Exploring Gateworld (1993): A Forgotten DOS Gem Worth Revisiting
If you grew up playing early ’90s PC games on Windows 3.x or DOS, chances are you remember stumbling across countless shareware titles—some great, some… less so. Today, we’re taking a closer look at Gateworld, a colorful sci-fi platformer released in 1993 by HomeBrew Software, a small studio known for its shareware offerings during the golden era of BBS downloads and floppy-disk swapping.
A Bold Sci-Fi Adventure
Gateworld places you in control of Captain Buzz Klondike, an astronaut who crash-lands on a mysterious alien world filled with strange environments, tricky platforming, and plenty of enemies to zap. The game starts right away with an eye-catching CGA/EGA/VGA title screen—seen above—featuring bold graphics that definitely stand out among its shareware peers.
The game was released as a three-episode series, following the classic Apogee shareware model:
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Episode 1: The Seed Ship
Episode 2: The Gateway Home
Episode 3: The Door to the Multiverse
Episode 1 was distributed as shareware, while Episodes 2 and 3 required registration.
Gameplay and Style
Gateworld is a side-scrolling platformer with puzzle-like elements. Its gameplay is reminiscent of titles like Commander Keen and Bio Menace, offering:
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Multi-layered levels
Hidden areas and collectible items
A blaster for combat
Jet-pack–like movement using the suit’s thrusters
While not as polished as big-name PC platformers of the era, Gateworld certainly has charm. The game’s art style—bold sprites, striking color gradients, and quirky alien landscapes—gives it a distinct personality. The soundtrack and sound effects are also typical of the shareware scene, enhancing the nostalgic vibe.
System Requirements and Platform
Gateworld was designed for MS-DOS systems and runs very smoothly on vintage hardware or modern DOSBox setups. Although not specifically a Windows game, it was commonly played by Windows 3.1 users through DOS sessions, making it a great fit for any vintage Windows enthusiast's collection.
Legacy
While Gateworld never reached the popularity of some of its contemporaries, it remains a hidden gem among early ’90s DOS platformers. It stands as a fun reminder of the shareware era—a time when small teams could make ambitious games and distribute them anywhere from computer stores to magazine cover disks.
If you enjoy exploring lesser-known PC titles from the era, Gateworld is absolutely worth firing up on your retro Windows setup.
