History
Thirty years of editions
From the 1995 MS-DOS CD-ROM to the 2024 Remastered: what each version contains, and which one to pick today.
1995
Tides of Darkness
Original game · MS-DOS, then Mac OS
The 1995 game: two 14-mission campaigns, plus the arrival of ships, oil and flying units.
1996
Beyond the Dark Portal
Official expansion · MS-DOS, Mac OS
The 1996 expansion: two new 12-mission campaigns beyond the Dark Portal. Requires the base game.
1997
The Dark Saga
Console version · PlayStation, Saturn
The console adaptation, bundling the campaigns of the game and its expansion.
1999
Battle.net Edition
Re-release · Windows, Mac OS
The 1999 Windows version, with online play on Battle.net and both campaigns.
2024
Remastered
Remaster · Windows, via Battle.net
The modernised version released in November 2024: high-definition graphics, with a switch back to the original look.
Box art and screenshots © Blizzard Entertainment, via IGDB.
Comparison
| Edition | Year | Platforms | Campaigns | Multiplayer | Graphics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tides of Darkness | 1995 | MS-DOS, then Mac OS | Tides of Darkness | LAN and modem | Original |
| Beyond the Dark Portal | 1996 | MS-DOS, Mac OS | Beyond the Dark Portal | LAN and modem | Original |
| The Dark Saga | 1997 | PlayStation, Saturn | Both | No | Original |
| Battle.net Edition | 1999 | Windows, Mac OS | Both | Battle.net | Original |
| Remastered | 2024 | Windows, via Battle.net | Both | Battle.net | HD or original, switchable |
Which edition should you pick?
To play today on a modern PC, Remastered is the easiest choice: it bundles the campaigns, runs on Windows and lets you switch back to the original graphics. Older editions are mostly of interest to collectors.