Preview – Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era

It’s finally here. After years of yearning for the return of this blockbuster turn-based strategy franchise, Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era has officially entered Early Access. Saying it’s been a long road would be an understatement.

In the summer of 2025, when the game’s future looked grim, Ubisoft found a fitting solution by handing the publishing reins to Hooded Horse, a publisher experienced in handling major strategy titles like Endless Legend. Still, in October, what everyone already feared happened: the release was pushed back to 2026. Now, eleven years after Heroes VII, the franchise has received its soft reboot – and even in Early Access, it’s clear: what a comeback this is.

Built for Every Kind of Strategist

Firstly, the sheer abundance of content in this build is staggering. From the breadth of modes to the depth of strategy, the palette of possibilities is already immense. Whether you prefer quick play or custom setups (including a random map generator), solo or (hotseat) multiplayer, Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era caters to every whim. You can dive into Arena for quick tactical duels, Classic for the traditional multi-hero experience, or Single Hero for a more focused flow. There are also nine narrative-driven scenarios that offer short, self-contained stories.

With over a hundred Heroes spread across six unique factions – including the brutal, insectoid Hive and the Schism, featuring Lovecraftian tentacles and striking icy effects – faction design is another high point, with each group boasting a distinct visual flair and tactical identity. Naturally, with this many units and factions, you’ll spot the occasional mechanical overlap or similar roles, but it never dilutes the unique personality each faction brings to the table.

A Majestic Return to Enroth

The greatest triumph of Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is that it feels like coming home to a house that’s been completely renovated. We return to the world of Enroth, specifically the never-before-explored continent of Jadame. The overworld exploration captures that legendary, addictive “one more turn” vibe perfectly. Every resource, artifact, and enemy settlement begs to be claimed as you navigate the map. And no, even I could not refrain from trying.

The sheer density of explanations and options only confirms that the game possesses significant depth and a vast amount of content. And if that depth feels daunting, the game features a brilliantly comprehensive, hours-long tutorial that breaks down every nuance.

Depth Beyond the Battlefield

Ultimately, the battles in Olden Era are what make or break the experience. The simplicity of hex-grid combat is deceptive, though. Beneath the surface lies immense tactical depth. A crucial innovation is the use of Focus Points for powerful unit abilities, adding a thick layer of strategy to every encounter. Managing the initiative system is essential for overcoming stalemates, and the ability to upgrade units into two different alternatives is a masterstroke. Whether you choose a heavy-hitting archer or a nimble melee warrior, your choices have an immediate impact on the battlefield. With eighty different unit options, no two runs feel the same.

Under the hood of this Early Access build clearly lies more depth than many full releases can boast. It’s never just about “who has the most units”. Active Abilities for your heroes and individual units deepen the tactical layer significantly and provide unexpected ways to come out on top. Furthermore, Faction Laws let you unlock and choose faction-specific upgrades that shape your economy, army growth, and overall playstyle over the course of a run, providing massive replayability. Additionally, the inclusion of a Spectator Mode – a first for the series – demonstrates that the developers are serious about the competitive scene and community interaction.

Learn By Doing

The AI in Olden Era is generally reliable, behaving consistently whether you’re navigating the overworld or locked in tactical combat. Naturally, your Heroes are the real heavy hitters here, and their impact on the board goes far beyond passive buffs. Between stat scaling and passive effects, they actively swing the tide of battle, especially once their spells start flying.

However, the magic system also introduces a gritty layer of unpredictability. Of course, we have to talk about RNG here. Randomness is woven into everything from hero progression to your combat options. At times, a bad roll can feel punishing – brutal even – when a battle is on a knife-edge. But that’s clearly by design. Because of its semi-random nature, you’ll have to embrace a bit of trial and error. You quickly learn to be careful with positioning, too; the game won’t warn you if a spell is about to catch your own troops in the blast zone. It’s a ‘learn by doing’ experience, which is exactly the kind of thing die-hard strategy fans live for, right?

Strategy With Style and Clarity

Developer Unfrozen has also hit the nail on the head audiovisually. The soundtrack is simply amazing, and while previous entries sometimes got bogged down in muddy 3D visuals, Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era opts for a crisp, colorful yet mature art style. Meanwhile, the classic hexagon grids are back in combat, where unit animations are fluid and distinct, while the often-creepy sound effects when enemies sneak or draw closer play a key role in immersion. And those brand-new City Screens are another highlight; the ominous atmosphere and intricate details practically drip from the screen, while dedicated musical tracks echo in the background.

Though the full campaign probably won’t be finished this year, the current Early Access build is surprisingly stable and polished. The UI deserves a shout-out for being remarkably clear and really functional, once you’ve spent a little time getting used to the layout.

Preliminary Thoughts

Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is a love letter to the glory days of Heroes III and Heroes V, delivered with the refinement of 2026. With 1.5 million wishlists and a day-one release on Game Pass, the pressure is gargantuan, but the game appears more than capable of handling it. It’s also clear that Unfrozen intends to use its development time wisely, continually refining the balance based on community feedback. If this is the foundation, the future of the franchise looks bright, to say the least.

Additional Information

Release Date: Apr 30, 2026 (Early Access)
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency.
Developer: Unfrozen
Publisher: Hooded Horse
Relevant links: Available via Steam and Microsoft Store (BE, NL, US).