Heretic + Hexen reunites two fantasy shooters built around corrupted realms and supernatural threats. In Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders, a surviving Sidhe elf sets out for vengeance after the Serpent Riders corrupt the realm’s kings and devastate the elven people. Hexen shifts the struggle to Cronos, where a Warrior, Mage, or Cleric faces undead enemies and elemental dungeons in a fight against Korax. Together, the stories give the collection a darker, spell-driven identity than a conventional military shooter.
The games’ design stands out through features that helped broaden first-person action: inventory systems, vertical aiming, and distinct character classes. Hexen’s class choice directly frames its fantasy combat, while the re-release brings together the original campaigns, their expansions, and two newly created episodes. The collection also lists 117 campaign maps and 120 deathmatch maps, balancing story-led exploration with arenas built for direct competition.
Its play format spans solitary journeys through hostile fantasy worlds and multiplayer sessions, so a count reflects activity around a game with both kinds of play.
