this post was submitted on 19 Jan 2026
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Recommend some games for PCem (lemmy.world)
submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by Zombiepirate@lemmy.world to c/retrogaming@lemmy.world
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I spent some time setting up a Pentium II with Windows 98 and a Voodoo 3 on PCem this weekend.

It's really cool software, and a fun little project.

I spent a little time playing some Rainbow 6 (crazy how much the genre has changed over time) and Castle of the Winds 2.

Black and White runs well, but has some pretty bad audio stutter that I'll have to figure out a solution for.

Do you have a favorite game from the period that I should try? I'm particularly interested in ones that are hard to run on modern versions of Windows.

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[–] Brkdncr@lemmy.world 16 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Mechwarrior 2

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

I've been looking for an .iso for this one. I think the best versions all ran on DOS, but I've got that installed too.

It's easily one of the best games of the period. The intro is incredibly cool.

[–] Quetzalcutlass@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

You have excellent taste.

[–] PiraHxCx@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Jagged Alliance, Commandos, Fallout :)

ps: no idea how original versions are hard to run nowadays, even though I have JA and FO CDs, it's been like 10 years since I last had a CD drive, I just bought them again on GOG :P

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Jagged Alliance is a great idea. I think I even have those other ones on GOG, which I bet will run just fine on PCem.

[–] PiraHxCx@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

About games hard to run, back on Win7 I couldn't get Dark Colony installer to run with any compatibility mode (luckily, you can run the game just by copying the files from the CD). StarCraft had some graphics issue but just on menus (I think on Win10 as well), and I couldn't play Outwars at all (although GOG version has some fix for modern Windows). A GOG game I bought that I couldn't run on modern windows was Slave Zero.

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

Thanks for the recs, you've got great taste and I've never tried a few of these before.

[–] Prunebutt@slrpnk.net 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Thief 2 and Gothic 1 and 2. But I think those 2 are ok to run on modern systems.

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I'd really love a patch to play Gothic 2 with English subtitles but German audio.

The English voice acting might be the worst I've ever heard.

[–] Prunebutt@slrpnk.net 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

No idea about the english dub/translation, but if you can ignore that they had like a dozen voice actors for a whole island, the German voice acting is really good. Good look finding that mod.

[–] DaiDactylos@feddit.uk 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Are the subtitles in individual files per language in the game directory? If so, swapping the filenames for English and German while keeping the spoken language as German might work. Not at the PC so I don't know if I have the sequel to test the theory; will check later.

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

I have it on Steam, and I think I tried without luck. Is he very interested if you're able to get it working though.

[–] DmMacniel@feddit.org 6 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Homeworld :)

[–] Quetzalcutlass@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Adagio for Strings intensifies

[–] DmMacniel@feddit.org 3 points 3 months ago

Subject did not survive interrogation.

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

Great idea, I might even have a copy somewhere.

[–] jqubed@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I have never heard of this project and it might suck up a lot of my time. How does this differ from making a virtual machine from old versions of Windows?

I believe I first played RollerCoaster Tycoon on Windows 98. I also got SimCity 2000 from GoG but it’s the DOS version and I feel like the Windows version looked better.

For things that actually used the 3D card, I used to enjoy Midtown Madness 2, Motocross Madness, and Need for Speed III, but that all might’ve been in my Windows 2000 days.

[–] Elektrobank@lemmy.ml 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

That out of bounds effect on Motocross Madness makes me smile even today

[–] sgh@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 months ago

I only had the demo of it and I just kept going up the hill and building up as much speed as possible, only to then let myself go OOB - for hours and hours.

Ah... Lovely memories of a brainless kid just messing around with his computer...

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

I believe the difference is that it actually emulates the hardware instead of just making the stuff you have look and act like it is compatible, but I'm far from an expert.

I really enjoyed Midtown Madness 1 when it came out, if 2 doesn't work I think 1 would. Thanks for the rec!

