Deal | Hidden gem: Old-school RPG drops around $1 on Steam for the first time

Anyone who remembers what action RPGs looked like before seasons, battle passes and microtransactions may get a dose of nostalgia from this classic. Hexplore is a classic RPG from 1998. The game also arrived on Steam in 2020, albeit without any graphical or gameplay improvements. For fans of old-school RPGs, however, Hexplore may still be worth a look – especially now that an 85% discount has dropped the game around $1 for the first time, according to SteamDB. More specifically, the RPG is currently available for $1.04 instead of $6.99.

The adventure takes place in a medieval fantasy world around the year 1000. Players take on the role of MacBride, a Scottish adventurer who, while on his way to the Crusades, becomes caught up in the fight against the black magician Garkham. With the help of the Book of Hexplore, Garkham intends to find the Garden of Eden and the divine power hidden within it. The game is played from an isometric perspective with a party of up to four heroes. Across more than 200 maps, players fight monsters, collect equipment, solve smaller puzzles and uncover hidden paths. The party system offers a fair amount of tactical flexibility through the combination of an adventurer, warrior, archer and magician.

Hexplore has been well received on Steam, with 90% of its 51 reviews so far being positive. Some players even describe Hexplore as a “hidden gem.” Given the small number of reviews, however, this result should not be overinterpreted. GameSpot awarded the game just 6.9 out of 10 in its review back in 2000. While the tactical combat was well received, the reviewers criticized the graphics, which were considered rather weak even by the standards of the time, the lack of RPG depth and the repetitive loop of exploring, fighting and searching for keys. Steam Deck compatibility is listed as “Unknown.” According to user reports on ProtonDB, however, the old-school RPG should be playable on Valve's handheld.

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