Few games changed the way we think about movement in video games quite like Prince of Persia. Released in 1989 by Jordan Mechner and published by Broderbund, this DOS classic introduced rotoscoped animation that made every jump, roll, and sword fight feel genuinely physical. It remains one of the most influential games ever made.
About the Game
Prince of Persia was developed by Jordan Mechner, who spent years rotoscoping footage of his brother running and jumping to create the game’s fluid character animation. Published by Broderbund in 1989, it was initially released for the Apple II before its iconic DOS version followed. The game puts you in the role of a nameless prince imprisoned in a dungeon, racing against a 60-minute time limit to rescue the princess from the evil Grand Vizier Jaffar.
The setting is ancient Persia, rendered through stone corridors, deadly spike traps, and bottomless pits. The atmosphere is tense and oppressive. You feel the weight of every second ticking away.
Gameplay
Prince of Persia is a side-scrolling platformer, but unlike anything that came before it. The prince moves with real weight — he walks, runs, jumps, grabs ledges, and tumbles with convincing momentum. Rushing leads to mistakes. The game rewards patience and careful observation.
Combat uses a one-on-one sword fighting system that feels surprisingly tactical. Guards block high and low attacks, forcing you to read their stance and time your strikes. Health is represented by a row of hit points that can be extended by finding life potions scattered through the dungeons.
There are 12 levels in total, each filled with pressure plates, gates, guillotines, and cunning trap layouts. Some potions restore health — others poison you. Learning which is which is part of the challenge.
Why It’s Worth Playing
What makes Prince of Persia stand the test of time is Mechner’s insistence on making movement feel real. Every animation frame was painstakingly traced from real footage. The prince stumbles when landing hard. He catches his breath after a long run. This level of physical authenticity was unheard of in 1989.
The puzzle design is excellent — levels are built around observation and timing rather than reaction speed. The 60-minute limit creates genuine tension without being unfair. If you’ve only played modern Prince of Persia games, the original will surprise you with its restraint, difficulty, and elegance.
How to Download
Prince of Persia (DOS version) is available for free on the Internet Archive:
Download Prince of Persia on Archive.org
How to Run with DOSBox
Not sure how to run DOS games? Check out our complete DOSBox setup guide — it covers everything you need.
- Extract the downloaded archive
- Open DOSBox and mount the folder:
mount c C:\Games\PrinceOfPersia - Switch to the drive:
c: - Run:
PRINCE.EXE
