《魔法門之英雄無敵：上古紀元》（Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era）是由Unfrozen開發、Hooded Horse發行的回合制戰略續作，預計於2026年推出。作為《英雄無敵》系列的官方延續，不僅回歸系列最受歡迎的經典玩法，也以更精緻的畫面、更龐大的劇情量與更深層的RPG系統，重新塑造Enroth世界的史詩格局。

故事將玩家帶回熟悉的《魔法門》宇宙，背景設定在系列初期三部作品所屬的世界Enroth上，並以曾在《魔法門VIII：毀滅者之日》中登場的Jadame大陸 為舞台。這片大陸甦醒於古老勢力交織的陰影之中，各派系之間的衝突、遺跡中沉眠的禁忌力量、逐漸甦醒的神話生物，都象徵著一場預示厄運的時代即將降臨。玩家所帶領的英雄和軍隊將在這片充滿危機與機遇的土地上探索、征服，並在暗流不斷翻湧的情勢中，決定文明的未來。

延續系列傳統，以帝國經營 + 回合制戰術戰鬥為核心。從六大派系中選擇自己的勢力，包括聖殿、墓園、森林、地牢、蜂巢與於2025年揭露的神秘新派系「裂界」。每個派系皆擁有各自的文化、美學、兵種、魔法系統與屬性風格。森林派系能召喚元素與自然精靈，墓園則仰賴巫妖、骷髏與吸血鬼的不死力量；地牢擅長操控深淵魔物，聖殿軍隊則以高防禦與反擊能力立足戰場。這些兵種不僅外型精緻，能力組合也極具差異，可依據玩家的戰術偏好建立多樣化的軍事風格。

英雄在《上古紀元》中具有更強的RPG色彩。他們以指揮官的角色帶領軍隊，在戰場上施展擁有派系特色的魔法與技能；在策略地圖上，他們又能以自身的被動與主動技能強化國家經濟、加快移動速度、召喚生物、甚至能操控資源生產。英雄的經驗值累積將解鎖新的能力樹，形成真正具有個性的「軍團總司令」。官方透露將提供數百位獨特英雄，各自具備不同起始軍隊與策略風格，使每一次冒險都具獨特性。

在戰鬥層面，《上古紀元》延續回合制戰術的精髓，每場戰鬥都是對玩家佈局與預判能力的考驗。兵種之間的互相搭配可觸發威力巨大的連鎖效果，例如骷髏軍團能透過殺戮不斷擴張，獅鷲與榮譽騎士則能以反擊與突進打亂敵方節奏。遊戲新增「專注值」機制，傷害或承受攻擊都會累積專注，當專注滿溢時，各兵種可施展極具破壞力的專屬技能，從亡靈的屍體吞噬能力，到森林精靈的瞬間位移，都能在關鍵時刻扭轉戰局。

在大地圖上的探索過程同樣深度十足。從一座城鎮起步，逐步建設建築、招募兵種、升級城市，同時向未知區域拓展。地圖上布滿富含資源的礦場、守護寶藏的怪物巢穴、能增強魔力的聖所、可提升軍隊士氣的遺跡等地標。每回合英雄行動力有限，你必須在補充魔力、追尋寶藏、爭奪戰略要道或避開強敵之間做出抉擇。當你的軍隊足夠強大時，就能奪取更多城鎮並在前線建立補給據點，在戰火最激烈的區域形成穩固的王國版圖。

遊戲內容也非常豐富。除了主線敘事式戰役，還可以在隨機生成的地圖中展開無限輪回的征服之旅，或挑戰由開發者與玩家社群透過內建的地圖編輯器所創作的關卡。同時，遊戲支援單人模式、多人對戰，甚至合作模式，讓玩家可以攜手探索Jadame大陸。至於市場期待，《上古紀元》自公布後便獲得老玩家社群極高關注。許多人認為本作可能是最接近《英雄無敵 III》精神的作品，加上Hooded Horse近年成功打造多款戰略熱門作，使得本作被視為系列「正統復興」的重要里程碑。雖然目前尚無正式評價，但2025年釋出的Demo已獲策略遊戲社群廣泛討論，許多玩家稱讚手繪地圖與戰鬥系統的細膩度，並期待正式版能成為戰略遊戲的新高峰。

整體而言，《魔法門之英雄無敵：上古紀元》在保留系列靈魂的基礎上融入更深入的 RPG 機制、更豐富的派系玩法與更龐大的冒險內容，不僅是對老玩家的致敬，也是企圖重新定義英雄無敵時代氛圍的全新嘗試。對於喜愛帝國建造、回合戰術和奇幻冒險的玩家而言，本作無疑是一部不容錯過的史詩級新作。

Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is a turn-based strategy epic developed by Unfrozen and published by Hooded Horse, scheduled for release in 2026. Positioned as a true successor to the classic Heroes of Might and Magic franchise, the game resurrects the beloved formula of kingdom-building and tactical battles, while expanding the world with richer storytelling, deeper RPG systems, and a renewed visual identity that brings the legendary continent of Enroth back to life.

