Two revolutionary 90s shooters shadow dropped on Xbox, Xbox Game Pass, and PC — Complete with enhanced performances, online multiplayer crossplay, and more

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For enthusiasts of ’90s gory first-person shooters with a retro flair, here’s some exciting news: Bethesda Softworks has secretly released Heretic and Hexen on Xbox consoles, Xbox Game Pass, and both PC (Windows and Steam) during QuakeCon 2025.

This two-pack collection, referred to as “Heretic+Hexen”, contains refreshed versions of two timeless first-person shooter games – “Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders” and “Hexen: Beyond Heretic”. These games were developed by Raven Software between 1994 and 1995.

Indeed, that’s correct. Prior to their work on Call of Duty series, Raven Software had been creating fast-paced shooter games akin to the legendary DOOM series for many years.

Actually, Heretic and Hexen were developed by modifying the game engine originally used for DOOM.

In the game titled “Heretic+Hexen,” players undertake grim, grand journeys to rescue the world from the wicked Serpent Riders. They annihilate the legions of darkness using an extensive collection of weapons and enchantments.

In simpler terms, Heretic and Hexen were quite similar to popular first-person shooter (FPS) games from that era, such as Duke Nukem, DOOM, and Wolfenstein 3D.

Indeed, these games introduced numerous groundbreaking mechanisms and innovative concepts that significantly transformed the genre, including intricate inventory systems, vertical shooting mechanics, and character classes.

During the 1990s, what set these games apart from others was their focus on incorporating magical elements and medieval weaponry. In these games, you could master various spells that would turn your foes into ash or opt for a sword and shield to shatter demon skulls and repel incoming assaults.

From now on, both long-time and new enthusiasts of first-person shooter (FPS) games can enjoy these groundbreaking titles. However, they will not only encounter the original content but also improved gameplay mechanics and presentation elements to make the gaming experience even more enjoyable than it was previously.

The contents of Heretic+Hexen (as stated on the Steam page) include:

  • Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders
  • Hexen: Beyond Heretic
  • Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel
  • Two all-new episodes created in collaboration between individuals at id Software + Nightdive Studios:
    • Heretic: Faith Renewed
    • Hexen: Vestiges of Grandeur
  • There are a total of 117 campaign maps and 120 deathmatch maps in Heretic + Hexen.

Besides the initial games, additional campaign episodes are being created for each title, with id Software and Nightdive Studios taking on the development duties.

Moreover, the classic DOS editions of Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders, as well as Hexen: Beyond Heretic and Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel, are all part of the Steam release too.

The remastered enhancements for Heretic+Hexen include:

  • Online cross-platform deathmatch and co-op for up to 16 players.
  • Local split-screen deathmatch and co-op for up to 8 players.
  • Toggleable, enhanced Tome of Power soundtrack by Andrew Hulshult (the composer for DOOM: Eternal’s DLC expansion soundtracks and DOOM: The Dark Ages’ soundtrack).
  • Community-published mod support with an in-game mod browser.
  • Improved performance with multithreaded rendering supporting up to 4K resolution and 120 FPS.
  • A Vault section containing concept art and unused sprites from the development of the original games.
  • Accessibility options, such as updated UI, improved legibility, contrast and screen. FX adjustments, and text-to-speech features.
  • Modern controller support.
    • Weapon carousel for faster weapon switching.
  • Game balance toggle (original/enhanced).
  • Quick Save/Load support.
  • Widescreen support.
  • Many engine fixes for bugs present in original versions.
  • Translated into 12 new languages: French, Italian, German, Spanish, LATAM Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese.

It’s time for some medieval, boomer shooter action.

It wasn’t until later that I discovered Heretic and Hexen, as they were released when I was still a kid, deeply engrossed in games like Sonic the Hedgehog, Gunstar Heroes, Streets of Rage, and other SEGA Genesis classics instead.

As an adult, I find myself appreciating classic, intense action games such as DOOM (2016) and Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun. I also enjoy cooperative shooters that are packed with excitement like Borderlands and Warhammer 40,000: Darktide.

I can’t wait to try out Heretic and Hexen to catch up on what I’ve been missing, and see if they still stand among the top classic shooter games for Xbox and PC today.

You can buy Heretic: Hexen on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, as well as PC (through Windows and Steam). This game is compatible with Xbox Play Anywhere, enabling you to carry over the progress in your saved game across all mentioned platforms.

This game is additionally included in the extensive collection of games that can be downloaded for free by users who have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.

For non-subscribers, CDKeys is currently offering an exclusive promotion: You can get a full month of subscription for just $12.04, which is significantly less than the regular price of $19.99.

By subscribing to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you can take advantage of an array of high-end premium features, including the ability to download numerous games for free, access to exclusive perks, multiplayer gaming online, cloud gaming from Xbox, and much more – all at an exceptionally affordable price.

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2025-08-08 00:40