can Apple IIGS play classic Apple II games?

[Retro Rider]

I got an Apple IIGS recently without the disk drive (so I just need to get that and an os disk) and I was wondering if an Apple IIGS can run classic Apple II games (Apple II, Apple II Plus, Apple IIc, etc.) because I know it runs a different os

 

[david__schmidt]

Yes, it can.  There are some considerations - it doesn't have a cassette port, so you can't use a tape deck the way you could with the oldest machines.  And its default speed is 2.6ish MHz, so you will need to slow it down to 1MHz for most games to be playable.  But overall, it is very compatible.  It can run the same OSes the older machines could, plus GSOS.  But you definitely want a floppy drive or one of the newer storage peripherals.

 

[olePigeon]

I think "playable" is subjective.  Running Conan or Karateka at 2.6 MHz is a blast!  It's like Expert mode.

 

[NJRoadfan]

Try playing it with an accelerator. Gotta have some sharp reflexes for that!