Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era Early Access Is Launching in Q1 2025

Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is a new instalment in the beloved turn-based strategy series, set to release in Steam early access in the first half of 2025. Developed by Unfrozen, this game brings players back to the world of Enroth, specifically to the unexplored continent of Jadame, a land filled with ancient mysteries, powerful factions, and epic battles.

In the words of Brand Director Eric Damian-Vernet at Ubisoft: “Heroes of Might and Magic III is a cult classic and one of the greatest strategy games of all time, perfecting and refining the already great formula established in Heroes I and II. With Olden Era, we go back to the origins of the series, aiming to recapture the same sense of magic and wonder of traversing a vibrant adventure map full of dangers and mysteries for the first time, building mighty faction towns and assembling massive armies of mythical creatures.”

To summarise, Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era takes place before the events of the first Heroes of Might and Magic game, offering a fresh story that explores the origins of some of the series’ beloved characters and factions. Continue reading for more details.

Everything to Know Abou the New Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era

Settings and Non-Linear Gameplay

As mentioned above, New Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era takes place on the continent of Jadame, a mysterious land mentioned in previous Heroes of Might and Magic titles but never before explored. There, you will embark on an epic campaign where rival factions must form alliances to combat the Hive, a swarm of insectoid creatures corrupted by an Inferno demon lord.

In the game, your choices will shape the story’s outcome, with multiple paths and branching narratives. For example, the game features six unique factions, which we will explain later, each with its distinct playstyle, creatures, and heroes for players to choose from.

According to the Narrative lead Alexandra Alphyna Golubeva: “All campaign missions have non-linear events that allow hero choices, like encouraging a cowardly knight to fight alongside you or letting him flee. These choices will have consequences down the line. But the grander non-linearity comes from choosing the missions themselves – some of them are mutually exclusive. Do you support Sylvans or Temple in a conflict? Your choice will change the map of Jadame, the standing of factions, and the fates of certain characters.”

Factions

Thus far, Unfrozen has revealed five factions, with the sixth coming soon. Nevertheless, let’s understand the five factions players can select for their story campaign.

1) Temple:

• Playstyle: Traditional human faction with balanced gameplay focused on building stronghold defences and versatile armies.
• Unique Units: Includes knights, archers, and powerful siege engines.
• Faction Ability: Enhances defensive capabilities and boosts the morale of troops.

2) Necropolis:

• Playstyle: Master of the undead, focusing on raising and controlling vast armies of zombies, skeletons, and vampires.
• Unique Units: Vampires, liches, and skeleton warriors.
• Faction Ability: Raises fallen enemies as undead minions to swell your ranks.

3) Sylvan:

• Playstyle: Represents the forces of nature, emphasising ranged attacks and mobility.
• Unique Units: Druids, centaurs, and treants.
• Faction Ability: Manipulates the battlefield with nature-based spells and abilities.

4) Dungeon:

• Playstyle: A dark and secretive faction which relies on stealth and powerful magic.
• Unique Units: Dark elves, minotaurs, and hydras.
• Faction Ability: Gains bonuses from underground terrains and can create temporary portals.

5) Hive:

• Playstyle: A swarm-based faction that overwhelms opponents with sheer numbers and demonic powers.
• Unique Units: Insectoid demons, corrupted hive creatures.
• Faction Ability: Rapidly spawns units and applies debuffs to enemies through toxic attacks.

Also Read: 5 Hogwarts Legacy House Differences: Explaining the Houses and Traits

Factions Laws and Combat

Besides bringing returning and new factions, New Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era introduces a new system called Factions Law. As for what we know, faction-specific laws allow players to customise their kingdom’s development, adding another layer of strategy to the game. Each faction has unique laws that influence gameplay, allowing for diverse strategies and playstyles.

More of my thoughts on Olden Era:
Turns out it's being developed by the guys who made Iratus. That's great news- that game was great, and I'm sure that those guys can do something interesting with the formula. More than I can say about Ubisoft and their games.

— JellalSlayer (@JellalSlayer) August 23, 2024

In addition to the new system, units and heroes will now have active combat abilities that can turn the tide of battle. Moreover, Olden Era battles will take place on a hexagonal grid with an orthographic camera, harkening back to the classic gameplay of Heroes of Might and Magic III.

Multiplayer Game Modes

Olden Era also features multiple game modes such as Classic, One-Hero and Arena. Attached are the details regarding the classic multiplayer, which allows up to eight players in the lobby:

• Classic Mode: Play with multiple heroes, upgrade your castle, and explore the map in a traditional Heroes of Might and Magic experience.
• One-Hero Mode: A fast-paced mode where you control only one hero, making their survival critical to your success.
• Arena Mode: Draft a hero, upgrade them, choose your troops, and jump straight into tactical battles.

For those unsatisfied with pre-made maps, Olden Era will feature a Map Editor Tool, allowing you to create your own adventures. For context, with the in-game editor, you can craft unique scenarios and maps, which you can then share with the community or keep private for personal play.

Closing Thoughts

With everything considered, Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era promises to be a worthy successor to the classic series, offering nostalgia and innovation. Prepare to explore Jadame, build your kingdom, and lead your heroes to victory when the game launches in early access in 2025.

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