Beyond Good and Evil 20th Anniversary Edition

Beyond Good & Evil - 20th Anniversary Edition is a third-person action-adventure for PC that combines exploration, photography, stealth, vehicle travel, environmental puzzles, and character-driven storytelling. The current storefront name uses the anniversary branding rather than the shorter original title, and this edition focuses on modern controls, improved presentation, quality-of-life upgrades, and extra content for Jade's journey across Hillys.

You play as Jade, a photographer drawn into a conspiracy involving the DomZ invasion, the Alpha Sections, and the resistance network known as IRIS. The game is not a conventional open-world RPG: its planet is built around authored locations, story missions, compact exploration zones, and optional activities that gradually reveal more of Hillys and its inhabitants.

Photography, stealth, and third-person exploration

The central gameplay loop alternates between investigation, traversal, combat, and photography. Jade's camera is a practical tool rather than a decorative feature. Photographing animals and documenting evidence helps her earn credits, uncover information, and support the wider investigation.

Exploration uses a third-person perspective with Jade moving through settlements, industrial spaces, underground areas, and natural environments. The world is smaller and more directed than a modern sandbox, but that structure gives individual locations a clear purpose and keeps the story moving.

Stealth sections ask you to observe patrols, use cover, and choose when to move rather than relying only on direct combat. Puzzles are generally environmental and readable, often involving switches, positioning, companion abilities, or the correct use of Jade's equipment.

Players who enjoy authored 3D platforming and character-focused exploration may also appreciate surreal third-person adventures such as Psychonauts, although Beyond Good & Evil places more emphasis on investigation, photography, and vehicle travel than on platforming collectibles.

Combat and companion abilities

Combat is built around Jade's staff, movement, timing, and interactions with nearby enemies. The system is direct rather than loot-driven, with encounters designed to support the adventure instead of becoming a long-term character-build exercise.

Companions are important to both combat and traversal. Pey'j and Double H can assist Jade in fights, reach places she cannot, or activate actions that open new routes. These team interactions give the game a cooperative feel during a strictly single-player campaign.

Progression is tied to story advancement, equipment improvements, vehicle upgrades, collected resources, and access to new areas. The game rewards curiosity, but it does not use procedural generation, randomized runs, or a permanent endgame loop.

Hillys, vehicles, and the investigation

Hillys functions as a connected adventure setting with distinct districts, islands, facilities, and waterways. Jade travels between locations using the hovercraft, which is both a transport option and a tool for reaching objectives, finding optional items, and entering races or side activities.

The hovercraft can be improved through progression, making vehicle upgrades meaningful without turning the game into a dedicated driving title. Later sections add the Beluga spacecraft, expanding the scope of traversal while keeping the campaign focused on specific story destinations.

The investigation gives the game its distinctive identity. Jade works as a photojournalist while uncovering how official institutions are responding to the DomZ threat. The camera, evidence gathering, conversations, and missions reinforce the same theme: information is a form of resistance.

What the Anniversary Edition adds

This is a remastered edition of the original adventure rather than a new sequel or a radically redesigned remake. It updates the visual presentation and audio while preserving the existing campaign, characters, locations, and overall structure.

The edition adds remapped controls, autosave, cutscene skipping, updated achievements, and support for cross-save functionality across supported platforms. On PC, Ubisoft also identifies complete support for keyboard, mouse, and controllers.

A new treasure hunt sends Jade across Hillys to investigate her past and collect cosmetic rewards. The content connects thematically to the wider Beyond Good & Evil universe and gives returning players an additional reason to revisit areas after the main route becomes familiar.

The Anniversary Gallery provides development material, including artwork, videos, anecdotes, and other archival content. There is also a dedicated Speedrun Mode for players who want to replay the campaign with time tracking and a more execution-focused objective.

Content model and campaign structure

The PC edition is a standalone paid game built around a complete single-player campaign. The storefront information does not present it as a free-to-play title, live-service game, or season-pass product.

