Install Drakan on your PC

1. Check your disc

   You need your own PAL SCES-500.06 disc image (the USA SCUS-971.28 disc also builds, as an experimental version with keyboard and mouse but without the PC settings, widescreen, quicksave or modern menus; its saves are separate) as a plain .iso. The builder checks it and stops if it does not match. Keep the file in a stable folder, because the game keeps reading it while you play.

2. Check your PC

   To build (once): Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit), at least 16 GB of memory (24 GB recommended), about 10 GB of free disk space and an internet connection for the first tool downloads. The installer lets you choose how many CPU cores the build uses.

   To play: 8 GB of memory, a 4-core CPU and a GPU with Vulkan or Direct3D 12 drivers (older Direct3D 11 cards can switch to the Direct3D 11 renderer).

3. Download and run the installer

   

   Download DrakanPC-Setup.exe from the latest release, run it, then choose an install folder and your ISO. Leave Build the game now ticked. Optional components such as NVIDIA DLSS and the browser version are listed on the same screen.

4. Wait for the build

   

   Leave the build window open until it says it has finished. Some large steps print nothing for about ten minutes. Windows may ask permission to install Microsoft's C++ Build Tools.

5. Play

   

   Launch Drakan - The Ancients' Gates from the desktop or Start menu. Press F1 for PC Settings, F11 for fullscreen and F10 to release the mouse.

   Read the full Windows guide Learn the controls

1. Check your disc

   You need your own PAL SCES-500.06 disc image (the USA SCUS-971.28 disc also builds, as an experimental version with keyboard and mouse but without the PC settings, widescreen, quicksave or modern menus; its saves are separate) as a plain .iso. Keep it somewhere permanent: the game reads it during play.

2. Check your system

   To build: x86-64 Ubuntu or Debian with build tools, 16 GB of memory or more and about 10 GB of free disk space. To play: 8 GB of memory and a GPU with Vulkan drivers. The Linux guide lists the exact packages.

3. Get the source

   

   Clone the repository from GitHub and install the packages named in the guide. Everything runs from a terminal in the project folder.

4. Build from your ISO

   

   Run the Linux build script with the path to your ISO. The first build takes one to two hours; later rebuilds are much faster and keep your saves.

5. Play

   

   Start the player from dist/DrakanPC-linux. Press F1 for PC Settings.

   Read the full Linux guide Learn the controls

1. Check your browser

   

   Use desktop Chrome or Edge. The player reads files you choose from your own computer; nothing is uploaded.

2. Check your disc

   You need your own PAL SCES-500.06 disc image (the USA SCUS-971.28 disc also builds, as an experimental version with keyboard and mouse but without the PC settings, widescreen, quicksave or modern menus; its saves are separate) as a plain .iso.

3. Create the browser build

   

   The browser build is made locally, on Windows with WSL or on Linux, from the same disc. The browser guide walks through it.

4. Open your local files

   

   Open the browser player and choose your build folder and ISO when asked. Keep using the same browser profile: saves live in that profile's storage.

5. Play

   

   Open the browser player Read the browser guide

Stuck at any point? See Troubleshooting. No game files are included or downloaded by this site.