Killing Time (Classic)
Killing Time (Classic)
Game
Game2025
Heretic + Hexen
Developer id Software, Nightdive Studios
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. From the Steam store page
278 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy, Mastodon) · newest Nov 3, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
91
LovedLoved
206 positive · 20 negative
95% range 87–94%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 206 | 20 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 5 | 4 | 28 |
| Lemmy * | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| Mastodon * | 1 | 0 | 4 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
1,302 of 1,386 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
91% recommend · 200 yes, 20 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 220 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (1,839 of 1,939 positive).
Many compare Heretic and Hexen favorably to Doom, noting their fantasy themes and innovative mechanics. [1][2][3]
Liked
Representative posts
- [10]
Add Co-Op saving, that's it. That is all you have to do. One of my favorite games of all time, it really is a shame.
- [12]
The best part about revisiting old games in remasters, such as this and others Nightdive puts out, is it just goes to show how much the majority of modern AAA games have stagnated or even regressed over the years. To think Heretic + Hexen has more soul, personality and meaningful content than most of the tripe we've been seeing in recent years is truly a testament to how these classic bangers still stand the test of …
- [2]
Another Nightdive home run. Feature rich remaster, and plenty of meat on the bone. Heretic is a fantasy reskin of Doom. If that sounds appealing, you have good taste. Hexen is Heretic but more interesting level design and varied weapons (if you swap class). If that sounds appealing, you have immaculate taste.
- [13]
This review is about Hexen. I beat heretic multiple times growing up and its a great fantasy grim dark doom clone, but that's what it is, a DOOM clone. Even all the weapons behave the same as doom and this is not a bad thing, its just that Raven Software took this criticism to heart and created Hexen. To call Hexen a DOOM clone though would be a disservice. The game has spells, inventory management, puzzles, …
- [14]
Another pretty good remaster from Nightdive, this time actually a bundle of 2 games. First Heretic, which is pretty much Doom but Fantasy and with usable items and which imho is the way better game in the bundle. Here the remaster is mostly flawless. Some maps got reworked, and enemies are less bullet spongy, also some weapon and item balancing is better. If you, for some reason, don't want this, you can …
Summarised from 26 of the 220 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 12, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
91% of the 220 Steam reviewers we collected recommend Heretic + Hexen. The complaint that keeps coming up: hexen's level design remains confusing. Deal-breaker or nitpick?
Reactions
60 of 278 · most liked first"Accessibility is a key part of our mission at Nightdive. When we remaster a classic game, we’re not just making it look better, we’re making sure it can be played by as many people as possible..." Thank you @gamespot.com for chatting with us about Heretic + Hexen! www.gamespot.com/articles/bet...
neutral · AI labelView post →It was funny to be working on 2 games @johnromero.bsky.social produced (Heretic + Hexen) while watching him play another game I worked on (Dusk) and watching the ai shout "Heretic" while he shouted back "Hexen!" all while I was literally working on the music for Heretic + Hexen at that moment.
neutral · AI labelView post →So in case any of my friends were wondering - yes, the "secret project" I was on was Heretic + Hexen. If you told 11-year-old me that I was gonna work officially on a game I was playing when it just came out, I'd say you were out of your mind.
positive · AI labelView post →The definitive re-release of Heretic + Hexen are available on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch! 📖 slayersclub.bethesda.net/en-US/articl...
neutral · AI labelView post →microsoft please release raven software from the COD mines so they can work on actual games again
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Most innovative gameplay of 2025. 10/10. The primary goal of this review is to highlight the state the game industry is in.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I’m finding this sale underwhelming, and my backlog is already huge. Might skip it this time. ---- ---- **Edit** - okay, found some good stuff. A lot of the tables for Pinball FX were on deep sales, and with the Legacy packs I got them even cheaper (some I owned for PFX3 already, and some I bought legacy for both). New Heretic+Hexen remaster Some DLC for Across the Obelisk as my wife and I play that one together. Still an underwhelming sale, but at least not a total bust.
