Play Duke Nukem (1991) online — the free shareware episode Works — shareware episode 1 runs via DOSBox in your browser
Guide updated October 2026 · Runs via DOSBox + WebAssembly
Duke Nukem — Apogee's 1991 EGA platformer, the game that introduced Duke five years before he went 3D. Duke fights Dr. Proton's robots across a ruined city, collecting weapon upgrades and access cards. The shareware Episode 1, Shrapnel City, is hosted here — click Play and it boots in your browser.
D-pad: move · CTRL / ALT: jump and fire · F1: help
⌨ Keyboard — for menus & name entry
Controls — what does what
| Action | Keyboard | Mouse / touch |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Arrow keys | — |
| Jump and fire | Ctrl and Alt | — |
| Help and key setup | F1 | — |
| Menu / back | Esc | — |
| Sound | — | Use the Sound button under the screen to mute |
Runs in your browser tab with DOSBox + WebAssembly — nothing is uploaded. Click the screen to capture input; press Ctrl+F10 to release mouse.
Episode 1 of Duke Nukem is Apogee's freely-distributable shareware episode. Episodes 2 and 3 are commercial and not hosted here. Provenance: /apps/duke-nukem/NOTICE.md.
How it works & what to expect
The original DOS shareware release running in a WebAssembly build of DOSBox. It is a tiny package — about 220 KB — so it starts almost instantly, and EGA graphics at 320×200 are light work for any device.
Controls
The arrow keys move Duke, and the Ctrl and Alt keys jump and fire. Press F1 during play for the game's own help, which lists every key and lets you redefine them.
Shareware episode — and the full game
Episode 1 is the shareware episode Apogee distributed; its VENDOR.DOC permits sharing that episode and forbids distributing any registered version, so only Episode 1 is here. Episodes 2 and 3 were the commercial purchase.
Frequently asked questions
Is Duke Nukem legal to play here?
Yes. This is Apogee's official shareware Episode 1, distributed under its VENDOR.DOC — the same basis as the Cosmo and Hocus Pocus episodes hosted here.
What are the controls?
Arrow keys move; Ctrl and Alt jump and fire. F1 in the game shows the full key list and lets you change it.
Does my progress save?
Yes — saved games persist in this browser between visits, best-effort.
Can I play on a phone?
Yes, a touch d-pad with CTRL, ALT and other keys appears below the game on touch devices.
More you can play in your browser
Related guides
- Duke Nukem IIThe 1993 sequel, shareware episode.
- Duke Nukem 3DDuke goes 3D — shareware episode.
- Cosmo's Cosmic AdventureApogee platformer from the same team.
- Commander KeenThe shareware platformer that started it all.
- Run your own DOS gameHave the registered version or another DOS game? Drop it in the DOS player.
- Games that need nothing installedThe full list of titles that run on a locked-down school or work network.
Want a game like this on your own site?
Duke Nukem isn't ours to give away — we host it, we didn't write it. But eleven of the games here we did write from scratch, and those are free for anyone to put on their own page: one line of HTML, no account, no permission, no attribution beyond a credit line.