I have an offline install of Echoes v4.45. Just noticed there were several patches released over the holidays. Should I only install the most recent patch (v4.47), or do I need to install all the new patches one by one for a successful update?

I'm pretty sure each patch needs to be done in order (no skipping any of them - and no "combo" patches); but now that you're asking - I'm not sure. It's actually a old assumption on my part, now that I think about it.

However, testing it by only running the most recent patch won't hurt anything if it does require previous patches - as the update will "fail gracefully" and you'd then be informed whether you first need to run earlier patches.

I'd try now it but mine is fully patched up atm (by sequentially running the individual patches); so I'll have to wait to try it myself.

If you try it, post your result :)

You need to install all the new patches in order, 1 by 1.

If you try to skip to the most recent patch, when you run the patch it will say your install in incompatible.

Yep you have to patch in order.

Or download a new full install, which is less work if you have skipped a lot of patches or if you havent kept your patch history current at all times, i.e. downloaded the most recent patches every two weeks or some such. Maybe a month is sufficient, I dont know.

Honestly in case of NMS I just download the most recent version every half year or so, whenever I feel like playing.