Hexen spiritual successor Graven announced by 3D Realms

3D Realms reveals a brand new FPSS (first-person sorcery shooter) during its Realms Deep 2020 event, and it's a homage to the old-school classic Hexen.

Introducing Graven, a new shooter based on the little-known PC cult classic Hexen. The game is a brutal delve into a dark fantasy world inspired by Hexen, complete with over-the-top spellcasting action, nasty monsters, puzzles, and retro-style visuals and textures.

Danish studio Slipgate Ironworks, who worked on other 3D Realms publisher games like Kingpin Reloaded, Ghostrunner, and Wrath: Aeon of Ruin, is developing Graven.

Graven is coming to all consoles and PC in 2021, including next-gen consoles, and will have frenetic four-player local and online multiplayer at launch/

Revealed at Realms Deep 2020, GRAVEN delves into a gruesome medieval world of deities and monstrosities as a disgraced Priest of the Orthogonal Order. When a heretical member of the Order sacrifices the Priest's adoptive daughter, the Priest lethally retaliates in a bout of righteous fury. Tried and found guilty by his brothers and now exiled to the burning sands, he closes his eyes for one last prayer, for peace. The Creator speaks to him directly: "You will have to earn your peace."

Heed the Creator by hunting down the foul heretical sects responsible for conjuring plagues and twisting the natural order of the seasons. Blending action, exploration, and puzzle-solving, GRAVEN takes cues from classic shooters, immersive sims, and action RPGs alike. Journey across three expansive, open-ended regions, and scour the lands to purge evil.

Carefully observe a reactive world to find the way: with a journal, the player drives the exploration instead of following waypoints. Listen to townsfolks' woes and slay the monsters responsible for their torment. Banish over thirty distinct enemies from plagued madmen to swamp beasts with powerful sorceries such as wild blasts of lightning and scorching rays of flame. Solve environmental puzzles with those same powers, altering the world with spells.

Wield destructive conventional weaponry, including magic staves and wrist-mounted crossbows. Find hidden gold to upgrade weapons and spells at blacksmiths and alchemists. Return to previously-plundered areas with new abilities to uncover secrets and entirely new areas. With more than 30 weapons and spells, GRAVEN encourages experimentation. Play solo, with one friend in split-screen co-op, or even in a party of four online for complete arcane chaos.