Pools of Darkness managed to pull off being the best game in the Pool of Radiance tetralogy by polishing up the edges of the Gold Box engine with some improved visuals, little welcome changes like a cleaner font, and a more end-game focused title that led to bigger and more complex encounters. The added variety in locales to visit also helped keep things fresh, and it certainly felt like the biggest game of the bunch.

I think it's also for the best that this was the last game in this particular series because despite the refinement to the formula, the formula itself was definitely starting to feel a little tired.