If you missed the opportunity to experience the thrill of 2004’s Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone or 2005’s Dungeons & Dragons: Dragonshard, now is the perfect time to dive into these classic titles. Both games have recently made their way to Steam, each available for a modest price of , making them more accessible than ever for fans of the D&D universe.
Thanks to the dedicated team at SNEG, these beloved games are now part of the Steam library, although they currently lack official compatibility ratings for the Steam Deck. However, early user feedback suggests that Demon Stone runs smoothly on the device, offering a nostalgic experience that remains true to its original form, with no significant enhancements or alterations.
These releases caught many by surprise, as there was little buzz leading up to their launch. It’s worth noting that both titles have been available on GOG for over a decade, but their arrival on Steam coincides with a resurgence of interest in classic D&D games, following recent re-releases such as Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition.
D&D Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone—Classic Action
As a proud owner of a PS2 copy of Demon Stone, I can attest to its engaging hack ‘n’ slash gameplay set within the rich tapestry of the Forgotten Realms. While the game may exhibit some quirks and rough edges, its addictive nature and thrilling action make it a standout title.
The gameplay mechanics closely resemble those found in the Lord of the Rings: Two Towers and Return of the King games, featuring fixed camera angles and combo-based action. The overall feel—from button inputs to game flow—evokes a sense of familiarity for fans of the genre, and that’s certainly a compliment.
What sets Demon Stone apart is its unique narrative structure, allowing players to switch between a small group of adventurers as the story unfolds, rather than leveling up individual characters at each stage. This design choice adds a layer of depth to the gameplay experience.
With this re-release, players can expect smoother startup times, enhanced gameplay, widescreen scaling support, borderless and windowed modes, improved shadows, and better controller support, all tailored for modern gaming setups.
Dungeons & Dragons: Dragonshard—An Innovative D&D RTS
While my personal experience with Dragonshard is limited, I recall its presence in gaming circles back in the day. A friend who was an RTS aficionado praised it, which speaks volumes about its quality. Unlike traditional RTS games, Dragonshard blends real-time strategy with RPG elements, creating a hybrid experience that intrigues players.
In this game, players manage troops across an expansive overworld while also controlling smaller parties that venture underground to engage in fast-paced combat. The loot collected during these subterranean battles influences the armies above, effectively creating a dual-layered gameplay experience.
SNEG has implemented several modern enhancements for Dragonshard, including support for higher resolutions, localization-friendly saves, smoother timers and physics, and other optimizations to improve overall performance.
SNEG continues its mission to revive classic titles, with plans to re-release 2003’s The Temple of Elemental Evil this September. This iconic party-based D&D CRPG shares gameplay similarities with classic isometric games like Baldur’s Gate 1 and Baldur’s Gate 2.
For those looking to explore the rich history of D&D gaming, SNEG also offers a comprehensive D&D Classics bundle, featuring a plethora of old-school titles from the Silver Box Classics and Gold Box Classics collections.
UPDATE: A special thanks to Mitch Ryan on BlueSky for the reminder that these games have been available on GOG for quite some time!
