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Hexen Fans Should Play This… | Nostalgia Nerd

Nostalgia Nerd | February 22, 2026



Thank you to sponsors Fulqrum Publishing and 3D Realms. You can get Graven at https://bit.ly/NostalgiaNerd_GRAVEN_Steam ~ Remember Hexen, Heretic, those early FPS games that brought us into a fantasy world for the first time? Well some of us couldn’t get enough of it, and I was one. Thankfully, there are some developers out there who felt the same, and so we have games like Graven ~ An FPS Boomer Shooter that is completely inspired by Hexen and those early other titles. Let’s get involved.

🔗Video Links🔗
Heretic – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7niU6A3yYeU
Hexen – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdGDn11jlQs
Hexen II – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgHq_muqeH0
Slipgate Ironworks – https://www.slipgate-ironworks.com/
3D Realms – https://3drealms.com/
Fulqrum Publishing – https://www.fulqrumpublishing.com/

Fulqrum Publishing –
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Comments

This post currently has 48 comments.

  3. @InvaderZymn

    February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm

    100% avoid for PlayStation. Game crashes and destroys your save every 20-25 minutes. You can't make any real progress. Game would be fantastic if it was playable.

  4. @moomah5929

    February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm

    The demo was better than the later Early Access versions and the final release and I'm not talking about it not having a map. So much wasted potential even though the atmosphere was there…

  7. @eskimo4130

    February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm

    Nice to see you do reviews also. (i'm new here)

    I was following this game since its initial media ads from 3d Realms, it looked really good and a game i should play. I'm so casual i don't actually play any games, just look at them, sad really. I did play the first early release which had an issue so i shelved it within 5 mins from what i remember. Then the reviews came out years later (?), to which i never bought it. Shame really. I might pick it up after this review. I'm not even sure 3d Realms are on my subscribe list anymore after this game either. hmmm

  8. @vmblast

    February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm

    It's really a good game overall.

    But the only thing I wish they didn't went with are modern controls, modern character motor. Heretic and Hexen had very oily, very fluent movement (character motor). In Graven, it's very, very stiff, like in all modern game. I don't know why they went this route, when all they wanted is to do retro rpg….well this is what's missing.

  9. @Tsinij

    February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm

    I really enjoyed the demo I played years ago, mostly due to it's style. But have heard the final version introduces questionable additions. Though most of this video seems to cover the demo area, so I'm not so sure now. Seems like the stamina is actually more forgiving now. I'm torn overall.

  15. @Datan0de

    February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm

    You had my attention at the first mention of Heretic! It's uncommon for me to actually finish a game, even when it's a game that I love, but I've completed every game and expansion in the Heretic/Hexen series with the exception of Heretic 2, and I keep the old computer I have it installed on available specifically because I still intend to finish it.

    Graven really looks like a spiritual successor to Hexen, and that's high praise. I especially love that they have a 3DFX-style mode! I'll have to give it a spin.

  17. @tychosis

    February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm

    i always like these games where you just talk to NPCs with your weapons out and at the ready. "hey bro you maybe wanna point that somewhere else?"

  23. @_The_Jim

    February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm

    i agree that the art style is really interesting.
    It loos like an older early 3d game, played on newer hardware with the resolution turned right up.
    The colours are much more colourful that most modern fps games that have a gloomy "realistic" feel to the graphics

  32. @Club_Michas

    February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm

    Sry but the Low Bitrate of your Microphone really bothers me, the Digital Artifacts are really annoying,
    Could you please check your Microphone Recording settings and change the Bitrate to at least 256 Kbit/s? For me it sounds like 48 kbit/s or lower.
    I would really appreciate this because i had to stop half through because it's impossible for me to listen to, Thanks.

  33. @sirnickity

    February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm

    I played Hexen once or twice back in the 90s, but never really spent time with it. I only recently tried it again — loading it up on an old 486 — and it's actually a pretty decent game! I think I was just kind of "over it" when it came out. 3D shooters were everywhere for a while.

  34. @hobbified

    February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm

    See, when your PR material says crap like "plagues and seasons undermining the land", that tells me that you couldn't hire a competent writer. Which means the plotting and dialogue of the game itself are pretty much guaranteed to be even more shoddy.

  35. @joncarter3761

    February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm

    I still own my physical copies of both Hexen and Heretic and love them. For some reason my Mum wouldn't let me play Doom or Quake because they were too violent but fantasy fps was fine?!

  43. @EnDungeoned

    February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm

    Starts with a ride you can't get off? -Talking to character who give you useless information? – Ladders are terrible? – Detailed interactive environment? – Never sure if you're exploring to make progress or not? This is to Half-Life what Heretic is to DooM!

  44. @tsartomato

    February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm

    >> pixel vomit

    ahhahahhahaha how about no

    hexen is a high tech release with great graphics, not this kindergarten arts and crafts made from shit and sticks and humans and hands of bigger resolution than the entire level

    stupid kids has zero artistic vision. they just watch adam sandler's pixels and think yeah games are all about pixels.

    which wasn't true by the mid 90s already. quake is 1997 halflife is 1998

Comments are closed.

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