Might & Magic: Heroes VI

42%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,674 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Might & Magic: Heroes VI Game Cover
Immersive, absorbing, annoying, and very long if youre after getting a tan from your monitor, get in there.
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In Might & Magic: Heroes VI, players command mighty heroes and their armies in turn-based battles, venturing through dense forests, arid deserts, and frozen landscapes. A dynamic storyline unfolds as players choose between six different factions and make decisions that impact the world around them. Experience a rich and immersive adventure, where strategic battles and RPG elements result in an engaging and rewarding journey.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Uplay
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

42%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,674 reviews
story150 positive mentions
stability197 negative mentions
  • story497 mentions

    The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its engaging narrative and character development, particularly the intertwining tales of the Griffin dynasty. However, many others criticize the execution, citing issues such as convoluted plotlines, poor voice acting, and bugs that disrupt the storytelling experience. Overall, while the story has potential and some interesting elements, it often falls short due to technical problems and pacing issues, leaving players divided on its effectiveness.

    • “The story focuses on the family members of the Griffin dynasty, caught in a political intrigue along with an ensuing invasion that threatens the world of Ashan.”
    • “The campaign storyline is compelling and adds much depth to the game.”
    • “The interwoven story is what keeps me interested. To see how each of the characters' stories unfold and contribute to the bigger story is satisfying.”
    • “The story is thin and is lacking any kind of depth that would make the player intrigued to advance further into the campaign.”
    • “The story that came packed with this mess was bland, boring, and uninteresting.”
    • “The greatest downfall for me was the lackluster story.”
  • graphics382 mentions

    The graphics in "Heroes of Might and Magic VI" have received mixed reviews, with many players praising the vibrant visuals and detailed environments as significant improvements over previous installments. However, numerous technical issues, particularly with NVIDIA graphics cards, have led to frustrating gameplay experiences, including crashes and graphical glitches. Overall, while the game boasts impressive aesthetics, it struggles with optimization and stability, leaving some fans longing for the graphical quality of earlier titles like Heroes III and V.

    • “The graphics are superb so far...yet I have to play it at 1280x1024 for it to look best.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and the real-time battle models look astounding.”
    • “Graphics are amazing too; the detail on the maps, on the units, structures, flora is great.”
    • “This game has the biggest amount of graphics crashes, launching crashes, and bugs I have ever seen in a game, ever, period.”
    • “The graphics for the characters and environments are completely what I was expecting from this game at this time.”
    • “The game was not tested with onboard graphics cards, including laptops.”
  • gameplay359 mentions

    The gameplay of "Heroes of Might and Magic VI" has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the new mechanics and strategic depth, while others criticize the simplification of core elements and the presence of bugs. Many users noted that while the game offers engaging combat and a variety of factions, it suffers from repetitive mechanics and a reliance on the problematic Uplay service, which can disrupt the experience. Overall, the game maintains a familiar feel for series veterans but may disappoint those seeking the complexity and charm of earlier titles.

    • “The gameplay has been simplified and streamlined in many ways from the older titles in ways that makes it a somewhat different experience.”
    • “The gameplay is excellent, it's very much a Heroes game.”
    • “The improved gameplay and interface over V, the more cohesive castles, and series-unique take on magic make it very engaging.”
    • “This one tries too hard to be 'modern' that it messes up basic game mechanics.”
    • “It shut down completely the multiplayer service, the mechanics got broken, the gameplay too boring and the performance - more buggy and laggy.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive and boring, the story is cheesy and the voice work is atrocious.”
  • stability202 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various bugs that render it nearly unplayable. Many players have experienced significant troubleshooting efforts due to issues with the Ubisoft launcher and persistent glitches that disrupt gameplay. Overall, the consensus is that the game suffers from severe stability problems, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “I don't have any problems with it; no glitches, everything is okay.”
    • “The game runs great.”
    • “In my opinion, it is a better game than Might & Magic: Heroes VII, but only if it was bug-free.”
    • “This game is a buggy mess that won't start and freezes and crashes randomly.”
    • “The sheer amount of bugs, glitches, freezing, and crashes makes playing the game incredibly frustrating.”
    • “After several years passed from release, this game is just too buggy to play.”
  • music95 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its nostalgic remixes of classic tracks from the Heroes series, particularly from Heroes 3 and 5. While some players find the soundtrack beautiful and fitting, others criticize it for being monotonous and overly reliant on recycled themes, lacking the innovation expected from a new installment. Overall, the music is often highlighted as one of the game's stronger aspects, despite some calls for more originality and higher quality production.

