One of the most mechanically faithful, yet notoriously unstable, adaptations of Dungeons & Dragons has returned. Today, SNEG announced that The Temple of Elemental Evil: A Classic Greyhawk Adventure is available on Steam, complete with vital community fixes and enhancements.
Originally developed by Troika Games and released in 2003, The Temple of Elemental Evil is often held up by CRPG enthusiasts as a flawed masterpiece. It successfully translated the complexity of the D&D 3.5 edition ruleset into a turn-based video game, but was marred at launch by game-breaking bugs and stability issues.
For the past two decades, the game has been sustained by dedicated fan communities, most notably the Circle of Eight and Temple+ modders. SNEG’s release today explicitly builds upon these efforts. The publisher confirms this version introduces “more than a thousand fixes and enhancements,” including improvements to AI, pathfinding, stability, and UI refinements that are expected on modern hardware.
A Return to Greyhawk
Based on the legendary 1985 tabletop adventure module by Gary Gygax and Frank Mentzer, the game is set in the world of Greyhawk, which has seen less digital exploration than the ubiquitous Forgotten Realms.
Players create a party of up to five custom characters, utilising a detailed step-by-step builder that reflects the depth of the tabletop system. The campaign allows for the recruitment of up to three NPC followers (including the infamous Prince Thrommel, if you can find him) to round out the group.
The adventure centres on the titular temple, a fortress of malevolence near the village of Hommlet. Adventurers must navigate the politics of four elemental factions, Air, Earth, Fire, and Water, battling for supremacy, while uncovering the threat of the Demon Queen Zuggtmoy.
Tactical Fidelity
What set The Temple of Elemental Evil apart in 2003, and what remains its primary draw today, is the combat engine. Unlike the “Real-Time with Pause” systems of contemporaries such as Baldur’s Gate, this game utilises a strict turn-based grid system.
This approach enables precise implementation of D&D 3.5 mechanics, including attacks of opportunity, complex spell areas, five-foot steps, and flanking manoeuvres. For tabletop purists, it remains one of the most accurate simulations of the pen-and-paper experience on PC.
The SNEG re-release features:
- Community Polish: Integration of Circle of Eight and Temple+ fixes for stability and modern resolution support.
- Classic Rules: A faithful recreation of the 3.5 edition ruleset (capped at level 10).
- Reactive World: A non-linear quest structure with multiple endings based on party alignment and choices.
- Radial Menus: The distinctive radial menu system for selecting spells and abilities.
For those looking to explore the story’s origins, the original tabletop module is available in PDF / Print on Demand via the DMsGuild. PC gamers can check retailers like Fanatical or GamersGate for potential deals on the new digital release.
