You can play Heretic and Hexen again with new graphics and easy controls

You can play old spooky adventures again thanks to Nightdive Studios. Heretic and Hexen return to modern PCs and consoles with the same dark magic — now with a clear map, helpful waypoints, remappable controls, and visual options that make the games smoother and more accessible. This remaster preserves what made the originals special while adding tools to help new and returning players.

• Nightdive brings Heretic and Hexen to modern systems

• Core gameplay preserved; added remappable controls, visual filters, maps, and waypoints

• Strong focus on accessibility so more players can enjoy the games

• Interface and visuals updated without losing the original dark-fantasy feel

• Some accessibility gaps remain; fixes and updates are planned

Nightdive brings Heretic and Hexen back — what this means for you

Nightdive updated two 1990s fantasy shooters so they run on today’s hardware. The goal: keep the original experience intact while making the games easy to run and enjoy on modern PCs and consoles.

Why this comeback matters

Preservation matters. When old games disappear because hardware fails or files vanish, we lose design ideas, art, and history. Nightdive’s remaster preserves the story, levels, and monsters so you — and future players — can experience these classics without hunting for antiquated machines. Similar restoration and re-release efforts show up across media, from classic game collections to remastered film releases and physical restorations of older franchises like Blu‑ray restorations of 90s properties and high‑profile reissues of classic film rebuilds, underlining why keeping older works available matters culturally.

Benefits:

• Play without old hardware

• Share the games with friends

• New players and researchers gain access to classic design

Who rescued them

A team called Nightdive Studios, experienced in restoring classic games, led the project. They balance faithfulness to the originals with practical modern improvements so you can play with less fuss.

What Heretic and Hexen are — short and simple

Heretic and Hexen are dark-fantasy shooters from the mid-1990s built on the same engine family as Doom, featuring:

• Heretic: play as a magic user, using spells and items to defeat monsters.

• Hexen: choose one of three characters and explore interconnected hub-style levels.

They’re slower-paced by modern standards but rich in design and atmosphere.

What Nightdive changed — short list

Key improvements you’ll notice:

• Runs on modern PCs and consoles

• Controller and keyboardmouse support

• Remappable controls

• Modern visual options: filters, anti-aliasing, improved textures

• In-game map and waypoints to prevent getting lost

• Accessibility options to support more players

• Improved save system and clearer UI

These updates aim to keep the game’s soul while improving playability.

How preservation works

Nightdive locates original files, cleans them up, and packages them for a modern engine. They retain the core gameplay and level design, adding optional modern features that help without changing essential content.

What you’ll feel playing the remaster

Expect a familiar world with modern comforts:

• Easier startup and clearer menus

• Smoother visuals when enabled

• Maps and waypoints to guide objectives

• Options to match different players’ needs

The spooky mood and level design remain intact.

The new interface

Menus are simplified and accessible:

• Large, readable text

• Quick access to graphics, controls, and accessibility settings

• Easy save/load and map options showing objectives

Less fiddling, more playing.

Accessibility — real care for players

Accessibility is treated as a core feature, including:

• Remappable controls

• Map and waypoints for navigation

• Visual filters to reduce strain

• Some aim-assist and speed options in places

Nightdive continues to expand support (e.g., fuller color-blind modes) based on feedback.

What you’ll notice right away

On first launch:

• Game runs on modern devices

• Modern menus and control options

• Map highlights your goals

• Visual filters smooth edges and textures

These make the games feel friendlier from the start.

Changes to level layout and game flow

Levels, enemy placement, items, and secrets remain unchanged. What’s new are navigation aids:

• Waypoints and objective markers

• Map tools for planning paths, especially in Hexen’s hub system

Gameplay stays faithful while becoming less confusing.

Balancing preservation and modernization

Nightdive kept story, monsters, and level design while modernizing controls and displays. Some original quirks remain intentionally, preserving the game’s character.

Limits and ongoing work

At launch, you may see:

• Incomplete color-blind options

• Occasional small bugs

• Visual tweaks that not every player prefers

Nightdive has a roadmap for updates and bug fixes.

How this fits with Nightdive’s other projects

Nightdive’s experience restoring older titles helps ensure:

• Proper handling of original files

• Stable ports across systems

• Thoughtful introduction of modern options without breaking the original feel

Their track record increases confidence in the remaster’s quality.

