PlayableShow Details
Unknown
Runs under DOSBox, so it worked perfectly as you'd expect, save carried over too as usual.
Played using The Force Engine instead of the included Dosbox version, installed from flatpak
Game is 100% playable out of the box, but it is running using an older version of Dosbox. The aspect ratio looks stretched to me, and as a DOS game you will not be able to use widescreen resolutions. Highly recommend using The Force Engine which is available via flatpak on Flathub. This gives you access to modern resolutions and quality-of-life improvements like save states and subtitles. When I launched TFE it automatically picked up the game files in Steam, although it launched with a warning that the Dark Forces game files were not present in TFE's native directory. It will work fine either way, but you can copy the folders to the specified location if the warning bothers you.
i highly recomment playing the game Using The Force Engine source port for the best experience
i made the config
simply download The Force Engine, extract the folder contents, move everything to the "DosBox" folder within Dark Forces game files, then rename "dosbox.exe" to something else, and rename the The Force Engine executable (TheForceEngine.exe), to "dosbox.exe"
now when running the game through steam, The Force Engine version will be played instead, the only downside is that cloud saves wont work, and The Force Engine saves are stored within the compatibility files, in a folder named "TheForceEngine" in Documents
Game was stuttering with about 20 FPS.
I followed the guide found below and it is great. I downloaded the windows version and just copied it at the appropriate folder and renamed it. It runs wonderfully.
https://www.reddit.com/r/DarkForces/comments/1778izs/how_to_use_the_force_engine_on_steam_deck/
Other configuration that suited me is disabling the haptics of the left stock and the right trackpad.
Game was running at about 20 FPS prior to installing the force engine.
Runs without any Proton version changes needed. Custom controls are needed if expecting to play it with Controller/Steam Deck Controller - joystick isn't recognized for proper aiming. I recommend using Purple Tentacle's DF layout then customizing further from there as desired.
<path/to/TFE>/run-tfe.sh %command%
Created a layout specifically for The Force Engine
I decided to compile TheForceEngine and have Steam run that instead of using DOSBox. In DOSBox, either with Luxtorpeda or with Proton, there are weird framerate issues when shooting enemies. It made the game difficult to play.
Experienced low and stuttery framerates with Proton 7.0-4. Given that this is a game from 1995, it seemed unlikely to be my hardware.
Some other reviews mentioned using Boxtron to fix their issues. Sure enough after installation and selecting it in the game properties window the game runs flawlessly.
When runing using the default options there were massive framerate issues that I could guarantee were not due to my computer as I have tested the game in Windows before (also it is a DOS game from '95, If my computer could't run it without issue I would need to buy a new computer or at lest upgrade the parts). after using Boxton (a native DOSBox compatibility layer) the game ran perfectly and if you wanted to youcould change the DOSBox setting from the Boxtron config file. Highly recomend setting sensitivity to 300 because the default is WAY too slow when using a mouse (This wasn't related to the performance more an issue with the game itself).
Make sure to use Proton 7.0-2, other versions don't seem to load it.
Native version fails to open on Fedora. Had to install a missing library with: dnf install libcaca Then it opened.
DOS is a little slower than I would expect it to have been on Windows. In addition, I sometimes have to relaunch the game because the DOS boot menu fails to show up, but I usually only need to do this once.
I was constantly walking forward even without pressing any key.
Game was a bit laggy - 15-25 FPS on a quite modern machine.
If there was no sound, certainly. But the sound is a big part of this game.
Music broken and crackly
Aged but cool game, works pretty much out of the box
Very minor crackling
Can't tab out of the game or use any other shortcuts. Can only unfocus game by using steam overlay.
Crashed once in a 12hr playthrough
The game runs at 20 - 30 FPS
Not a proton issue, but out-of-the-box resolution can't be changed
I had to launch "Dark Forces.EXE with Dosbox to get the game to launch.
When I do Alt-Shift to make the window full screen the program says Sdl App and then crashes.
The camera rotation doesn't always respond instantly.
When I saved my game it saved but when I came back to play my save was gone super annoying.
The game runs at a very annoying 30fps
Using Boxtron instead of Proton.
Download a new version of Boxtron and configure it to run dosbox-staging. Boxtron will automatically pre-configure the game for you and turn on MIDI music (which is great in this game). When using this solution performance is stellar and there's no input lag at all.
Just run out of a box
around 18fps most of the time
Unknown(an hour with Proton)It ran, but not with any playable framerate. Managed to get it working with a modified version of Dosbox called 'SVN-Daum' that I copied from another Dosboxed Steam game (Imperium Galactica). Perhaps I should've tried a different Proton version from the default Steam assigned one (I hadn't), but it runs amazing now with these settings:
fullscreen=true fulldouble=false fullresolution=desktop windowresolution=original output=direct3d autolock=true sensitivity=100 waitonerror=true priority=higher,normal mapperfile=mapper-SVN-Daum.map pixelshader=none usescancodes=false overscan=0
Unknown(an hour with Proton)
The game opens in DOSBOX and technically runs, but only gets about 10 FPS.
Game technically runs but very low FPS and feels very laggy for me. It is hard to aim because the mouse movement feels off.
Unknown(< 15 minutes with Proton)Feels a touch laggy
Unknown(< 15 minutes with Proton)UnknownCompleted some levels, works well without issues.
Unknown
Seems to work very well. It's a DOSBox port, so in Proton, it goes DOS -> Win32 -> Linux.
Unknownworks perfectly
UnknownUnknownMouse input a bit slow, but otherwise everything works great. Finished three first missions without any issues.
UnknownUnknownRuns well but mouse input is laggy compared to native DOSBox
Unknown
