Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era

*Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era* represents a significant revival of one of the most cherished franchises in the strategy genre. Scheduled for release in 2026, the title serves as an official prequel to the original games, returning players to the world of Enroth. Developed by Unfrozen—the studio known for *Iratus: Lord of the Dead*—and published by Hooded Horse in partnership with Ubisoft, the game aims to modernize the classic "Heroes" formula while strictly adhering to the strategic depth and atmosphere that defined its 1990s golden age. This ambition is underscored by the return of series creator Jon Van Caneghem as a creative advisor and Paul Romero as the composer, signaling a strong commitment to authenticity. **Setting and Lore** For the first time in the strategy series' history, the game is set on the continent of Jadame. While Jadame was the primary setting for the role-playing game *Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer*, it has never been explored in a *Heroes* strategy title. This location allows the developers to flesh out a "lost chapter" of Enrothian history. The narrative acts as an origin story, set hundreds of years before the events of the first *Heroes of Might and Magic* game. The campaign is non-linear, allowing players to make choices that influence the geopolitical landscape of the continent. The central conflict revolves around the emergence of the "Hive," a swarm of corrupted insectoid creatures led by a demon lord, which forces the disparate and rival nations of Jadame to form uneasy alliances. **Factions** *Olden Era* launches with six playable factions, a mix of beloved classics and entirely new cultures derived from the deep lore of the *Might and Magic* universe. * **Temple:** The spiritual successor to the classic Castle or Knight factions, representing the human kingdoms with units like Swordsmen, Inquisitors, and Angels. They focus on morale, healing, and defensive solidity. * **Necropolis:** A staple of the series, these undead armies feature Skeletons, Vampires, Liches, and the formidable Lich Dragon. Their gameplay emphasizes numbers, resurrection, and debuffing enemy morale. * **Sylvan:** Representing the forces of nature, this faction includes Elves, Druids, and Fey creatures like Pixies. They typically excel at ranged combat and mobility. * **Dungeon:** This faction is home to Dark Elves and underground beasts such as Minotaurs and Troglodytes. They are masters of destructive magic and subterfuge. * **Hive:** A brand-new faction of demonic insectoids. The Hive is characterized by aggressive expansion and swarming tactics, representing the primary antagonist force in the campaign. * **Schism:** The final revealed faction, Schism consists of renegade Alvari Elves and dark scholars who have turned to the Void and the Abyss for power. Heavily inspired by Lovecraftian horror and "Eldritch" themes, they utilize a unique "Abyssal Communion" mechanic that scales their army size based on battle victories, summoning planar monstrosities to the battlefield. **Gameplay Mechanics** The core loop remains faithful to the series' roots: players explore an adventure map, collect resources (wood, ore, gold, crystals, etc.), build up their towns, and engage in tactical turn-based combat on a hex grid. However, Unfrozen has introduced several modern systems to deepen the experience: * **Faction Laws:** This is a new progression system that rewards players for leaning into their faction's specific identity. By "maining" a faction and adhering to its philosophy, players unlock kingdom-wide perks and passive bonuses. * **Active Unit Abilities:** Unlike older entries where most units only had a basic attack, creatures in *Olden Era* have active abilities fueled by a "Focus" or energy system. This adds a layer of tactical nuance, as players must decide when to spend a unit's energy for a powerful strike or utility move. * **Three Main Game Modes:** * **Classic:** The traditional experience of managing multiple heroes and towns over a long game. * **One-Hero Mode:** A faster, blitz-style mode where the player's main hero is their only lifeline; if they die, the game is lost. This mode is designed for shorter, higher-stakes matches. * **Arena:** A combat-focused mode where players draft armies and fight immediately, bypassing the exploration and base-building phases. **Development and Visuals** The visual style of *Olden Era* is a deliberate homage to the pre-rendered 2D sprites of *Heroes III*, but realized with modern 3D technology. The aesthetic is vibrant and painterly, moving away from the grim-dark realism of later Ubisoft entries to recapture the colorful, storybook fantasy feel of the early games. The partnership between Unfrozen and Hooded Horse (a publisher renowned for high-quality strategy games like *Manor Lords* and *Against the Storm*) has been well-received by the community, viewed as a move that combines indie passion with the resources of a major IP holder like Ubisoft. With its return to Enroth, the inclusion of the creator Jon Van Caneghem, and a focus on strategic variety through new factions like Schism and Hive, *Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era* positions itself as both a nostalgic love letter to the 90s and a modern evolution of the turn-based strategy genre.