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Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is a turn-based strategy game for PC from Unfrozen, available on Steam. You move heroes across a map, build towns, recruit armies from six distinct factions, and fight tactical battles on a hex grid. It is a prequel to the original Heroes universe, set before the events of Heroes I on the continent of Jadame.
The combat is what sets it apart from other modern strategy games. Each faction has completely different units, abilities, and a set of faction laws that change how your army works on the battlefield. A weaker army on paper can beat a stronger one through positioning, spells, and the right use of focus points.
The game entered Early Access on April 30, 2026 on Windows 10 and Windows 11. It is developed by Unfrozen (the studio behind Iratus: Lord of the Dead) and co-published by Hooded Horse and Ubisoft. Full 1.0 release is planned for late 2026.
Already playing? Drop your faction pick in the comments. Got questions before buying? Reach out to us directly.
Quick Facts
| 📅 Release Date | April 30, 2026 (EA) |
| 🛠️ Developer | Unfrozen |
| 🏢 Publisher | Hooded Horse / Ubisoft |
| 🎮 Genre | Turn-Based Strategy |
| 📂 Storage | 8 GB |
| 🎯 Players | Single + Online + Hotseat |
| 💰 Price | From $29.99 USD |
How to Download and Install on PC
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is available on Steam for Windows 10 and Windows 11. You need a free Steam account to buy and play it.
- Step 1. Download and install the Steam app from store.steampowered.com if you do not have it already.
- Step 2. Open Steam and sign in to your account, or create a free one.
- Step 3. Search for Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era in the Steam store, or click the Steam button above to go straight to the game page.
- Step 4. Click Add to Cart, complete your purchase, and the game will be added to your Steam Library.
- Step 5. Go to your Steam Library, find Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era, and click Install. The game is 8 GB.
- Step 6. Once installed, click Play and the game launches directly from Steam.
Editions and Pricing
Standard
Base Game
- ✓ Full Early Access game
- ✓ 6 playable factions
- ✓ Campaign Act 1 + scenarios
- ✓ Online multiplayer + hotseat
- ✓ All future EA + 1.0 updates
Discount Active
Base Game (Sale)
25% off launch discount (limited time)
- ✓ Everything in the base game
- ✓ All 6 factions unlocked
- ✓ Lowest price at launch
- ✓ Price may increase as EA continues
What Is Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era?
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is a turn-based strategy game set on Jadame, a new continent in the Heroes universe. The story takes place before Heroes I, making this a prequel to the entire series. Six rival factions are fighting for control of the land while a larger threat looms, a swarm of insectoid creatures called the Hive, corrupted by a demon lord known as the Dragonfly King.
The gameplay loop will be familiar to anyone who has played Heroes III. On the adventure map, you move your heroes around collecting resources, capturing towns, and picking up artifacts. In towns, you build structures to unlock stronger units and upgrade your hero’s spells and skills. When two armies meet, the game switches to a hex battlefield (a grid made of hexagons) where you take turns moving units and casting spells until one side is wiped out.
What is new here are mechanics like subskills (branching upgrades for your hero’s abilities), focus points (a resource you build up during combat to fuel powerful moves), and faction laws (passive rules that give each faction a different strategic identity on the map). These additions make each faction genuinely play differently rather than just having a different skin on the same units. Developed by Unfrozen (a Cyprus-based studio) and co-published by Hooded Horse and Ubisoft, this is the first official Heroes game in over a decade.
Key Features
⚔️6 Distinct Factions
Temple, Necropolis, Grove, Dungeon, Hive, and Schism. Each faction has unique units, heroes, spells, and a set of faction laws that change how you play the whole game. No two factions feel the same on the battlefield.
🏰Town Building and Hero Growth
Build structures in your towns to unlock stronger units and new spells. Level up your heroes through a subskill system that lets you specialize your army’s strengths. No two playthroughs develop the same way.
🗺️Adventure Map Exploration
Move heroes across a large overworld map. Capture mines and resource nodes to fuel your economy, find artifacts to boost your heroes, and take neutral towns before the enemy does. Every map is a puzzle of priorities.
🎯Tactical Hex Combat
Battles play out on a hex grid where unit positioning, initiative order, and spell choices all matter. New mechanics like focus points and long-reach units add tactical depth that was not in the classic games.
🌐Multiplayer and Hotseat
Play online in Classic, Single Hero, and Arena modes. Or use local hotseat to play against a friend at the same PC, passing the mouse between turns. An online leaderboard tracks competitive results.
🗂️Map Editor Included
Build and share your own scenarios with the built-in map editor. Already in Early Access and planned to receive more tools through the EA period. Custom content will expand what you can play well beyond the base game.
🤔 Is This Game for You?
