Heroes of Might and Magic (sometimes shortened to HoMM), also called Might & Magic Heroes from 2011 to 2024, is a series of video games created by Jon Van Caneghem through a company called New World Computing.

As part of the Might and Magic game series, the Heroes of Might and Magic games changed ownership when New World Computing was bought by The 3DO Company. Later, when 3DO closed, it sold the rights to Ubisoft. The games are turn-based strategy games with fantasy themes, where players control armies of mythical creatures. The series began in 1995 with the release of the first game. A seventh game, Might & Magic Heroes VII, was released on September 29, 2015.

New World Computing stopped operating after making Heroes of Might and Magic IV. Since then, Ubisoft has owned the rights to the series. After the change in ownership, Nival Interactive created the first game in the series, Heroes of Might and Magic V. Black Hole Entertainment made the next game, Might & Magic Heroes VI, but Limbic Entertainment created later updates and extra content for it. Virtuos made a separate expansion called Shades of Darkness for Heroes VI. Limbic Entertainment also created the next game, Might & Magic Heroes VII. A new game called Olden Era is being developed by Unfrozen and will be published by Ubisoft and Hooded Horse.

The early games were first released for MS-DOS, then later for Microsoft Windows, with occasional support for Mac computers. Heroes II was made available for RISC OS, and Heroes III was made available for Linux. GameTap started offering the first four games in the series in 2006. Remakes of the first two games were released for the Game Boy Color. In 2015, a remastered version of Heroes of Might and Magic III, called Heroes of Might and Magic III: HD Edition, was released for iOS and Android devices. This was the first time the series was available on mobile platforms.

Games

King's Bounty, created by New World Computing in 1990, influenced the design of Heroes of Might and Magic. It is included in some Heroes anthologies as the series' predecessor. A remake titled Heroes of Might and Magic: Quest for the Dragon Bone Staff was released for the PlayStation 2 in 2001. Starting in 2008, 1C Company released several sequels to King's Bounty that are not connected to the Heroes series, beginning with King's Bounty: The Legend.

The first Heroes of Might and Magic game was released after the first five games in the Might and Magic series. However, Heroes took place on the planet Enroth, which had not been used in the Might and Magic series at that time. The sixth through eighth Might and Magic games were also set on Enroth and shared story elements with the first three Heroes games. Heroes IV and Might and Magic IX are both set on the planet Axeoth, which follows Enroth's destruction, but their stories are not connected.

• Heroes of Might and Magic: A Strategic Quest (1995)
• Heroes of Might and Magic II: The Succession Wars (1996), The Price of Loyalty (1997) expansion
• Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia (1999), Armageddon's Blade (1999) expansion, The Shadow of Death (2000) expansion, Heroes Chronicles (2000) additional campaigns
• Heroes of Might and Magic IV (2002), The Gathering Storm (2002) expansion, Winds of War (2003) expansion
• Heroes of Might and Magic V (2006), Hammers of Fate (2006) expansion, Tribes of the East (2007) expansion
• Might & Magic Heroes VI (2011), Pirates of the Savage Sea Adventure (2012) free DLC, Danse Macabre (2012) free DLC, Shades of Darkness (2013) expansion
• Might & Magic Heroes VII (2015), Lost Tales of Axeoth: Unity (2016) DLC, Lost Tales of Axeoth: Every Dog Has His Day (2016) DLC, Trial by Fire (2016) expansion
• Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era (2026)

• Heroes of Might and Magic (Game Boy Color, 2000)
• Heroes of Might and Magic II (Game Boy Color, 2000)

• Heroes of Might and Magic Online (MMO, 2008)
• Might and Magic: Heroes Kingdoms (MMO, 2009)
• Might & Magic: Heroes Online (MMO, 2014)
• Might & Magic Heroes: Era of Chaos (mobile, 2017)

• Dark Messiah of Might and Magic (2006), a first-person action RPG that continues the story of Heroes V
• Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes (2009), a puzzle RPG that serves as a prequel to Heroes V; I am the Boss (2011) DLC
• Might & Magic X: Legacy (2014), which continues the story of Heroes VI

