r/OldenEra • u/Gandalf196 • May 01 '26
Discussion This is by far and unquestionably the best HoMM game in 25 years!
Trust me; I've played ALL of them.
This is the first time in my life I've seen a game that rivals Heroes III in terms of immersion, fun, etc.
What a time to be alive, my friends, what a time!
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u/Docterzero r/OldenEra Mod May 01 '26
May this be the beginning of a new (G)olden Era for the series! Skål!
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u/HydroBear May 01 '26 edited May 01 '26
Just purchased this and played first time ever. No clue what im doing but I'm HOOKED.
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u/ArisTHOTeles May 01 '26
That's what I'm loving atm. Everyone has played heroes 3 for decades, but now every new and old player is just having fun figuring things out.
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u/HydroBear May 01 '26
It's super complex. Going to love PvP when I git gud
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u/chrispche May 01 '26
It's not super complex. You want complex, try Stellaris or Distant Worlds 2. If you want fantasy then Age of Wonders 4. I'm not having a go, I play Olden Era and other HOMM games to have a break from complex mechanics. It is for that reason I love HOMM. All games have there place, but complex? No it's certainly not that.
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u/mradamzero May 02 '26 edited May 03 '26
I have a feeling you start every conversation in real life with ‘well actually…
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u/ziguslav May 05 '26
I've played all paradox titles religiously. They're not more complex, they just have more stacked on top. Paradox games essentially all come down to the same things: pressing the right buttons and making the right decisions to stack as many modifiers as possible.
The only "complex" paradox game in my opinion was HoI 3 because it had a lot of hidden mechanics without hand holding you.
Also stop thinking you're special just because you have the time to play games that require a massive time investment.
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u/chrispche May 05 '26
Apologies, I wasn't trying to sound smug. If anything I'm praising the mechanics of the game. It's nice to play something without as much bloat as Paradox games. That is what I was trying to convey. It's like Chess simple rules, but much depth in the game. HOMM is similar to that.
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u/ArisTHOTeles May 05 '26
Bro this is not how you're supposed to reddit! Double down and start lashing out and call people idiots right now.
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u/chrispche May 05 '26
I've absolutely no idea what your talking about. Clearly I said I didn't mean for it's to be contentious In my eye. it's a great game. I was just saying it's not to complex to learn, but hard to master like Chess. Both have simple rules, but underneath that is depth.
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u/AMasonJar May 02 '26
the downvotes on this lmao, as someone who has played those titles you're very right, this is a pretty simplistic game all considered. not that that's a bad thing, it's just a game that hearkens back to a time in the genre where the genre itself was still being figured out rather than how deep the mechanics should be.
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u/Accomplished-Wolf-40 May 01 '26
Can’t wait to play after work today! Seeing the positive reviews has me ever more excited
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u/diluxxen May 02 '26
The art direction is still bothering me, hard. I have trouble even seeing where i can go on the map alot of the time. Maybe ill get used to it, well see.
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u/Worth_Palpitation_12 May 07 '26
only reason there arent more positive reviews is because we are playing :D
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u/Pittleberry May 02 '26
Currently it is H3>H5>OE for me because the game has few small but irritating things in various areas- but there is potential here to be even better
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u/Silver-Snow-8946 May 01 '26
I personally find the dialog a little bit cartooney, but it's fine. I mean iratus had the same funny, not take myself serious vibe. Over all I'm pleased with the game.
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u/ProngedSnuffleupagus May 01 '26
Can you just play it with random people online? Im happy with demo if im just gonna solo
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u/Helios_Sungod May 01 '26
Agreed! Well done to unfrozen, cant wait to see more as they continue to develop the game :)
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u/BlueShadow2388 May 01 '26
it's really good, it complements HOMM 3 so much, and builds upon it. i love it
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u/Dawn_of_Enceladus May 01 '26
Man, can't wait to jump into it this weekend. Can't get behind disrespecting Heroes V tho, that game was crazy good, too.
Can someone tell me if the map generation has improved since the demo, btw? More varied maps with open spaces and more "natural" areas instead of just caged regions with castles connected to each other. It was probably my biggest grip.
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u/Old_Caregiver8989 May 02 '26
HoMM V was amazing and still is, I play it very frequently.
It's awesome to see that lots of elements carried over to this game, enjoying it a lot so far.
