Super Hexagon Review Summary

An excellent chiptune soundtrack and simple yet addictive and deep gameplay are offset by brutal difficulty from the start, rage-inducing frustration, and dizzying, punishing final levels.

Excellent Chiptune Soundtrack: The soundtrack, often described as chiptune, is praised for fitting the game perfectly and being addictive, catchy, and memorable. It plays a crucial role in the game's identity.

Challenging but Fair Difficulty: The game is frequently described as challenging and difficult to master, yet remains enjoyable and rewarding. This balance appeals to players seeking a tough but fair experience.

Extremely Addictive Gameplay: Players consistently describe the game as addictive, fun, and hard to put down, often losing track of time. The gameplay loop keeps players engaged and wanting to play just one more round.

Simple Concept, Deep Gameplay: The game is built around a simple concept that becomes surprisingly challenging and deep. Its easy-to-learn, hard-to-master nature makes it accessible yet engaging.

Great Time Killer: Players find the game an excellent way to pass time, often losing hours without noticing. It is described as a great time killer and immersive.

Frequent frustration and rage: The game's difficulty and repeated failures lead to intense frustration, anger, and even physical outbursts. Players often describe throwing controllers, punching pillows, or quitting in rage.

Brutally high difficulty from start: Many players report the game is extremely hard right from the first level, with no easing in. Surviving even the easiest stage for a minute is a struggle for most.

Final levels are punishing: The last few levels, especially Hexagonest and its hyper variant, are extremely difficult and cause repeated struggles. Many players cannot complete them.

Dizzying and nauseating visuals: The spinning, flashing, and rotating visual effects cause dizziness, headaches, and nausea for many players. Some report epileptic-like reactions and vertigo.

Unfair trial-and-error gameplay: The game relies heavily on memorization and trial-and-error, with random segments sometimes placing two difficult parts back-to-back. Many feel the difficulty is unfair rather than skill-based.

Game features six levels: The game includes six levels in total, with three available from the start and three that must be unlocked. These levels are played across different difficulties, and each level can be completed.

Specific level names and final stage: Levels have distinct names such as Hexagon, Hexagoner, Hexagonest, and their hyper variants, with Hyper Hexagonest serving as the final level. The progression goes from Hard to Hardestestest.

Fast-paced obstacle avoidance gameplay: The core gameplay involves dodging incoming obstacles that appear with varying speeds and directions. Players must rely on precise timing and quick reflexes to survive.

Survive 60 seconds to unlock hyper: Surviving for 60 seconds on any of the three basic stages unlocks the Hyper version of that stage. All three stages must be beaten to unlock hypermode.

Player controls a small triangle: The player controls a small triangle that can only move left and right around a central point. This simple control scheme is used to navigate the obstacles.

Strong overall performance across platforms: The game runs smoothly on a wide range of hardware, from modern PCs to low-end machines and laptops. Many users report surprisingly good optimization without significant issues.

Excellent Linux compatibility: Multiple reviews confirm the game works well and runs great on Linux. This suggests solid cross-platform support for Linux users.

Frame rate capped on PC: On PC the game appears locked to 60 FPS, which limits higher refresh rate displays. This is a common observation among players.

Phone version smoother than PC: Some users note that the game feels smoother on phone, where the frame rate can reach up to 120 FPS. This may indicate better optimization or higher frame caps on mobile.

Borderless fullscreen supported: The game offers a borderless fullscreen mode, which is useful for multi-tasking. However, some users experience hanging when switching with Alt+Tab.

Extremely challenging, for masochists: Many reviewers emphasize that the game is brutally difficult and only suitable for players who seek extreme challenges and can handle intense frustration. It is recommended for those who enjoy overcoming seemingly impossible obstacles.

Highly recommended overall: Many reviewers give strong, unconditional recommendations, often calling it a must-have or expressing that they cannot recommend it enough. The game is widely praised as an excellent experience.

Worth the price: Reviewers consistently state that the game is worth the money, often noting it is cheap and offers great value. Some mention it is worth buying even at full price.

Great for reflex training: The game is praised for improving reflexes, pattern detection, and muscle memory. It is ideal for players looking to test and hone their reaction times.

Great for rhythm game fans: Fans of rhythm games and fast-paced arcade action will find a lot to love here. It is particularly recommended for those who enjoy difficulty in their rhythm games.

Community fair range: $2.00 - $5.00.

Game completion: 19.0h.

Session length: 0.5h.

Endgame: 300.0h.

Super Hexagon is praised as addictive and simple to pick up, but many reports describe the early stages as very hard and frustrating; enjoyment often arrives once the patterns click and players push through the initial challenge.

Friction: First stage is very challenging at first; Very hard right from the start and can get worse; Frustrating difficulty; Controls can feel imprecise or like cold butter; Only six stages with repetitive paths and no elaborate progression systems.

Unlock drivers: Once the controls and patterns click, play feels like a rush; Continued play makes the game better; Transition from panic to calm focus; Improving through practice despite simple controls.

Hardcore Completionist Masochist: Repeated high-intensity runs, achievement grinding, ragequits, and self-imposed challenge runs. Motivation: To conquer the game's brutal difficulty and complete every achievement. Stance: buy.

Rhythm and Soundtrack Devotee: Short, intense arcade runs focused on music, flow, and neon visuals. Motivation: To experience the fast-paced rhythm and memorable soundtrack. Stance: buy.

Overwhelmed Casual Rhythm Seeker: Occasional low-commitment attempts, likely to stop after repeated failures. Motivation: Casual short-session arcade rhythm fun and music. Stance: deep sale.

Both Windows hardware cohorts report positive performance, with smooth operation and no major technical problems. The only notable caveat is an apparent 60fps cap in the 12-15GB VRAM cohort.

Windows <8GB VRAM: positive. Reports zero performance issues and smooth operation, including on Linux.

Windows 12-15GB VRAM: positive. Runs smoothly, though the frame rate appears to be locked at 60fps.

Steam Deck: The analyzed feedback shows Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic running reliably on Steam Deck and Linux, aided by a 2022 compatibility update, with no reports of external launchers, Proton Experimental toggling, crashes, unreadable text, battery complaints, or anti-cheat errors. The only notable friction is imprecise controls on the Steam Deck hardware, which is a usability/gameplay observation rather than a technical barrier. Overall the game appears to be a native, seamless experience.

Linux and Proton: The provided reviews contain only positive Linux and Steam Deck compatibility signals. Users report the game runs great on Linux, including Ubuntu 16.04 with integrated Intel graphics, and a 2022 update improved Steam Deck compatibility with good performance. No launch failures, Proton tweaks, anti-cheat/DRM blockers, or Linux-specific crashes are mentioned.

Comparison to other indie games: The game is frequently compared to other indie titles like OSU!, Geometry Dash, Super Hexagon, and VVVVVV. It is considered a classic of the genre.

Extremely cheap price point: Multiple reviewers highlight the game's very low price, often available for as little as a dollar or even 30 cents during sales. This low cost is frequently mentioned as a key factor in making the game an easy purchase.

Very short game length: Reviewers note that the game is short, with a minimal completion time of around 6 minutes and only six levels. However, mastering it can take many hours.

Available on multiple platforms: The game is available on mobile (iOS, Android), PC, Steam, Linux, and iPad, and can also be played on Steam Deck. This broad availability is appreciated by players.

Created by Terry Cavanagh: The game is developed by Terry Cavanagh, known for creating VVVVVV. Many reviewers mention his name and reputation as a reason for trying the game.