The original Prince of Persia – the DOS classic that started it all
Prince of Persia from 1989 is an iconic 2D platformer developed by Jordan Mechner and published by Brøderbund. It set new standards for animation, atmosphere, and gameplay and is now considered a milestone in gaming history. You can now (re)experience it on modern computers—with an enhanced version and useful bonus files.
Top 5 tips for Prince of Persia (1989)
Classic gameplay with time pressure and precision
As the nameless prince, you must rescue the princess from the evil Grand Vizier Jaffar. But you only have 60 minutes to complete the game. Along the way are traps, chasms, spikes, mirror versions of yourself, and tough swordfights. Every jump demands timing—and one wrong move can send you back to the start.
The game blends precision platforming with tactical combat and an almost cinematic storytelling style that still inspires today.
Why play Prince of Persia today?
Even though the game is over 30 years old, it holds up. The animations were groundbreaking in 1989 and still feel smooth and realistic thanks to rotoscoping. Music and sound effects are sparse but effective. The game rewards patience and learning—and mastering it is deeply satisfying.
The best version—and the SNES mod
We offer version 1.4 with SNES levels—a fan mod where the stages from the Super Nintendo version are recreated in the DOS release. It adds a fresh twist to the classic spil without changing the core gameplay.
The game runs flawlessly in DOSBox and can be played on modern Windows, Mac, and Linux computers.
Poison code lock: How to progress to level 2
To advance after the first level, you must enter a code found only in the original manual. Below you’ll find selected manual poison codes—format: page – line – letter.
| Page | Line | Letter |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4 | K |
| 7 | 2 | R |
| 12 | 1 | A |
| 16 | 5 | Z |
| 21 | 3 | M |
| 27 | 2 | Q |
| 31 | 6 | F |
💡 If you’re asked to “identify poison”, use one of these combinations.