The broader impact on game culture

Remasters like these:

• Keep classic design ideas alive and accessible

• Help new designers learn from the past

• Let fans share memories and introduce classics to new audiences

• Preserve game history for study and enjoyment

They also sit alongside new releases that shape the industry each year, showing how preservation and upcoming innovations coexist — see a snapshot of exciting games coming in 2025 to understand how remasters fit the modern release landscape.

How to play Heretic and Hexen today — easy steps

• Choose platform: modern PC or supported console (these remasters run without needing a high‑end rig; many modern ports prioritize accessibility over top specs — read more about running newer titles on modest systems without a powerful PC).

• Buy/download the remaster from your platform store

• Install and open settings

• Select controller or keyboardmouse and remap controls if needed

• Enable map and waypoints for navigation

• Apply visual filters to taste

• Start the campaign and save often

• Check for patches or updates if you run into issues

No old CDs or special tools required.

Short history of Heretic and Hexen

• Mid-1990s: many games used the Doom engine family

• Heretic (1994): magic weapons and dark environments

• Hexen (1995): three playable classes and interconnected hub levels

• Both were popular but later became hard to run on new systems

• Nightdive’s remaster restores access for modern players

Questions you might have — short answers

• What is this remaster? A modern version of the classics that runs on today’s devices.

• Which games are included? Heretic (1994) and Hexen (1995).

• Are visuals better? Yes — filters, clearer textures, smoother edges.

• Is gameplay changed? Core gameplay is preserved; optional modern aids are added.

• What about controls? Controller and keyboard supported; remappable buttons.

• Are there accessibility tools? Yes — maps, waypoints, remapping; more features coming.

• How does the map work? It shows objectives and helps navigation, not automatic play.

• Do levels change? No — rooms and secrets are retained.

• Which platforms? Modern PCs and consoles.

• Will there be updates? Yes — Nightdive plans ongoing improvements.

• Is it worth it if you played the originals? Yes — familiar gameplay with modern fixes.

Things to try in the games

• Turn on waypoints to follow objectives

• Use filters if the visuals feel harsh

• Pick a Hexen character and learn their strengths

• Save often to avoid lost progress

• Explore every room — secrets remain hidden for discovery

• If you like trying demos and related indie projects, check out a recent free demo example to get a feel for modern indie design approaches: a free Herdling demo on Steam.

Examples of the balance between old and new

• Levels and enemy placement unchanged to preserve challenge

• Modern saves and control smoothing to welcome new players

• Maps and waypoints guide you without removing difficulty

• Visual fixes are optional so you can toggle the classic look

What still needs work and the plan

Planned improvements include:

• Better color-blind support

• Bug fixes in levels and controls

• Additional accessibility features based on player feedback

Nightdive listens and updates the games over time.

How these remasters help game culture

Bringing classics back:

• Keeps ideas alive and inspiring

• Lets designers study old solutions

• Lets fans share and play together across generations

• Enriches the historical record of game design

Short checklist so you can start now

• Buy the remaster on your platform

• Install and open settings

• Choose controls and map options

• Turn on features that help you

• Start and save often

Follow these steps to play old-school fantasy in minutes.

Final thoughts — what this means

Nightdive’s remasters let you step into spooky 1990s worlds without old machines. The games keep their heart while gaining tools that reduce friction and broaden access. The remasters aren’t finished — more updates will follow — but the classics are now far easier to reach and enjoy.

Play Heretic and Hexen to help keep game history alive. Grab a controller or keyboard (modern controller options, including recently announced designs, can make playing on consoles and PC more comfortable — for example, see the new controller trends like the Flexstrike for PS5 and PC), open the map, and explore — the monsters and secrets await.

Conclusion

You can play the old spooky games again. Nightdive brought back Heretic and Hexen for modern PCs and consoles, adding a larger map, clearer waypoints, easier controls, and better accessibility. The core experience remains: monsters, puzzles, and hidden secrets are all preserved. More updates are coming to improve support further.

So pick up a controller or keyboard, open the map, and go explore. Want more tips and stories? Read more at https://robloxhints.com