The narrative takes players to the world of Enroth, the setting of the first three Might and Magic titles, focusing this time on the mysterious land of Jadame, previously featured in Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer. This continent, long shrouded in ancient secrets and dormant power, begins to stir as old rivalries reignite and forgotten forces awaken beneath its soil. Civilizations clash, mythical creatures reemerge, and forbidden magic resurfaces, creating a volatile landscape where every faction seeks dominance. As a player, you lead heroes and armies through these dangerous lands, shaping the fate of kingdoms while uncovering the buried truths of this resurgent age.

The core of the game remains faithful to the franchise’s identity: a blend of strategic kingdom management and turn-based tactical battles. Six major factions are available at launch—Haven, Necropolis, Forest, Dungeon, Hive, and the newly-revealed and enigmatic “Riftbound.” Each faction expresses its own culture, magical philosophy, and battlefield style. The Forest faction calls upon elemental spirits, the Necropolis raises legions of undead fueled by dark sorcery, the Hive relies on swarming, bio-engineered monstrosities, while Haven excels in defense and counterattacks with knights, griffins, and holy magic. Units are not only visually distinct but also mechanically specialized, encouraging players to craft unique combinations that match their strategic preferences.

Heroes play a more pronounced role than ever before. They serve as commanders on the battlefield, wielding distinctive skill trees and faction-aligned spellbooks, while also acting as governors and adventurers on the world map. Their abilities influence economy, exploration, resource acquisition, troop morale, and magical potency. Hundreds of uniquely designed heroes are planned, each with their own background, starting army, and strategic identity, making every campaign feel personal and varied.

Combat is designed to emphasize tactical depth and moment-to-moment tension. Every encounter is turn-based, rewarding players who can anticipate enemy movement and exploit positioning. A new mechanic, the Focus Gauge, adds an additional layer of strategy: units build focus by dealing or receiving damage, and once their gauge is full, they can unleash powerful signature abilities. Undead warriors may consume corpses to regenerate strength, forest spirits may teleport across the battlefield, and Riftbound entities may tear through dimensions to strike from impossible angles. Used at the right moment, these abilities can dramatically shift the momentum of combat.

Outside of battle, the world map offers a sweeping sense of exploration. Every campaign begins with a single town and a single hero, from which players expand by constructing buildings, unlocking unit tiers, and gathering resources. The landscape is scattered with mines, treasure vaults guarded by monsters, arcane shrines that enhance magic, ancient ruins that bestow morale or stat bonuses, and rival armies patrolling their borders. Because every hero’s movement is limited per turn, you must decide whether to pursue treasure, secure resources, avoid overwhelming enemies, or push deeper into hostile territory. As your forces grow, you can capture enemy towns, establish forward bases, and reshape the political landscape of Jadame.

The game promises a wealth of content beyond its main story campaign. Randomly generated maps allow for endless replayability, and the built-in map editor encourages players to create intricate adventures for the community. Both single-player and multiplayer modes are supported, including cooperative exploration and competitive conquest, giving players multiple ways to experience the world.

Even before release, Olden Era has generated a surge of excitement within the strategy community. Many longtime fans consider it the closest spiritual successor to Heroes of Might and Magic III in more than two decades, and Hooded Horse’s growing reputation for high-quality strategy titles has further raised expectations. Early gameplay demos in 2025 were met with enthusiasm, with players praising the hand-painted overworld aesthetic, the return of classic mechanics, and the ambitious depth of the combat system.

In all, Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era seeks not only to honor the soul of the beloved franchise but to elevate it with modern design philosophy, deeper hero progression, richer faction identity, and a vast world of quests and battles. For fans of strategic empire building, tactical fantasy combat, and classic turn-based adventures, this upcoming title stands as one of the most highly anticipated releases of the decade.