✅ You Will Love It If:
- You played and loved Heroes III and want something built on the same foundation
- You enjoy turn-based strategy where thinking beats reflexes
- You like playing against friends online or in hotseat at the same PC
- You want a long, replayable strategy game that improves over time
❌ You Might Not If:
- You prefer real-time strategy or action games
- Early Access titles without a complete campaign bother you
- You need controller support (it is not available yet)
- You want a fast game you can finish in a few hours
🎮 Our Take
It has been more than 20 years since a Heroes game felt like this. Olden Era is not trying to reinvent the series. It is trying to do what Heroes III did, only with cleaner mechanics and a modern engine underneath. The faction system is genuinely interesting, the maps are well-designed, and even in Early Access the combat holds up. The 90% positive rate on Steam from thousands of players is not surprise marketing. It is people who grew up with Heroes III recognising that this team gets it.
If you have been waiting for a real successor to Heroes III, this is worth buying now. The Early Access price is the lowest it will be, and the roadmap is clear. If you are new to the series and want to know if turn-based strategy is your thing, the free demo on Steam is the right place to start before you spend anything.
System Requirements
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11 64-bit.
Minimum
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- CPU: Intel Core i3-10300 / Ryzen 3 3100
- RAM: 8 GB
- GPU: GTX 1650 / Radeon RX 5500 XT / Intel Arc A580
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 8 GB
Recommended
- OS: Windows 11 64-bit
- CPU: Intel Core i5-12400T / Ryzen 5 5500
- RAM: 16 GB
- GPU: GTX 1660 / Radeon RX 5600 / Intel Arc A750
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 8 GB
5 Tips for Beginners
New to Jadame? These habits will save your first campaign.
Mines first, towns second.
Resources win or lose the early game. Gold, ore, and crystals let you build town structures and recruit units. Flag every mine you can reach before you commit to attacking anyone. An army you cannot afford to refill loses over time.
Do not split your army unless you have to.
Sending a second weak hero out alone to collect resources seems efficient but it often ends in a wasted hero and wasted turns. Keep your main stack together until you have a real surplus of units to spare.
Read your faction laws before you start fighting.
Each faction’s laws change the rules of combat in a specific way. Temple gets bonuses for protecting units. Necropolis resurrects fallen allies. Dungeon units each have two attack types. Understanding your faction’s rules turns good moves into great ones.
Use focus points before the enemy does.
Focus points build up as your units act during combat. They power your strongest abilities. Do not let them sit unused at the end of a turn. Spend them on the units with the highest impact before the enemy has a chance to spend theirs.
Play the tutorial, even if you know Heroes.
If you played Heroes III you might be tempted to skip straight to the campaign. The tutorial in Olden Era is short and explains the new systems like subskills and focus points that do not exist in the older games. Thirty minutes here saves you a lot of confusion later.
Gameplay Screenshots
Here is what Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era looks like in action on PC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of game is Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era?
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is a turn-based strategy game from Unfrozen, set on the continent of Jadame before the events of the original Heroes series. You move heroes across an overworld map, capture resource nodes and towns, recruit armies from six different factions, and fight tactical battles on a hex grid. It features a single-player campaign, premade scenarios, Classic and Arena modes, online multiplayer, and a local hotseat mode for two players at the same PC.
Is Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era a complete game?
The game launched with six factions, a campaign, premade scenarios, online multiplayer, and a map editor. The developers have also committed to adding more campaign content, co-op team play, spectator mode, and additional map editor tools. Check the Steam page for the current version and what has been added since launch.
What are the PC system requirements for Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era?
The game runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11 64-bit. Minimum specs require an Intel Core i3-10300 or Ryzen 3 3100, 8 GB RAM, a GeForce GTX 1650 or Radeon RX 5500 XT or Intel Arc A580, and 8 GB of storage. Recommended specs call for Windows 11 64-bit, an Intel Core i5-12400T or Ryzen 5 5500, 16 GB RAM, and a GeForce GTX 1660 or Radeon RX 5600 or Intel Arc A750.
Does Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era support controllers?
Not at launch. The game is currently mouse and keyboard only. The developers have confirmed that controller and gamepad support are planned and will likely be added during the Early Access period, but it was not ready for the initial release.
How does Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era compare to Heroes 3?
Olden Era is built as a direct spiritual successor to Heroes III, the fan-favourite entry from 1999. It keeps the hex-grid combat, overworld exploration, town building, and faction variety that made that game popular. New additions include subskills, faction laws, focus points, and long-reach units. The art style deliberately echoes Heroes III without copying it. Early reviews describe it as the first game in over 20 years to genuinely capture what made the classic entries work.
🔗 Helpful Community Links
For updates, patch notes, and discussions about Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era:
- r/HoMM on Reddit (community discussion, tips, and faction guides)
- Olden Era Steam Community Hub (guides, discussions, and player reports)
- Update History (stay current with patches and new EA content)
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