ScummVM is not a DOS emulator, but it allows you to run DOS games on systems that usually do not support such games.
All you need are the data files of the game. ScummVM includes each game's executable (.EXE) file. Once you add the data files, it should all work.
The list of games that have built-in executable files is found at 'https://www.scummvm.org/compatibility/'.
Support
There are many Operating Systems that are supported by ScummVM to run games. The list is:
It may be best to download the files from the website since they may be a more recent version than the files in the repository. The download links are at: 'https://www.scummvm.org/downloads/'.
Testing the Download
After almost every download link is an option for 'SHA256'. To see the hash, click on the hash link for the file. Copy the hash to the clipboard.
For example, the download for the Ubuntu 22.04 link has a hash of '7b8d0369461651cf80f64fefada62fa3832233e26aa764847ecd4a51ff359a67'. Use a text editor to create a new file in the same folder as the downloaded file. Paste in the hash you copied, then a space and the name of the file you downloaded. The file should contain something like:
This should be the only line in the text file. Save it and remember its filename, mine for example is 'ScummVM.txt'. Open a terminal and type:
The response should be that the filename that is being checked and then it should say 'OK' that the checksum matched.
DOS Games
Once you have ScummVM, you can look at the compatibility list to see what games you may want. Once you decide, you can try 'https://www.myabandonware.com/browse/platform/dos/' or search in your browser.
After you download the DOS game you want, you'll need to extract it. Start ScummVM and the main screen, shown in Figure 1, select 'Add Game'.
FIGURE 1
Once the window opens to find the DOS game, select the folder in the window and click on 'Choose' when you find the folder. After you select the folder, ScummVM will detect the game and then show you a window with the information. You can also change various items as seen on the tabs in Figure 2.
FIGURE 2
Make any changes, if any, and click on 'OK' when done. Your game should be on the ScummVM games list. Select the game you want to play and select 'Start' to begin.
Shortcut Keys
Within the ScummVM window, there are special shortcut keys to perform tasks.
While playing your game, you can press CTRL+F5 to bring up a menu so you can load or save your progress in the game.
To capture the mouse, the keys are CTRL+M. If captured, the mouse will not leave the ScummVM screen. Once you release the mouse capture, then the mouse can leave and return to the ScummVM window.
Using CTRL+A lets you switch between aspect-ratio being corrected or uncorrected.
To cycle through scaling factors, you can press CTRL+S. Just keep hitting 'S' while holding down the CTRL key to go through various scalings.
To get a screenshot of the ScummVM window, press ALT+S. The screenshots are in '~/Pictures/ScummVM Screenshots' as PNG files.
Conclusion
Try out ScummVM if you see a game you like that is compatible. ScummVM seems very stable and works with quite a few games that are well known from back in the 80s and 90s.
It can install and work faster than getting a VirtualBox machine running. Try it and have some fun.
All you need are the data files of the game. ScummVM includes each game's executable (.EXE) file. Once you add the data files, it should all work.
The list of games that have built-in executable files is found at 'https://www.scummvm.org/compatibility/'.