    • “The soundtrack was beautifully crafted, being very pleasant to the ear and fitting to the game's atmosphere at all times.”
    • “One of the most lovable things in Heroes VI for me is the music.”
    • “The best part was how they remade 'Broken Alliance' from HOMAM2, and hearing the music faithfully recreated from HOMAM2, HOMAM5, and Might and Magic 6 was just amazing.”
    • “The soundtrack is monotonous and tasteless.”
    • “The music is a remake of old HOMM3 and HOMM2 themes, but with a generic feeling.”
    • “The music of the game is overall uninspired, even after the expansion (that made remixes of classic tracks).”
  • optimization56 mentions

    The optimization of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting significant performance issues, including bugs, stuttering, and lag, even on high-end systems. Many players have found that disabling fullscreen optimizations is necessary to achieve any level of playability, while others note that the game feels outdated and poorly programmed. Overall, the lack of proper optimization has led to a frustrating experience for many, detracting from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “Also, if you end up with the endless black screen, you have to set compatibility mode to Windows 7, enable the 'disable full screen optimizations' option, and run as administrator; it worked like a charm for me.”
    • “Blackhole did a great job of fixing and optimizing this game, though installation was clumsy and I wanted to give up, but the game itself runs perfectly (Windows 10, use compatibility mode with Windows 8 + disable optimizations in mightandmagic.exe settings).”
    • “The performance of the game is also good, and the game runs smooth and stable without any issues.”
    • “The game is riddled with bugs, poor optimization, and a lack of innovation from previous titles in the series.”
    • “I also have to mention the performance of the game; it is very poorly optimized and will struggle to produce decent framerates even on a high-end computer.”
    • “Game had a horrible start due to bugs and balancing problems, stuttering even though the graphics aren't that good and the effects not too excessive.”
  • grinding34 mentions

    The reviews highlight that grinding in the game is often perceived as tedious and repetitive, with many players feeling it detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the potential rewards from grinding, such as leveling up dynasty weapons, the overwhelming consensus is that the gameplay becomes stale and uninspired due to excessive grinding mechanics. Overall, the game is criticized for transforming what could be an engaging strategy experience into a monotonous grind.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “But Ubisoft, with their notorious blundering, managed to convert a turn-based addictive franchise into a wearying, grinding slog.”
    • “The end result feels grindy and boring.”
  • replayability20 mentions

    The reviews present a mixed perspective on replayability, with some praising features like dynasty weapons and hero customization that enhance replay value, while others criticize the lack of random map generation and AI, leading to limited reasons to replay the game. Overall, while certain elements offer potential for replayability, many players feel that the absence of significant gameplay changes and randomization detracts from the overall experience.

    • “Infinite replay value.”
    • “The dynasty feature for heroes adds a lot to the replay value.”
    • “High replay value: once you clear the campaign, you will be wondering about how to clear the campaign again with opposite choices (i.e. might vs magic, blood vs tears).”
    • “Having played through the campaign, I will say they did a semi-decent job on that, but again, due to the lack of replayability because of the serious lack of AI, that's all there is to be done in this game.”
    • “Limited replayability: there is little reason to replay the game once you have completed it, as there are no significant changes in gameplay or storyline.”
    • “No random map generator, killing the replay value of the skirmish maps very, very much.”
  • monetization13 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many levels locked behind paywalls and numerous microtransactions present. Players report intrusive ads and a broken launcher, leading to a perception that the game prioritizes profit over quality content. Overall, the monetization approach has left users feeling frustrated and insulted, likening the experience to that of a free-to-play app rather than a full-priced game.

