Quick Review: The Hex

Somewhere between the groundbreaking Pony Island and the still massively popular Inscryption, there was…

Someone among all of these shady characters
 is planning murder? No way!

The Hex, a creation of Daniel Mullins Games (quickly becoming a big name in inventive, subversive and genre-busting indie gaming) released on October 16th, 2018, tells the tale of a murder mystery. In a world of video games, six characters from different genres have met up at the Six Pint tavern, and become suspects when an upcoming murder is announced to the bartender. It is only by unraveling each one’s mysterious past that we get answers to these questions – and that involves playing each one’s home game.

A far cry from the grassy lands and happy clouds of the
first. Super Weasel Kid has hit his edgy phase.

Or, rather, the circumstances of each one’s own rise and fall. Starting with the platforming Super Weasel Kid, moving on with Bryce the cooking fighting game character, continuing with Chandrelle the RPG witch… And yes, this actually means going through the game they starred in, meaning we jump from a genre to the next. Meanwhile, scenes at the Six Pint Inn have more of a point-and-click feel to them. Not so much of a puzzle feel there, as it serves mostly as a way to connect the stories of these six characters together, but at least we get to see these six interact. Turns out, some of them already do know each other, in spite of the very different worlds they’re from…

Now if Bryce's opponents stopped falling asleep
mid-fight, maybe this would be a fair competition.

Honestly, there’s so much more that could be said about this game, but much like the other titles by Daniel Mullins Games, it’s an experience that’s better saying the least about. The studio is known for its subversive horror-themed games laden with metacommentary, and this one is no exception. Hell, just saying that, I’ve probably said too much. Best I can say is, if you’re familiar with the studio’s other titles, you know what to expect. The six games we go through are not particularly deep, nor are they meant to be, but they work as intended for the story we’re shown… if that makes any sense.

....what? "Hell Storm" and "Blood Pact" are perfectly valid
attacks for an RPG protagonist! What are you talking about?

Let's crush some raiders! ...Er, I think. Sorry, thirty
minutes earlier we were playing a whole other genre.

That said, if you’re hoping for a story where you can change things, well… since we play the games in flashback form, the end results are unchangeable. You’re in for the ride, trying out each segment, but don’t go hoping there’s any way to make things “right”. The game employs some pretty basic techniques to force the results on you, whether you’d like it or not, and there’s very little leeway in your actions. It’s kind of annoying in that way. Especially as the game tricks you with alternate options, only to snatch them away last second. It’s a very manipulative form of video game story-writing, but one that’s à propos with the themes at play here. On the plus side, it’s actually pretty cool that all six games use the exact same controls, namely WASD for movement and Left-click for interaction.

And things are only going to get weirder and weirder.
Each character's got hella baggage, too.

Good game? Yes. Dammit, do I hate having to be so vague when describing a game in a Quick Review, but really, it’s the best I could do. If you already liked the other works by that studio but haven’t checked this one out yet, then, by all means, do! And if it would be your first Daniel Mullins Games… er… game, then it’s gonna be a good introduction to their peculiar way of making games and telling stories.

The Hex is available on Steam for 9.99$ USD.