Support
There are many Operating Systems that are supported by ScummVM to run games. The list is:
- Windows Installer (32 and 64 bit)
- Windows zipfile (64 bit)
- Windows zipfile (32 bit)
- Windows 95+ zipfile
- Snap package hosted at the snapcraft.io store
- Flatpak package hosted at the flathub.org repository
- Debian 12 (bookworm) x86 64bit package
- Debian 12 (bookworm) i386 package
- Debian 11 (bullseye) x86 64bit package
- Debian 11 (bullseye) i386 package
- Debian 10 (buster) x86 64bit package
- Debian 10 (buster) i386 package
- Ubuntu 23.10 (mystic) x86 64bit package
- Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (jammy) x86 64bit package
- Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (focal) x86 64bit package
- Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (bionic) x86 64bit package
- macOS 10.9+ for Intel and Apple Silicon, with Sparkle Disk Image
- Mac OS X 10.6+ Intel 32 bits (without Sparkle) Disk Image
- Mac OS X 10.4+ PPC 32 bits (without Sparkle) Disk Image
- PlayStation 3 package
- PSP (PlayStation Portable) package
- PlayStation Vita package
- Android ARMv7a package
- Android ARM64v8a package
- Android x86 32bit package
- Android x86 64bit package
- ARM64 iOS 9+ package .ipa (signed)
- Dreamcast plain files
- Dreamcast Nero Image & Demos
- Nintendo DSi package
- Nintendo 3DS package (.3dsx)
- Nintendo 3DS package (.cia)
- Wii package
- Nintendo Switch package
- OpenDingux package for GCW0
- OpenDingux package for Lepus
- OpenDingux package for RS90/RG99
- Haiku package 32bits
- Haiku package 64bits
- AmigaOS 4 package
- MorphOS package
- RISC OS package
- RISC OS VFP package
- Atari Lite package (Atari TT / Falcon with 4 + 32 MB RAM)
- Atari Full package (Atari Falcon with 4 + 64 MB RAM and 68040 CPU)
- FireBee package (Coldfire MCF5475 / Firebee)
Code:
sudo apt install scummvm scummvm-data scummvm-tools -yIt may be best to download the files from the website since they may be a more recent version than the files in the repository. The download links are at: 'https://www.scummvm.org/downloads/'.
Testing the Download
After almost every download link is an option for 'SHA256'. To see the hash, click on the hash link for the file. Copy the hash to the clipboard.
For example, the download for the Ubuntu 22.04 link has a hash of '7b8d0369461651cf80f64fefada62fa3832233e26aa764847ecd4a51ff359a67'. Use a text editor to create a new file in the same folder as the downloaded file. Paste in the hash you copied, then a space and the name of the file you downloaded. The file should contain something like:
Code:
7b8d0369461651cf80f64fefada62fa3832233e26aa764847ecd4a51ff359a67 scummvm_2.8.1-1_ubuntu22.04_amd64.debThis should be the only line in the text file. Save it and remember its filename, mine for example is 'ScummVM.txt'. Open a terminal and type:
Code:
sha256sum --check ScummVM.txtThe response should be that the filename that is being checked and then it should say 'OK' that the checksum matched.
DOS Games
Once you have ScummVM, you can look at the compatibility list to see what games you may want. Once you decide, you can try 'https://www.myabandonware.com/browse/platform/dos/' or search in your browser.
After you download the DOS game you want, you'll need to extract it. Start ScummVM and the main screen, shown in Figure 1, select 'Add Game'.
FIGURE 1
Once the window opens to find the DOS game, select the folder in the window and click on 'Choose' when you find the folder. After you select the folder, ScummVM will detect the game and then show you a window with the information. You can also change various items as seen on the tabs in Figure 2.
FIGURE 2
Make any changes, if any, and click on 'OK' when done. Your game should be on the ScummVM games list. Select the game you want to play and select 'Start' to begin.
Shortcut Keys
Within the ScummVM window, there are special shortcut keys to perform tasks.
While playing your game, you can press CTRL+F5 to bring up a menu so you can load or save your progress in the game.
To capture the mouse, the keys are CTRL+M. If captured, the mouse will not leave the ScummVM screen. Once you release the mouse capture, then the mouse can leave and return to the ScummVM window.
Using CTRL+A lets you switch between aspect-ratio being corrected or uncorrected.
To cycle through scaling factors, you can press CTRL+S. Just keep hitting 'S' while holding down the CTRL key to go through various scalings.
To get a screenshot of the ScummVM window, press ALT+S. The screenshots are in '~/Pictures/ScummVM Screenshots' as PNG files.
Conclusion
Try out ScummVM if you see a game you like that is compatible. ScummVM seems very stable and works with quite a few games that are well known from back in the 80s and 90s.
It can install and work faster than getting a VirtualBox machine running. Try it and have some fun.