• Heroes of Might and Magic Compendium (1997), also called Heroes of Might and Magic Full Fantasy Funpack in Germany, includes King's Bounty and the first two Heroes games, including the Price of Loyalty expansion. Published by 3DO/Ubisoft.
• Heroes of Might and Magic II Gold (1998), includes Heroes II, its expansion pack, and 31 single-map scenarios by other authors. Published by 3DO.
• Heroes of Might and Magic Millennium (1999), includes King's Bounty, Heroes I, Heroes II Gold, and Heroes III, but no expansion packs for Heroes III. Published by 3DO in a 3 CD-ROM set.
• Heroes of Might and Magic III: Complete (2000), a special edition with Heroes III and its expansion packs (updated to the latest versions) and a custom title screen. Published by 3DO.
• Heroes of Might and Magic Trilogy (2000), includes Heroes I, Heroes II, and Heroes III, but no expansion packs for Heroes II or Heroes III. Published by 3DO and Ubisoft in a 3 CD-ROM set.
• Heroes of Might and Magic: Platinum Edition (2002), includes Heroes I, Heroes II Gold, and Heroes III Complete. Published by 3DO in a 4 CD-ROM set.
• Heroes of Might and Magic III+IV Complete (2002), includes Heroes III Complete and Heroes IV Complete. Published by Ubisoft in a 1 DVD-ROM set.
• Heroes of Might and Magic IV Complete (2004), includes Heroes IV and all of its expansion packs. Published by Ubisoft.
• Heroes of Might and Magic V: Silver Edition (2006), includes Heroes V and the expansion pack Hammers of Fate.
• Heroes of Might and Magic V: Collector's Edition (2007), includes Heroes V and all of its expansion packs, plus three bonus DVDs with trailers, developer diaries, and other content. Published by Ubisoft.
• Heroes of Might and Magic: Complete Edition (2007), includes the first five Heroes games and their expansion packs, along with extras like soundtracks, a faction booklet, and a T-shirt or artbook. Published by Ubisoft.
• Might and Magic Heroes V: Epic Collection (2009), includes Heroes V and both of its expansion packs. Published by Encore Games.
• Heroes Pack (2009), includes Dark Messiah, Heroes V, and its expansion packs. Available on Steam.
• Might & Magic Heroes Collection (2011), includes all five Heroes games and their expansion packs, like the 2007 Complete Edition, without extras. Published by Ubisoft in a 3-disc set and by Mastertronic Games in the UK as a 4-disc set.
• Might & Magic Heroes VI: Limited Edition (20

Gameplay

The Heroes series is a type of turn-based strategy game. The main characters, called heroes, can recruit armies, move across the map, capture resources, and fight in battles. Heroes also include elements from role-playing games. They have statistics that give their armies advantages, special items that increase their power, and knowledge of magic spells that can attack enemies or help in battles. Heroes gain experience levels through combat, making experienced heroes much stronger than new ones. Experienced heroes can continue through a campaign, but they usually do not carry over between different scenarios.

At the start of a game, players control one town with a chosen alignment. The number of available alignments changes across the series, starting with four in Heroes I and increasing to nine in Heroes III expansion packs. Each alignment has unique creatures for building armies and determines other traits, such as hero classes, special abilities, and preferences for certain skills or magic.

Towns are important because they provide income and new recruits. A common goal is to capture all enemy towns. Maps may also have neutral towns, which can be captured by any player. This means there can be more towns than players on a map. When a town is captured, it keeps its original alignment, allowing the new owner to create a mixed army. In Heroes VI, players can change a town’s alignment to match their own. A player or team is eliminated if they lose all towns and heroes or fail to control a town for seven days. The last remaining player or team wins.

A common side goal is to find a powerful item, such as the "ultimate artifact" (Heroes I and II), "grail" (III and IV), or "Tear of Asha" (V, VI, and VII), hidden on the map. In most games, heroes visit special locations to reveal the item’s location. In Heroes VI, heroes must collect four Fragments of the Moon Disc to make the Tear of Asha appear. These items give heroes strong bonuses. The grail or Tear of Asha also lets heroes build a special structure in their town that helps the player.

Each turn, which includes all players’ moves, represents one day. Days are grouped into weeks and months (four weeks per month). Gold is the main resource, produced daily by towns. Gold is enough for basic buildings and most creatures. As construction progresses, more resources like wood, ore, gems, crystals, sulfur, and mercury are needed. These resources are gathered from mines and other structures, which must be captured by heroes. Like towns, mines can be taken over by enemy heroes, adding to conflicts.

At the start of each week (or day in Heroes IV), creature dwellings produce new recruits, and neutral armies often grow in size. In some games, the start of a new month causes neutral armies to appear across the map, creating new challenges.

When a battle begins, the game switches to a combat screen based on a hexagonal or square grid. In this mode, armies fight without the chance to retreat or reinforce. Battles usually end with the losing army fleeing, being destroyed, or paying gold to surrender. Surrendering lets the player keep their remaining units.

