issue.
• Alt+Tab does not work in fullscreen. DOSBox does not support borderless window mode (yet) - use Alt+Enter to leave fullscreen and interact with your desktop.