DOSCtl

A command-line tool to manage and play DOS games via DOSBox.

Installation

Requirements: Python 3.8+, DOSBox

# Install DOSBox
brew install dosbox          # macOS
sudo apt install dosbox      # Ubuntu/Debian

# Install DOSCtl
pip install dosctl

Other install methods

# From GitHub
pip install git+ssh://git@github.com/xesco/dosctl.git

# Development (editable)
git clone git@github.com:xesco/dosctl.git
cd dosctl
pip install -e ".[dev]"

Getting Started

1. List games — the game catalog downloads automatically on first run:

   dosctl list

2. Search for a game:

   dosctl search "Dune" --sort-by year

3. Play a game by its ID. On first run, dosctl downloads, installs, and asks you to pick the executable:

   dosctl play <game-id>

Commands

Every game has a unique 8-character ID (shown in list/search output). Use it for all operations.

dosctl list

Lists all available games.

Flag	Description
-s, --sort-by [name|year]	Sort by name or year
-i, --installed	Only show installed games

dosctl search <query>

Searches for games. Query is optional if --year is used.

Flag	Description
-y, --year <year>	Filter by year
-c, --case-sensitive	Case-sensitive search
-s, --sort-by [name|year]	Sort by name or year

dosctl play <game-id> [command-parts...]

Runs a game. Downloads and installs it if needed. On first run, prompts for the main executable; the choice is saved for future runs.

Flag	Description
-c, --configure	Force re-selection of the default executable
-a, --floppy	Also mount game directory as A: drive (for floppy-based installers)
-n, --no-exec	Open DOSBox with the game directory mounted but don't run anything (for debugging)

You can override the saved executable by passing command parts directly, or use --configure to re-pick interactively:

dosctl play 62ef2769                    # Use saved default
dosctl play 62ef2769 --configure        # Re-pick executable interactively
dosctl play 62ef2769 setup.exe          # Run a specific executable
dosctl play 62ef2769 game.exe -level 5  # Pass arguments to the executable

Some games include floppy-based installers that expect source files on A: and install to C:. Use -a to mount the game directory as both drives:

dosctl play 62ef2769 install.bat C: -a  # Run installer with floppy mode
dosctl play 62ef2769 STARCON2/GAME.EXE  # Then run the installed game normally

To troubleshoot a game, open DOSBox at the game directory without running anything:

dosctl play 62ef2769 --no-exec          # Drop to C:\> prompt
dosctl play 62ef2769 --no-exec -a       # Drop to A:\> prompt (floppy mode)

Per-game DOSBox config: if a dosbox.conf file exists in the game's install directory, it is automatically loaded by DOSBox (via -conf). Use it to override cycles, memory, sound settings, or any other DOSBox option for that specific game. The net host and net join commands honour the same file.

dosctl inspect <game-id|alias>

Shows installed files for a game. Use -e, --executables to show only .exe/.com/.bat files.

dosctl info <game-id|alias>

Shows catalog metadata and local status for a game: name, ID, release year, alias (if set), download/install status, install path, and the saved default executable.

dosctl delete <game-id|alias>

Deletes an installed game and its downloaded archive.

dosctl refresh --force

Re-downloads the master game list from the Internet Archive.

dosctl alias

Manage short, memorable names (aliases) for game IDs. Aliases can be used in place of the 8-character ID in any command that accepts one (play, inspect, info, delete, net host, net join).

Alias names must start with a letter or digit and contain only lowercase letters, digits, and hyphens.

dosctl alias set <alias> <game-id>

Create or update an alias:

dosctl alias set doom 62ef2769
dosctl play doom        # same as: dosctl play 62ef2769

dosctl alias remove <alias>

Remove an alias.

dosctl alias list

List all defined aliases.

dosctl net host <game-id|alias>

Hosts a multiplayer game using DOSBox IPX networking. By default, hosts on your local network. Use --internet to enable internet play with automatic UPnP port mapping and a discovery code.

Flag	Description
-p, --port <port>	UDP port for the IPX server (default: 19900)
-c, --configure	Force re-selection of the default executable
-i, --internet	Enable internet play (UPnP port mapping + discovery code)
-I, --public-ip <ip>	Specify your public IP (skips automatic detection; requires --internet)
-U, --no-upnp	Skip UPnP port mapping (requires --internet)
-n, --no-exec	Open DOSBox with IPX server running but don't run anything (for debugging)

dosctl net join <game-id|alias> <host>

Joins a multiplayer game hosted by another player. The host argument can be a raw IP address (for LAN) or a discovery code (for internet play).

Flag	Description
-p, --port <port>	UDP port of the IPX server (default: 19900)
-c, --configure	Force re-selection of the default executable

Example — LAN play:

# Player 1 (host):
dosctl net host 62ef2769
# Output: "Your local IP appears to be: 192.168.1.42"

# Player 2 (join with IP):
dosctl net join 62ef2769 192.168.1.42

Example — internet play:

# Player 1 (host with internet mode):
dosctl net host 62ef2769 --internet
# Output: "Your discovery code: DOOM-3KF8A"

# Player 2 (join with discovery code):
dosctl net join 62ef2769 DOOM-3KF8A

If UPnP fails or you've already forwarded the port manually:

dosctl net host 62ef2769 --internet --no-upnp --public-ip 203.0.113.5

Both DOSBox instances start with IPX networking enabled. Configure multiplayer in the game's own network/modem menu (select IPX). DOSBox stays open after the game exits so you can play again without reconnecting.

Configuration

Data is stored in platform-appropriate directories:

Platform	Config directory	Data directory
Linux	~/.config/dosctl/	~/.local/share/dosctl/
macOS	~/.local/share/dosctl/	~/.local/share/dosctl/
Windows	%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\dosctl\	%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\dosctl\

Config directory (settings and aliases):

<config-dir>/
  aliases.json     # Saved game aliases
  ipx.conf         # DOSBox IPX networking config (auto-generated)

Data directory (game files):

<data-dir>/
  downloads/       # Downloaded .zip archives
  installed/       # Extracted games
    <game-id>/     # Game install directory
      dosbox.conf  # Optional per-game DOSBox config
  collections/     # Game list cache

Collection Backend

Games are sourced from the Total DOS Collection Release 14 on the Internet Archive. The catalog is downloaded on first use; individual games are downloaded on demand when you run them.

Disclaimer

This tool does not host or distribute any games — it manages content from external sources. You are responsible for ensuring you have legal rights to any content you use. Windows support is experimental; Linux and macOS are the primary platforms.

See LICENSE for the full MIT license.