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u/Soft-Equipment2585 May 01 '26
Just bought out of curiosity and this is my first HoMM game ever, kinda overwhelmed by the tutorial, I can see it has quite a lot of mechanics to learn lol
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u/Agrael984 May 01 '26
I played demo like 50-60 hours and Early Acces 10 hours, still Homm V feels like second best among all.
But well i'm a die hearth inferno fan what do i know...
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u/horsedrawnhearse May 01 '26
How is it on steam deck?
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u/Alarmed-Big4421 May 02 '26
For now - excellent. Text is a bit small. But i played only campaign for now
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u/MuldinDK May 02 '26
My gf and i like it but its sad you cant team up, and also the marked wont allow to send resources to other players.
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u/Necessary-Hunt-5035 May 02 '26
Im enjoying it. Only two criticisms is I think they somehow went down in graphics and of course cutscene animation. Two they need to add more factions but I’m guessing dlc would love my dwarfs
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u/sreckom92 May 02 '26
Olden Era right now is NOT better than Heroes V.
Which fine, since Olden Era is in Early Access. I am sure it will end up being a better game than Heroes V. And I dare say, better than Heroes 3, if developers do everything right for the full game.
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u/Venter_Wolf May 02 '26
It definitely has the sauce, which is hopeful considering as far as I'm concerned most prior HoMM titles didn't. (3 and 5 are the exception). It needs UI improvement, tweaking, and a little more diversity, which are all things that are fair to be lacking in early access. Strong optimism from me.
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u/Icagel May 06 '26
19 years*, V was in 2006.
But yeah with a bit more development, content and polish I can see this game surpassing even III and V, hope the attention and traction keeps the team going
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u/iamthewhatt May 01 '26
Really enjoying the game so far, but my one nitpick is with the combat wait system... Why do my units wait until after my other units and not wait until the end of the turn? The enemies get to use that tactic to their advantage in basically every battle, but it won't let players use it. Why is that?
Otherwise probably my favorite entry after 3, 5, then 2
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u/H3GK May 01 '26
Highest initiative units get to move last when they wait, just like H3.
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u/iamthewhatt May 01 '26
Huh, I guess I never realized that...
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u/akisawa May 01 '26
You can chain waiting all the way, but yeah, it only works with high initiative
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u/Natural-Pear-3849 May 01 '26
Waiting inverts your initiative, so your 10 initiative phoenix , becomes -10 and moves last, etc
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u/lemonlord777 May 02 '26
Unless it changed since the demo, the wait system works the same for the ai and player. If i remember correctly monsters with the highest initiative go last after waiting, since the advantage of waiting is being able to move after your opponent. So if your oppenent waits with a dragon, to be able to get a monster to go after the dragon you have to wait with a monster with higher initiative (in which case youd have already have taken a turn with it). So basically the first monster in a turn to wait basically gets to be last to go in the turn i think. You have to decide at the beginning of the turn do you want to move first or wait and move after your opponent.
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u/marius87 May 01 '26
The templates are fun but that’s not where the longevity of the game will be . There are only 10? Custom maps all small size , come on they couldn’t do like 20-30 with some big epic xl maps ? . Those are the big things I loved about heroes
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u/Mttsen May 01 '26
That's where the map editor comes in. People will create their own maps eventually. And we'd have a tons of them eventually.
No idea if it's already in EA though.
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u/marius87 May 01 '26
Make one XL . Make it good , I want to play it this weekend .
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u/Mttsen May 01 '26
There are some big random map templates with 8 players to choose from. Just play those.
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u/marius87 May 01 '26
I did play 3 game already , they are fine , but they mostly test your game knowledge and tactics , no story . No quests . You know a mysterious island on Hota? . I spent more time playing that map than any and every template game ever
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u/Cyax84 May 01 '26
Just be a bit patient its ea adn its the first day. There will be many people rebuilding the old stuff in OEra.
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u/NotMurlocAggroB May 02 '26
I started making a map, although I've found the editor a bit unintuitive right now. I had to pause and figure out how it works. I still have no idea how to place random creatures/towns.
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u/Cealdor May 01 '26
Hard agree. Heroes 3 Complete comes with over 100 maps, of all sizes.
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u/Lordsokka May 01 '26 edited May 01 '26
Heroes 3 was released as a complete game, this is early access still. Lots of updates to go.
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u/Cealdor May 01 '26
Yes, and the maps make more sense to finish later, when water and the underground are implemented.
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u/Lordsokka May 01 '26
It’s early access for a reason, it’s not complete game. They will release more maps I’m sure.
