Raven Software created Heretic as a first-person shooter for PC in 1994, building it on a modified version of the Doom engine licensed from id Software. Sculptured Software later brought the game to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1996, with Activision handling publishing duties for the cartridge. The game separates itself from other shooters of that period by dropping players into a dark fantasy world packed with gargoyles, golems, undead warriors, and demonic creatures instead of the science fiction settings that other titles favored at the time. Players take on the role of Corvus, an elven warrior pushing through cursed cities and hellish temples to defeat the evil Disciples of D'Sparil. The fantasy setting gives Heretic a strong visual identity that sets it apart from similar games of the era. Stone castles, murky dungeons, winding caves, and twisted underground chambers make up the stages. Players explore interconnected levels, collect keys to open new areas, hunt for hidden secrets, and fight enemies using a variety of magical weapons suited to the dark medieval tone.
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Screenshots

SNES ROMs
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Specifications
| Platform | SNES ROMs |
|---|---|
| Genre | Shooting |
| Release Year | 1994 |
| Developer | Sculptured Software |
| Updated | Jun 22, 2026 |
Overview
Raven Software created Heretic as a first-person shooter for PC in 1994, building it on a modified version of the Doom engine licensed from id Software. Sculptured Software later brought the game to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1996, with Activision handling publishing duties for the cartridge. The game separates itself from other shooters of that period by dropping players into a dark fantasy world packed with gargoyles, golems, undead warriors, and demonic creatures instead of the science fiction settings that other titles favored at the time. Players take on the role of Corvus, an elven warrior pushing through cursed cities and hellish temples to defeat the evil Disciples of D'Sparil. The fantasy setting gives Heretic a strong visual identity that sets it apart from similar games of the era. Stone castles, murky dungeons, winding caves, and twisted underground chambers make up the stages. Players explore interconnected levels, collect keys to open new areas, hunt for hidden secrets, and fight enemies using a variety of magical weapons suited to the dark medieval tone.
The SNES version of Heretic includes three full episodes from the original game, giving players a substantial amount of content to work through. Each episode groups multiple levels around a shared theme, taking players from cursed city streets through dark catacombs and into coastal fortresses filled with increasingly tough enemies. Heretic carries the weapon system from the PC version but frames everything in fantasy language and imagery. Players pick up weapons like the Elvenwand, the Dragon Claw, and the Hellstaff, each firing a different type of magical projectile. Beyond weapons, the game gives players a separate inventory system for usable items they can store and activate at will, including map scrolls, quartz flasks that restore health, and the Tome of Power, which temporarily boosts every weapon into a far more destructive form. The SNES port drops the multiplayer mode from the PC release but delivers a satisfying single-player campaign for fans of the genre. Some visual detail falls short of the original PC version, but the port captures the core combat and dark fantasy tone well enough to make it worth playing.