Can I play Heretic online for free?

Yes — you can play Heretic right here in your browser for free, with no installation and no plugins, on both desktop and mobile.

What platform does Heretic run on?

Heretic is a MS-DOS / PC game from 1994.

Heretic was developed by id Software.

Does Heretic have multiplayer?

Yes — you can play Heretic online with a friend straight in the browser. Start a game and share the link.

Are there cheats for Heretic?

Yes, you'll find cheats and codes for Heretic in the Cheats section on this page.

How do I save my progress in Heretic?

Save inside the game itself — via its own menu, or F2/F3. And if you log in (free), your position is also stored in the cloud, so you can continue on another computer or phone.

Is it legal to play Heretic online here?

You play it in your browser via an emulator. For how we handle abandonware and copyright, see our "Is it legal?" page.

How do I control Heretic?

The controls are in the Controls section on this page. The keyboard is usually all you need — arrow keys to move and Ctrl, Alt or Space for actions.

Can I play Heretic on mobile?

Yes — it runs right in your browser on phones and tablets too. Just tap Play, nothing to install.

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Heretic

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4/5 (4)

Log in and save your positions — continue on another computer or phone. Free.

Arrows/mouse move & aim · Ctrl fire · Space use · Enter/Space start/select · Esc menu

Default keys for this game (First-person shooter):

Escmenu / pause

Tab

Caps

Enter

Shiftrun

Ctrl

Altstrafe

spaceopen door / use

Alt

↑

←

↓

→

move

Left click — fire

Right click — secondary fire

Mouse movement = aiming · click the game to lock the cursor

More: 1–8 select weapon

Esc = in-game menu · save F2, load F3.

Emulator: DOSBox (js-dos)

Live chat — Heretic

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live chat chat about this game right now — be nice

No messages yet. Say hi!

1994 · Action · id Software · MS-DOS / PC

Game info_□✕

About Heretic

Heretic arrived in late 1994 as one of the first serious attempts to take the Doom engine somewhere new. Built by Raven Software and published by id Software, it swapped the sci-fi military corridors of Doom for a dark fantasy world of gothic castles, crypts and swampy ruins. You play the elf Corvus, hunting down the Serpent Riders across the land of Parthoris, trading the shotgun and chaingun for an elvish wand, a crossbow-like ethereal bow, a dragon claw and a fearsome Firemace.

Technically it ran on an enhanced version of the Doom engine, and the additions mattered: you could finally look up and down, and fly. The other headline feature was the inventory system. Instead of grabbing power-ups on the spot, Heretic let you stockpile items like the Tome of Power, which temporarily supercharged every weapon into a nastier alternate form, plus healing flasks, a Morph Ovum that turned enemies into chickens, and time bombs. That layer of resource management gave it a distinct rhythm compared to Doom's constant forward charge.

Atmosphere is where Heretic still earns its keep. The medieval sound design, the wind-swept levels and touches like leaves and dust drifting through the air gave it a mood that Doom never aimed for. It is undeniably a Doom clone in its bones, and some find the level design less iconic, but as a moody fantasy shooter it holds up well and paved the way directly for the superior Hexen. For fans of early id-engine shooters, it remains an essential detour.

Video

▶ Longplay Walkthrough Soundtrack Manual

Heretic cheats and codes

Reveal cheats (spoiler)

Heretic cheats are typed straight into the running game, exactly like Doom’s. Heretic also pokes fun at Doom: the old Doom codes are traps here and do the opposite of what you expect.

CodeEffectQUICKENGod modeRAMBOAll weapons and full ammoSKELAll keys in the levelPONCERestores health to maximumKITTYWalk through walls (noclip)SHAZAMTome of Power — temporarily upgrades the weapon you are holdingGIMME + letter + numberAdds artefacts to the inventory: the letter A–J picks the type, the digit 1–9 the count (e.g. GIMMEC5)ENGAGE##Warp to a chosen episode and map (ENGAGE13 = episode 1, map 3)MASSACREKills every monster in the levelRAVMAPReveals the automap; typed a second time it also shows itemsCOCKADOODLEDOOTurns you into a chicken — exactly what the enemy mages cast on youTICKERDisplays a frame counterNOISESound debug outputIDDQDA joke at Doom’s expense: instead of god mode it kills you on the spotIDKFAA joke at Doom’s expense: it takes all your weapons away

Heretic is built on its inventory — on saving the Tome of Power for the right moment and the flask for the moment you need it. GIMME and QUICKEN erase that layer completely. If you only want to see the later episodes, use ENGAGE rather than god mode.

`QUICKEN`	God mode
`RAMBO`	All weapons and ammo
`KITTY`	Walk through walls
`MASSACRE`	Kill all monsters on the level
`SKEL`	All keys

Type the code during gameplay (no menu needed).

Heretic FAQ

Can I play Heretic online for free?: Yes — you can play Heretic right here in your browser for free, with no installation and no plugins, on both desktop and mobile.
What platform does Heretic run on?: Heretic is a MS-DOS / PC game from 1994.
When was Heretic released?: Heretic was released in 1994.
Who made Heretic?: Heretic was developed by id Software.
What genre is Heretic?: Heretic falls under: Action.
Does Heretic have multiplayer?: Yes — you can play Heretic online with a friend straight in the browser. Start a game and share the link.
Are there cheats for Heretic?: Yes, you'll find cheats and codes for Heretic in the Cheats section on this page.
How do I save my progress in Heretic?: Save inside the game itself — via its own menu, or F2/F3. And if you log in (free), your position is also stored in the cloud, so you can continue on another computer or phone.
Is it legal to play Heretic online here?: You play it in your browser via an emulator. For how we handle abandonware and copyright, see our "Is it legal?" page.
How do I control Heretic?: The controls are in the Controls section on this page. The keyboard is usually all you need — arrow keys to move and Ctrl, Alt or Space for actions.
Can I play Heretic on mobile?: Yes — it runs right in your browser on phones and tablets too. Just tap Play, nothing to install.