Everyone has their childhood game that triggers a flood of nostalgia and memories. For me and my friends, it's the legendary Heroes of Might and Magic 3. We've been playing since our early PC days in the 2000s, and I still revisit it regularly. I can't go months without playing a map or two, especially now that there are more reasons than ever to experience HoMM 3 anew.

An Upgrade Fans Could Only Wish For

A few years ago, a small project called Horn of the Abyss (HotA) emerged. Almost a decade later, thanks to the efforts of enthusiasts, Heroes 3 is in its best shape ever. HotA is a global fan-made add-on for Heroes of Might and Magic 3 that extends and rebalances classic gameplay elements while introducing fresh content. The main attraction is undoubtedly the addition of two new towns (factions) never before seen in the game: the pirate town of Cove and the recently released Factory, brimming with mechanical constructs. Both factions include all the elements players expect, executed with near-flawless precision.

Cove is a captivating town boasting a diverse lineup of units, from Seamen and battle-hardened Corsairs to Nymps, Stormbirds, and menacing Sea Serpents. Each new unit serves a distinct role and is invaluable on the battlefield. Cove's unique trait is the ability to build an additional level 3 upgrade for Sea Dogs, formidable archers with the deadly 'Accurate Shot' ability, particularly effective against high-level enemy creatures. With its carefully crafted theme and aesthetic, Cove is a delightful faction to play as, and it has become one of my favorites in the entire game.

Released just a few months ago, the Factory introduces a distinct feature: eight creature types, unlike the seven found in other towns, including two level seven creatures: Couatls and Dreadnoughts. Notably, these can be built simultaneously, providing players with more powerful high-level creatures than other factions. Additionally, the Factory features several mechanical units that Engineers can repair once per battle, akin to the Archangel's permanent resurrection ability. This presents players with two paths: sticking to mechanical units and Dreadnoughts or favoring traditional tactics with Couatls instead.

Both new towns and their original units offer exciting strategic possibilities in battles against existing factions in HoMM 3. After spending hundreds of hours with the latest HotA versions over the past few years, I'm highly satisfied with the team's approach to rebalancing new and existing stuff. Regardless of the faction you choose or the map size and starting difficulty, there are no apparent flaws or distortions. HotA's adventures offer a solid, well-rounded experience throughout, with computer players behaving so naturally that I often feel like I'm playing against real opponents, especially on higher difficulties.

HotA also includes the latest HD-mod for Heroes 3, allowing you to launch it in almost any resolution you want. Not to mention that the game is free, works just fine on any hardware, occupies less than 1 GB of storage space, and delivers a smooth and comfortable experience on every display. In short, there's no excuse for not having it installed on your machine right away. Discovering all the new additions that the HotA team has successfully implemented over the years is immensely satisfying. Once you grasp that special flow, Heroes 3 will once again unplug you from reality for several hours every time you launch it.

Will Always Be My Number One

Before HotA, there were other attempts to resurrect HoMM 3, such as Heroes 3.5: In the Wake of Gods (WoG), an unofficial mod that heavily relies on new scripts and possibilities, fundamentally altering many familiar elements with its set of unbound rules. While initially exciting to explore, it proved to be overly unpredictable and buggy, with imbalanced features at every turn, often detracting from the overall experience. It was considered a miracle if players could successfully complete a map they started.

In contrast to WoG's unpredictable and disjointed nature, HotA's greatest achievement lies in how seamlessly every new addition fits with the original. From the two exceptionally well-designed towns with their unique themes and tactics to the visuals, music, sound effects, fresh unit designs and animations, balance improvements, and more, HotA truly feels like a natural evolution of Heroes of Might and Magic 3: The Shadow of Death. It shows just how much potential is still left in this legendary turn-based strategy.

In 2015, Ubisoft attempted an official HoMM 3 HD remaster, but unfortunately, they approached the project in a really shallow way. They didn't even touch the content of the Armageddon’s Blade and The Shadow of Death expansions, let alone offer anything new. As a result, the community quickly abandoned this iteration of the game due to its lack of potential.

Luckily, HotA more than fulfilled that role of resurrecting the legend, emerging as the ultimate version of the cult classic that many had hoped for. As a gesture of appreciation for their work, Ubisoft and Archon Studio recently partnered with the HotA team to incorporate the Cove into Heroes of Might & Magic: The Board Game. This partnership solidifies Horn of the Abyss as an official part of the Enroth canon.

This unexpected move essentially proves that if you were ever a fan of HoMM 3, the latest version of HotA deserves your full attention. It elevates everything you know and love about Heroes 3 to new heights, offering a superb turn-based strategy experience that never feels ancient, but instead remains surprising and clever at every turn.

I feel incredibly happy and almost privileged that, among all the classic PC games, Heroes 3 is still here with us, alive and well. While many games come and go, nothing compares to the enduring gaming experience that HoMM 3 and HotA provide. At this point, it's more than just a game; it's a part of my lifestyle and a perfect reason to gather friends for a new map at my place.