Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia (commonly referred to as Heroes of Might & Magic 3, or Heroes 3, or abbreviated HoMM 3) is a turn-based strategy game, developed by Jon Van Caneghem through New World Computing and originally released for Microsoft Windows by The 3DO Company in 1999. Its ports to several computer and console systems followed over the next year. The third installment of the Heroes of Might and Magic series, the game was released to universal acclaim and is regarded as a cult classic.

The game received two expansion packs, Armageddon's Blade and The Shadow of Death. The original game and both expansions were repackaged in 2000 as Heroes III Complete. A set of eight level packs was also released through the Heroes Chronicles spinoff series from September 2000 to June 2001. The Chronicles discs were stand-alone releases aimed at newcomers to the franchise. A collection of all eight episodes was released on GOG in 2011. In addition to the official expansions, a community developed Horn of the Abyss expansion adds three new factions, new mechanics, multiple campaigns, and new music by returning franchise composer Paul Romero.

An official HD "remastered" version of the game was released in 2015 by Ubisoft for Microsoft Windows, iPad and Android. It featured updated graphics as well as widescreen compatibility, but was poorly received. Among other issues, it omitted both expansion packs and the level editor. Multiple reviewers suggested instead buying the Complete version instead and using the HD mod. Heroes can contest resource posts such as mines, which offer a resource income each turn, and attack other towns. Combat occurs on a hexagonal grid where units move, attack, and cast spells.

Heroes III refines the gameplay mechanics of earlier titles while introducing some new features. These include a subterranean layer, larger maps and additional victory conditions. Some maps require the player to seek the Holy Grail artifact, which can be used to build a permanent structure in a host city to gain significant bonuses, such as increased resource generation and unique town enhancements. Eight factions were included, up from six in Heroes II, with a ninth added in the Armageddon's Blade expansion. Heroes can also gain abilities which offer them individual perks. For example, the Diplomacy skill allows a hero to negotiate with an enemy and convince them to join up rather than fight.

Heroes III can be played alone through a series of campaigns, as well as cooperatively and competitively through multiplayer maps. 50 skirmish maps were included for this purpose. both in late December that year. In 2000, a Game Boy Color port entitled Heroes of Might and Magic 2 was released. A Dreamcast port was developed, but not released due to technical issues that prevented the console running the game adequately. This version was cancelled in 2000. A copy of the Dreamcast build was purchased by a private collector in 2005, and in 2020 the collector released it publicly after a brief fundraiser.

Expansion packs

Two official expansion packs were released for Heroes III. The first of these expansions, Armageddon's Blade, introduced a ninth town alignment, the Conflux; a random scenario generator, a variety of new creatures, heroes, and structures; and six new playable campaigns.

The second expansion, The Shadow of Death, was a stand-alone expansion that included Restoration of Erathia and added seven new playable campaigns and a variety of new artifacts, including Combination Artifacts. Combination Artifacts are formed by combining specific sets of lesser artifacts, granting enhanced abilities.

Eight level packs were released as part of the episodic Heroes Chronicles series. These were stand-alone releases that do not require the base game to play, and were intended for newcomers to the franchise. Four of them were sold individually, two were free downloads and the final two chapters were sold as a bundle in June 2001. All eight installments were re-released through GOG.com in 2011.

Complete edition

In 2000, a bundle containing Heroes III and both expansion packs was released as Heroes of Might and Magic III: Complete. More than just bundling the original game discs, however, this release reworked the game's installation process as well as its in-game menus to reflect a unified product. The Complete edition does not include the Heroes Chronicles campaigns, some of which were yet to be released when the Complete edition launched.

HD edition

On January 29, 2015, about 15 years after the original release of Heroes of Might & Magic III, Ubisoft released a new high-definition version of the game compatible with PCs as well as Android and iOS tablets. GameSpot and PCGamesN both pointed out that players could simply purchase the Complete Edition and run the community supported HD mod; this method cost less and included the expansion packs. These include:

  • ' (also titled Heroes 3.5) is a fan-made expansion that was released in 2001. It adds new creatures, including eighth level creatures and "God's representatives", which give bonuses to heroes' primary skills. Heroes can also destroy and rebuild towns. WoG was well received by Russian games magazine Igromania, which found the release better than the official expansions.
  • Horn of the Abyss, another fan-made expansion, was announced in 2008 and released on December 31, 2011. It adds three new town types, a large number of new map items, new playable campaigns, a graphical random map generator template editor, among other improvements and features. Its most recent major version update was on January 1, 2024, which added a new town and a number of maps. Notably, the original composer Paul Romero returned to compose music for Horn of the Abyss. HD Mod is included, with HD+ that has a notable feature: simultaneous turns for multiplayer.
  • HoMM3 HD is a mod which adds support for higher resolutions, up to 4000 x 4000, and reworks the interface to be usable at that scale. It was originally launched in 2010 and has received many updates since. A number of games journalists compared the mod favourably against the official HD re-release. HoMM3 HD was developed by a member of the Horn of the Abyss team, and it is recommended by the group.
  • VCMI is an open source implementation of the engine for Windows, Linux, macOS, Android and iOS. It offers higher resolutions and extensive mod support.

Reception

Original release

Critical reviews

The original game received favorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. It held the position for another two weeks, before exiting the weekly top 10 in its fourth week. It was the U.S.' second-best-selling computer game of March 1999. PC Data, which tracked sales in the U.S., reported that the game had sold 185,553 units in September 2000. The combined global sales of the Heroes series had reached 1.5 million units by December 1999. It was also a finalist for the "Computer Strategy Game of the Year" award during the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' 3rd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, which ultimately was given to Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings. The game was a runner-up for "Best Music" at GameSpots Best & Worst of 1999 Awards, which went to Homeworld.

Popularity in Eastern Europe

While the game was developed in the United States, the game was particularly popular in Eastern Europe for several reasons. The game was localized into Russian and Polish in 1999, something that was at the time unusual for a western game, meaning there was less competition than normal. The game was widely distributed in the region, where piracy was prevalent at the time. Finally, the presence of a hot-seat multiplayer mode was a major attraction as only 2% of Russian and 7% of Polish households had internet access in 1999. The title remains popular in the region.

HD Edition

The HD Edition, while touted by the developer as having updated graphics and improved gameplay, lacks the expansion content. It is instead based on the original 1999 game. This was one of the largest problems cited by various reviewers, and has been a significant cause of controversy. The game involves deckbuilding, combat units, and economic management. Each play session features a unique objective, with maps generated through a tile-placement system .

The Kickstarter campaign received more than US$2 million (equivalent to $2.2 million in 2025) in its first week, and reached £2.6 million in its final week, or 6000% of its £43,000 funding goal.