Play Dark Ages online — the complete freeware game Works — the complete freeware game runs via DOSBox in your browser
Guide updated November 2026 · Runs via DOSBox + WebAssembly
Dark Ages is a 1991 Apogee platformer in which a prince raised as a peasant fights his way back to the throne. It is remembered as one of the first shareware games with AdLib music. Apogee released it as freeware in 2009, so all three volumes are hosted here — click Play and volume one boots in your browser.
D-pad: move · JUMP: Ctrl · FIRE: Alt · ENTER/ESC: menus
⌨ Keyboard — for menus & name entry
Controls — what does what
| Action | Keyboard | Mouse / touch |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Arrow keys | — |
| Jump and fire | shown in the game's instructions | — |
| Menu / back | Esc | — |
| Sound | — | Use the Sound button under the screen to mute |
FREE This is the complete game, free. Released as freeware by Apogee Software in March 2009: the complete game, all three volumes.
Runs in your browser tab with DOSBox + WebAssembly — nothing is uploaded. Click the screen to capture input; press Ctrl+F10 to release mouse.
Apogee Software released Dark Ages as freeware in March 2009; this is the freeware package from Apogee's own download server. Provenance: /apps/dark-ages/NOTICE.md.
How it works & what to expect
Apogee's own freeware package runs inside a WebAssembly build of DOSBox. It is under 400 KB and loads at once. It is a 16-colour EGA game and runs at full speed on any device.
The page starts volume one. Volumes two and three are in the same package: quit the game to the DOS prompt and type DA2 or DA3.
Playing it
The arrow keys move the prince; the jump and fire keys are shown in the game's instructions. Your weapon improves as you find upgrades, and shields protect you for a limited number of hits. Talk to the wise man in each level, who will trade you a clue or an item for what he asks.
Why it is free
Apogee Software released Dark Ages as freeware in March 2009. The package here is da_freew.zip, the freeware release from Apogee's own download server, with all three volumes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dark Ages really free?
Yes. Apogee released the full game as freeware in March 2009. This is that release, taken from an archived copy of Apogee's own download server.
How do I play volumes two and three?
Quit volume one to the DOS prompt, then type DA2 or DA3 and press Enter.
Does my progress save?
Yes, best-effort. The game's saved files are kept in this browser between visits.
More you can play in your browser
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- Run your own DOS gameHave the registered version or another DOS game? Drop it in the DOS player.
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Want a game like this on your own site?
Dark Ages isn't ours to give away — we host it, we didn't write it. But eleven of the games here we did write from scratch, and those are free for anyone to put on their own page: one line of HTML, no account, no permission, no attribution beyond a credit line.