neutral · AI labelView post →Song: The Docks Album: Tome of Power Composer: Kevin Schilder Artist: Andrew Hulshult Game: Heretic + Hexen remaster
neutral · AI labelView post →Coming to Game Pass: news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/0... Ultimate: -Shift at Midnight (7/22) -Halo: Campaign Evolved (7/28) -Mistfall Hunter (7/30) -Beast of Reincarnation (8/4) Premium: -The Planet Crafter (today) -Hell is Us (7/23) -Heretic + Hexen (8/4) PC: -Corsair Cove (7/31)
neutral · AI labelView post →Kids these days, they all play Minecraft and Fortnite. But back in my day, we played... HERETIC and HEXEN! Two truly wholesome video games for children of all ages. This is another great addition by Nightdive to bring these '90s shooters back from the dead. Please support them! (I didn't support them because they gave them to me for free)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The best part about revisiting old games in remasters, such as this and others Nightdive puts out, is it just goes to show how much the majority of modern AAA games have stagnated or even regressed over the years. To think Heretic + Hexen has more soul, personality and meaningful content than most of the tripe we've been seeing in recent years is truly a testament to how these classic bangers still stand the test of time, and in other ways have gotten even better with age. Needless to say…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →DF Retro EX: Heretic + Hexen Review - Fantasy FPS Classics Receive Exceptional Remasters!. > Based on the original, classic Doom engine, Heretic and Hexen saw the FPS formula move into the realms of fantasy, developed by the brilliant Raven Software. And now, thanks to remaster specialists Nightdive Studios, these games have been brilliant modernised for today's hardware - upgraded in a number of ways and packed with new content. John Linneman shares the good news.
neutral · AI labelView post →Attention Doom players. You may think that it is the ultimate game, but there is something that you may not have known about. Ravensoft used a modified Doom source engine to make their own game called Heretic to give it a medieval theme. With the success of that game, they modified that engine to make an even better game called Hexen. How these games are better comes to three factors. The first is that Doom looked like it is in 3D, but it is only pseudo-3D since you never aim…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A site listing delisted games. When going through the list by platforms, it will also list games that got relisted, though some lack the [RELISTED] tag but are being sold as packages with other similar games (Doom 1+2, Heretic+Hexen), as remasters only (Soul Reaver 1 and 2, Metal Gear Solid 2) or as a "final edition" with all updates and DLC as if it was a different game (Super Lucky's Tale, Street Fighter 4) For every online-only game, the reason was a matter of publishers no longer being…
neutral · AI labelView post →After fully completing every aspect of Heretic Hexen here are my thoughts: Heretic Overall fun to play. Would a younger generation like it? I would say yes, anyone can like Heretic. Straight forward, good enemy variety, lots of relics and weapons to use against enemies. Tome of power is a very fascinating aspect that changes how well weapons work vs different enemies and expands the weapon roster. Down side is that its hidden behind a somewhat uncommon item. Later game chapters can be…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →good remaster but actually credit raven on the store page
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Heretic + Hexen announced for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC; now available. Publisher Bethesda Softworks and developers id Software and Nightdive Studios have announced Heretic + Hexen for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC (Steam, Microsoft Store, GOG). It is available now for $14.99. It is also available via Game Pass. Physical editions will be available via Limited Run Games. Heretic + Hexen includes the original episodes, two new episodes,…
neutral · AI labelView post →Another Nightdive home run. Feature rich remaster, and plenty of meat on the bone. Heretic is a fantasy reskin of Doom. If that sounds appealing, you have good taste. Hexen is Heretic but more interesting level design and varied weapons (if you swap class). If that sounds appealing, you have immaculate taste.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Song: The Cathedral Album: Tome of Power Composer: Kevin Schilder Artist: Andrew Hulshult Game: Heretic + Hexen remaster
neutral · AI labelView post →Coming to Game Pass: news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/0... Ultimate: -Beast of Reincarnation (today) Premium: -Heretic + Hexen (today) -Monsters are Coming! (8/6) -PowerWash Simulator 2 (8/6) -Bounty Star (8/11) -Date Everything! (8/11) -Grounded 2 (8/11) -Ball x Pit (8/12) -Cricket 26 (8/13)
