Heretic + Hexen Switch Review: Nightdive’s Remaster Sets a New Standard for Classic FPS on Nintendo Switch

Nightdive Studios continues to affirm its reputation for exemplary remastering with the launch of Heretic + Hexen on Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and other modern platforms.

This comprehensive release, which debuted as a shadow drop during QuakeCon 2025—coinciding with Nintendo’s Indie World Showcase—revives two of first-person shooter history’s most influential titles.

Long cherished by retro FPS enthusiasts, Heretic (1994) and Hexen (1995) both saw significant technical and design innovations, and Nightdive’s treatment ensures new generations can experience them at their best. The digital release arrived just hours after anticipation peaked, with marketplace listings for Heretic and Hexen suddenly removed from GOG.

Shortly thereafter, Nightdive Studios officially unveiled and launched the Heretic + Hexen collection on Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, allowing both newcomers and long-time fans to revisit these classics with modern enhancements. This definitive edition is more than a basic port.

The compilation includes Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders, Hexen, and Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel, as well as two entirely new episodes—Heretic: Faith Renewed and Hexen: Vestiges of Grandeur—developed especially for this release.

These additional campaigns blend classic level design with contemporary sensibilities, and offer significant replay value.

According to Nightdive Studios, the new episodes are designed to "feel like authentic extensions of the originals," integrating community feedback and decades of design insight. Nightdive’s signature improvements go beyond content.

Visual fidelity receives a substantial boost, with resolution scaling to support modern displays, up to 1080p docked on Switch.

Controls are optimized for the platform with robust gyro support and HD Rumble, while cross-platform multiplayer enables players across Switch, Xbox, and PC to unite seamlessly.

Players can toggle enhancements on and off, enabling either a pure retro mode or an upgraded experience with quality-of-life features including less opaque progression, rebalanced items and weapons, and refined enemy behaviors. Load times on Nintendo Switch 2 are notably faster than on the original Switch hardware, trimming startup and in-game transition speeds.

Nightdive’s focus on accessibility also extends to audio, offering both the original and an all-new remixed soundtrack by acclaimed composer Andrew Hulshult.

His modern reinterpretation captures the eerie atmosphere of the classics while introducing a fresh, high-fidelity edge.

The soundtrack includes memorable tracks such as “The Dungeons” and “The Graveyard,” which blend seamlessly with the original’s mood. However, the Switch platform exhibits some limitations.

Mod support is restricted to a curated selection, unlike PC, Xbox, and PlayStation versions that support broader community-created content.

Additionally, while the collection provides a Raven Vault with artwork and sprite designs, it lacks the expanded museum content seen in some of Nightdive’s other remasters. Despite these minor drawbacks, Heretic + Hexen stands out as a landmark re-release.

Nightdive Studios honors id Software and Raven Software’s original vision while bringing meaningful enhancements for today’s hardware.

The package upholds historical authenticity and delivers playability rarely matched in FPS remasters.

For fans of classic shooters, or those seeking to discover them anew, Heretic + Hexen on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 is both a nostalgic homecoming and a first-class way to experience these foundational titles.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo Nightdive Studios Switch Xbox Series X|S Heretic Hexen