Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars

Windows, PlayStation, Game Boy Advance, Wii +61996

  1. JP—
  2. NA1996
  3. EU1996
  4. RU—

Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars was called Circle of Blood in North America. The easiest legal ways to play today are Reforged (2024) on Steam or GOG, or the Director's Cut on GOG, which also includes the original 1996 version.

Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars is a point-and-click adventure by the British studio Revolution Software. Virgin Interactive published it for Windows and Mac OS on 14 October 1996 in Europe; in North America it came out on 6 November 1996 as Circle of Blood. Charles Cecil directed, co-wrote and produced it, Barrington Pheloung composed the music, and Rolf Saxon voiced the American hero George Stobbart. The game runs on Revolution's Virtual Theatre engine, also used in Lure of the Temptress and Beneath a Steel Sky.

The PlayStation version did far better than expected, selling nearly 300,000 copies against a forecast of 60,000. In March 2009 Ubisoft released the Director's Cut for Wii and DS, with extra puzzles and new scenes featuring Nicole.

On 19 September 2024 Revolution released Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged, a remaster of the original version.1

Names and releases

RegionTitle on the boxPlatformDatePublisherSrc
NA Circle of BloodWindows and Mac OS. Windows Nov 6, 1996 Virgin Interactive 1
NA — PlayStation Mar 24, 1998 THQ 1
EU Broken Sword: The Shadow of the TemplarsWindows and Mac OS; the article's lead gives 30 September 1996. Windows Oct 14, 1996 Virgin Interactive 1
EU Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars PlayStation December 1996 Sony Computer Entertainment 1
WW Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars Game Boy Advance 2002 — 1
WW Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's CutDirector's Cut, also on Nintendo DS. Wii March 2009 Ubisoft 1
WW Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's CutiPhone and iPod Touch; Android version in June 2012. iOS Jan 20, 2010 — 1
WW Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: ReforgedAlso macOS and Linux. Windows Sep 19, 2024 Revolution Software 2

Also known as: Circle of Blood NA1Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's Cut WW1Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged WW2

Box art by region

  • Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars box art, Europe release
    EU Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars

Box art © its publishers, shown to identify each release. Scans: Wikipedia.

Version differences

  • TitleNorth America

    The original release was called Circle of Blood in North America.1

  • GameplayPlayStation

    The PlayStation version keeps mouse-style point-and-click control, which Charles Cecil later called his "one big regret"; reviewers also noted long load times.1

  • ContentDirector's Cut (2009)

    The Director's Cut adds puzzles, comic-book-style text and conversations and new story scenes with Nicole, and removes the death sequences.1

All differences (5)

Translations

  • Spanish Official

    Revolution Software2024Windows · ReforgedReleased

    Reforged lists Spanish (Spain) with full audio on Steam; GOG also lists Spanish audio and text for the Director's Cut.2

  • Russian Official

    Revolution Software2024Windows · ReforgedReleased

    Reforged lists Russian text, without Russian audio, on Steam.2

Where to play legally today

  • GOG Purchase

    Broken Sword: Director's Cut

    Windows and Linux; the original version is included as a bonus

    Checked: 2026-10-133gog.com

  • GOG Purchase

    Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged

    2024 remaster

    Checked: 2026-10-134gog.com

  • Steam Purchase

    Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged

    Windows, macOS, Linux; 2024 remaster of the original version

    Checked: 2026-10-132store.steampowered.com

How to run it today

Buy Reforged on Steam or GOG, or the Director's Cut on GOG, which includes the original version. If you own the original 1996 discs, ScummVM rates its support for the game as "Excellent".

5

Best version

Reforged (2024) is the most up-to-date way to play the original story, with remastered visuals and more languages; the GOG Director's Cut is a cheaper option that also includes the original 1996 version.3

Reception

By August 2000 the game had sold 825,000 copies, and combined PC and PlayStation sales passed one million by April 2001. Metacritic gives the PC version 80/100, and BBC's Live & Kicking named it best PC game of 1996.1

In lists

Sources

  1. 1en.wikipedia.org
  2. 2store.steampowered.com
  3. 3gog.com
  4. 4catalog.gog.com
  5. 5scummvm.org
  6. 6store.steampowered.com
  7. 7gog.com
  8. 8scummvm.org

Checked: 2026-10-13Text reviewed: 2026-10-13

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