How to Connect to BBS from Mac, iPhone, and iPad for Free

While there is no denying the fact that modern games are more power-packed, some retro games have continued to fascinate game lovers. If you are one of them, there is a good chance you would be glad to know that it’s possible to connect to BBS from Mac, iPhone, and iPad. And that too without having to shell out any bucks. For this exact purpose, let’s dive right in as I’m going to walk you through the quick steps!

Connect to BBS from Mac, iPad, iPhone with MuffinTerm

If you are not aware of BBS, let me tell you that it stands for bulletin board system and used to let people get online for various purposes such as playing games, communicating, exchanging information, and whatnot before the arrival of the new-age internet. 

For the purpose of this guide, we will use a third-party app called MuffinTerm. Worry not! The app is available for free and provides a full-on BBS experience. Equipped with several notable features including virtual sticky notes, simulated modem speed, CRT screen curvature, and modem lights, it’s got everything you would like to have at your disposal. What’s more, it also has support for ATASCII, ANSI, and PETSCII for terminal emulation. 

Connect to BBS from Mac Using MuffinTerm

  • First off, download MuffinTerm from the Mac App Store.
  • After that, you can use the Quick Connect menu or press the command+k.
  • Then, enter the BBS name and server information.
  • Next, hit Connect and you are all set! Now, it’s time to play and explore retro games.
Connect to BBS using MuffinTerm on Mac

Connect to BBS from iPhone and iPad Using MuffinTerm

Connecting to BBS from iPhone is just as simple.

  • To get started, download the MuffinTerm app from the App Store. 
  • Then, launch the MuffinTerm app and then tap on the tiny phone icon at the upper left corner of the screen. 
  • Tap on the “+” button at the top right. 
Use MuffinTerm
  • On the next screen, enter the BBS name and the hostname.
  • Then, hit Connect and you are good to go!
Connect to BBS using MuffinTerm on iPhone and iPad

Now, it’s time to go retro and play games to your heart’s liking. If you are wondering where you can find the active BBS to connect to, I would recommend you check out three notable destinations including: 

Another important thing that you need to know is that you can also connect to BBS via Telnet and the Terminal app on your Mac. Since the modern macOS versions no longer come with Telnet, you will need to install it. Yeah, that’s the essential requirement that you need to keep in mind.

Read more: 4 Ways to Pin Notes in iOS 16 on iPhone and iPad

Posted by
Rajesh Mishra

Editor-in-Chief: Rajesh Mishra is a Shakespearean poet at heart who turned a tech nerd while having a secret rendezvous with iPhone 4. When that rendezvous turned obsession, he let go of his hard-core political journalism in favour of the lifelong love-affair with technology. In a career spanning one and a half decades, Mr. Mishra has crafted over 8K articles and produced more than 3K videos for YouTube. When he is not at his desk, you may find him either engrossed in a Deathmatch or chasing Wordsworth!

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