The 1997 action-adventure game Ecstatica 2, first released for MS-DOS and Windows, is officially coming to Steam. The first game in the franchise will also be re-released on Steam, but the two installments look and play quite differently.
Ecstatica, released in 1994, is a third-person survival horror game with fixed cameras and puzzle-based missions. The sequel, however, shifts to dark fantasy action-adventure, with a greater focus on combat. Publisher SNEG has restored both installments in partnership with the series’ original creator, Andrew Spencer Studios, bringing their retro gameplay to modern PCs after nearly 30 years.
The Ecstatica Franchise Returns on October 26
Announcing the re-release of Ecstatica 1 & 2, publisher SNEG said, “Both titles will launch just in time for Halloween on October 26 for Steam and GOG.” Ecstatica games also have free demos on Steam, allowing fans of retro games to try the restored versions before buying them. As for the price, each title costs $14.99 USD, but SNEG also offers a bundle with both installments for the discounted price of $19.99 USD.
New Features in Ecstatica 1 & 2
- Full control support
- The ability to switch between three different graphics (MS-DOS, Windows, 4K)
- Achievements
- Cloud Save
- Steam Deck support (NEW)
Fans of classic MS-DOS games should know that the PC re-releases of Ecstatica 1 & 2 include several new quality-of-life and gameplay features. Both games now support controllers, a feature missing from the original releases. Players can also turn off the new 4K resolution and enjoy the games with the same look and feel as their original versions. SNEG says, “The software renderer now handles modern widescreen resolutions, including 4K and beyond, and you can switch between three graphic modes at any time.”
Find the odd one out before the timer hits zero.
The Ecstatica franchise may be one of the forgotten game series of the 1990s, but it remains an important part of video game history for a couple of reasons. For one, Ecstatica uses ellipsoid graphics instead of polygons, giving it a distinctive look rarely seen in other games of the era. Secondly, it achieved several technical milestones at the time that remain impressive to this day. For example, the first Ecstatica game features “1,100 hand-chosen cinematic camera angles” that turn its fixed-camera system into a storytelling advantage.
Ecstatica uses ellipsoid graphics instead of polygons, giving it a distinctive look rarely seen in other games of the era.
SNEG director Artem Shchuiko says, “[Ecstatica games] are bold, imaginative titles with ideas and a visual identity that can still surprise players today… It really means a lot to us to bring them back for those who missed out on them.” Ecstatica is just one of the lost video game IPs that publisher SNEG is poised to bring to modern devices. The company plans to release several more classic games on Steam and GOG in Q4 2026, including titles such as Theocracy, Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor, and Warlords IV: Heroes of Etheria.
