Heretic + Hexen Reviews
The double remaster is now included in the Game Pass catalog, so if you have an active subscription to the service, I highly recommend giving it a try. This is the best way to explore both games if you missed out back in the day, or to replay them with all the modern features if you were a fan of the series when they came out.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
If you have fond memories of either, Heretic + Hexen is another must buy collection from Nightdive Studios.
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.
Thanks to Nightdive Studios, that ultra reliable bastion of remastering excellence, Heretic and Hexen have never, ever looked this good or played this well on console. Certainly then, Heretic + Hexen might just be Nightdive's best remastering gig yet and that really is saying something when you consider the heady calibre of their output to date. They don't make em' like they used to - luckily, we have Nightdive Studios to make sure that they do.
But if you have any nostalgic love for the original games, then please pick this collection up for yourself, and for the sake of future Nightdive remaster projects.
Despite all of its new bells and whistles, Heretic + Hexen is unapologetically itself — which is to say, a fairly rudimentary, sometimes monotonous, oftentimes unfair blast from the past — and although it certainly won’t be every modern player’s cup of tea, those who have an existing or budding appreciation for its retro, “you had to look up cheat codes for this game in a magazine back in the day” appeal will find themselves beyond sated.
Heretic + Hexen marks the grand return of two first-person fantasy classics, brought back to life by Nightdive Studios with impeccable and meticulous restoration work. Technical improvements, new campaigns and revised balancing enrich the experience without betraying the original spirit, offering the best of both eras: the freshness and usability of modernity and the rough charm of the 90s. Whether you're a veteran ready to dust off old glories or a new adventurer curious to explore these milestones, you'll find yourself with a solid, rich and engaging package that will keep you entertained for dozens of hours.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Now, if we can just get Nightdive to give us a remaster of the original Aliens Vs. Predator from 1999, I really will be set. Yes, I know that there is the Aliens Vs. Predator Classic 2000, but I want Nightdive, specifically, to be on all these kinds of projects.
Heretic + Hexen by Nightdive Studios is an easy recommendation for collectors or newcomers to these super old and once popular titles. Ideal for someone who loves old school Doom “clones,” or simply players who want to relive the beginning of the Serpent Riders saga once more, as well as the new campaigns that were created for this re-release.
There are shortcomings. Some date back as far as 30 years. Nevertheless, I believe this is a collection that should not be missing from the library of any fan of the genre. Many people got it for free from the library anyway. Two once-popular fantasy action games have been revived in a modernised version with a huge amount of content, lots of improvements, and new features that make them even better games.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Enhanced for modern consoles and PC, Heretic + Hexen bundles together two first-person shooters that still manage to feel somewhat unique three decades after their original release. These truly are the definitive versions of these games, with Nightdive Studios even taking steps to alleviate Hexen's hub level woes.
While it may seem like just another rehashed product meant to cash in on nostalgia, Heretic + Hexen is the definitive way to fully appreciate two of the genre's most important games. Welcomed accessibility and quality-of-life updates, which add value to what was already incredible, make this package an indispensable library addition for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
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.
Heretic + Hexen revives the classic dark fantasy FPS, but offers little for those seeking innovation. Recommended for fans only.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
In conclusion, Heretic + Hexen are games I missed the first time around. However, three decades later, thanks to Nightdive Studios thoughtful quality-of-life improvements and impressive new expansions, I can still enjoy titles that have held up remarkably well. With dark fantasy charm, fast-paced combat, and seriously excellent level design, this collection is a must-play.
Nightdive proves once again that a remaster can be more than just a graphical upgrade. It's about preserving gaming history combined with modern playability. Heretic shines with sleek level design, fun puzzles, and exploratory gameplay, while Hexen remains an ambitious experiment now significantly more accessible. Together, they create a package perfectly suited to appreciating and rediscovering great games from the past. This bundle, thanks in part to its low price, is highly recommended for both fans and new players.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Heretic + Hexen is a beautiful collection. Both titles have been updated with modern controls, bonus content, and thoughtful changes to the core design that significantly improve and modernise the gameplay experience. It's worth remembering, however, that we're talking about FPS games from the 1990s, with all the elements and limitations of that era; consider this carefully before purchasing. In any case, these remain two great cult classics that have been restored.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Heretic + Hexen is aimed squarely at those nostalgic for the originals. Without that, most won’t stay hooked, though these classics still stand as genre-defining works now showing their age.
This is an absolute treasure of video game preservation that not only shows great respect for the originals, but also presents ways to play these titles that make them even better than they already were.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Hexen and Heretic are a harder sell when compared to Doom and Quake, but they are still fun games worth checking out. They are different enough to feel novel even after 30 years, being less linear, medieval-themed, and even melee-focused, depending on the character you choose to play as. Thanks to Nightdive’s utterly masterful remastering efforts, both titles look, run and play better than ever before.