Recalbox ships two DOS emulators, and they do not organise games the same way at all. So the first thing to work out is which one you are using.
| Emulator | Extensions | Your games look like… |
|---|---|---|
| Libretro DOSBox Pure (default) | .zip, .7z, .dosz |
an archive containing the game, with nothing to configure |
| DOSBox (standalone) | .pc, .dos |
a folder containing the game and a dosbox.bat file |
Either way, your games go in /recalbox/share/roms/dos.
DOSBox Pure is the default and the simpler option: it detects the executable to run inside the archive on its own, handles saves, rewind and RetroAchievements, and can even install a Windows 95/98. Standalone DOSBox remains useful when a game needs a very specific DOS configuration that you want to write yourself.
A keyboard and a mouse are strongly recommended on this system.
.pc folder, writing its dosbox.bat, mounting a CD image, troubleshooting.Plenty of DOS games need a mouse. With DOSBox Pure, you can simulate one with a controller stick, without plugging anything in:
HOTKEY + B, then scroll down to Controls.Port 1 Controls.Device Type and cycle the value until you reach Mouse with Right Analog Stick.The right stick moves the pointer, and L1 and R1 act as left and right click.
The same menu offers other variants (mouse on the left stick, and so on): worth trying if the game already uses the right stick.