Game help
Controls, saves and common questions
Learn how to play on your phone or computer, save progress and troubleshoot loading problems. Translated pages explain the game and its controls; they do not translate the original game, menus or manuals. We keep original game names so you can identify the correct release.
How do touch controls work?
Select PLAY and wait for the game to load. Touch devices show a direction pad and action buttons. Hold and slide across the pad to change direction, or move to a corner for diagonal input. You can hold an action button with your other hand at the same time. Start, confirm, menu and documented help keys have a separate row, including S to start the original Duke Nukem.
In landscape fullscreen, the direction pad sits on the left and four action slots sit on the right. Each game uses its own defaults: Ctrl jumps in the original Duke Nukem, while Duke Nukem 3D uses A. Open More keys for weapon selection, save/load keys and the control reference. Opening this panel does not pause the game; use the game's menu first if you need to pause.
Open Configure controls to choose keys for the four action slots, leave slots empty or change the direction mappings. Saved settings apply to this game in this browser. To undo them, choose Restore defaults and save. This changes the keys sent by the screen buttons, not the game's own settings. The game keeps its original aspect ratio. Games with many keyboard commands or precise mouse input are still easier on a computer.
Why are the keys different from modern games?
Many DOS games use arrow keys to move and Ctrl or Alt for actions rather than WASD. Check the control reference for the specific release. If arrow keys scroll the page on your computer, click the game screen to return keyboard focus to the player.
What is the difference between in-game saving and the player's Save button?
Save using the game's own system first, such as F2 in Doom. Then use Save in the player toolbar to keep changed game files in this browser. The toolbar does not take an instant snapshot and cannot bypass the game's save restrictions.
For example, Duke Nukem (1991) only allows saves in the small hallways between levels. Clearing site data or switching browsers or devices will not transfer these records. Accounts and cloud saves are not available.
What if the game does not start, has no sound or looks wrong?
Allow time for the files to download. On phones, you may need to press PLAY before the browser allows sound. Try refreshing after a failed launch. If fullscreen is unavailable, play within the page. Compatibility varies between devices and browsers.
If the problem continues, use Report a problem on the game page and describe the game, your device and what happened. Do not include passwords or other sensitive information.
What does shareware include?
Shareware is a limited release published by the original author, often containing only the first episode. It is not the complete commercial game and remains copyrighted. Original menus may show episodes that are not included; check the release notes on each game page.