Might and Magic returns in turn-based combat and base-building/resource-hoarding form in this upcoming title.

Publisher Ubisoft and developer Unfrozen have announced a new entry in the long-running-and-usually-forgotten Heroes of Might and Magic series. The new title is called Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era and it’s slated for PC next year.

The catch? the game will launch in Early Access via Steam in Q2 2025. After a year in Early Access, the game will hit 1.0.

This version of the strategy game will feature the core gameplay mechanics and a substantial story of the content planned for the full release. The Early Access period is expected to last for around one year. When the full version launches, it will feature more content, refined gameplay mechanics, improved visuals, and an overall more polished experience.

This new Heroes of Might and Magic entry may look like it’s going back to its roots, what with the 2D presentation of the turn-based combat, the map layout and exploration, and the number of modes ranging from Classic to draft-based Arena. Full trailer and features list below:

Features

Explore the World of Enroth
-An epic campaign set on the mysterious continent of Jadame where rival factions must forge fragile alliances to face the Hive—a swarm of insectoids corrupted by an Inferno demon lord hell bent on subjugating the world.
-Choose from a roster of unique factions mixing returning fan favorites and brand-new creations, each with their unique gameplay style, creatures and heroes and unique faction abilities: Temple (Classic Humans), Necropolis (Undead and Vampires), Sylvan (The Forces of Nature and Fey Folks), Dungeon (Dark Elves and Underground Creatures), Hive (Demonic Insectoids), and a mysterious sixth faction to be revealed later.

Choose Your Playstyle
-Three main multiplayer game modes:

• Classic – A mode where a player can play with one or more heroes, upgrade the castle and explore the map.
• One-Hero Mode – A blitz-like system, but you have only one hero, so their demise will become yours as well!
• Arena – A mode for those who came to battle! Draft a hero, upgrade them, pick your troops, and challenge the enemy right away.

-Dive into the epic non-linear single-player campaign to shape Jadame’s history ans seal the fates of its heroes and kingdoms.
-Create your own scenarios to play or share with the other players with our complete and intuitive, pick-up-and-play in-game editor.

Upgrade Your Kingdom
-Exploration and Strategy – Traverse the global map to collect resources and become stronger.
-Castle Management – Upgrade the castle and expand your kingdom.
-Faction laws that help bring uniqueness and diversity to player’s playstyle.

Pick Your Battles
-A traditional hexagonal battlefield with an orthographic camera.
-New Combat Mechanics – Active abilities are available for creatures and heroes.
-Matchmaking, ratings, and leaderboards—separate for all modes.
-Polished and improved for modern strategy players.
-A revamped artificial intelligence and multiple difficulty levels ensure a constant and adapted challenge for every type players, whether they are veterans of Heroes of Might and Magic, or newcomers to the series and the turn based strategy genre.