Microsoft ended MS-DOS support 20 years ago, but the latest update for the best roguelike ever made still supports it anyway
Microsoft ended long-term support for MS-DOS over two decades ago, with Windows Millennium Edition marking the final official MS-DOS release in September 2000, followed by the cessation of support for Windows 98 and Me in 2006. However, the legendary roguelike NetHack continues to defy this obsolescence: the game’s surprise version 5.0 release, which dropped recently, maintains full support for MS-DOS—the same operating system the game has supported since its original 1987 debut.
This remarkable feat of backwards compatibility underscores NetHack’s enduring commitment to accessibility and game preservation. The classic roguelike, known for its depth and complexity, demonstrates that legacy platform support need not be abandoned in pursuit of modern functionality. While Microsoft and the broader tech industry have moved entirely away from DOS-based systems, NetHack’s development team continues to ensure that players with vintage hardware can still experience the game’s addictive dungeon-crawling gameplay.
The contrast is striking: two decades after Microsoft ceased supporting its own legacy operating system, one of gaming’s most beloved indie titles still welcomes DOS-era players into its fold. This choice reflects both technical competence and philosophical commitment, highlighting how independent projects can sometimes preserve computing history better than corporate successors.