Play Jill of the Jungle online — the shareware episode Works — shareware episode runs via DOSBox in your browser
Guide updated November 2026 · Runs via DOSBox + WebAssembly
Jill of the Jungle is the 1992 platformer programmed by Tim Sweeney, the game Epic MegaGames answered Commander Keen with: 256-colour VGA, Sound Blaster music, and a heroine who turns into a bird, a fish and a frog. The official shareware first episode is hosted here — click Play and it boots in your browser.
D-pad: move · JUMP: Shift · KNIFE: Alt · ENTER/ESC: menus
⌨ Keyboard — for menus & name entry
Controls — what does what
| Action | Keyboard | Mouse / touch |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Arrow keys | — |
| Jump | Shift | — |
| Throw knife | Alt | — |
| Enter a level | Up arrow | — |
| Menu / back | Esc | — |
| Sound | — | Use the Sound button under the screen to mute |
Runs in your browser tab with DOSBox + WebAssembly — nothing is uploaded. Click the screen to capture input; press Ctrl+F10 to release mouse.
Jill of the Jungle shareware is freely distributable under the VENDOR.DOC and LICENSE.DOC included in the package. The registered game is commercial and not hosted here. Provenance: /apps/jill-of-the-jungle/NOTICE.md.
Get the full game
The shareware release plays here free. The rest of Jill of the Jungle was the registered, commercial release. Check whether a store carries it today:
How it works & what to expect
The original DOS shareware release runs inside a WebAssembly build of DOSBox. It is about 300 KB and starts almost instantly. The first screen shows the sound and graphics setup; press Enter to accept it.
It runs at full speed on anything, including phones and Chromebooks.
Playing it
Arrow keys move, Shift jumps and Alt throws your knife once you have found one — it comes back like a boomerang. The episode is built around a hub map: walk to a level's entrance and press up to go in. Keys open the matching doors, and apples restore health.
Shareware version — and the full game
This is the first of three episodes, the one Epic MegaGames released as shareware. Its VENDOR.DOC grants permission to distribute it as long as it is clearly identified as shareware. The other two episodes are not hosted here.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jill of the Jungle free to play here?
Yes. This is the shareware first episode, which Epic MegaGames gave permission to distribute in the VENDOR.DOC included in the package.
How many episodes are included?
One of three. Episodes two (Jill Goes Underground) and three (Jill Saves the Prince) were the registered part of the game.
Who made it?
Tim Sweeney programmed it for his company Epic MegaGames, which later became Epic Games.
Does my progress save?
Yes, best-effort. Games saved from Jill's own menu are kept in this browser.
More you can play in your browser
Related guides
- Commander KeenMarooned on Mars: the shareware episode that made id Software.
- Cosmo's Cosmic AdventureApogee's suction-cup platformer, shareware episode.
- Epic PinballEpic's 1993 DOS pinball: the shareware Android table.
- Bio MenaceApogee's action platformer: freeware, the complete game.
- Run your own DOS gameHave the registered version or another DOS game? Drop it in the DOS player.
- Games that need nothing installedThe full list of titles that run on a locked-down school or work network.
Want a game like this on your own site?
Jill of the Jungle 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.