Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders

1994 Raven Software Action

Windows 11Runs

MacNot sold

LinuxPlatinum

Steam DeckUnsupported

Gamicality score

Metacritic Not rated

OpenCritic Not rated

Steam players 891

How it’s combined

Playability today

4.5

Runs today4/5

Design today4.5/5

Steam user reviews

Very Positive

94%

1,135 reviews1

Facts checked November 1, 2026

Does Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders run on Windows 11, Apple Silicon Macs, Linux and Steam Deck?

Windows 11Runs

Sold for Windows today, no problem on record.1

Mac (Apple Silicon)Not sold

No Mac version is sold.

LinuxPlatinum

Through Proton. ProtonDB: Platinum, runs perfectly out of the box.3

Steam DeckUnsupported

Unsupported, as rated by Valve.1

Played Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders lately?

One click, no account, so the next player knows. How we check where it runs

Synopsis

Heretic is a dark fantasy first-person shooter built on the Doom engine, in which the elf Corvus fights through castles, dungeons and cities held by the Serpent Riders. Players blast undead and gargoyles with magic staffs, crossbows and wands, collect an inventory of usable artifacts, and hunt for keys and secrets across five episodes in this edition.

Developer: Raven Software
Released: 1994
Best version: Play Heretic + Hexen (2025) by Nightdive, which is free for owners of the original on Steam and adds widescreen, modern controller support and higher frame rates.
Genre: Action

Reception

Heretic took the Doom formula into sword and sorcery and added an inventory of usable items. Steam players still praise its varied weapons, usable artifacts and intricate levels full of secrets. Recent reviews criticize key hunts that hinge on hidden wall switches and call the sound design thin. The original Steam package was delisted in August 2025, and owners received the 2025 Heretic + Hexen remaster for free, which is now the version to buy.

Playability today

The average of two parts, each from 1 to 5. Tap a check to see why. How it works

Runs today

4/5

?Not confirmed yetSold or given away today by an official source
No source covers the current version yet, so this check counts as open, not passed. Played it lately? Tell us
Runs on Windows 11 without fan patches
?Not confirmed yetSingle-player works without an internet connection
No source covers the current version yet, so this check counts as open, not passed. Played it lately? Tell us
Some content no longer works (servers, DLC, unlocks)
The original package was delisted from Steam on August 8, 2025; the free Heretic + Hexen upgrade keeps all episodes and restores online, LAN and local multiplayer with crossplay (PCGamingWiki).
Supports modern resolutions and widescreen
The remaster supports widescreen and ultrawide, while the original only reaches widescreen through source ports (PCGamingWiki).
Full controller support or remappable controls
The remaster has full controller support with remapping and Xbox button prompts (PCGamingWiki).
Not Steam Deck Verified or Playable
?Not confirmed yetNo intrusive DRM or required third-party launcher account
No source covers the current version yet, so this check counts as open, not passed. Played it lately? Tell us
No pay-to-win or pushy microtransactions
No known game-breaking bugs in the current version
PCGamingWiki lists no open issues for the remaster, and the one lag issue in the old DOSBox package has a simple config fix (PCGamingWiki).

Design today

4.5/5

Controls feel natural on a modern controller or mouse and keyboard
The remaster offers full controller support with remapping, sensitivity and inverted Y options, alongside fully remappable keys and mouse controls. Source: pcgamingwiki.com.
Menus, text and interface are clear on today's screens
The remaster renders in widescreen, ultrawide and 4K with an adjustable field of view and windowed modes, so menus and the status bar fit modern screens. Source: pcgamingwiki.com.
Saving is fair: free saves or frequent checkpoints, little lost progress
In single player, saves can be made at any moment from the menu or with the F5 quick save key and sync through Steam Cloud; co-op sessions in the remaster cannot be saved at all. Source: pcgamingwiki.com, steamcommunity.com, steamcommunity.com.
Hard to make progress without a guide
There is no tutorial, and players report getting stuck on key hunts where the way forward is a hidden switch in a plain wall. Source: steamcommunity.com, steamcommunity.com.
Pacing holds up: little grind, filler or forced backtracking
Levels are short, self-contained runs with no grinding, and players praise their pace and steady flow of new weapons and enemies. Source: steamcommunity.com.
Camera and movement never fight the player
Movement is fast and responsive in first person, and the remaster runs at up to 120 fps with an adjustable field of view. Source: pcgamingwiki.com.