Might & Magic: Heroes VII

Might & Magic: Heroes VII is a single-player and multiplayer turn-based strategy game with role-playing elements. It continues the long-running series set in the fantasy world of Ashan and follows the conflict between noble houses during a civil war. Players take the role of Duke Ivan Griffin, who consults his council of advisors. Each council member represents one of the game’s factions, and their stories form the individual campaigns that make up the larger narrative about Ivan’s struggle for power and the fate of the realm.

Gameplay takes place on large overworld maps viewed from an adjustable bird’s-eye perspective. Heroes explore the terrain to collect resources, capture towns, and recruit units. They can learn spells, discover artifacts, and interact with neutral armies or enemy factions. Movement is turn-based and limited by action points, and fog of war conceals unexplored areas. A key element of play is managing the economy by gathering resources such as wood, ore, crystals, and gold to fund new buildings and troop recruitment.

Combat occurs on separate tactical battlefields when opposing armies meet. Battles are grid-based and turn-driven, with initiative determining the order of actions. Each faction has unique unit types, from Haven’s knights and griffins to Necropolis’s liches and undead hordes. Creatures can be upgraded into stronger versions, and heroes support their troops with offensive or defensive spells, morale boosts, and special abilities. Victory relies on understanding unit strengths and weaknesses, battlefield positioning, and efficient use of resources.

The game features six factions: Haven, Academy, Necropolis, Stronghold, Sylvan, and Dungeon. Each has two hero classes and distinct racial abilities. Heroes earn experience through combat and quests, gaining skill points that can be invested in a wide variety of specializations, including magic schools, leadership, and warfare skills. Towns function as economic and military hubs, with multiple building options that unlock new units, higher-tier structures, and fortifications for defense.

In addition to the multi-part campaign, the game provides single scenarios, custom skirmishes, and a duel mode for immediate battles without exploration. Online and hot-seat multiplayer are supported, allowing players to compete or cooperate against each other or the computer-controlled AI. Map creation tools are included, giving players the ability to design and share custom content.