Play Paganitzu online — part one, shareware Works — shareware part one runs via DOSBox in your browser
Guide updated November 2026 · Runs via DOSBox + WebAssembly
Paganitzu is Keith Schuler's 1991 puzzle game, published by Apogee. Explorer Alabama Smith works through an Aztec pyramid one single-screen room at a time, pushing boulders, collecting keys and working out which snake will spit at him. The shareware first part, Romancing the Rose, is hosted here — click Play and it boots in your browser.
D-pad: move · CTRL / ALT / SPACE: the game's action keys · ENTER: confirm
⌨ Keyboard — for menus & name entry
Controls — what does what
| Action | Keyboard | Mouse / touch |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Arrow keys | — |
| Restart room and other keys | shown in the game's instructions | — |
| 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.
Paganitzu shareware is freely distributable under the VENDOR.DOC included in the package. The registered game is commercial and not hosted here. Provenance: /apps/paganitzu/NOTICE.md.
Get the full game
The shareware release plays here free. The rest of Paganitzu was the registered, commercial release. Check whether a store carries it today:
How it works & what to expect
The original DOS shareware release runs inside a WebAssembly build of DOSBox. It is about 260 KB and loads at once. Press Enter at the opening screens. It is a 16-colour EGA game and runs at full speed on any device.
Playing it
The game first asks three setup questions (graphics, controller, sound): press 1 for each. The arrow keys then move Alabama one square at a time. Collect all the keys in a room to open the exit. Boulders can be pushed but not pulled, so think before you shove one into a corner. If you trap yourself, the game has a key to restart the room; its instructions list it.
Shareware version — and the full game
This is part one of three, released as shareware under the VENDOR.DOC in the package. Parts two and three are the registered game and are not hosted here.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to play Paganitzu here?
Yes. This is the official shareware part, which Apogee's VENDOR.DOC allows to be passed on without charge.
How many levels are included?
The twenty rooms of part one, Romancing the Rose.
Does my progress save?
Yes, best-effort. The game's saved files are kept in this browser between visits.
More you can play in your browser
Related guides
- Boppin'The 1994 block-throwing puzzle game, shareware episode.
- Mystic TowersApogee's 1994 isometric wizard adventure, shareware.
- SudokuEndless generated puzzles, five difficulty levels.
- Commander KeenMarooned on Mars: the shareware episode that made id Software.
- 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?
Paganitzu 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.