Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor (v1.27)

A spreading blight beneath New Phlan sends a band of adventurers toward the shattered ruins of Myth Drannor, where another Pool of Radiance feeds a threat capable of poisoning all Faerûn. Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor is a traditional Dungeons & Dragons computer RPG built around claustrophobic dungeon delving, party management, and methodical tactical battles. Elminster’s summons leads to a campaign of undead, hostile monsters, cursed corridors, and powerful villains, including a sorceress and a dracolich. Its mood is firmly old-school: grim ruins, dangerous loot, and a persistent sense that every unopened door may conceal a lethal encounter.

Players create as many as four heroes, choose from familiar D&D races and classes, then fill a six-person party with companions found during the adventure. Exploration revolves around navigating dense, trap-filled locations, talking to NPCs, collecting gear, managing spells and resting carefully between fights. Combat uses D&D’s turn-based foundations, with positioning, initiative, weapon ranges, area spells, and party composition all mattering far more than reflexes; an optional timer adds urgency for players who want less leisurely encounters. Characters advance as high as level 16, gaining access to a broad spell list that reaches eighth-level magic, so early skirmishes eventually give way to encounters shaped by buffs, crowd control, summoning, and destructive arcane attacks.

The appeal lies in its unapologetically crunchy dungeon-crawl structure rather than cinematic storytelling or open-world freedom. Myth Drannor’s ruined halls provide a satisfying test of classic party-RPG habits, especially for players who enjoy mapping spaces mentally, conserving resources, and building a balanced adventuring group. The modern release improves the original’s usability with widescreen and 4K support, sharper presentation, controller support, camera adjustments, tooltips, an action bar, and numerous bug fixes, while Legacy mode preserves the older feel. Fans of Icewind Dale, Temple of Elemental Evil, or combat-heavy tabletop D&D campaigns should find plenty to like, although newcomers should expect a demanding, deliberately dated design.