The Internet Archive has launched the Windows 3.1 Collection, following the DOS Collection from last year.
The Internet Archive is a nonprofit digital library that seeks to be a universal repository of different media, including books, audio, video, websites, and now, games. Access to most of this media is available on their website, and when possible, is also available to download.
For their games, the Archive has made arrangements to enable emulation via browser. The technology makes it possible to play, and even save your game, but you have to stay online on your browser to do so.
The official post announcing the news explains a bit into Windows 3.1 history, and what visitors can expect. The operating system received many rudimentary apps that only did one thing, but developers who focused on its capabilities made many classic PC games. Over one thousand games and applications are now available to play and tinker with in the archive.
Among the games the Archive has featured on their showcase page are:
- SkiFree
- WinRisk
- Ms Chomp
- Merlin The Quest For The Wizard
- Sea Battle
- SolarWin
We previously reported on Internet Archive opening up a DOS Collection. They also have collections for other platforms, including arcade games and the Apple ][. These collections include a lot of copyrighted games, some of which may be commercially available in one form or another, such as Donkey Kong or Pac-Man.
For now, at least, it does not seem like the original copyright owners, or the ESA, has any interest in shutting down the project. What this means is you can now freely play many classic PC games on your browser, and learn more about older operating systems in the process.
Check out Internet Archive’s Windows 3.1 Collection here.
