HexCrest vs Hexanaut: two hex territory games compared
Short answer: Both are 3D hex territory games you can play in a browser. Hexanaut.io is real-time multiplayer with totems, PRO items and a King race. HexCrest uses computer rivals and builds a village on your land, with towers, windmills and castles, plus a Daily Island, a 30-island campaign and no ads.
Hexanaut.io and HexCrest both put the classic loop-and-claim rule on hexagon tiles in 3D. After that they go in different directions.
| Hexanaut.io | HexCrest | |
|---|---|---|
| Rivals | Live players, up to 45 per server | 9 computer rivals |
| Win condition | Hold 20% to become King, then survive the countdown | Most land when the 3-minute round ends |
| Extras on the map | Totems and PRO items | Towers, windmills, castles, grown from your land |
| Terrain types | — | Roads, bridges, forests, rivers, mountains |
| Modes | Free For All, Duo, PRO, Weekly, Clan Wars | Quick Match, Daily Island, 30-island Adventure, Kingdom |
| Controls | Mouse, keys, mobile joystick | Keyboard, mouse, touch, gamepad |
| Account | Optional, saves progress | None; leaderboard nickname optional |
| Ads | — | None |
A dash means Hexanaut’s page doesn’t say.
Pick Hexanaut.io if…
You want real people on the same island right now, team play with a friend in Duo, and items like cannons, shields and teleport gates.
Pick HexCrest if…
You’d rather plan than react to lag. In HexCrest your land matters beyond the score: it grows towers that defend your edges, windmills that pay coins and a castle that can be razed. The island has roads, forests and rivers to plan around, there’s a new Daily Island every day for everyone, and a 30-island Adventure with boss kings. Leaderboards are against real players, and every score is verified by replay.
Facts about other games come from their own pages, linked under Sources, and were checked on October 11, 2026.
Questions people also ask
Is HexCrest the same as Hexanaut?
No. They share the hex-grid, loop-to-claim idea but are different games by different developers. Hexanaut.io is online multiplayer; HexCrest uses computer rivals and adds buildings, terrain and a campaign.
Which is better on a phone?
Both run in a mobile browser. Hexanaut.io also has an Android app, and HexCrest has an iPhone app on the way, with a joystick or follow-your-finger touch controls.