The Hex

About The Hex

The Hex is a narrative-driven indie mystery game by Daniel Mullins Games, released October 16, 2018, on PC, Mac, and Linux. Set in a dilapidated inn during a storm, it follows six video game protagonists trapped in a murder mystery. Each character’s backstory unfolds through genre-specific flashbacks, blending FPS, platforming, and more. The game thrives on meta-humor and surreal twists, as players piece together clues to uncover the killer. With a focus on storytelling and genre experimentation, it’s a short but polarizing experience. Best described as a campy, self-aware murder mystery that leans into gaming tropes.

Gameplay

The core loop involves exploring the inn, interacting with NPCs, and triggering flashbacks that shift between genres. Each flashback locks you into a mini-game mirroring the character’s original style, shooting, jumping, or fighting, often with intentionally clunky mechanics. Puzzle-solving here is minimal, relying more on observation than action. Players spend most sessions clicking to navigate the inn, examining items, and piecing together fragmented narratives. The game’s length is around 3-5 hours, with little incentive to revisit flashbacks post-solution. Controls are basic, with a point-and-click interface. The disjointed genre shifts and abrupt transitions between humor and horror define its chaotic charm.

What Players Think

Community reception is mixed, with an IGDB score of 75.5 (30 ratings). Achievement data shows a 23.6% average unlock rate, with the rarest “Heheh” at 5.9%. Many players appreciate the meta humor and bold genre parody, while others criticize its underdeveloped gameplay and abrupt tone shifts. Reviews highlight the game’s “darker secrets” but note it feels like an unfinished prototype. Fans praise its creativity, with one calling it “a madcap experiment that works,” while detractors argue it’s “too reliant on inside jokes.” The 28 achievements mostly reward exploration and completion, but completionists report uneven difficulty, especially for hidden tasks.

PlayPile's Take

The Hex is a niche pick for fans of meta-narratives and experimental indie games. At its base price (often around $10-15), it’s a low-stakes curiosity. The 23.6% average achievement rate suggests most players won’t finish, but the 5.9% unlock for “Heheh” hints at rewarding secrets for dedicated sleuths. It’s best approached as a quirky, short story rather than a polished mystery. Skip it if you crave depth or cohesive gameplay, but try it for its bold, campy self-awareness. Not essential, but a memorable experiment in genre satire.

Storyline

There are six patrons; all of them are video game protagonists trying to escape their past... But The Six Pint Inn has a way of bringing back old memories. Each flashback plays out in an entirely different genre, sometimes blending multiple. By exploring these memories you may discover the identity of the murderer... or you may learn much darker secrets.