The main adventure is supported by optional photography, races, exploration tasks, collectibles, vehicle upgrades, the new treasure hunt, cosmetic rewards, and the anniversary gallery. These additions complement the campaign rather than replacing it with repeatable procedural content.

There is no advertised online multiplayer, local co-op, split-screen campaign, competitive matchmaking, or dedicated server system. The companion characters are controlled by the game, so the cooperative moments are part of the single-player design.

PC features, launcher, and languages

The PC version is available through Ubisoft's PC ecosystem as well as Steam and Epic Games Store. The Steam listing requires a Ubisoft account and identifies Denuvo DRM, so purchasing through Steam does not make this a fully self-contained Steam-only installation.

Controller support is officially advertised alongside keyboard and mouse input. The edition does not advertise mod tools, Steam Workshop integration, cabinet support, multi-monitor display features, or an anti-cheat system.

Verified PC language support includes English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Dutch, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Russian, Japanese, and Korean. Audio availability is narrower than interface and subtitle support for several languages, so players should distinguish between full audio and text localization when choosing a storefront version.

Who should play Beyond Good & Evil?

This edition is a strong match for players who want a focused action-adventure with a defined story, memorable companions, investigation mechanics, and a setting that mixes science fiction with social commentary. It also suits players who prefer collecting information and exploring at their own pace instead of optimizing equipment statistics.

The game may be less suitable for anyone seeking a modern open-world sandbox, deep RPG progression, constant combat, or online co-op. Its combat and stealth systems support the narrative, but neither is as elaborate as the dedicated systems found in specialist action or stealth games.

Its strongest audience is therefore players interested in story-rich exploration, photography-based objectives, compact vehicle travel, and a campaign with a clear beginning, middle, and conclusion.

Similar PC adventures

Beyond Good & Evil sits between a cinematic action-adventure and a compact exploration game. Its combination of traversal, puzzles, combat, and companion interactions gives it more mechanical variety than a pure platformer, while its authored structure keeps it more focused than a large open-world RPG.

For players who want another Ubisoft adventure built around acrobatics, environmental puzzles, and direct movement, 2.5D action adventures such as Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown offer a more combat-heavy and platforming-focused alternative.

Players seeking a lighter cooperative platforming experience should look toward colorful local co-op platformers like Rayman Legends. It shares Ubisoft's emphasis on readable movement and expressive worlds, but it does not provide Beyond Good & Evil's investigation, photography, or science-fiction setting.

Beyond Good & Evil FAQ

What is the current PC name of the game?

The current storefront branding is Beyond Good & Evil - 20th Anniversary Edition. It is the modern edition of the original Beyond Good & Evil adventure, not a separate sequel.

Is Beyond Good & Evil - 20th Anniversary Edition multiplayer?

No. It is a single-player game. Pey'j and Double H participate as computer-controlled companions, and the PC listings do not advertise online co-op, local co-op, or split-screen multiplayer.

What does the Anniversary Edition add?

It adds improved visuals and audio, remapped controls, autosave, cutscene skipping, updated achievements, cross-save support, a new treasure hunt with cosmetic rewards, an Anniversary Gallery, and Speedrun Mode.

Does the PC version support controllers?

Yes. Ubisoft advertises full controller support as well as keyboard and mouse support. The game is designed around third-person movement, direct combat, vehicle control, and camera-based investigation.

Does the Steam version require Ubisoft Connect?

The Steam listing requires a Ubisoft account and identifies Denuvo third-party DRM. Players should expect Ubisoft account integration and Ubisoft PC services even when buying the game through Steam.

Is there DLC or a season pass?

The game is presented as a standalone paid adventure. The storefront information does not list a season pass or a separate DLC progression model; the anniversary additions are included as part of this edition.

What is the actual gameplay structure?

Progress comes from story missions, investigation, photography, stealth, combat, environmental puzzles, hovercraft travel, vehicle upgrades, optional activities, collectibles, the treasure hunt, and Speedrun Mode. It is an authored campaign rather than a procedural or endlessly repeatable game.