Play Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel Online

Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel came out in 1996 as an expansion to the original Hexen, published by id Software and developed by Raven Software. It was part of that wave of mid-90s MS-DOS games that pushed the Build engine into darker, more puzzle-heavy territory. If you played the first Hexen, this feels like a direct continuation, just with more levels and a steeper challenge.

You choose one of three character classes—fighter, cleric, or mage—each with unique weapons and magic. Your goal is to navigate through interconnected hubs, flipping switches, finding keys, and battling monsters like ettins and dark bishops. The levels are mazelike and demand careful observation; you often backtrack through previously cleared areas to access new paths. Combat is methodical, relying on timing and positioning rather than pure speed. It’s a slow, thoughtful crawl through oppressive architecture, and finishing a level brings a real sense of relief.

Each game uses different controls, most DOS games use the keyboard arrows. Some will use the mouse , "Alt" ,"Enter" and "Space bar".