[–] rimu@piefed.social 5 points 3 months ago

Total Annihilation

[–] CordialCephalopod@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Neverhood! It's a wonderful point-and-click adventure that oozes style. Everything was done with clay and stop motion

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I got that as a pack-in game for something, probably a CD-ROM drive, and was impressed. I bet it has aged very well, good rec.

[–] CordialCephalopod@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

It has! It's slow, sometimes painfully, but it's worth the time spent

[–] Denjin@feddit.uk 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Deus Ex?

[–] Die4Ever@retrolemmy.com 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Deus Ex runs way better natively than in PCem

With the Vanilla Fixer you can get 4k and 300 fps, works on Windows and Linux

[–] BlueSquid0741@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Interstate 76. I haven’t been able to get it working on any machine after the mid 2000s.

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I have it from GOG, but the control mapping is still pretty bad IIRC.

I should really give it a go here, good idea.

[–] BlueSquid0741@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I have it on gog too, but I’ve been on Linux since 2009 and it just throws wine errors every time. The last time I was able to play it was on a Pentium M laptop I had from 2006 or something.

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I should try it on my Steam Deck, I wonder if it's any different with Proton?

[–] BlueSquid0741@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 3 months ago

I’ve only tried wine and GE-proton through Heroic, Lutris and Bottles. Always gives some wine error.

I’ve never tried it through Steam.

[–] wabasso@lemmy.ca 4 points 3 months ago

Lemmings

[–] yermaw@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Not sure if this counts, but Privateer 2 : The Darkening is one of my favourite games of all time and its a pain in the ass to run on modern systems.

Its a DOS game so I'm not sure if it counts, but still.

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

Oh, I played the original Privateer and loved it. I'll definitely give this a go, thanks!

[–] MonkeMischief@lemmy.today 3 points 3 months ago

This reminds me: I was thinking of "Independence War Deluxe", because sheesh, I couldn't even get that running from a PC Gamer demo CD on release-era hardware LOL.

[–] gasgiant@lemmy.ml 4 points 3 months ago

The wing commander games.

[–] Stern@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

I think it was either Manhunt (Edit: Manhunt is XP/2000 only.) or Bully that couldn't run on modern systems. Could also give Cold Zero or Swat 4 (Edit: N/M, not gonna work on 98. Maybe earlier ones?) a go, though I might be misremembering timeframes on one or more of these. Oh, and of course the original magic the gathering game (Edit: No sites to legally purchase it online but its from 1997 so prob a win98 game.) from the mid 90s.

https://www.gog.com/dreamlist/game/cold-zero-the-last-stand

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

I really should play some of the M:TG game, I remember it being a pretty great version.

[–] Tylerdurdon@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Early 90's

Dark Sun: Shattered Lands

Privateer (with the speech addon of course)

Ultima VII: The Black Gate

[–] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Blood.

Redneck rampage

[–] Die4Ever@retrolemmy.com 2 points 3 months ago

Nblood is a good source port, I think there's a couple others too

[–] INeedANewUserName@piefed.social 3 points 3 months ago

Myth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myth_(video_game_series)

[–] tomalley8342@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Jurassic Park Trespasser

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

This is one of the discs I've held onto over the years. I'm considering getting an optical drive just so I can play it and a few others I've got.

It wasn't a great game iirc, but mostly because it was so far ahead of its time. I really do want to give it another go, and not just for nostalgia.

[–] crpknkr@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Giants: Citizen Kabuto.

It's got a hilarious and fun single player campaign where you get to play as all three factions. Obviously, playing as the giant monster and elbow-dropping buildings is the most fun, but the rest are highly enjoyable as well. Vintage Shiny at its best. Available on Steam, I just recently found out.

[–] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

Oh yeah! I got that as another pack-in game, probably for a voodoo card if I'm not mistaken.

I really should check it out again, I remember it being good. Thanks for the rec.

[–] Brkdncr@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

Crusader: No Remorse and No Regret are great.

[–] Quantumantics@fedia.io 2 points 3 months ago

Perhaps Earthsiege and Earthsiege 2; I played those a ton back in the day. Also, I haven't thought of Castle of the Winds in years, that brought back a pleasant wave of nostalgia!