1 – Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era
I don’t think anyone, in their right mind, would argue that there’s a more exciting release on the strategy gaming-sphere horizon other than Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era, the prequel to the classic turn-based strategy RPG series, aiming to recapture the spirit of fan-favorites like Heroes of Might and Magic III. I have played this one quite a lot, and came out of my time with the demo with the impression that Olden Era is doing what it set out to do. My experience with the series was limited to the Gameboy Color, and the gameplay was instantly recognizable and familiar, even after 20 years, so that means something right is being done.
The beloved formula is here, with the core gameplay split between two main layers: strategic map exploration and tactical combat. In the strategic layer, players explore the continent of Jadame, managing resources, recruiting troops and heroes, upgrading their city and units, and researching magic. On the tactical side, the game has a turn-based battle system on a hexagonal battlefield, where armies of regular soldiers, undead fiends, mighty fantastical beasts, and all else in between fight for superiority. The game’s Early Access release was recently delayed to 2026, but don’t let that stop you. The game is shaping up to be something special.
Don’t Miss Out: Wishlist Your Favorite Strategy Demos Before October 20th
Now that you have some solid recommendations under your belt, go and make the most of the Steam Next Fest, and play many high-quality strategy game demos for free, and remember that the Steam Next Fest only runs until October 20th, so you’d better be out there making the most of this opportunity. From the nostalgic throwbacks of Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era to the new twists on the city-builder genre with Anno 170: Pax Romana, all the way to the in-depth battle system of MENACE, this list offers a definitive guide to the top must-play strategy demos this Steam Next Fest week. Remember to wishlist the games you enjoyed the most so you don’t lose track of them when they release!
Support Strategy and Wargaming
I do what I do in Strategy and Wargaming because I love to do this, and I’m never going to stop. If you would like to support me with that, you can buy me a coffee for a dollar if you’re feeling generous. If you can’t, no worries, Strategy and Wargaming will always be free, and I’d love to have you around!
Leave a Reply