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Run Classic Games on Modern Systems

Your complete guide to experiencing Acid-Play's archive as it was meant to be played.

What Era Is Your Game From?

The solution you need depends on when your game was released. Select an era to jump to the right guide.

01

DOSBox for DOS-Era Games

For the many DOS classics in Acid-Play's collection, DOSBox is your best friend. It's a free DOS emulator that creates the perfect environment for these games, handling everything from graphics to sound emulation.

Step-by-Step Setup

  1. Download the latest version from the official DOSBox website
  2. Install it and create a folder for your DOS games (e.g., C:\DOSGames).
  3. Launch DOSBox. You'll see a command prompt. You need to "mount" your games folder as a virtual C: drive.
DOS Command
mount c C:\DOSGames
c:
cd GAMENAME
GAMENAME.EXE

Tip: Press Alt+Enter for fullscreen. Use Ctrl+F11/F12 to adjust game speed.

02

Windows Compatibility Mode

Many games from the Windows 95/98/XP era can run using Windows' built-in compatibility settings. This should always be your first step for any game that has a .EXE file but fails to launch correctly.

How to Use It

  1. Right-click the game's .exe file and select "Properties".
  2. Navigate to the "Compatibility" tab.
  3. Check "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" and select Windows 98 / Me or XP.
  4. Also try checking "Reduced color mode" and "Run in 640x480 screen resolution" for older titles.
03

Community Patches & Wrappers

The community has created tools that translate old graphics APIs (like DirectX 1-7 and 3dfx Glide) into modern ones your GPU understands. dgVoodoo2 is the most popular.

Using dgVoodoo2

  1. Download dgVoodoo2 from its official site
  2. Copy the .DLL files from the MS\x86 folder into your game's main directory.
  3. Run dgVoodooCpl.exe to configure settings like resolution and anti-aliasing.

Pro Tip: Always check the PCGamingWiki for your specific game. It often lists the exact patches and wrappers needed.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Essential Communities & Resources

VOGONS Forum

The definitive forum for getting old games running on modern hardware. Deep technical knowledge and extensive guides.

Visit VOGONS →

r/retrogaming

Active Reddit community with 1M+ members. Perfect for quick questions, troubleshooting help, and discovering fixes.

Join on Reddit →

PCGamingWiki

Comprehensive game-specific documentation with detailed compatibility info, patches, and step-by-step fixes.

Browse Wiki →