A Fresh Take on a Legendary Legacy

1999 was an exceptional year for PC gaming—one of the all-time greatest, really. This era gave us an incredible lineup of titles:

  • Age of Empires 2
  • Alpha Centauri
  • Freespace 2
  • Homeworld
  • System Shock 2
  • Planescape: Torment
  • Unreal Tournament
  • Dungeon Keeper 2
  • Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun

This was also the year of Heroes of Might and Magic 3, a genre all-timer that remains the gold standard for strategy. Now, Heroes of Magic and Magic: Olden Era is arriving to challenge that long-standing throne.

Not a Remake, But a New Evolution

Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is entering Early Access today with its first campaign act. It is important to note that this isn't just a remake or a reimagining; it features new factions alongside familiar ones, a brand-new campaign, and updated systems. While the art style serves as a nostalgic nod to HoMM3, it isn't beholden to it.

Playing the game feels surprisingly "cosy." Despite being built on conflict and war, the colorful maps, sincere writing, and clear structure evoke the same comfort found in games like Stardew Valley. Even with an apocalyptic threat looming, the experience is anchored by whimsical fantasy and achievable objectives.

Mastering the Mechanics of Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era

The game is a turn-based strategy title divided into two distinct phases: exploration and combat. Your hero traverses vibrant realms with an army in tow, gathering gold and resources while encountering both static obstacles and roaming foes.

Combat takes place on a hex grid, where unit movement depends on initiative and speed characteristics. You will encounter various fantasy stalwarts, including:

  • Knights
  • Dragons
  • Fairies
  • Banshees
  • Horrible little frog-men

During brawls, your hero stays at the edge of the board to cast spells from a magical tome or fire off attacks. While the core loop of looting and fighting is simple, the game offers immense depth that keeps you digging for hours.

Navigating the Early Access Campaign

The campaign is not entirely linear and serves as a perfect way to ease into your new obsession. Initially, you are the only hero on the map, allowing you to learn the ropes before the more intense, competitive nature of the game is revealed. Eventually, you must manage multiple heroes and armies to beat opponents to crucial buildings and treasures.

Because the game is in Early Access, there are still some wrinkles to iron out. I encountered a bug where time simply stopped working during one mission, though reloading an autosave resolved the issue. Each mission relies on a strict cycle of days, weeks, and months to manage resource income and unit recruitment.

Winning wars requires more than just brute force; you must balance your economy against your military might. While there is no army upkeep cost, acquiring high-tier units requires significant investment. You can command up to seven units per stack, but you also have the option to split stacks to gain better battlefield control.