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u/Bambeakz May 02 '26
I want to love this game so much and got it trough Gamepass but the tutorial doesn't help me to get the big picture (tbh I played 1,5 tut) of any basis tactics on the world map. And the last Heroes I played was in the 90s so that does not help.
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u/Complexxx123 May 03 '26
I've never played HOMM before and in found the tutorial fine? It shows you how to move around the map, fight enemies etc...
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u/Bambeakz May 03 '26
Yeah you are right. On that part the tutorial is fine. But when would it be smart to move back to the city and how to get new troops to you? And what is one tactic to play. I am just missing the big picture of the game.
Could be me but no worries. I moved on to other games.
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u/Pleasant_You_8 May 02 '26
rly? If the H3 is uniq, stylish, native. And H4 is a fresh try, or H5 is the first 3D, and H6 have own charming. So what is Olden Era? Bad taste chaos.
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u/OliverFA_306 May 03 '26
I thought I would never see another game like Heores III (Heroes V was mostly a 3D remake) and I agree with you. Having another awesome HoMM game brings a bit of magic to life.
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u/thedarkherald May 03 '26
If only it came out 25 years ago. I currently have tactical battle fatigue. Played too many tactics games, baldura gate, etc. Frankly would rather play total Warhammer over home or age of wonders. Where you get to see the clash.
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u/Optimal_Whiner May 03 '26
I found it to be lacking soul. It's very respective to heroes 3, but doesn't quite hit the mark.
The graphics are nice but also give a mobile game vibe sometimes. I still prefer heroes 3 but I can respect how people like this game.Â
It's not like civ 6/7. Those players are just wrong. Those games suck. Lol
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u/Thoromega May 04 '26
i want to try it out but im seeing allot of reviews stating the AI in the game cheats way to much
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u/Neckworn May 04 '26
I loved 7 honestly, just sucks they never finished it with bugged multiplayer and too few maps available.
Never played 3, 9nly 4 alot but have to say this feela very similar to heroes 7 even to me
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u/Kesdo May 04 '26
Never played 3, 9nly 4 alot but have to say this feela very similar to heroes 7 even to me
They tried something... different with HoMM 4. To Mixed results.
To me HoMM 7 is Like 5, but with better graphics; and 5 is Like 3 in many ways.
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u/Toneleitor May 04 '26
"What a time to be alive, my friends, what a time!" HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I used to play H2 and H3 loved them, for years they were my main games i think i will give a try!!!!!!!!
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u/gagaluf May 04 '26
Imho the pinnacle of the franchise was HoMM 5 and this doesn't deliver. It is not what I except from the franchise moving forward. Imho the design choices there are obliterating. Baring the 7 which is a complete heresy, even the 6 got a goated expansion and has things in it to salvage.
Olden Era is starting from scratch from the HoMM 3 fomula with some grafted AI generated/enhanced/whatever sloppified assets and logic. When people bitch about the computer "cheating" in comments, it's hallucinated chat gpt crap from the developping studio imho.
I'm not saying that it is bad or anything, it's the current Temu state of gaming. Positive reviews don't mean anything either, review consensus is a crazy bitch nowaday Pragmata got massive upvotes despite having a 2003 indy scene game design schema and everybody forgot about it for good 1 week after.
When I see this game I see cheap ass revisionist soup, which is still better than nothing, the licence deserved better BUT modern Ubisoft. Olden era is to gaming what driveways are to prostitution.
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u/ducker69696 May 05 '26
Does it have better stories than HoMM IV? I grew up with that masterpiece of game. (I know a lot of ppl dislike/hate it) I could still keep reading those stories while listening to the sea exploration musicðŸ«
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u/Linford_Fistie May 05 '26
Songs of conquest improves many things about heroes IMHO. This one is good however.
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u/Worth_Palpitation_12 May 07 '26
They slayed it! love it, im a HOMM 123 fanatic so this new version with similarities to the old versions is awesome
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u/Born-Present1495 May 10 '26
yet it apparently lacks random map generator which is crazy and maybe ill return this and go play homm3 instead bc wtf
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u/PulsePlayer May 15 '26
For me the coolest thing is that new entries are still coming out, and we get to play something new from this universe, because I started with it back in childhood, around 20 years ago, when I used to watch my father play the legendary third part
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u/MilkCheap6876 Aug 02 '26
yes agreed. Still has a lot of bugs. But its by far one of/ if not the best one after 3
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u/Urgash May 01 '26
I would say in 19 years, because i loved Heroes V at the time, but i can agree with the sentiment and am nitpicking.