Native, not emulated
An independent implementation in readable C, made from analysis of the game's original programs and running directly on today's systems: no DOSBox, no configuration, no cycles to tune.
Classic DOS games, native again
Drop in your copy.
Play it like it's new.
DropIn Classics makes native compatibility implementations of classic DOS games for Windows, macOS, Linux and the Steam Deck. You bring the game you own; the port brings its own code to run it, with a double click and without an emulator.
What I aim for
Every port follows the same promises, on every platform and for every game.
Your copy, open code
A port holds only its own code, open on GitHub. The game's data comes from the release you bought, read from it on your machine. Without it, nothing can be played.
Download, unpack, double click*
No installer and nothing else to install. The port finds your GOG release by itself on the first start.
The original, first
The game plays as it did. At critical points, each port's state and behaviour are compared with the original program running in an emulated PC, and then the port is played by me.
Better where it shows its age
Controllers, a setup screen, full screen, shorter waits. Every change to the game's behaviour can be switched off again.
Open and quiet
The source and how each port was checked are on GitHub. A port looks for new versions** only if you say yes, and sends nothing.
- * On macOS, you will have to allow the app to run manually. You can thank Apple for that.
- ** There are no automatic updates: the port tells you that a new version is out, and you download it and put it in place of the old one yourself (on macOS, allowing it to run again).
Made by AI,
played by a human
The ports are reverse engineered and written entirely by AI agents (Claude, by Anthropic): they analyse the original programs, reimplement their behaviour in C and compare the new implementations with the originals, step by step.
I choose the games, decide what the ports should do for the player and test them by playing them. If something plays differently from the original, tell me in the port's repository on GitHub.
The agents work with an open toolkit of their own, made for porting DOS games: what doskit is and why it exists.
The ports
What each port gives you, and where to get its newest release.
Pinball Dreams Deluxe
- Windows
- macOS (Intel and Apple silicon)
- Linux
- Steam Deck
A native compatibility implementation requiring an installed copy of Pinball Dreams: the package holds only its own code, and the game's tables, pictures and music come from your GOG release each time it runs.
Starts with a double click
No emulator, no DOSBox configuration, nothing to install. On the first start it finds your GOG release by itself, on Linux also one installed with Heroic, Lutris, Bottles or Wine, and copies the game's files.
A setup screen before the game
In the look of a DOS setup program: start any of the eight tables straight away or go through the game's own menu, and set the options the game hides behind F10.
Game controllers
Flippers, plunger and nudge on any controller SDL knows (XInput on Windows), each button assignable on the setup screen.
Less waiting, if you like
Quality of life fixes, each switchable: skip the table animations, shorter silent pauses between balls and at the bonus count. Switched off, the game waits as the original did.
The tables as they were
The table engine is independently reimplemented in readable C. Its state and behaviour are compared with the original running in an emulated PC, through whole games.
Sound and screen
Volume, bass, treble and a headphone mode; full screen with Alt+Enter (Cmd+Enter on a Mac).
Your things stay yours
Settings, saves and high scores live in your user folder: a new version replaces the program's folder and keeps them. It looks for new versions only if you say yes, fetches one small file and sends nothing.
You need: Pinball Dreams Deluxe from GOG.com.
Getting started
Own the game
Buy and install the game's release from GOG.com. The port reads its files; it does not replace them.
Download the port
Click your system's button at the port and unpack the package anywhere. A new release is a file few people have downloaded yet, so a browser may hold it back (Chrome calls it a dangerous or suspicious download): open the browser's list of downloads and keep it. The buttons fetch it from the port's release page on GitHub; take it from nowhere else.
Double click
On the first start the port finds your copy and sets itself up. The README.txt in the package says what to do if your system asks about an unsigned program.