Delving into Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era has ignited my passion for Dungeons, fostering a strong belief that this strategy game could potentially develop into a new classic.

In the realm of strategy games, a new contender has emerged, captivating the hearts of gamers worldwide. We're talking about Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era, a game developed by the independent studio Unfrozen, made up of former Heroes of Might and Magic modders and strategy veterans.

Unfrozen, in partnership with Ubisoft and Hooded Horse, has crafted a game that harks back to the golden days of strategy RPGs, yet offers a fresh and exciting twist. Despite not being a dedicated fan of the series, the author found himself drawn into the game's core formula.

Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era showcases a sandbox-like gameplay, where players build up their armies, upgrade distant structures, and unleash powerful spells to create a snowballing army of mythological monsters. The author's armies, for instance, consist of medusa, dark elves, and minotaurs.

The game's narrative guides the player towards meeting a friendly agent, adding a bit of structure to the game's open-ended nature. The author was dropped into a match as Dungeon, an umbrella faction for all of the universe's underground creepy-crawlies.

The game's metagame is faster-paced compared to other strategy games, which suits the author's goal of getting as many cool units and shiny trinkets as possible within a limited time. The combat takes place on a 2D tile-based grid, with each player's army on separate sides. Magic can be used to tip the odds in battles by affecting damage-dealers or slowing down an opponent's frontline.

Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era also boasts RPG elements in its overworld, making it a game that players will stick with for hundreds of hours. The game's visual appeal is undeniable, with a beautiful overworld that invites exploration.

For fans of strategy games like Civilization, XCOM, and Total War, Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is a must-play. It's the return of the strategy RPG that the author missed during its peak popularity. The game even features a quick battle mode called Arena, where players can build teams of units and spells, including end-game content, and jump straight into combat.

Despite the author's initial enthusiasm, he had to stop playing after an hour due to time constraints. But the game's allure remains, and he looks forward to diving back into the world of Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era in the future.

Delving into Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era has ignited my passion for Dungeons, fostering a strong belief that this strategy game could potentially develop into a new classic.