I’ll leave this here, in case other people are interested in running ancient games 
After much trouble getting Quake2 to render fast and correctly on the RK3588, I finally found a combo that works well. See here:
Long story short: I just needed the latest version of Yamagi Quake II and the Vulkan renderer. It was that simple
In case anybody is interested, I just spent 3 solid days playing my favorite 80s and 90s Atari, Amiga and DOS games on the RK3588, in the Hatari, FS-UAE and Dosbox emulators respectively, and it was pretty much flawless. The only problem I encountered was the sound in Another World on Amiga, which goes funky after a few minutes, but I don’t think it’s due to the machine.
I guess this is not news to people who are into retro-gaming, but it’s been a long time since I played those games from my youth (long enough to remember that direct CPU emulation just wasn’t quite feasible at real-time target speed on the last machine I tried it ) and now it’s totally seamless. That “slow” ARM CPU is plenty fast enough to interpret 8088-to-386 code or 68K code many times faster than the original targets. Amazing!
But hey, maybe I’m easily impressed
Still, if you like old games, the Reform doesn’t disappoint.
Retro games are the future.
Tried Warzone 2100 on my classic with RK3588 and it works fine via flatpak. Very easy installation, no fiddling required. Vulkan backend seems to have some issues but OpenGL is running quite smooth with >40fps.
Same for Widelands, also available via flathub.
SuperTuxKart works good on RK3588 with medium settings. Download the ARM64 archive, extract, start run_game.sh
OpenTTD is available via flathub. Works without issues, i have not checked a late game yet.
Same goes for Xonotic, available on flathub and works with medium settings ootb.
I can confirm that warzone2100, widelands, supertuxcart and openttd also work flawlessly on rk3588 when just installing them with apt and not as a flatpack.
I need to do more testing, but I can start up and move around in the GoG version of Torchlight II using minigalaxy. It’s a little choppy in town, but aside from a couple of “program is not responding, should I wait?” type dialogs during startup, seems to be okay. I should go back to trying to get steam to start up (it kept crashing on the A311D)
ETA: The steam client starts up and works just fine on the rk3588, but I’m finding getting some things to work challenging – Stardew Valley is fine, but for some reason I can’t get either the itch.io or the steam versions of A Short Hike to work. I can get the “old” itch.io binary to work with box64, but the shadows don’t render right and makes a weird flashing of the color rendering. The “current” one starts, but after rendering the logos it just stops, with no errors on console, but mono_crash json & mem.blob files.
I just uploaded the latest release of box64 to Debian unstable. If you have rk3588, then you can install the box64-rk3588 package instead of plain box64 which was compiled with some rk3588-specific optimizations. The package has box32 enabled, has the box32 binfmt support enabled and ships a script to install steam. With that version, installing steam is as simple as running:
sudo apt install box64
/usr/share/doc/box64/examples/install_steam.sh
You can then run steam from a terminal but maybe consider running it with PAN_MESA_DEBUG=gl3 set or otherwise some games will complain about missing opengl3 support. Kudos to @minute for pointing me to this setting. Here is the relevant thread on fedi: lucie lukas "minute" hartmann: "ok looks like things have progressed in ARM64 lan…" - Mastodon
Is there anyway to increase the shared ram for the gpu on the imx8mp, I’m getting gl_out_of_memory errors on some games
Hi all, since I got my Classic Reform (RK3588), I’ve tested a lot of games from my steam and GOG libraries, and also a bunch of native games (installed either from the package manager or from flatpak’s flathub), and compiled a list of 60 working games right now.
It does appear that the Reform is quite capable of running a lot of games. As you can see below, I’m a huge CRPG and Roguelike fan, but there’s also some strategy / 4X games in this list, and even a platformer (FEZ, great game) and a space simulator (Pioneer Space Sim). I’ve not added emulators in this list, although the Reform is also quite capable on this topic.
