Return to Dark Castle Coming to Steam
Return to Dark Castle launches March 3, 2026.
Return to Dark Castle. Credit: Ludit / Z Sculpt
One of my all-time favorite games is making a comeback. Return to Dark Castle is headed to modern platforms, reviving the cult-classic medieval fantasy platformer that first captivated Mac players in 1986. In the original Dark Castle, Prince Duncan storms the titular fortress to defeat the evil Black Knight, armed with little more than his wits and a surprisingly deadly supply of pebbles.
The first sequel, Beyond Dark Castle, followed in 1987, expanding on the original with new mechanics and a larger world. A series of universally low-quality ports followed for other platforms, then a 1994 color re-release helped keep the game alive for longtime fans. In 2008, Z Sculpt Entertainment delivered a more ambitious Return to Dark Castle, bundling levels from the first two games alongside new stages and mechanics.
Now, in partnership with Z Sculpt, Ludit is bringing that expanded version back with a full remaster for modern hardware. Notably, the long-promised level editor from the 2008 release, which had never been delivered, will finally be included. The original games were built around keyboard and mouse, so the addition of full controller support is a welcome modernization. Meanwhile, Mark Stephen Pierce, founder of Ludit and co-creator of Dark Castle, is also independently developing an all-new sequel.
I’ll have a full review of Return to Dark Castle once it launches.
In the meantime, you can wishlist the game now on Steam.
