Long before id Software invented the first-person shooter, they made one of the greatest DOS platformers ever created. Commander Keen: Invasion of the Vorticons (1990) proved that smooth side-scrolling action was possible on a PC — something everyone said couldn’t be done. The first episode is free, and it is a joy to play even today.
About the Game
You are Billy Blaze, an eight-year-old genius who builds a spaceship out of everyday objects and heads off on an interplanetary adventure as Commander Keen. When the Vorticons steal parts of your ship and scatter them across the planet Vorticon VI, you have to get them back. Armed with a pogo stick and a ray gun, you run, jump, and blast your way through colorful alien worlds.
The game was co-created by John Romero, John Carmack, and Tom Hall — the same team that would later create Wolfenstein 3D and Doom. Commander Keen was their first major release, and it showed just how much raw talent was at work. Episode one, Marooned on Mars, is free shareware.
Gameplay Features
Commander Keen plays like a PC answer to Super Mario Bros. — fluid side-scrolling movement, bouncy platforming with the pogo stick, and a ray gun that freezes enemies temporarily rather than killing them outright. The level design is imaginative and packed with secrets, with hidden areas rewarding curious players who take time to explore every corner.
What made Commander Keen special in 1990 was its smooth scrolling. John Carmack developed a technique called “adaptive tile refresh” to make the PC scroll as smoothly as a Nintendo console — a technical achievement that amazed the gaming world at the time.
Why It’s Worth Playing Today
Commander Keen is charming in a way few games manage. The art style is colorful and personality-filled, the music is catchy, and the platforming feels genuinely good. It is a family-friendly game that holds up for players of all ages. For anyone who grew up with PC gaming in the early 90s, this is pure nostalgia. For newcomers, it is a delightful surprise.
Download Commander Keen for Free
How to Run with DOSBox
- Install DOSBox if you haven’t already.
- Extract the game files to a folder like
C:KEEN. - In DOSBox:
mount c C:KEEN→c:→keen4eorkeen1.