Note: By “running” I mean “running decently”. By “decently” I mean 30FPS or more.
| Game | Genre | Type | Install Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angband | Roguelike | Native | Package Manager | Well known roguelike, quite punishing |
| Arx Fatalis | ARPG | Native | GOG + compile engine | Arx Libertatis, built from source, just follow the instructions in README.md. Buy the game from GOG, `innoextract --gog setup.exe`, copy data where it seems fit for you. Smooth gameplay in medium settings - 30FPS limit without vsync for low temp. |
| Avadon: the black fortress | CRPG | box64 | Install from steam | Smooth as butter. Nice RPG from Spiderweb software. Sequels not tested - yet. |
| Baldur’s Gate 1 | CRPG | Native | GemRB, GOG | some crashes |
| Baldur’s Gate 2 | CRPG | Native | GemRB, GOG | runs really nice |
| Barony | Roguelike | Native | Compile from source, get data from Steam | Compile without sound (no openal, nor FMOD) needed. running the amd64 executable with box64 fails. |
| Blades of Exile | CRPG | Native | compile from classic blades of exile repo | build needs SFML2 compiled and installed beforehand. Editor won’t compile - yet. Need to copy datafiles in build dir. |
| BRogueCE | Roguelike | Native | Flatpak | Great roguelike, interesting ASCII graphics |
| Cataclysm Dark Days Ahead | Roguelike | Native | Flatpak | Great post-apocalyptic zombie roguelike. The debian package does run but has some bugs, whereas the flatpak version runs good. |
| Caves Of Qud | Roguelike | box64 | Steam | works really well, and an amazing game! |
| Conquest of Elysium 3 | Strategy | box64 | Steam | runs perfect, fun game with lot of replayability |
| Convoy | Roguelike | box64 | Steam | FTL but in a Mad Max setting |
| Crossfire GTK | MMO Roguelike | Native | package manager | Old school “real-time” multiplayer RPG with heavy roguelike elements. More complex than it seems |
| Cultist Simulator | CCG | box64 | Steam | Card game centered about building a cult. |
| Daggerfall Unity | ARPG | box64 | Download from website | Works OK, low FPS (<30 FPS) in big cities and in specific rooms (palace in daggerfall for e.g (15FPS)) |
| Darkest Dungeon | Roguelike | box64 | Steam | runs perfect. Trinkets and baubels! |
| Delver | FPS/Roguelike | box64 | Steam | runs well. The engine (in java) can be built from their github repo, not tested yet. |
| Disgaea 2 PC | Tactical RPG | box64 | Steam | Runs really well. Well known tactical RPG. You need steam running (steam arm works). If installed through steamcmd in a non-steam folder, put a steam_appid.txt file in game folder, containing the game ID (the same you used to install game with steamcmd’s app_update). |
| Dominions 5 | Strategy | box64 | Steam | runs well, small bug with wireframes during battle (just put mouse pointer in the sky). Amazingly complex strategy game. |
| Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup | Roguelike | Native | Flatpak or package manager | Well known great roguelike |
| Dungeons of Chaos | CRPG | box64 | Steam | Old school top view/tiles CRPG, initially made for touchscreens (smartphones, tablets). Deeper than it seems at first glance. Runs well, except that you need to `kill -9` the game upon exiting it. you need steam running (steam arm works). If installed through steamcmd in a non-steam folder, put a steam_appid.txt file in game folder, containing the game ID (the same you used to install game with steamcmd’s app_update). |
| Eldritch | FPS | box64 | Steam | Smooth gameplay. Low on CPU. |
| Endless Skies | Space | Native | Flatpak | runs great, amazing game |
| Fall of the Dungeon Guardians | CRPG | box64 | Steam | disable bloom and SSAO for better performance (from 30FPS to 55/80, fast graphics settings) |
| FEZ | Platform | box64 | Steam | Great platformer with a tridimensionnal twist! |
