Heretic + Hexen Image
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
tbd

No user score yet- Be the first to review!

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • Summary: Step into the definitive re-release of two dark spell-casting shooters that shaped the genre. This enhanced restoration makes Heretic™ + Hexen™ available to new audiences and long-time fans with expanded accessibility across more platforms and languages than ever before.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Aug 11, 2025
    90
    Heretic + Hexen is yet another slam dunk for Nightdive Studios. This new release revamps both titles with modern controls, bonus content, and thoughtful changes to the core design that make each game a delight to play. Granted, these are still FPS titles from the mid-'90s, so your mileage will definitely vary, but for returning fans and those with a particular fondness for old-school 'boomer shooters', you really can't go wrong. Now let's get a native Switch 2 port with 120fps please, Nightdive.
  2. Aug 22, 2025
    90
    Nightdive knows what they’re doing with these releases, and it’s great to see Heretic and Hexen updated for a modern audience—whether that’s people discovering them for the first time, or people like me coming back after too many years. There are plenty of changes here for the better, though a few weird ones too, like some maps being different. Still, that shouldn’t stop you from having a great time if you’re a fan of the era.
  3. Aug 13, 2025
    90
    Heretic + Hexen is a bit harder to recommend compared to DOOM + DOOM II given the source material quality, but Nightdive Studios has done a superb job bringing both games back for modern platforms with a plethora of quality of life and visual enhancements that can all be toggled off as well for the original experience. While the Switch version is a bit lacking thanks to limited mod support, it plays fantastically on both Switch and Switch 2 with gyro controls. If you enjoyed Nightdive’s DOOM and Quake releases, Heretic + Hexen is an essential even if you never played them before. I know Heretic isn’t going to appeal to everyone, but it feels like a dream (and nightmare) to have this game from my childhood return in such an amazing way.
  4. Aug 20, 2025
    90
    If you have fond memories of either, Heretic + Hexen is another must buy collection from Nightdive Studios.
  5. Aug 20, 2025
    90
    Coming out of nowhere, Heretic + Hexen is an excellent game for fans of classic FPS, packed with extras, great gameplay, and many multiplayer modes to enjoy, along with achievements and development bonuses. It missed some opportunities, such as bringing Hexen II to the table and improving the weapon-switching system, but it still remains a great game.
  6. 85
    Heretic + Hexen is a fantastic collection of one very good game and one absolutely incredible game. The added content both new and old only serves to strengthen these two titles. That being said the clumsy save system and somewhat limited options for how these games are presented on a modern TV do lightly mar the experience. Even a CRT filter would do wonders for translating the visuals at a higher definition. But given that the previous best way to play this on a home console was to dig out a Nintendo 64 or put up with compromised versions on Playstation or Saturn, this is still certainly an improvement overall. Hopefully down the road we can get the rest of the Heretic/Hexen series as well.
  7. Aug 26, 2025
    70
    Heretic + Hexen gives you the chance to (re)discover some legendary FPS games in better conditions, with a little extra to boot, and all at an optimal price: less than 15 euros.

See all 9 Critic Reviews