Heretic
Heretic is a 1994 first-person shooter developed by Raven Software in collaboration with id Software. Built on the Doom engine, it trades science fiction for dark fantasy, casting the player as Corvus, one of the elvish Sidhe, who wages a lone war against D'Sparil, the youngest of the three Serpent Riders, after his people are cursed and slaughtered.
The game expanded on the Doom formula with a genuine inventory system, allowing players to collect and use items such as healing flasks, the map-revealing Tome of Power, which also temporarily supercharged each weapon, and time-bombs. It also added the ability to look up and down and to fly, giving its levels greater verticality. Its fantasy weaponry, from an elven wand to the Firemace and Phoenix Rod, gave the familiar action a fresh flavor that helped it stand out among early shooters.
Heretic remains available through digital storefronts, and modern source ports keep its fantasy gunplay playable on contemporary hardware.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Heretic, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
Hands of Necromancy Indie
€ 4,99A fantasy retro shooter of shapeshifting and secret hunting, built in the Heretic mould.
Hands of Necromancy runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Untested.
DUSK Indie
€ 19,99A blistering retro shooter blending Quake-era combat with cosmic horror.
DUSK runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Verified.
Graven Indie
€ 24,99A dark-fantasy first-person adventure and spiritual successor to Hexen and Heretic.
Graven runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Playable.
Witchfire
€ 39,99A dark fantasy shooter with weighty flintlock weaponry and spellcasting, modern but grim.
Witchfire runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, Switch. It is Steam Deck Verified.
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