| FreeOrion | 4X | Native | Flatpak | 4X in space |
| FTL | Roguelike | box64 | Steam | runs perfect, great space roguelike game with great replayability. |
| Heroes of a Broken Land | CRPG/Roguelike | box64 | Steam | Procedurally generated dungeon crawler/roguelike game, quite oldschool but some interesting mechanics, especially with 2+ groups. Can become repetitve, especially if you generate huge world maps. smaller maps are funnier. You need steam running (steam arm works). If installed through steamcmd in a non-steam folder, put a steam_appid.txt file in game folder, containing the game ID (the same you used to install game with steamcmd’s app_update). Runs perfect, low on cpu, and thus battery. |
| Heroes of MIght and Magic III | Strategy | Native | Flatpak+GOG | Install VCMI, get game data from GOG, disable scaling in settings, profit. |
| KeeperRL | Roguelike / Strategy | box64 | Steam | building from source fails, sadly. Need some investigation. in the meantime, playable via box64 if you disable network features (encryption and x86_64 → ARM64 translation are kinda hit or miss) |
| Knights of Pen and Paper +1 | RPG/roguelike | box64 | Steam | runs perfect. Fun little game with an interesting take on roleplaying computer games and tabletop RPGs. |
| Legends of Amberland | CRPG | box64+wine | Steam | Great little CRPG inspired by Might and Magic, runs well. |
| Legends of Amberland 2 | CRPG | box64+wine | Steam | Nice little RPG/dungeon crawler inspired by Might and Magic series. Works great. |
| Legends of Amberland 3 | CRPG | box64+wine | Steam | 3rd installment of the Amberlands series, dungeon crawler with open world, inspired by Might and Magic. Runs great. Cap it at 30 FPS for long battery life (\~4 hours of gaming). |
| Luanti | voxel sandbox | Native | package manager | Runs well with view distance at 100 units. |
| Might and Magic I | CRPG | Native | GOG + ScummVM | One of the dungeon crawler with open world precursors. Great game, there’s a pack with better graphics. I’m more fond of its sequel (MM2) because it was the first CRPG/dungeon crawler I ever played when I was young  |
| Might and Magic Sword of Xeen | RPG | Native | GOG, ScummVM | Included in GOG Might and Magic 6. Fan-made World of Xeen scenario. |
| Might and Magic VI | CRPG | box64+wine | GOG | Install game (or `innoextract --gog` it), install grayface patch, wine MM6.exe, profit. |
| Might and Magic World of Xeen | CRPG | Native | ScummVM, data from GoG | Get MM6 from GoG, comes with all Might & Magic games from I to VI. Great blobbers (World of Xeen is the combination of Might and Magic IV and V) |
| MMapper/MUME | MUD | Native | Flatpak | great MUD in a middle-earth setting and a nice graphical client (with 3D map!) |
| Moria | Roguelike | Native | Package manager | Ancestor of Angband, old school roguelike from the 80’s |
| Nethack | Roguelike | Native | Package manager | Does it really needs an explanation? |
| OpenEnroth | CRPG | Native | compile from source, get MM7 on GOG | random segfaults, probably linked to sound |
| OpenMW | ARPG | Native | Debian repos, get Morrowind via GoG or Steam | Works with `MESA_LOADER_DRIVER_OVERRIDE=zink`. OpenMW default settings, 35FPS limit, vsync disabled gives a smooth gameplay and low temp. can push in the 40s and beyond without limit. |
| OpenYAMM | CRPG | Native | Compile from source | Once compiled, either use demo assets, or get the real MM8 from GOG. Game runs OK, still in its infancy. No segfaults contrary to OpenEnroth but full game(s) not yet fully playable. |
| Pioneer Space Sim | SpaceSim | Native | Flatpak | works OK, low/medium details |
| Planescape Torment | CRPG | Native | GemRB, GOG | runs good. |
| Shamogu | Roguelike | Native | download and compile from github | Seems fun, not played much, works well at first glance, needs more testing |
