Might & Magic Heroes Online

About

Might and Magic: Heroes Online is a free-to-play MMORPG released in September 2014, developed by Ubisoft Blue Byte and Related Designs, not to be confused with Heroes of Might and Magic Online game made for Chinese market (released in 2008).

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

32%

Audience ScoreBased on 250 reviews

story6 positive mentions

monetization5 negative mentions

The game has a nostalgic feel for fans of the Might & Magic series, offering familiar mechanics and gameplay.
There are various tasks and opportunities to increase loot and grow character levels, providing a sense of progression.
The graphics and music are appreciated, contributing to an enjoyable atmosphere for players.

The game is heavily reliant on microtransactions, making it feel like a pay-to-win experience that frustrates players.
It requires Adobe Flash Player, which is no longer supported, rendering the game unplayable for many users.
There are numerous technical issues, including lag, bugs, and problems with account transfers, leading to a frustrating user experience.

story
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
67%
11%
The game's story is generally considered weak, lacking the depth and engagement found in the Heroes of Might and Magic franchise, with many players noting that it doesn't have a significant narrative. While some enjoy the quests and find them enjoyable, others express frustration with repetitive tasks and a lack of variety, particularly in the early game. Overall, the story serves more as a backdrop to gameplay rather than a compelling element, with many players preferring straightforward objectives over complex lore.
- “I like the storyline; I just wish there was more variety in the daily quests.”
- “Game story is nice, as well as the quests; the battle mode is good.”
- “I liked the starting quests that are so important and very good if you want to know the lore.”
- “For newer players, it can be frustrating getting troops and advancing through the storyline because gameplay is advanced.”
- “As for the characters and story, there's no need to bother.”
- “Originally made as a web browser game, and it is very visible - the game is using Flash, slow and laggy, mechanisms are simplified and boring compared to the classic Heroes of Might and Magic, all you do are mostly the same quests again and again.”
gameplay
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the strategic elements like flanking and backstabbing mechanics, while others criticize it for being linear and reminiscent of older titles in the series. Newer players may find the advanced gameplay frustrating, and the presence of pay-to-win mechanics detracts from the overall experience. Despite its potential, many feel the game lacks depth and innovation, leading to a disappointing gameplay experience.
- “The guilds and chat are nice, and you can team up with the right trusted players to advance if you are not experienced with Heroes of Might and Magic gameplay.”
- “I absolutely love the game mechanics and leveling system.”
- “I like the new backstab and flanking mechanics the game brings; this, coupled with a smaller battlefield with more obstacles that allow for chokepoints, makes this game have a compelling strategy to play around.”
- “For newer players, it can be frustrating getting troops and advancing through the storyline because the gameplay is advanced.”
- “I see an absolutely painful amount of potential here... potential that has been completely and utterly ravaged by free-to-play, pay-to-win mechanics.”
- “Linear gameplay feels like a crappy alpha test of a real game.”
monetization
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
56%
31%
The monetization model of the game has been heavily criticized for its reliance on microtransactions, which many reviewers describe as excessive and akin to a "cash grab." Players feel that the game is designed to push them towards spending large amounts of money to enjoy basic gameplay, leading to a perception of it being a "pay-to-win" experience. Overall, the monetization strategy has detracted significantly from the game's quality and enjoyment.
- “Microtransactions everywhere right from the start, but what can you expect from Ubisoft, right?”
- “Looks good, plays a bit slow, but the key problem with this game is that it introduces you to microtransactions immediately and I couldn't proceed without them.”
- “Don't waste your money. At one time, Might and Magic was one of the best games in gaming history. This game was completely destroyed by this massive cash grab. Unless you have thousands to spend to make it fun again, that is.”
- “I've never seen a game that is as heavy on the microtransactions and pay-to-win model as this game.”
- “The microtransactions have taken this already struggling classic series and violated it in ways I can hardly express verbally.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
Overall, the graphics received mixed reviews; while some praised the stunning artwork and adherence to the original style, others criticized them as outdated, likening them to graphics from 2008 or even earlier. The sound effects were also noted positively, but there were concerns about character designs not aligning with previous installments.
- “The graphics and sound effects are stunningly good for a HOMM game.”
- “The art style sticks to the original theme/style of HOM&M, which I think is good.”
- “The gameplay and artwork are nice, not to take away from the programmers.”
- “The graphics are straight up 2008.”
- “Flash-based game, graphics more like Windows 98.”
- “Graphics and characters do not resemble the previous parts.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, frequently freezing during startup, loading sequences, and gameplay, particularly when transitioning into battles. Users report that it relies on outdated and insecure technology, leading to a frustrating and buggy experience. Overall, the game's performance is described as highly unstable and unreliable.
- “U press play, you get VLC icon full screen and it freezes.”
- “More often than not, it freezes up during loading sequences, mostly when heading into battle and after a battle.”
- “Game starts from Steam, can create character, freezes at pressing [start].”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
80%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be extensive and often tedious, requiring significant time investment to progress without spending money. While it is possible to play for free, the repetitive nature of grinding for resources and upgrades can become overwhelming, leading to a cycle of combat and resource management that feels unending.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Laggy mobile game with a grindy pay-to-win model that limits access to minimum features, such as building slots.”
- “Which necessitates grinding for both combat and resources, creating a repetitive cycle of building, fighting, and gathering that feels endless.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The music in the game is generally praised for its epic quality and complements the graphics and team dynamics well. However, some players find it repetitive and note that it can be turned off if desired, especially during static gameplay phases.
- “The music is epic.”
- “The graphics artwork and music are a big thumbs up.”
- “The background music enhances the experience.”
- “Music can get repetitive; you can turn off the music.”
- “Background music is playing, but the screen is just not moving to the next phase.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players report severe performance issues and a lack of smooth gameplay, others have experienced no lag and find it runs well. This disparity suggests that optimization may vary significantly based on individual systems or settings.
- “I don't know how these negative comments are coming, but I've been playing this game for 3 days and it runs smoothly; I experienced no lag.”
- “This game is so bad that it cannot even run smoothly; it's like my brain wants to kill itself at how bad this game runs.”
- “The optimization issues in this game are frustrating; it often lags and stutters during crucial moments.”
- “I can't believe how poorly optimized this game is. It runs like a slideshow on my high-end PC.”
- “The lack of optimization makes it nearly unplayable at times, even on lower settings.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The game's replayability is limited, as it only features two playable characters, which may restrict the variety of experiences. Players start with minimal skills and resources, suggesting a potential for different approaches in each playthrough, but overall, the lack of diverse characters may hinder long-term engagement.
- “The game offers a variety of playable simulations that allow you to start your adventure with different strengths and skills, making each playthrough unique.”
- “Each session feels fresh, as you can choose different paths and strategies, ensuring high replayability.”
- “In this game, only 2 of the characters are playable.”
- “The game starts with limited strength and basic skills, which makes replaying it feel tedious.”
- “There is a lack of variety in gameplay, making it hard to find motivation for replaying.”