Frog & Cat: A New Platformer for the Oldest IBM PCs
If you enjoy discovering games that feel like they could have come straight from the early days of DOS computing, Frog & Cat is a fascinating modern addition to the retro-computing scene. Developed by Wesley Games, this fast-paced platformer was specifically designed to run on very early IBM PCs and compatibles, while still being playable today through DOSBox and other emulators.
Interestingly, while we are featuring it here on the Vintage Windows Portal, Frog & Cat is fundamentally a DOS-era-style game. Its real target is the original IBM PC generation rather than later Windows machines.
A 2026 Game with 1980s Hardware Requirements
Frog & Cat was released on August 5, 2026, making it a brand-new game despite its decidedly vintage appearance and technology. It was created specifically with the IBM 5150 and other early compatibles in mind.
The game was written entirely in x86 assembly language and makes direct use of CGA-specific hardware. The developers designed it to maintain a smooth frame rate even when the action gets busy.
And the hardware requirements are wonderfully old-school:
- CPU: Intel 8088-class IBM PC and compatibles
- Graphics: CGA
- PC Speaker: Supported
- Memory: 64K RAM for the PC booter version
- MS-DOS: Version 2.0 or later
- Memory under DOS: 128K RAM
- Storage: Fits on a 360K floppy disk
- Genre: Platformer / Action
- Developer: Wesley Games
- Release date: August 5, 2026
- Version: 1.03 at the time of the current release files
Frog and Cat Work Together
The basic premise is simple: Frog and Cat must collect every item before the countdown reaches zero. The game is built around speed, platforming and coordination rather than complicated storytelling.
There is also a neat multiplayer element. One player can control both characters, or two players can share the keyboard and work together. The game can therefore be approached cooperatively or competitively, with players also competing for high scores and fast completion times.
For players interested in speedrunning, Frog & Cat goes a step further by recording and saving gameplay performances to disk, allowing players to preserve their record-setting runs.
CGA Graphics
The screenshot above immediately shows what makes Frog & Cat so interesting from a historical-computing perspective.
The graphics deliberately embrace the limitations of IBM CGA, using the familiar black, white, cyan and magenta palette. Rather than attempting to disguise those limitations, the game uses them as part of its visual identity.
The result looks remarkably similar to what an ambitious early-1980s IBM PC game might have looked like—although Frog & Cat benefits from decades of hindsight in terms of gameplay design.
Designed for Real Vintage Hardware
One of the coolest aspects of the project is that this isn't simply a modern game given a DOS-themed graphical style. Wesley Games actually designed Frog & Cat around the limitations of vintage hardware.
The developer reports testing the game on multiple IBM PC and compatible systems, including the Tandy 1000 family.
There is even a PC Booter version. With the appropriate hardware, the game can boot directly from a floppy image rather than requiring a modern operating system. The downloadable IMG file is designed around a 360K floppy, while the ZIP version can be used with DOS or an emulator.
A Modern Game for Retro Hardware Fans
Frog & Cat is an unusual example of modern homebrew development because it isn't trying to recreate a particular famous game. Instead, it asks a more interesting question:
What would a brand-new platformer look like if it had to run on an original IBM PC?
The answer is a colorful, fast-moving CGA platformer that demonstrates just how much can still be accomplished with extremely limited hardware.
For collectors of vintage PC software, DOS enthusiasts, IBM PC owners and anyone who enjoys experimenting with games on original hardware, Frog & Cat is a particularly interesting modern release.
And perhaps the best part is that although it was released in 2026, you can experience it with technology that dates back to the early 1980s.
Game Information
Title: Frog & Cat
Developer: Wesley Games
Release Date: August 5, 2026
Genre: Platformer / Action
Original Target: IBM PC and compatibles
Graphics: CGA
Sound: PC Speaker
Operating System: MS-DOS 2.0+
Memory: 64K RAM PC Booter / 128K under DOS
Players: 1–2
Current Version: 1.03
Distribution: Name-your-own-price / freeware-style release
Frog & Cat is a great reminder that the world of vintage computing isn't limited to games from the 1980s and 1990s. Sometimes, the newest games can also be the most authentic way to experience the limitations—and the charm—of classic hardware.