| Slash’em | Roguelike | Native | Package manager | Descendant of Nethack, quite good in its own way |
| Slay The Spire | Roguelike/CCG | box64 | Steam | Excellent game where you build your deck to fight enemies with cards. Quite punishing if you mess your deck. you need steam running (steam arm works). Runs quite well, limit FPS to 30 for less heat/more battery. If installed through steamcmd in a non-steam folder, put a steam_appid.txt file in game folder, containing the game ID (the same you used to install game with steamcmd’s app_update). |
| Star Crawlers | CRPG | box64 | Steam | Dungeon Crawler but in space, with corpos, psykers and conspiracies. Nice game. Runs well (disable antialiasing/anisotropy/fog/etc, keep beautify). |
| Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic II | CRPG | box64 | Steam | you need steam running (steam arm works). If installed through steamcmd in a non-steam folder, put a steam_appid.txt file in game folder, containing the game ID (the same you used to install game with steamcmd’s app_update). Use `MESA_LOADER_DRIVER_OVERRIDE=zink box64 KOTOR2` to launch game (witout it, you’ll get a psychedelic gaming experience :D). Works quite well, need to adjust config file in `~/.local/share/aspyr-media/kotor2/swkotor2.ini` if you want windowed mode. No videos (sound, but nothing else, due to zink). Can become quite choppy/slow, save, exit game and restart game in this case. |
| SystemShock | ARPG? | Native | compile from source | mouse problem? |
| TangleDeep | Roguelike | box64 | Steam | Nice and cute little roguelike but don’t think it’ll be easier because of its cuteness! Runs perfect, 30FPS cap for more battery life and <50°C cpu temp! |
| ToME 2 | Roguelike | Native | Compile from source | Old Tales of Middle Earth Roguelike, precursor of Tales of Maj’Eyal. runs well. |
| UFO Alien Invasion | TBS | Native | package manager | XCOM clone. Runs great. |
| Unciv | 4x | Native | Flatpak | 4X, civ-like, great game |
| Urban Assault | RTS | Native | Compile from source (UA_source) | You can get data files from UA_source forums. Buttery smooth. Really hard game. RTS where you can “jump” in your units and control them in first person view. Historically developed on an Amiga 3000 before the studio got bought by Microsoft. Multiplayer doesn’t seem to work. |
| Veloren | ARPG, voxel | Native | Flatpak | Install Airshipper, then the game from airshipper. launch game, select Minimal settings, ugly but playable (30FPS if you want battery life/not much heat). |
| Xonotic | FPS | Native | Flatpak | Great FPS, smooth with good detail level (60FPS capped with medium settings). Quite fun to play with a trackball, but use a mouse if you want to play with humans |
And that’s all for the moment. I’ll try to mantain this list as I test more games in the future. I was quite amazed by box64: being able to play classics like Knights of the old republic 2 (and probably its first installment, which I sadly don’t have - yet - in my game libraries), or modern indie games like Slay the Spire or more demanding games like Darkest Dungeon is really impressive.
And of course, a lot of cult classics can be played with ScummVM, like Might and Magic World of Xeen, or via Dosbox or emulators.
Have fun!
edit: this list is also available on https://arkham.lidstah.info/reform-games.html where it might be easier to read
Hi, could somebody spare the time to explain how to install and run minigalaxy on a pocket reform please?
I’ve installed minigalaxy using sudo apt install minigalaxy. And now there’s a bunch of minigalaxy files in hidden folders. But the app doesn’t appear in the launcher and I can’t ‘run’ any of the minigalaxy files.
OK, so I tried to install it by downloading the .deb file and installing it from that.
Now it appears in the launcher but doesn’t run when selected.
I’m not sure if there was an error when installing.
