Hexen Fans Should Play This… | Nostalgia Nerd
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 –
🏆 Support 🏆
Support my channel, get exclusive videos & perks, as well as an ad and sponsor free experience at https://www.patreon.com/nostalgianerd from just $1
🏪 NN Shop & Affiliate Links! 🏪
My eBay Shop: https://nnerd.es/NerdShop (Now Re-open!)
My Retro Tech book: http://nnerd.me/HVFtSB (2nd edition is out!)
Desk Shelves for Retro Computers: http://nnerd.me/RetroShelves (Because you’re worth it)
🍻 Share/Like 🍻
If you wish to share this video in forums, social media, on your website, or ANYWHERE else, please do so! It helps tremendously with the channel! Also, giving a thumb up or down also helps with visibility on Youtube. Many thanks!
📟 Subcribe 📟
Click to Subscribe: https://nnerd.es/2K4TYvX
📱 Join me on Social Media 📱
🐥 http://www.twitter.com/nostalnerd
🎮 http://www.twitch.tv/nostalgianerd
👱🏼📘 http://www.facebook.com/nostalnerd
📸 http://www.instagram.com/nostalgianerd
🌍 http://www.nostalgianerd.com
🎥 Equipment 🎥
Panasonic Lumix G5
Rode NT-1 Mic
Corel Video Studio Ultimate 2020
Corel Paint Shop Pro 2020
📜 Resources 📜
In video links and references are provided where possible. If you believe I have forgotten to attribute anything, please let me know (drop me an email via. the about page on Youtube or send me a tweet), so I can add it here. Apologies if I have missed anything out, it takes time to make these videos and therefore it can be easy to forget things or make a mistake.
Errors and omissions excepted.
Some material in this video may be used under Fair Dealing / Fair Use. Where under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 (UK: Sections 29 and 30 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988), allowance is made for purposes including parody, quotation, criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, education and research. Fair Dealing / Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
@Janusz-ze5sh
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Boooooooolring game
@chloedevereaux1801
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
fletchent???? is prounounced flesh – ay….
@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.
@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…
@kasenrin3
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
This looks like a game I'd enjoy, except that I have absolutely no sense of direction and I'd never finish the game cuz I'd get lost. 😂
@SevenDeMagnus
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Cool game
@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
@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.
@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.
@SilvesterBoots
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Graven, Boltgun, Ion Fury. Thank devs for these. I would say though, that magic in Graven could be reworked.
@arandomkaz
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
i would add Ziggurat as another similar vibe, even tho it's Roguelike.
@tylerd4884
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
civvie hates this game
@alexnovich3267
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
I hopefully that one day i can see some game like doom 2016 but in heretic/hexen decorations with rpg elements.
@tlniec
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
No Wraithverge? Forget it!
@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.
@anon.41014
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Amid Evil is a much better sequel to Hexen than your sponsored suggestion of Graven.
@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?"
@skagerstrom
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Haha! The guy in the boat sounded just like Moped in Adventure Is Nigh (Second Wind)! 😀
@aiodensghost
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
So glad to finally find this video whilst having Hexen in my N64
@bigdeagle1331
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Reminds me of “pain killer “ 2004!
@Rastloese
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Graven has tons of atmosphere. Got me immersed.
@anthonymaddaford8474
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Do you really upload one vid every two months and still have the gall to have a monthly patreon?
Don’t worry. It’s a rhetorical question.
@_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
@blacksunshine7485
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Foul heretical sects is exactly what I'm into. But sounds like the game needs some kind of objective marker to guide you
@AStartoSteerBy
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Graphically it looks like Dishonoured meets Kingdom of Amalur….
@anon_y_mousse
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
I completely agree with your stance on stamina systems. It's a video game, and it's an annoying anti-feature that never should've become popular.
@fensoxx
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Sold. Once my buddy and I finish BG3 this looks great for or next coop romp.
@FatswellSmart
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
god i hope they eventually release it in vr
@MonochromeWench
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
A game in 2024 can't get ladders right? WTF?. Hexen 2 had ladders and they work well enough so just copy what it did. Really going up ladders was a solved thing in the 90s
@AllboroLCD
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
I find myself enjoying these type games much more than AAA titles over the past few years. Amid Evil, Dusk, Ion Fury, all gems to me!
@Robswift69
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
I owned Hexen about 25 years ago and actually preferred it over Doom.
@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.
@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.
@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.
@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?!
@gamesyouloved
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
had no idea about this game! great to see it in action – on the wishlist for sure!
@nneeerrrd
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
What a bs. Shameless ad.
If it needs a 30 min to explain – there's no gameplay
@MM.
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Orthogonal to what?
@cellariusmack2595
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Nobody ever talks about Heretic 2.
And I’m not about to start.
@Chris-yc3mm
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Dark missiah of might and magic 👍
@f.andersen3824
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
The title on the thumbnail reads "GRAUEN" to me, which means horror in German. 😂
@solaufein1374
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Atmosphere reminds me Mordheim
@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!
@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
@Bassquake76
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Looks like it uses Unreal Engine 4 so can use UEVR!!
@geofftottenperthcoys9944
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Was not a big fan of Hexen 2.
@WhatHoSnorkers
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Lovely review sir.
@AdamsWorlds
February 22, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Looks like the perfect type of gaming for a rainy day on a handheld.
Comments are closed.