Creatures in an army are grouped into stacks, each containing one type of creature in any number. Each army has a limited number of stacks, varying by game. Players move stacks to gain an advantage in battle. Some games offer an automatic combat option where the computer makes decisions. Heroes support their armies by giving bonuses and can also fight and cast spells. In most games, heroes are not harmed and do not act as units. However, in Heroes IV, heroes can be killed and sent to a town’s dungeon, where they can be rescued if the town is captured.

Combat is influenced by random factors. Damage is determined by simulated dice rolls, and other factors like hero abilities and bonuses affect a unit’s luck and morale. Units with good luck take less damage or deal more, while units with high morale get an extra turn. In some games, luck and morale can be negative, causing the opposite effects. These traits can be improved by hero abilities, artifacts, and spells. Morale may drop if an army faces overwhelming odds or uses incompatible units.

Knowledge allows heroes to cast more spells, either through memorizing spells (Heroes I) or using spell points (Heroes II–V).

Heroes II introduced secondary skills. Heroes can learn limited skills with different levels of skill. These skills provide specific benefits, such as increasing travel distance or boosting army morale.

Starting with Heroes II, some creatures could be upgraded. By Heroes III, all creatures (except those not found in castles) could be upgraded.

Heroes III also introduced a new artifact system. Instead of having 14 spaces for artifacts, players use a larger backpack but can only use a limited number of items at once. For example, only one headpiece or pair of boots can be used at a time.

Many games in the series include a map editor or random map generator. Fansites often collect and rate maps created by players.

Storyline

The first four Heroes games are set in the same fictional world as the Might and Magic series (except Might & Magic X: Legacy, which is part of the Ubisoft continuity). Later Might and Magic games often reference the Heroes series, with some taking place on the same world.

Heroes I and II are set on the planet Enroth, specifically on a northern continent with the same name. These games tell the story of the Ironfist dynasty. The main character in Heroes I is Lord Morglin Ironfist, a knight from the world of Varn (the setting of Might and Magic Book One: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum). He discovers a portal to Enroth while escaping from enemies who took his throne and later conquers the continent, creating a unified kingdom and a new royal family.

Heroes II follows a conflict between Morglin’s sons, Roland and Archibald, who both fight for their father’s throne. Officially, Roland wins, but players can choose to support either brother and experience different outcomes. This game was the first in the series to allow players to control heroes as main characters, unlike Heroes I, where the player’s presence represented the main characters rather than commanding them on the battlefield.

Heroes III and the Heroes Chronicles focus on the Gryphonheart dynasty on the southern continent of Antagarich. These games introduce the Kreegan as playable characters and enemies. In Heroes III, Queen Catherine Gryphonheart returns to Antagarich for her father’s funeral but finds the continent in chaos due to fighting among different groups. The expansion packs for Heroes III expand the story with more character development, featuring new and returning heroes in different roles.

Before Heroes IV, a battle between Armageddon’s Blade and the Sword of Frost destroyed the planet Enroth. This destruction opened portals to another world, Axeoth, where many survivors from Enroth and Antagarich fled. Heroes IV’s campaigns follow these survivors as they build new kingdoms and alliances in the new world.

The 2025 game Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is the first original game in the Heroes series set in the original continuity since Ubisoft’s timeline change. It takes place 500 years before the first Heroes game and is set on the continent of Jadame from Enroth, a location previously featured in Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer but not in the Heroes series.

After Ubisoft acquired the franchise, the series underwent a timeline change, with Heroes of Might and Magic V (2006) being the first game in the new continuity. These games are set in the world of Ashan, which had not appeared in the franchise before. Heroes V’s six campaigns focus on different faction leaders, all connected through Isabel Greyhound, Queen of the Holy Griffin Empire. The expansion packs for Heroes V continued this story, leading into the events of Dark Messiah of Might and Magic.

Heroes VI happens 400 years before Heroes V, and Heroes VII takes place centuries after Heroes VI but still 100 years before Heroes V. Other Might and Magic games released after Ubisoft’s acquisition are also set in the same continuity.

Reception

Reviews of the series have mostly been positive, with GameRankings scores ranging from the high 70s to the high 90s.

By October 1997, total sales of the Heroes of Might and Magic series reached more than 500,000 copies. By December 1999, sales had grown to 1.5 million copies. By May 2001, the entire Might and Magic franchise, which includes the Heroes series, had sold over 4.5 million copies.

In 1999, Next Generation ranked the Heroes of Might and Magic series as number 31 on their "Top 50 Games of All Time" list. They wrote, "With beautiful 2D characters and maps and absolutely brilliant strategy, Heroes managed to be a completely engrossing game that never once replaced quality design with new-fangled flash."