D&D Pool of Radiance Video Game Rises from the Ruins

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Long before Baldur’s Gate 3 made D&D video games cool again, Pool of Radiance was one of the most beloved cRPG series of all time. The original 1988 game from SSI kicked off the iconic “Gold Box” era of AD&D video games, which saw three popular sequels. In 2001 the series was revived by Stormfront Studios and Ubisoft with Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor, the first video game to attempt a full adaptation of the then brand-new D&D 3rd Edition rules. Unfortunately, despite some novel design ideas and a unique narrative, the game was plagued with bugs at launch and as a result was largely panned by both critics and fans.

Now, 25 years later the Ruins of Myth Drannor has been resurrected from the depths of digital purgatory and is getting a new chance at life. SNEG, the publisher behind last year’s remake of The Temple of Elemental Evil, has just released a fully restored (and hopefully bug free) version of the game that’s now available on Steam and GOG.

So is this D&D video game revival ready to shake off its ruinous reputation? Below, we look deep into the Pool of Radiance itself to try and find the answers.

What is Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor about?

Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor is a turn-based cRPG set in the Forgotten Realms. The story kicks off when a powerful magical source known as a Pool of Radiance is discovered beneath the city of New Phlan. Unfortunately, the untapped source of arcane energy soon begins to corrupt everything around it.

Players take control of a band of adventurers who answer a summons from the legendary archmage Elminster and are tasked with entering the haunted elven ruins of Myth Drannor to stop a sorceress and a dracolich from unleashing the Pool’s power against all of Faerûn itself.

Players can create up to four heroes and recruit two more companions along the way for a full party of six, choosing from a range of D&D species and classes. These characters can climb all the way to 16th level and cast spells up to 8th level, with more than 90 spells to choose from. Combat is turn-based and leans heavily on tactical positioning, though there’s also an optional turn timer for players who want faster, higher-pressure fights.

Notably, the game holds a unique spot in D&D video game history. It was the first digital title to use the D&D 3E rules and featured original cover art by legendary fantasy artist Brom. When the game was released in 2001 it also featured a tie-in novel by Carrie Bebris, which was published by Wizards of the Coast. A Collector’s Edition version of the game contained a copy of the novel, along with a print adventure model for D&D 3E entitled Pool of Radiance: Attack on Myth Drannor, a CD soundtrack and a dice set.

What’s included in the 2026 re-release?

According to SNEG Director Artem Shchuiko, the goal of the re-release is to “preserve what made the original special, fix what needs fixing.” To that end, the new version includes:

• Widescreen support up to 4K, with upscaled background assets for sharper visuals
• Fixes for numerous bugs from the original 2001 release
• An improved UI with a new action bar and tooltips
• Full controller support and reworked camera controls
• Adjustable combat animation speed
• An optional “Legacy” mode that preserves the original gameplay and visuals
• Steam Achievements, Cloud Saves and Steam Deck support

Players can also fine-tune exactly how much modernization they want through the in-game settings. One notable omission, however, is that while the original game supported online multiplayer for up to six players, the new version is only single player.

When was the remaster of Ruins of Myth Drannor released?

Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor officially launched on Steam on November 6, 2026 (although an announcement and a pre-order demo was released in early October 2026).

How much is the remaster of Ruins of Myth Drannor?

The digital-only version of the game retails for $19.99 USD on both Steam and GOG. You can also pick up the Phlan Saga Bundle for $29.95 USD (which includes Forgotten Realms: The Archives Collection Two) or the Temple of Elemental Evil Bundle for $29.95 USD.

What other D&D video games has SNEG restored?

Ruins of Myth Drannor is the latest in a growing line of classic D&D titles that SNEG has dusted off for modern PCs, including:

• The Temple of Elemental Evil: Troika Games’ 2003 turn-based RPG set in Greyhawk, which used the D&D 3.5 rules and was directed by Fallout co-creator Tim Cain.
• Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone: A 2004 third-person action RPG set in Faerûn, with a story written by R.A. Salvatore (author of the Legend of Drizzt novels).
• Dungeons & Dragons: Dragonshard: A 2005 real-time strategy and dungeon crawler hybrid set in Eberron, with a story by setting creator Keith Baker.

Notably, SNEG isn’t the only one looking to the past. Larian’s success with Baldur’s Gate 3 has kicked off a wave of interest in classic D&D titles, including potential Baldur’s Gate 1 & 2 remakes.

Final Thoughts

Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor never quite lived up to the legendary name on its box, but it’s still an important piece of D&D video game history, and for 25 years it’s been next to impossible to play on a modern PC. If SNEG can deliver on its promise to squash the bugs that sank the original, this could be the perfect chance for both old-school cRPG fans and Baldur’s Gate 3 converts to finally give it a fair shake (and maybe save Faerûn while they’re at it).

A digital-only version of the game is available for purchase now on Steam and GOG.

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