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How to Play PET Games
The VICE emulator runs every PET model cycle-accurately on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Archive.org hosts hundreds of game files. Here’s everything you need to start.
The VICE Emulator
What VICE Is
VICE (VersatIle Commodore Emulator) is the definitive Commodore 8-bit emulator, actively maintained and available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and several other platforms. It supports every PET model — the original PET 2001 (4 KB and 8 KB variants), the 2001-N, the 4000 series, the 8000 series, and the SuperPET SP9000 — with cycle-accurate 6502 and 6809 emulation. Both 40-column and 80-column configurations are supported.
VICE also supports tape images (.tap), disk images (.d64, .d71, .d81), and program files (.prg) — the standard formats in which PET games are distributed today.
Starting VICE for PET
The PET emulator within VICE is called xpet on Linux/macOS, or accessed via the “PET” option in the VICE application on Windows. When you launch it, you’ll see a green-on-black terminal with the BASIC prompt. This is exactly what PET users saw in 1978.
To load a game from a tape image (.tap file): use File → Attach Tape Image, then at the BASIC prompt type LOAD and press Enter. To load from a disk image (.d64): use File → Attach Disk Image, then type LOAD "*",8,1.
For program files (.prg): use File → Smart Attach — VICE will detect the format and handle the loading automatically.
Choosing a PET Model
Most PET games were written for the 40-column display. If a game doesn’t load or behaves oddly, try switching the model in Settings → Model settings:
- PET 4032 — best for most 1979–1982 games (BASIC 4.0, 32 KB RAM, 40 columns)
- PET 2001-8N — for older titles needing BASIC 2.0 or the original ROM set
- PET 8032 — for 80-column software or business applications
- SuperPET — for 6809-specific software (rare in game context)
Cosmic Cosmiads, Cosmic Jailbreak, Microchess 2.0, and Temple of Apshai all run on the PET 4032 configuration.
Game Files on Archive.org
The Internet Archive hosts multiple large PET game collections. All are freely available without registration.
Commodore PET Computer Game Base v3 (~900 games)
The most comprehensive single PET game collection. Nearly all notable PET titles in one archive, in .prg and tape formats.
archive.org/details/pet-game-base-v-3-1 →Software Library: Commodore PET
Archive.org’s curated PET software collection with in-browser emulation for many titles — no VICE installation required.
archive.org/details/softwarelibrary_pet →PETGames Collection
Curated collection of PET game files organised by title.
archive.org/details/PETGames →Microchess 2.0 (1978) — Peter Jennings
Standalone entry for the original Microchess 2.0 for PET, including the original cassette tape image.
archive.org/details/Microchess_2.0_1978_Jennings_Peter →CBM Draw Poker
CBM Draw Poker (1978) original tape image from Commodore.
archive.org/details/d64_petgame_cbm_draw_poker →In-Browser Emulation
No Installation Required
Archive.org’s Software Library collection includes browser-based emulation for many PET titles via the Emularity framework. When you visit a PET game entry on archive.org that supports in-browser play, you’ll see a “Play in browser” button. The emulation is cycle-accurate and requires no plugins — just a modern browser.
The in-browser experience is ideal for quickly trying a game. For longer sessions, downloaded VICE with local game files provides better performance and full configuration options.
First-Time Player Tips
Expect Monochrome
All PET games are monochrome by design. The colour version of PET Space Invaders widely shown online is an unofficial later modification. The authentic experience is green (or white) on black, depending on which PET model you’re emulating.
PETSCII Takes Getting Used To
PET games use PETSCII block characters for graphics. At first glance a screen of PETSCII might look like data; within a few seconds the visual vocabulary becomes intuitive. The PET’s developers spent years developing conventions for how block characters should read as game elements.
Check the Controls
PET games predate joystick standardisation. Cosmic Cosmiads uses keyboard; Temple of Apshai uses keyboard commands. Super Glooper uses the numeric keypad (8/4/6/2 for directions). Check the archive.org entry or any accompanying readme for control schemes.
Start with Cosmic Cosmiads
As the PET’s most polished arcade title, Cosmic Cosmiads is the best introduction to what the platform’s developers achieved. Load it, understand the fuel mechanic within two minutes, and you’ll understand both the game and the PET’s design philosophy.