Note, selecting 'minigalaxy' instead of './minigalaxy-debian_1.4.2_all.deb'
Upgrading:
minigalaxy
Summary:
Upgrading: 1, Installing: 0, Removing: 0, Not Upgrading: 443
Download size: 0 B / 193 kB
Space needed: 358 kB / 223 GB available
Get:1 /home/username/Downloads/minigalaxy-debian_1.4.2_all.deb minigalaxy all 1.4.2 [193 kB]
Retrieving bug reports... Done
Parsing Found/Fixed information... Done
(Reading database… 254772 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack …/minigalaxy-debian_1.4.2_all.deb…
Unpacking minigalaxy (1.4.2) over (1.2.6-3)…
Setting up minigalaxy (1.4.2)…
Processing triggers for hicolor-icon-theme (0.18-2)…
Processing triggers for gnome-menus (3.38.1-3)…
Processing triggers for man-db (2.13.1-1+b1)…
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.28-1+b1)…
Notice: Download is performed unsandboxed as root as file '/home/kristian/Downloads/minigalaxy-debian_1.4.2_all.deb' couldn't be accessed by user '_apt'. - pkgAcquire::Run (13: Permission denied)
Any ideas what I’m doing wrong?
Minigalaxy is essentially a Python script. You might try to run Minigalaxy from a terminal and check potential error messages. I suspect there are Python modules missing.
This is the results when attempting to run minigalaxy from the terminal
user@computer:/usr/bin$ minigalaxy
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/bin/minigalaxy", line 5, in <module>
from minigalaxy.minigalaxy import main
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'minigalaxy'
This seems to be a fairly common Python problem. But there seems to be as many solutions as there are web pages mentioning the problem. I say ‘solutions’ but I can’t get anything to work.
The only references I could find to minigalaxy having this issue were unresolved.
How did you install minigalaxy? The Debian package does not have it in /usr/bin but in /usr/games/. You probably installed it from elsewhere or moved things around?
I definitely didn’t move anything.
I originally installed minigalaxy via
sudo apt install minigalaxy
But it didn’t show up in the launcher. So I downloaded the debian .deb file from here Releases · sharkwouter/minigalaxy · GitHub and installed from the file. That’s the one that installed into usr/bin. It appeared in the Launchers list of apps but wouldn’t run and gave the above errors when run from the terminal.
Anyway, I uninstalled that, re-installed the version via apt and this time worked out how to run it using
./minigalaxy
and that worked.
Then I installed box64 via
sudo apt install box64-rk3588
and that’s when things started getting weird. Into the Breach would run but only through a vertical slice of the screen. No idea what the issue was but a re-boot magically resolved the issue.
None of my other GOG games currently run but Into the Breach was the only one I really cared about. It’s a perfect fit for the pocket reform.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to get minigalaxy to appear in the launcher? Having to navigate the terminal each time will be a pain.
To get a menu shortcut you want to make a .desktopin ~/.local/share/applications
here’s an example of one i made for a source compile of halflife 2.
GNU nano 9.2 halflife2.desktop
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Half-Life 2
Comment=Source Engine (ARM64 native)
Exec=env LD_PRELOAD=~/Games/.install/arm64/bin/libSDL2-2.0.so.0.3200.4 ~/Games/.install/hl2/hl2_launcher -game >
Path=~/Games/.install/hl2
Icon=half-life2
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Game;
Exec= is the command you want to run. Half Life 2 command has gotten a little messy with SDL3 so had to force a SDL2. Just put path to minigalaxy command.
That worked, thank you. Took me a few attempts but I got there.
If it helps anyone else, here’s what my .desktop file looked like:
[Desktop Entry]
Name=minigalaxy
Comment=GOG Launcher
Exec=/usr/games/minigalaxy
Icon=/home/myname/Pictures/Icons/minigalaxy.jpg
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Game;
I finally got to try box64’s new box32 functionality (as in: 32 bit x86 support without the need for a 32bit ARM setup), and it is pretty impressive.
Getting Airline Tycoon running on the A311D was almost straight-forward. All it needed was to force emulation of libsdl2, because the native version lacks symbols needed by the sdl-mixer shipped with the game.
Nice, how does your invocation on the command line look like now?