VCMI is an open-source engine for Heroes of Might and Magic III[1]. It is written from scratch and reuses only the original game's graphics, sound and text, so the player needs the data files of The Shadow of Death or the Complete edition[2][3]. The code is licensed under the GNU GPL, version 2 or later[4][5], and the project is not associated with Ubisoft[2]. The name stands for a Quenya phrase meaning "New Heroes of Might and Magic"[6].
History
- According to the project's own timeline, work started on 14 May 2007, the project was announced publicly on 23 February 2008 and its code was opened on 1 February 2009 with version 0.7[7]. The changelog calls 0.5 (2 February 2008) the first closed release[8].
- The Debian package describes the original aim as a free implementation of the In the Wake of Gods engine that would overcome the original's limitations[6].
- The credits give the idea to Michał Urbańczyk ("Tow"); Ivan Savenko and Tom Zielinski ("Warmonger") are among the developers[5].
- Early versions were built with SDL and Boost, and 0.8 (2010) already supported hot-seat play[9]. In 2010 OpenNet described it as a separate engine that uses the original data files[10].
- Version 1.0.0 came out on 11 September 2022, nearly six years after 0.99[11]; Habr counted eight years and reported that new developers had joined and releases would come more often[12]. One of the maintainers wrote that the round number did not mean everything was finished[13].
Versions
| Version | Released | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 2 February 2008 | first closed release[8] |
| 0.7 | 1 February 2009 | the project becomes open source[7] |
| 0.8 | 1 March 2010 | hot-seat play[8][9] |
| 0.94 | October 2013 | new launcher application[8] |
| 0.97 | 2 November 2014 | screen resolutions up to 1920×1080[11][14] |
| 0.98 | 1 April 2015 | much improved random map generator[11][15] |
| 0.99 | 1 November 2016 | [11] |
| 1.0.0 | 11 September 2022 | the first 1.x release, nearly six years after 0.99[11][12] |
| 1.1.0 | 23 December 2022 | iOS support[8] |
| 1.2.0 | 14 April 2023 | adventure-map rendering rewritten[8] |
| 1.3.0 | 4 August 2023 | Horn of the Abyss map format[8][16] |
| 1.4.0 | 8 December 2023 | tutorial, high-score screen[8] |
| 1.5.0 | 10 May 2024 | online lobby with accounts and chat; gamepad support[8][17] |
| 1.6.0 | 20 December 2024 | Heroes Chronicles import[8][18] |
| 1.7.0 | 24 December 2025 | HotA 1.7 maps and campaigns, random-map template editor[8] |
| 1.7.5 | 15 August 2026 | latest release as of October 2026[11] |
The changelog for the next version, 1.8.0, renames the project "VCMI — Open Heroes 3"[8], the name its Google Play listing already uses[19].
Features
- Its adventure and battle AI are new and unlike the original's[2]; the Nullkiller2 AI became the default in 1.7[8].
- A random map generator, hot-seat play and screen resolutions far beyond the original 800×600[15][9][14]. Since 1.5 an in-game lobby with persistent accounts and chat[8].
- Horn of the Abyss maps load since 1.3, and HotA 1.8 maps since 1.7.2[8].
- Heroes Chronicles can be imported from the GOG installers since 1.6[18].
Mods
Content is added through mods. A port of Horn of the Abyss brings its Cove, Factory and Bulwark towns, using assets created by the HotA Crew[20], and there is a port of In the Wake of Gods[21]. The FAQ stresses that these ports cover only parts of the originals, that VCMI is not a HotA or WoG mod, and that HD Mod does not work with it[2]; the Google Play listing warns not to expect the same HotA and WoG experience as on the desktop versions[19].
Platforms
- Windows, Linux, macOS, Android and iOS[22][1].
- Android: Google Play (recommended), F-Droid or an APK, Android 5.0 or newer[3][4]; the Google Play version has more than 500,000 installs[19].
- iOS: not in the App Store; installed through TestFlight or sideloading, iOS 12 or newer[23].
- Linux: Flathub and distribution repositories[24].
Coverage
GamingOnLinux has followed the project since 2016[25][16][17]; in Russian it has been covered by Linux.org.ru[9][15], OpenNet[10][14][26][27], Habr[12] and DTF[13].