The Hex

About The Hex

The Hex arrives from Daniel Mullins Games as a quirky murder mystery set inside The Six Pint Inn. This indie title launched on October 16, 2018 for PC, Linux, and Mac. You play as a detective in a stormy tavern where six video game heroes gather to escape their pasts. An anonymous tip starts the chaos by claiming a murder is imminent. Each patron hides a secret history that unfolds through distinct genre flashbacks. The game treats familiar gaming tropes with a sharp, often cynical eye while you hunt for the killer among these archetypes. It feels like a love letter to retro games wrapped in a cozy mystery package that refuses to take itself too seriously.

Gameplay

Sessions focus on dialogue trees and puzzle solving rather than action. You walk around the inn talking to suspects to build profiles and unlock memories. Each memory sequence shifts genres completely, forcing you to adapt mechanics from hack-and-slash adventures to point-and-click puzzles or platforming challenges. The game often blends these styles within a single flashback to keep expectations off balance. Controls are standard mouse and keyboard inputs for moving characters and selecting options during conversations. You gather clues by examining the environment or pressing specific dialogue choices that reveal hidden details about the character's history. Progression relies on connecting dots between different genres to identify the murderer before the storm ends.

What Players Think

Players rate The Hex at 75.5 out of 100 based on thirty IGDB reviews, showing a divided reception. Community moods fluctuate between amusement and frustration depending on puzzle difficulty. Only about 23.6% of players unlock all 28 achievements, indicating high completion barriers. The rarest achievement "Heheh" remains elusive for most users with just a 5.90% unlock rate. Critics praise the writing but note the genre switching can feel disjointed during gameplay. Average playtime suggests many players finish the main story but skip side content or struggle with specific puzzles. Review snippets often mention the charm of the setting while criticizing the occasional lack of clarity in objectives. The data shows a niche audience that appreciates the meta-humor despite technical quirks.

PlayPile's Take

This game works best for people who enjoy puzzle mechanics and love deconstructing video game history. You pay a modest price to access twenty-eight achievements, though most players struggle to grab them all given the low unlock rates. The genre shifts are not for everyone since they demand constant adaptation rather than mastery of one style. Daniel Mullins Games delivers a solid mystery if you can handle the sudden tonal changes during flashbacks. Skip this title if you prefer steady gameplay loops or hate reading heavy dialogue to solve crimes. Finish the game if you want to see how many genre cliches fit into one tavern setting without feeling like a standard adventure.

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.