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Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is a Familiar Yet Fresh Beginning
Reviving dormant franchises is always a delicate task. Done well, it rekindles nostalgia and captures new audiences; done poorly, it risks alienating everyone. Ubisoft, Unfrozen, and Hooded Horse are aiming firmly at the first outcome with Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era.
At Gamescom 2025, I spent about an hour with the turn-based strategy revival, and though it has been two decades since I last played Heroes of Might and Magic V, the sense of familiarity was immediate. The base building, resource gathering, and grid-based battles all felt instantly recognisable, though given a striking new coat of paint.
Factions and First Impressions
The heart of the franchise has always been its factions, and Olden Era offers six at launch: Dungeon, Necropolis, Hive, Sylvan, Temple, and the newly introduced Schism. Each faction has its own distinctive identity, from the insectoid Hive to the eldritch, sci-fi-inspired Schism.
I chose to side with the Hive, taking control of Maelstrom and beginning my first tasks by exploring the land and strengthening my forces. The visual presentation was immediately impressive, offering lush environments and faction-specific details, with options to tweak graphical fidelity for more vibrancy or simplicity depending on preference.
Tactical Depth on the Battlefield
Combat in Olden Era is turn-based and tactical, unfolding on a grid where unit positioning and abilities matter as much as numbers. My army of Locusts and Gnats quickly taught me the importance of understanding each unit’s strengths: the Gnats could strike from a distance, while the Locusts excelled at cleaning up weakened foes with numbers.
Resource management soon became critical. Buildings constructed at the home base only take one turn but require the right resources to proceed. Each construction offers valuable benefits, from boosting hero stats to unlocking new spells or advanced units.
Upgrading units adds another layer of strategy in Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era. Each creature can evolve along two upgrade paths, with new visuals and abilities. A Mantis can become a sturdy defensive wall, or transform into a Vermilion Mantis with speed and offensive prowess. A Reaver might disable enemy counters, or become a dominant frontline threat. The sense of experimentation and customisation is deeply satisfying, encouraging players to refine their armies to suit their preferred strategies.
Spells, Sacrifices, and Strategy
Beyond units, spellcasting remains a central pillar of the franchise. Deciding whether to invest in stronger troops or devastating spells each turn is a familiar dilemma. Buffing units to give them the edge in combat or unleashing destructive magic to cripple enemy forces provides flexible routes to victory.
This interplay between unit progression and magical power ensures battles never feel one-dimensional in Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era. Each choice carries weight, and the sense of control extends to how each faction approaches combat. Watching animations and unique unit designs in action reinforces the considerable care that has gone into creating a living, breathing world.
The Return of a Classic Strategy Experience
From its striking visuals to the depth of its faction design, Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era feels like a love letter to fans while still modernising for today’s players. The combination of classic exploration, resource management, tactical combat, and branching unit upgrades captures the spirit of the original games while introducing new possibilities.
If my brief time with the Hive faction is any indication, the full game promises to be a robust strategy experience filled with experimentation, risk, and reward. With six factions to master, spells to unlock, and countless tactical battles to fight, Olden Era is well on its way to re-establishing itself as a genre leader.
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era will be released on PC via Steam Early Access.
