For the uninitiated, Heretic dropped in 1994, built in a modified version of the Doom engine by Raven Software (yes, the same Raven that now works on Call of Duty). It swapped sci-fi corridors for dark fantasy castles and introduced vertical aiming, inventory management, and a wonderfully weird elf-vs-evil-demon energy. Then came Hexen in 1995, adding character classes, interconnected hub levels, and an even darker, freakier atmosphere. The story? - shoot everything that moves.
This new re-release isn’t just about preserving history. It’s adding new chapters to it. We’re talking two all-new episodes made in collaboration between id and Nightdive, a remastered soundtrack, 4K resolution at up to 120 FPS, cross-platform and local deathmatch, co-op, mod support with an in-game mod browser, and accessibility upgrades like a cleaner UI, text-to-speech, and adjustable FX and contrast sliders.
In other words, it’s everything you loved about the originals, plus the kind of polish and extras that make them just as fun to play in 2025 as they were in the 90s. So dust off your WASD fingers, prepare for that sweet MIDI-to-orchestral soundtrack glow-up, and get ready to once again fill your screen with pixelated explosions and demon parts.
Some gaming comebacks are nostalgic. This one feels like a small miracle.
