Old-school adventurers, sharpen your blades and prepare your spells—The Temple of Elemental Evil: A Classic Greyhawk Adventure is returning in 2025. This updated version revives one of the most faithful Dungeons & Dragons games ever made, modernized for today’s PC platforms. With deep tactical combat, rich character customization, and the legendary Greyhawk setting, this re-release promises to deliver a pure tabletop-style RPG experience that few modern games dare to attempt.
A digital RPG that stays true to real D&D gameplay
This isn’t just another fantasy game with swords and spells. The Temple of Elemental Evil was the first video game to fully use the Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition ruleset. That means players won’t find simplified stats or watered-down choices here. Instead, they’ll go through a detailed 13-step character builder where every choice—from race and class to feats and alignment—shapes how a party performs in battle and interacts with the world.
The combat system is just as serious. It’s turn-based and played on a grid, closely matching how battles work in tabletop D&D. Players need to think about range, position, initiative order, and spell effects with each move. Every decision can make or break a fight. One poorly placed fireball or forgotten healing spell can quickly send a party into chaos.
During one early encounter outside Hommlet’s walls, an under-leveled party faced off against a band of gnolls near a ruined tower. What seemed like a simple skirmish turned into a desperate retreat after poor positioning left the rogue exposed and the cleric too far back to help. It was a lesson in strategy—and humility—that stuck long after the battle ended.
Build the party you want—and make every member count
Customization doesn’t stop at individual characters. Players can create up to five original heroes from scratch, building an entire adventuring party tailored to their style. Want a frontline of armored warriors backed by arcane casters? Or maybe a stealthy team of rogues and rangers who strike from the shadows? The system allows for both—and everything in between.
On top of that, players can recruit up to three unique non-player characters (NPCs) throughout their journey. These companions bring their own skills, stories, and quirks into the group dynamic. Choosing which NPCs join the team can change how certain quests play out or open up new dialogue paths depending on alignment or faction allegiances.
One memorable recruitment came from rescuing a disgraced paladin named Zert deep inside the Moathouse dungeon. While some players might pass him over due to his questionable past, others may see value in his sword arm—or find themselves tangled in his hidden motives later on.
The only D&D game set in Greyhawk—still unmatched today
While many Dungeons & Dragons games choose settings like Forgotten Realms or Eberron, The Temple of Elemental Evil stands alone as the only digital RPG set in Greyhawk—the original campaign world created by Gary Gygax himself. This gives it a tone unlike any other D&D title: grittier, stranger, more mysterious.
The story pulls directly from the classic 1985 adventure module of the same name. It begins in Hommlet, a quiet village hiding dark secrets beneath its soil. Nearby looms an ancient temple—once sealed away but now stirring again under new leadership: a cult guided by an evil demoness plotting chaos across the realm.
Inside those crumbling walls lie four elemental factions—earth, air, fire, and water—each vying for power in service of darker goals. As players dive deeper into this labyrinthine stronghold filled with traps and twisted enemies, they’ll uncover layers of betrayal and ancient magic tied tightly to their own alignment choices.
No two playthroughs feel quite the same depending on whether players lean toward good, evil, lawfulness or chaos—a moral web that even affects quest outcomes and endings.
When does The Temple of Elemental Evil come out?
The re-release of The Temple of Elemental Evil: A Classic Greyhawk Adventure is set for December 10, 2025 on PC via Steam. While early plans pointed toward September 2025, publisher SNEG confirmed that extra time was needed to ensure quality updates for modern systems without losing what made this classic special.
The original version launched back in 2003 under Troika Games—best known for cult favorites like Arcanum—but suffered from bugs and performance issues at launch despite its brilliant design foundation. This time around, SNEG aims to polish those rough edges while preserving everything fans loved about it.
A re-release shaped by decades of community passion
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Image: Troika Games
If there’s one reason this revival matters beyond nostalgia, it’s because it proves how powerful community support can be over time. After Troika closed its doors shortly after launch, fans didn’t let the game fade away. Instead, they fixed bugs themselves through unofficial patches and built new content through mods that breathed life back into dungeons long since explored.
SNEG has embraced that legacy by integrating mod support directly into this version and even incorporating popular fixes from longtime community creators. The result is more than just an old game running on new hardware—it’s proof that fan dedication can keep even niche titles alive across decades.
A player once recalled using fan-made fixes just to get through corrupted save files during their first full campaign run years ago—a moment both frustrating and oddly motivating that led them deeper into forums filled with fellow adventurers sharing custom builds and homebrew tweaks.
An authentic challenge for serious RPG players
This isn’t an action-RPG where enemies fall easily or quests are marked with glowing arrows. The Temple of Elemental Evil asks players to think hard before they act—to plan parties carefully before stepping foot into danger—and rewards those who take time learning its systems.
For fans raised on digital RPGs but curious about what tabletop strategy really feels like when translated onto screen without compromise, there’s no better example than this one. And for veterans who rolled dice around kitchen tables before pixels replaced pen-and-paper maps? This return offers both comfort in familiarity and challenge in complexity.
The story still hits with weight; choices still carry consequences; fights still demand focus—not twitch reflexes but tactical smarts rooted deeply in classic roleplay values.
Will modern gamers embrace this old-school depth—or find themselves overwhelmed by its demands?
F.A.Q.
When does The Temple of Elemental Evil re-release come out?
The re-release of The Temple of Elemental Evil: A Classic Greyhawk Adventure is set for December 10, 2025, on PC via Steam.
What platforms is The Temple of Elemental Evil available on?
The game is available on PC and will be accessible through Steam for its 2025 re-release.
Is The Temple of Elemental Evil worth playing for D&D fans?
Yes, the game is a faithful adaptation of the Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition ruleset, offering deep tactical combat, rich character customization, and a unique campaign setting in Greyhawk, making it a worthwhile experience for both new and veteran D&D fans.
What type of game is The Temple of Elemental Evil?
The Temple of Elemental Evil is a tactical role-playing game (RPG) that features turn-based combat and a deep character-building system based on the Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition ruleset.
Does The Temple of Elemental Evil feature multiplayer or co-op gameplay?
No, The Temple of Elemental Evil focuses on single-player gameplay with detailed party management and character customization.
What makes The Temple of Elemental Evil unique compared to other RPGs?
This game stands out due to its faithful adaptation of the D&D 3.5 edition ruleset, its setting in the iconic Greyhawk campaign world, and its strategic turn-based combat system, providing an experience closely aligned with traditional tabletop RPGs.
Does The Temple of Elemental Evil support mods?
Yes, the 2025 re-release integrates mod support, building upon the active fan community that has contributed to the game’s longevity with unofficial patches and new content.
