Not every great DOS game involves guns and demons. Cosmo’s Cosmic Adventure (1992) is a delightful side-scrolling platformer by Apogee Software, starring a wide-eyed alien child named Cosmo who uses his sticky suction-cup hands to climb walls and ceilings. Bright, creative, and full of charm, it is one of the best family-friendly DOS games ever made — and the first episode is completely free.
About the Game
Cosmo is a young alien traveling with his parents when their spaceship is forced to land on a mysterious alien world for repairs. While his parents work on the ship, Cosmo wanders off to explore — and comes back to find his parents have been captured by the planet’s inhabitants. Now Cosmo must navigate three full episodes of alien jungles, caves, and strange structures to rescue them.
Developed by id Software co-founder John Romero and published by Apogee, Cosmo’s Cosmic Adventure was built with families in mind. The violence is minimal (Cosmo kicks enemies rather than shooting them), the art is colorful and expressive, and the difficulty, while present, is never unfair.
Gameplay Features
Cosmo’s defining mechanic is his suction-cup hands. Hold up against any wall or ceiling and Cosmo latches on, letting you climb surfaces that other platformer characters could never reach. This opens up vertical exploration in ways that feel unique and fresh even today — entire sections of levels exist above the standard play area, accessible only to players who think to look up.
The levels are packed with secrets, hidden stars to collect, and bonus stages that reward thorough exploration. Bombs are Cosmo’s main weapon, and power-up fruits scattered throughout the levels grant temporary abilities. The boss fights are creative and memorable, each requiring a specific strategy to defeat.
Why It’s Worth Playing Today
Cosmo’s Cosmic Adventure is pure joy. It is the kind of game that reminds you why platformers became so beloved in the early 90s — tight controls, creative level design, and a sense of discovery around every corner. It is equally enjoyable for children and adults, and it runs perfectly in DOSBox with zero fuss.
Download Cosmo’s Cosmic Adventure for Free
How to Run with DOSBox
- Install DOSBox if you haven’t already.
- Extract the files to a folder like
C:COSMO. - In DOSBox:
mount c C:COSMO→c:→cosmo1.