The Heroes of Might and Magic series is experiencing a resurgence, with two entries appearing in close succession. Following the early access launch of Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era, a remake of the series' celebrated third installment, Heroes of Might and Magic 3, is slated for release next year. This new iteration, officially titled Heroes of Might and Magic 3 Remake, marks the third official re-release of the 1999 classic, presenting it with a fresh art style and several gameplay enhancements.
Having been played ahead of its official reveal, the remake retains the fundamental experience of Heroes of Might and Magic 3. The tested prologue campaign and the Arrogance scenario, a popular map from the expansion The Shadow of Death, offered a compact and well-paced introduction. These scenarios facilitate rapid expansion by placing players near a secondary town of their starting faction, allowing for quicker recruitment of unit stacks and easier support for multiple heroes early on. Proximity to underworld entrances and nearby shipyards further accelerates the classic Heroes of Might and Magic 3 experience.
The game's appeal lies in its accessible yet deep strategic gameplay. Players command heroes leading armies across a map, engaging monsters, capturing towns, and gathering resources. Conquered towns can be developed with numerous buildings, many of which can be upgraded, to recruit more units and heroes and unlock new spells. Each day grants heroes a specific movement range, with daily and weekly resource income expanding players' capabilities to field larger armies. Battles are resolved on a grid-based system, featuring a variety of fantasy units from dragons and giants to angels and demons.
Heroes of Might and Magic 3 Remake introduces several quality-of-life improvements, notably the ability to view enemy unit movement ranges. This feature, present in later series entries but absent in the original HoMM 3 and its 2015 HD remaster, allows players to better anticipate threats to their own units during the enemy's turn.
The most significant visual departure is the remake's new art style. It presents a vividly colorful and fantastical aesthetic with more detailed units and dynamic combat animations. While the quality of the artwork is evident, some may find it less characterful than the original's bolder, more cartoonish designs. The original's units possessed a distinct personality, whereas the remake's smoother, more refined style might be seen by some as sacrificing unique character for fidelity.
The simultaneous presence of both Heroes of Might and Magic 3 Remake and Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era, a new title that acts as a spiritual successor to HoMM 3 both mechanically and aesthetically, is an unusual development. This overlap means that fans of the series will have extensive tactical options available, as Olden Era is also scheduled to leave early access around the same time the remake launches next year.