neutral · AI labelView post →An amazing quality of life upgrade to 2 great games. Hexen still has painfully confusing level design but a lot of the cryptic elements are explained to make for a better experience. Just do yourself a favor and start with Wizard for a ranged weapon then change class on lv2 if you want
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Played this game in my childhood as a young girl couldn't get past the first few levels just cause I was so so young but now i'm 27 and currently playing through the whole game and the deeper levels are just so cool and the fact they remade it to play better and have better visual of the demons and maps just makes me really happy. Recommend playing this if you liked the old Doom games.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I load this up and suddenly I'm 9 years old again. Nostalgia is the purest drug on the market and this game hits like no other to an old timer like me hahah!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Song: The Dungeons Album: Tome of Power Composer: Kevin Schilder Artist: Andrew Hulshult Game: Heretic + Hexen remaster
neutral · AI labelView post →DF Retro EX: Heretic + Hexen Review - Fantasy FPS Classics Receive Exceptional Remasters!. > Based on the original, classic Doom engine, Heretic and Hexen saw the FPS formula move into the realms of fantasy, developed by the brilliant Raven Software. And now, thanks to remaster specialists Nightdive Studios, these games have been brilliant modernised for today's hardware - upgraded in a number of ways and packed with new content. John Linneman shares the good news.
neutral · AI labelView post →The old school games never cease to amaze me. These games are a blast. Heretic and Hexen can at times surpass the original Doom and that is no small feat.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Open the dark vault of Heretic world. Very important treasure was uncovered once more and that is Heretic. This is one of the most important games brought back from old era and done with a justice. From one of the greatest developers Raven Software now you to can enjoy this remaster in fully high pixelated god tier design. There is nothing to complain about in this enchanted remaster but only give yourself to the full fledge craftsmanship. Improved movement and mouse controls just do wonders.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This review is about Hexen. I beat heretic multiple times growing up and its a great fantasy grim dark doom clone, but that's what it is, a DOOM clone. Even all the weapons behave the same as doom and this is not a bad thing, its just that Raven Software took this criticism to heart and created Hexen. To call Hexen a DOOM clone though would be a disservice. The game has spells, inventory management, puzzles, backtracking and the ability to swap between the fighter, cleric and mage all with…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →New Games Coming to XBOX Game Pass Ultimate: • Shift at Midnight (7/22) • Halo: Campaign Evolved (7/28) • Mistfall Hunter (7/30) • Beast of Reincarnation (8/4) Premium: • The Planet Crafter (today) • Hell is Us (7/23) • Heretic + Hexen (8/4) PC: • Corsair Cove (7/31) news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/
neutral · AI labelView post →Good old Heretic and Hexen, I never thought they'd remaster these games. All the graphics (old-school pixels), sounds and gameplay are intact, with a few enhancements. (In Hexen you can now switch classes in-game). Of course Hexen's annoying backtracking-searching-for-switches is intact as well. The new campaigns are welcome additions as well. Now please remaster Heretic and Hexen II so the collection will be completed.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →What a classic. Let's start with the original games. Heretic is basically Doom but with a fantasy theme. At least at first sight, since there's a lot of changes and gameplay mechanics that manage to distance enough from most 90s FPS. The most obvious one is the inclusion of an inventory where you can stash consumable items and activate them at any time. These items will give you cool advantages like invulnerability, a teleport back to the start of the level, bombs, and a secondary fire mode…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This remaster made me speechless... Don't let the appearance fool you. Heretic and Hexen are classic games, and it can be just as brutal and as challenging as the latest FPS games. One bad move or one slow reaction could get you annihilated in seconds, especially when you play on the hardest difficulty. Take it from me...
