Man, I just had the wildest ride getting “Doom 1” and “2” running on my rig, all for free. Let me tell you, it was a bit of a journey, but totally worth it in the end.
First off, I went digging around for ways to play these classics. That’s when I found out about DOSBox. This thing is a lifesaver! It’s basically a free program that lets you run old DOS games on new computers.
So, I got DOSBox installed, which was pretty straightforward, just a few clicks here and there. After the installation, I found I could play some classic DOS games, not just “Doom” and “Doom 2”. That was cool, you know, but my heart was set on “Doom”.
Then, I heard that “Doom 1” and “2 Enhanced” were on Game Pass. I hopped onto the Game Pass app and what do you know, they were right there! Even better, the installation file was tiny, so it downloaded in a flash.
But wait, there’s more! I also stumbled upon a way to play “Doom II: Hell On Earth” online, right in my web browser. No downloads, no fuss, just straight into the action. It felt like I hit the jackpot.
Playing with GZDoom
Now, for the folks who like to tinker a bit more, I found out about GZDoom. Apparently, there’s a way to launch it through the classic DOS launcher option on Steam. You just gotta make sure you don’t mess with the launch options in the game properties, or you might break something. I did not try this because I already got them installed and played.
I also heard some chatter about people owning “Doom 1” and “2” on Steam and getting a free upgrade to the new, enhanced versions. That’s a pretty sweet deal if you ask me.
Some Other Ways
- Someone mentioned that if you’re a PS Plus subscriber, there’s a sneaky way to grab the “Doom” and “Doom 2” enhanced bundle for free. I don’t have a PlayStation, so I couldn’t check it out myself, but it might be worth looking into if you’re on that platform.
- Also, there is a way to unlock fully playable versions of “Doom 1” and “Doom 2” on your copy of “DOOM Eternal” by unlocking the Fortress of DOOM hub.
And that’s my “Doom” adventure. It was a mix of nostalgia, excitement, and a bit of tech fiddling, but I ended up playing these legendary games without spending a dime. If you’re a fan of the classics, or just curious about where it all began, I highly recommend giving it a go. Trust me, it’s a blast from the past that’s still a ton of fun today!