Before Doom, before Quake, before Commander Keen — there was Dangerous Dave. Created by John Romero in 1990, this humble DOS platformer was one of the earliest games from the developers who would go on to define a genre. It’s a piece of gaming history that’s genuinely fun to play.
About Dangerous Dave
Dangerous Dave was created by John Romero and published by Softdisk in 1990. The game follows Dave, a man in a baseball cap who must navigate hazardous levels collecting golden trophies while avoiding enemies and environmental dangers. Dangerous Dave was later followed by several sequels, and Romero’s prototyped Super Mario Bros. port for DOS — which demonstrated the viability of smooth PC scrolling — directly inspired the creation of Commander Keen.
Gameplay
Dangerous Dave is a single-screen and side-scrolling platformer with simple mechanics. Dave can jump and shoot enemies with a gun he picks up in later levels. Trophies must be collected to unlock each level’s exit. Enemies patrol set paths; obstacles include spikes, water hazards, and bottomless pits.
The game has 10 levels that increase in complexity and danger. The early levels teach mechanics gently before the difficulty spikes in the middle stages. The final levels require precise platforming and careful resource management.
Why It’s Worth Playing
Dangerous Dave’s appeal today is partly historical — playing John Romero’s early work knowing what he’d go on to create adds fascinating context. But the game holds up on its own merits too. The level design is tight, the controls are responsive, and the challenge curve is well-calibrated. It’s a small, well-made game that reveals the craft that would eventually produce Doom.
How to Download Dangerous Dave
New to DOSBox? Our complete DOSBox setup guide walks you through everything you need. Looking for more classics? Browse our top free DOS games list.
Watch Gameplay
How to Run with DOSBox
Follow our DOSBox guide, mount the folder, and run DAVE.EXE.
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