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Update the games needed with some questionable decisions for good measure. Hexen has been probably my favorite shooter of all time and I used to play it on GZDoom a lot. It had a couple of issues though, the Mage balancing, scripting errors and so on. They all have been addressed in the way I would address them, you can even tune down the overuse of blinking textures in heretic. Absolutely fantastic job, they couldn't have done better... ... and then there are some weird decisions. They…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I played so much of the Original Hexen on steam. Usually it's sad when a Steam entry gets removed. However NOT in this instance. Everything about this version is just endless improvements. SHIELD ON CLERIC is such a minor change that has such a MAJOR impact for the better. It's such a great introduction. It's so fun! I was born in 2003. So I grew up on COD. And yet Hexen in STILL by FAR the best FPS game I've played in my life. It's Dark Souls + Doom. Heretic = 9.0 = 10 Hexen = 10 = 10 BUY…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Another pretty good remaster from Nightdive, this time actually a bundle of 2 games. First Heretic, which is pretty much Doom but Fantasy and with usable items and which imho is the way better game in the bundle. Here the remaster is mostly flawless. Some maps got reworked, and enemies are less bullet spongy, also some weapon and item balancing is better. If you, for some reason, don't want this, you can individually turn these changes off before starting an episode. Also the remaster contains…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Well, any 2D indie game with controller support is perfect for the deck: (Like the hollow Knight series, or Hades). Got Hi-Fi Rush on sale. And the inputs feel much better than on my PC (I blame my Bluetooth controller). Want something with a classic feel (other than emulators)? "Heretic + Hexen" (for some doom-like action) and the Soul Reaver remaster play really well (and I got that one on GoG). I have more, but those are the ones I play exclusively on my deck, now.
neutral · AI labelView post →Add Co-Op saving, that's it. That is all you have to do. One of my favorite games of all time, it really is a shame.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →> If you make video games, either as a career or hobby, only other people are allowed to play them But how do I test them??? --- My list: 1. Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup. This game has so much stuff in it and it gets updates roughly two times a year with lots of rebalance and new stuff. 2. Dark Souls. One of the best games ever made - how could I leave it out? 3. Dark Souls 2. My second favorite Souls-like. It's different enough from DS1 to be included here. 4. Lunacid.…
neutral · AI labelView post →Heretic+Hexen is basically a near identical twin to Doom and Doom II. More like a medieval version of Doom. Instead of using guns, you're using magical wands, crossbows, and swords/maces/axes. Hexen is modeled a little differently than Heretic. You have the option to swap between three different character classes. You can even change between the three classes at certain points during the game to try them all out to see which one suits you best. The graphics are great, the controls respond…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I feel a little bad about giving this a negative review, since there is no question that the devs have done a very good job upgrading these titles for modern systems and adding all of the extra features you would expect, so if you already know that you like either Heretic or Hexen then by all means buy this; you should not have anything to be disappointed about here. But, since I know this group probably already has bought this, it would be pointless to write a review directed at them. For…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The re-release is good, and free to those that own the originals. The games themselves are, as they've always been, aggressively tedious. Heretic is a Doom reskin with slower, clunkier gameplay, more annoying and less interesting enemies, and a really uninspiring weapon roster. Hexen leans a bit more into the RPG style with multiple characters with their own skills, but the level design is almost fascinatingly bad. The game's second level is diabolical and probably the most overt roadblock…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Absolutely. Its basically medieval fantasy Doom. I admit its much heavier on map based puzzles and backtracking but a fun experience with a few people with you who want to figure it out. Nightdive continues to revive older games time after time and do it the right way.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I love everything in the pack, except the secret level in Vestiges of Grandeur. Someone has to say it - it's too much, it's like one of those fan-made WADs with giant, humongous level. Such style can work in Doom and Heretic, but not in Hexen. It just feels very wrong in here. This level actually left me with a bad aftertaste from otherwise very strong Vestiges of Grandeur expansion, I recommend to skip it in your playthrough.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Another gold FPS. Heretic is a magical clone of Doom, filled with a variety of items that never let you down, and even lets you fly. Hexen, on the other hand, allows you to legitimately jump and switch between four classes within each level. And the RPG and Adventure mechanics here are absolutely the best, even after playing the original game through DOS long time ago, I still spend too much time wondering which switch I need to activate first to continue or unlock the obstacle ahead. The…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Certified hood classic of a series, I hope Hexen II and even the lesser-known Heretic II get the remaster treatment as well!