The Windows 3.1 collection includes more than 1,000 games, nearly 300 productivity tools, and dozens of other distractions from the desktop PC’s infancy. Each piece of software runs a JavaScript version of DosBox, which boots up Windows 3.1 and then loads the desired program.
So far, it’s quite the collection. The Windows 3.x Showcase section is a good place to start, with gems like SkiFree, Wheel of Fortune: Deluxe Edition, and even a promotional walkthrough of the upcoming Windows 95. You can also check out a stock installation of the operating system itself, with programs like Write, Paintbrush, and of course Minesweeper.
Beyond just gathering and emulating the old software, a lot of work was involved in whittling down the size of each DosBox instance, Ars Technica reports. In the end, collector Jason Scott and a volunteer came up with a system that doesn’t require any optimizations for each individual app, allowing new additions to arrive quickly.
As with Archive.org’s previous classic software dumps, it’s likely that some of these programs remain copyrighted. But the site has always argued that there’s a fair use case in offering the programs on a non-commercial basis for preservation, education, and public commentary.
Why this matters: There’s clearly a value in preserving these classic games and programs. Together, they provide a glimpse at how interface design has evolved over the last quarter-century, and even the visual aesthetic is unique, in a way that isn’t captured by today’s retro games. Then again, the value of wasting an entire morning chasing a high score in RattlerRace is entirely up for debate.