    • “I really don't understand the need for another system once it is on Steam, other than monetization for the publisher, of course.”
    • “After realizing this, I went back to the menu and the more I looked at the game and its features, the more I felt that it didn't look like a game anymore; it looked like a free-to-play app with in-game purchases.”
    • “Disappointing... it's a bit of a cash grab con; the game only comes with a few levels, and most of the game is locked, requiring you to spend much more to play the complete game.”
    • “It is an insulting cash grab attempt by Ubisoft and is missing two expansions worth of content.”
    • “After realizing this, I went back to the menu, and the more I looked at the game and its features, the more I felt that it didn't look like a game anymore; it looked like a free-to-play app with in-game purchases.”
  • emotional11 mentions

    The emotional responses to the game are overwhelmingly negative, with players expressing feelings of frustration, disappointment, and even heartbreak due to a combination of technical issues, a lackluster storyline, and a perceived betrayal of their investment in the franchise. Many users feel that the game fails to engage them emotionally, leading to a desire for refunds and a strong recommendation to avoid it, especially for those who are deeply connected to the series. Overall, the emotional impact of the game has been largely detrimental for its players.

    • “If you are emotionally invested in this franchise, for the love of all things sacred, go and play HOMM3 because this game probably isn't for you.”
    • “It's a pretty heartbreaking way to lose a ton of progress.”
    • “Probably one of the most heartbreaking developments of modern gaming.”
    • “The game's narrative is uninteresting and fails to engage the player in any meaningful way.”
    • “The game-breaking bugs, connection issues, poor gameplay, unappealing graphics, and boring storyline make it an unenjoyable experience for players.”
    • “The game had multiple driver issues, Uplay incompatibility issues, sound bugs, camera bugs, and a boring story.”
  • humor9 mentions

    The humor in the game is often derived from its ironic failures and the absurdity of its production issues, such as spelling errors in promotional materials and the frustrating experience with the Uplay platform. Players find amusement in the contrast between their expectations and the reality of the game's performance, as well as in the quirky elements of gameplay, like the slow combat that adds a humorous twist to strategy. Overall, while the game has potential for humor, it is overshadowed by technical problems and disappointing execution.

    • “Suffice to say, I love all evil factions, and Inferno are much cooler now compared to in HOMM3, where the final tier unit was a funny-looking devil, while here it's this sort of Balrog-y 'pit lord'.”
    • “How's this for hilarious; they released an artwork book for pre-ordering customers ... which had spelling errors throughout the book, like 'black dargon' and 'deomn hunter'... they actually gave less of a care to their loyal customers.”
    • “Gameplay itself, strategy combats are as usual very funny.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its beauty and immersive qualities, particularly highlighted by its soundtrack, which enhances the overall experience. While some reviewers feel it doesn't quite reach the heights of classics like Heroes of Might and Magic III, the game's atmospheric campaign and terrain design, especially in the sanctuary areas, are appreciated. Overall, the game offers a pleasant and engaging atmosphere that contributes positively to gameplay.

    • “Mmh6 is a beautiful game with an amazing soundtrack and atmosphere.”
    • “I'm really a fan of the atmospheric feel to this game.”
    • “The atmosphere of the previous parts seemed to have never happened.”
    • “Among the terrains, I particularly appreciate those of the sanctuary, which remind me of the swampy towns in Heroes (especially the atmosphere seen in the city screen of III)!”
    • “The soundtrack was beautifully crafted, being very pleasant to the ear and fitting to the game's atmosphere at all times.”
  • character development6 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally well-executed, with a strong emphasis on leveling, gear progression, and talent trees that keep players engaged. While some players appreciate the depth and coherence of character growth, others feel it lacks sufficient depth to maintain long-term interest. Overall, it garners mixed reviews, with a rating of 8/10 from some players.

    • “So, so many hours of gameplay and good character development via leveling and gearing.”
    • “Character development: experimenting with talent trees and controlling multiple heroes of different talents as the story progresses keeps me addicted to the game.”
    • “Character development: It has some character development but not enough to hold one's interest.”
    • “Character development and learning spells works the same as it has in earlier games.”
    • “You may not agree with the character design choices, but it's hard to deny that the overall coherence and execution are masterful.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

Buy Might & Magic: Heroes VI

Play time

40hMedian play time
146hAverage play time
89hMain story
186hCompletionist
8-262hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 39 analyzed playthroughs

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