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Heretic is good, but if you only want Heretic and don't care about the new episode, don't bother with this port. On the other hand, this port is, in my opinion, the definitive way to play Hexen. The new map markers, mid game class select, and the Cleric's new shield make Hexen significantly more fun to play. If you've ever wanted to play Hexen, but couldn't get into it, I recommend giving this version a try.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Crazy good remaster/rerelease of both games. Was expecting a another DOS emu dump like most of the retro favorites that hit steam, this is anything but. Achievements, controller support, even ultrawide support. The devs who put this out deserve more credit for the effort that went into getting it to a modern state.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Giving it a negative review because Pocket Plane killed off all of my interest in finishing the Heretic part of the package. "Oh, a cool new weapon to spice up your arsenal", well it is only available in the secret level of Pocket Plane, which is accessible after two thirds of the new campaign. I had no problem completing all of the preceding levels on the 4th difficulty with no save-scumming, and didn't have to retry more than two times per level. Now my one and only auto-save slot is taken by…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Remake without respect.. Microsoft's remake without understanding.. For game after 30 years release.... It took a lot of effort to break Hexen like this I will describe playable classes with a description of difficulty. Cleric is a class for beginners.. There are some minor issues at beginning. However, with Serpent Staff, the game becomes imbalanced, as it fires for 1 mana and grants vampirism in close combat.. With Wraithverge, battles end - spirits take them all out without any…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's soo good I keep coming back to try and beat it on hardest with all secrets. All the games in the bundle, EPIC.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Heretic is a great game, satisfying shooting and weapons, interesting enemies and great level design. Hexen was not for me, too obtuse and navigating the levels was a slog. The combat was fun though.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →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. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3584606943
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The issue is the price hike, not the bundle. Rule of thumb: if your actions make Microsoft look good, you fucked up. (Referring to Doom I+II and Heretic+Hexen bundles that are free updates for owners of even one game in each bundle.)
neutral · AI labelView post →Lack of perspective correction made me motion sick within minutes. Nightdive did this with Rise of the Triad. This is a basic accessibility feature and neither Nightdive nor Microsoft care to tackle it. Open source variants managed to fix this long ago but Nightdive also broke compatibility with existing community-maintained source ports. I'm aware that I'm in the minority for being this susceptible for motion sickness but I know I'm not the only one.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Heretic + Hexen are Now Available on XBOX Game Pass Premium. 🎮🖥️☁️ www.xbox.com/m/p/9NC7NRD0...
neutral · AI labelView post →This #ShooterSaturday we played Heretic + Hexen! Watch now on #YouTube (youtu.be/-R4YcHh6Pzg), and don't forget to hit the Subscribe & Notification buttons as well! @ccinemapodcast.bsky.social #HereticHexen #LetsPlay #RetroGaming
neutral · AI labelView post →I got Heretic+Hexen in the mail this week and it’s been a really really good package I especially have been loving Hexen!! What a fun game, a boomer shooter that focuses really heavily on puzzles and exploration and has a cool fantasy aesthetic I’ve been playing as Cleric
positive · AI labelView post →Perfect Remaster of the original games and a great way to play in 2025 and later. The fact that we also get two new episodes is bomb and greatly appreciated. They are also great despite my dislike of the secret levels. This is 100% worth it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This remaster actually made me love Hexen. As a kid, I couldn’t get beyond the first level and found the puzzles confusing because there is a lot of backtracking through labyrinths and finding obscure switches. The remaster adds waypoint markers to make navigation easier while not telling you the solution to the puzzles. The new episode added to the remaster “Vestiges of Grandeur” is peak Hexen experience. I felt immense satisfaction getting through to the end. It is like the final exam of…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I played the HECK out of Heretic back in the day. Whether it's better than the original Doom isn't a question: it absolutely is. All due respect to Doom's place in gaming history, but Heretic just did it better across the board. This version runs great for me, and being able to play it with a modern WASD + mouse setup is just what was needed. As for Hexen, only now can I say that I get what the developers were going for with this one. So far as I know, this is the early FPS genre making its…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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