EA brings back popular 90s gem Theme Hospital after 29 years, as Steam lands 50% discount

EA has brought back yet another beloved 90s classic, with Theme Hospital making a welcome return on Steam after nearly 30 years. Better still, the legendary management simulator comes with a generous 50 percent launch discount.

Developed by Bullfrog Productions and originally released in 1997 on PC, Theme Hospital arrived during a golden era of management simulation games, alongside other beloved retro classics such as Bullfrog's Theme Park and Chris Sawyer's RollerCoaster Tycoon.

However, Theme Hospital was far from your typical serious management simulator, thanks to its sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek humour. From desperately trying to keep your hospital running smoothly to treating patients suffering from bizarre illnesses such as Bloaty Head, it was this hilarious chaos that made the game so memorable.

Theme Hospital is finally back on Steam after 29 years

In Theme Hospital, players had to deal with a constant stream of patients coming through the proverbial revolving door, while also hiring and firing staff, managing finances, expanding their hospital, and more. However, much of the fun came from the fact that things rarely went according to plan.

Combining hilarious, wacky humour with surprisingly deep management mechanics, Theme Hospital became a beloved classic that would eventually help inspire 2018's fantastic Two Point Hospital, developed by a team that included former Bullfrog Productions staff.

Theme Hospital, EA/Bullfrog Productions

Theme Hospital is 50 percent off on Steam for a limited time

Right now, you can pick up Theme Hospital on Steam for just $2.49/£2.49, down from its usual price of $4.99/£4.99. However, this generous launch discount is only available until November 19, so you don't have forever to take advantage of the offer.

Unlike the recent Road Rash 30th anniversary release, Theme Hospital hasn't received a full remaster, but there are still some welcome modern conveniences.

The classic PC game is now easily accessible through Steam, with support for cloud saves and Steam Family Sharing. It's also rated “Playable” on Steam Deck, although some controls may require the touchscreen or keyboard.

Better still, the original graphics, hilarious sense of humour, and moreish gameplay remain largely unchanged, retaining the nostalgic charm that made Theme Hospital so popular back in 1997. Thanks to its modest system requirements, it should also run comfortably on most modern Windows PCs and laptops, including less powerful machines.

However, the Steam listing doesn't advertise improved textures, widescreen support or higher frame rates. It's also worth remembering that while Theme Hospital is playable on Steam Deck, it isn't currently rated Verified.

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Theme Hospital isn't exclusive to Steam

Theme Hospital is also available on GOG as part of its ongoing preservation programme. Better still, this version is DRM-free, meaning you don't need to rely on a launcher to play it once installed.

There's also a fantastic free, fan-made remake called CorsixTH, which offers a host of modern improvements, including 4K resolution support, custom levels, a map editor, zoom functionality, subtitles and customisable controls. However, you'll still need the original Theme Hospital game files to play it.

Sadly, Theme Hospital isn't currently available on modern PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo consoles. However, if you're looking for something similar, we wholeheartedly recommend the aforementioned Two Point Hospital, which is a more than worthy modern alternative.