FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Drug Wars?

Drug Wars (also known as Drugwars, DrugWars, or Dopewars) is a classic DOS-based drug trading simulation game originally created by John E. Dell in 1984. Players buy and sell drugs across different cities, trying to maximize profit while avoiding police, muggers, and loan sharks. Drugwars Online is a faithful modern recreation of the original DOS game, rebuilt for the web and playable for free in any browser — no emulation or download required.

How do I play Drugwars Online?

Playing is simple: click "PLAY NOW" on the homepage — no account required. You start with $2,000 cash and $5,500 in debt to a loan shark. Buy drugs cheap in one city, jet to another, and sell them for a profit. Manage your bank, pay off your debt, and survive 30 days. Your final score is Cash + Bank - Debt. Register a free account to save your scores and compete on the global leaderboard.

Is Drug Wars free to play?

Yes, Drugwars Online is completely free to play. There are no paywalls, premium features, or hidden costs. You can play as a guest instantly, or create a free account to save your scores, track stats, and appear on the leaderboard.

Do I need to download anything?

No download is required. Drugwars Online is a browser game — it runs entirely in your web browser. No app, no install, no plugins. Just visit drugwars.online and click Play. It works on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.

Can I play Drug Wars on my phone?

Yes! Drugwars Online is fully mobile-friendly. The interface is optimized for touchscreens and works on any modern smartphone or tablet browser — iPhone, Android, iPad, and more. No app download needed.

How does scoring work in Drug Wars?

Your final score at the end of 30 days is calculated as: Cash on Hand + Bank Savings - Loan Debt. The higher, the better. Negative scores are possible if your debt exceeds your assets. Strategy tip: use the bank to earn 2% daily interest and protect your cash from muggers, and pay off your loan shark debt early to avoid the crushing 10% daily interest.

How do I save my scores?

Create a free account by clicking "Register" in the navigation. Once logged in, your scores are automatically saved after each game. You'll appear on the global leaderboard, earn rankings across multiple categories, and can view your complete game history on your profile page.

What cities are in the game?

Drugwars Online features 10 global cities to trade in: New York City, Bogotá, Amsterdam, Bangkok, Lagos, Karachi, Miami, Mexico City, Moscow, and Sydney. Each city has different drug prices that fluctuate daily based on random market events.

What drugs can you trade?

There are 6 drugs to buy and sell: Cocaine, Heroin, Acid, Weed, Speed, and Ludes. Each has different base price ranges — expensive drugs like Cocaine offer bigger profits but higher risk, while cheap drugs like Ludes are safer for smaller margins. Watch for price spikes and crashes to make big trades.

Is this the same as the original 1984 Drug Wars game?

Drugwars Online is a faithful recreation of the original DOS-based Drug Wars game by John E. Dell (1984), rebuilt from scratch for the modern web — no emulation involved. The core gameplay — buying and selling drugs across cities over 30 days — remains true to the classic. Modern additions include a global leaderboard, player profiles, score sharing, expanded coat upgrades, and a mobile-friendly interface, all while preserving the retro terminal aesthetic of the original.

How do I compete on the leaderboard?

Register a free account to automatically appear on the leaderboard. Rankings are tracked across multiple categories: Best Score, Best Arrested Score, Biggest Coat, Most Money Collected, Games Played, Games Survived, and Survivability Rate. Visit the Leaderboard to see the current standings.

What are random events?

As you travel between cities, random events can occur: police busts (run, fight, or surrender), muggings (where thugs try to steal your cash), finding hidden drug stashes, discovering a larger coat to carry more inventory, and market price spikes or crashes. These events add unpredictability and strategy — choosing when to fight vs. run can make or break your game.

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