Commander Keen
Commander Keen is a 1990 platformer developed by id Software, a series that famously brought smooth, console-style scrolling to the PC. It starred an eight-year-old genius named Billy Blaze who dons a football helmet, builds an interstellar ship from household junk and adventures across space as Commander Keen.
The game's technical breakthrough was fluid, EGA-based horizontal scrolling on PC hardware, an "adaptive tile refresh" technique that helped launch id Software and the shareware distribution model, giving away the first episode to sell the rest, which would fund the studio's later revolutions. Behind the tech sat charming, cartoonish level design full of alien worlds, hidden secrets, a pogo stick and playful humor.
Commander Keen holds an important place in gaming history as an early id Software milestone and a proof of concept for PC platforming, and its episodes remain available through digital re-releases for those wishing to explore the studio's formative years.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Commander Keen, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celeste Indie | € 19,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove Indie | € 24,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Bio Menace | € 14,79 | Steam Deck Verified | PC |
| Commander Keen Complete Pack | € 4,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC |
Celeste Indie
€ 19,99A precise, heartfelt indie platformer with tight controls and a moving story.
Celeste runs on PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove Indie
€ 24,99A retro-styled platformer collection with tight, classic gameplay.
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove runs on PC, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Bio Menace
€ 14,79Apogee's other great DOS side-scroller, from the same era and the same engine lineage.
Bio Menace runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Commander Keen Complete Pack
€ 4,99All six Commander Keen episodes bundled and running on modern Windows.
Commander Keen Complete Pack runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
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