itch.io

Hi, I’m building CyberVGA, a custom 32-bit DOS 3D engine written in C89 and NASM.

It’s built around VGA Mode X, fixed-point math, software rendering, and custom DOS-native tooling rather than modern graphics APIs. The aim is not to fake retro styling. I’m trying to build a real engine and workflow that feels consistent with the hardware limits and rendering logic of the era.

Right now the project includes:

• VGA Mode X 320x240 software rendering
• Q16.16 fixed-point pipeline
• cell-and-portal spaces
• point lights
• palette-based shading and dithering
• a custom CMS mesh format
• CyberEdit, a built-in editor for authoring and previewing worlds

One of the biggest recent milestones has been getting CyberEdit into usable shape. It now supports multi-viewport editing with a live 3D view, world authoring, and light placement directly inside the engine workflow.

I also made a short video showing the editor and the engine in motion:

Project page:
https://expfunction.itch.io/cybervga

Latest devlog:
https://expfunction.itch.io/cybervga/devlog/1464794/spring-2026-engine-update

Latest Screenshots:

I’ll keep updating this thread as the project develops.

Thank you for your kınd words!
It's still very much in development, but we're excited to turn it into something properly playable soon.

Neat idea combining turn based RPG fight with cards. Monochrome era graphics feel good with the support of 8-bit sound effects and music. Good job!

It is really cool that you managed to fit an online high score system, nice graphics, audio and fun gameplay. Job well done!

Hi everyone,

I’m Burak, a C/C++ (and recently assembly) programmer jumping into Dosember with a few different projects on my plate and thought I’d introduce myself. Last jam I worked on Cat Burglar, a little MS-DOS project that actually made it to submission, and since then I’ve been pushing further into retro development. Right now I’m experimenting with CyberVGA, my own 3D software renderer for DOS, running under DPMI with Borland C and assembly. It’s been a good way to practice low-level graphics and memory management while still keeping things fun.

I’ve also started development of a new game called Metaphor. The plan is for a short ARPG, where the main character gradually discovers shamanic abilities through the natural world. It’s early days, but I’d like to build it out with a proper sense of progression in both story and gameplay.

All kinds of help are welcome — code, art, design feedback, or just sharing your thoughts. I’ll try to share progress and lessons learned along the way by sending new dev logs, and I’m always happy to swap knowledge. Looking forward to seeing what everyone else is making this jam.

Have a great day!

Thank you!

Smooth gameplay, nice visuals and fits the theme fine. Nice job!

I've had much fun with this, really good concept and theme supporting visuals. This may become a small online game who knows. Good work!

Great drawings, very nice music and gameplay. Nicely done.

I loved the style, gameplay and humor.

I think this is a really good clone of Souls, intuitive, hardness ~ reward ratio feels nice. Good job.

Cool light tricks, neat idea, addictive gameplay. Well done.

Thank you very much! Using protected mode in MS-DOS was really a pain but basically I mapped new bios interrupts using assembly. You can find the source code here:

https://github.com/Novus-Idea/CatBurglar

CyberVGA is a modular, retro-style 3D graphics engine built for MS-DOS and classic VGA Mode 13h (320×200, 256 colors). Inspired by the demoscene and the earliest PC game engines, CyberVGA recreates the look and feel of 90s 3D graphics — wireframes, neon palettes, and pixel-perfect rasterization.

https://itch.io/embed/3830176?bg_color=1a0033&fg_color=b8c6ff&link_color=6e00f2&border_color=b5b3fe

Features

• 🖥️ Runs on MS-DOS (Borland C/C++ era authenticity)
• 🎨 Palette manipulation: color cycling, fades, pseudo-lighting
• 🔺 3D rendering: wireframes, filled triangles, backface culling
• 📂 Mesh loading: simple OBJ support (Cube and Sphere for now)
• 📐 Math core: trig tables, rotations, and perspective projection
• ⌨️ Keyboard input: arrow-keys to rotate objects

Why CyberVGA?

CyberVGA is more than an engine — it’s a tribute to the golden age of DOS graphics, when every pixel had to be pushed by hand and clever tricks made up for hardware limits. It blends authenticity with hackability, making it a perfect playground for retro coders, demoscene fans, and anyone curious about how 3D worked before GPUs.

Development

CyberVGA is in active development. Current builds focus on core rendering and palette effects, with future plans for texture mapping, shading, and more demoscene-style visuals.

What’s Next?

• Texture mapping (PCX/Deluxe Paint import is planned)

• Palette-based scene fades & cycling demos

• More shapes and mesh experiments

• Input expansion (keyboard/mouse menus, FPS counter overlay)

• A map system that defines the "World"