DOSBox-X is a fork of the discontinued DOSBox project.
(I think that 'X' means eXtended)
Author writes:
• DOSBox-X is an open-source DOS emulator for running DOS applications and games.
• DOS-based Windows such as Windows 3.x and Windows 9x are officially supported.
• Compared to DOSBox, DOSBox-X is much more flexible and provides more features. https://dosbox-x.com/wiki/DOSBox%E2%80%90X%E2%80%99s-Feature-Highlights
• Look at the DOSBox-X Wiki https://dosbox-x.com/wiki/ for more information about DOSBox-X and usage guides.
• We also hope that DOSBox-X (along with DOSLIB) can aid in new DOS development. https://dosbox-x.com/newdosdevelopment.html
Links and details
• author: Jonathan Campbell
• official project page: https://dosbox-x.com/
• GitHub project: https://github.com/joncampbell123/dosbox-x
• GitHub download page: https://github.com/joncampbell123/dosbox-x/releases
• direct download 32 bit portable: https://github.com/joncampbell123/dosbox-x/releases/download/dosbox-x-v2...
• direct download 64 bit portable: https://github.com/joncampbell123/dosbox-x/releases/download/dosbox-x-v2...
• direct download Windows XP version: https://github.com/joncampbell123/dosbox-x/releases/download/dosbox-x-v2...
• the XP version works also on ReactOS https://reactos.org/
• release date: May 3, 2025
• archive sizes (compressed): from 39,4 MB to 43,2 MB (from 32 to 64 bit)
• supported O.S.:
-> Windows (XP or higher), 32-bit and 64-bit
-> Linux (with X11), 32-bit and 64-bit
-> macOS (Mac OS X), Intel and ARM-based 64-bit
-> DOS (MS-DOS 5.0+ or compatible)
Screenshots:
1. Word for DOS running in DOSBox-X https://dosbox-x.com/images/msword.png
2. Tomb Raider 3dfx running in DOSBox-X https://dosbox-x.com/images/tomb3d.png
3. Windows 98 guest running in DOSBox-X https://dosbox-x.com/images/win98guest.png
4. PC-98 Touhou game running in DOSBox-X https://dosbox-x.com/images/pc98touhou.png
5. Configuration Tool running in DOSBox-X https://dosbox-x.com/images/configtool.png
6. Traditional Chinese TTF mode in DOSBox-X https://dosbox-x.com/images/ttfhe5.png
Visit the Community page
Join our forums
Subscribe to our email newsletter
Subscribe with RSS
Follow us on BlueSky
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on LinkedIn
Follow us on Mastodon
Follow us on Twitter
I hope it comes true.
I think original DOSBox stopped been updated circa January, 2021. Unhappily, I don't know how to make an app portable, otherwise I would make it by myself. The original DOSBox portable was maintained by "DOSBox Team & PortableApps.com", so maybe the DOSBox-X Team could help make it, but at first sight no one of original DOSBox is at DOSBox-X team. Let's hope someone can do this.
RaphaelRB - Brazil
Is there anything you can think of that would prohibit me from switching the existing DOSBox to the fork?
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
I'm sorry if it sounded like I was doubting. I just didn't know who had done the "portabling" part of the work, nor I knew if "portabling" process is the same to both applications. In short, my ignorance of the process made me doubt of the possibilities. I'm sorry if it sounded rude, it was not my intention.
RaphaelRB - Brazil
DOSBox-X latest XP builds:
• rel. 2025-02-01 - only installer: https://github.com/joncampbell123/dosbox-x/releases/download/dosbox-x-v2...
• rel. 2024-12-04 - Installer: https://github.com/joncampbell123/dosbox-x/releases/download/dosbox-x-v2...
• rel. 2024-12-04 - portable (zip archive): https://github.com/joncampbell123/dosbox-x/releases/download/dosbox-x-v2...
Already rerquested, but unfortunately went unnoticed.
An opinion of an old wreck: Not to replace the existing app, both versions should stay separate because this one looks like a Virtual Machine, more advanced than just running old games & programs. Let's compare it to LibreOffice which is a fork of OpenOffice.
PS. Untested, just read the description.
“Life is a strategy game, where roles are already distributed”
― Neo Buddha ―