How to start with HoMM III Mods 2025
There’s no doubt that modifications have breathed new life into the entire Heroes of Might and Magic series, especially the third game, which we’ll be discussing today.
For newcomers, it can be difficult to navigate terms like HotA, HD mod, ERA, WoG, VCMI, LotS, SW mod or MoP. That’s why I’ve decided (after having it planned for about four years) to create an introductory article to help you enter the world of HoMM 3 mods. This article is mainly for beginners – if you have WoG “in your blood,” feel free to skip it. 😊
Returning to Heroes III After Years
If you last played Heroes III back in 2001 and want to revisit the game after a long time, I recommend taking it slow. Your first step should be to install the HD Mod, which serves as a foundational tool. (Note: don’t confuse this with the HD Edition released by Ubisoft, which we won’t discuss here!)
The basic HoMM3 HD Mod allows you to adjust the game’s interface to any screen resolution, quickly split units, and overall makes the gameplay much smoother and faster. While it doesn’t change the game’s core mechanics, the HD Mod introduces numerous QoL features and adds support for random map templates, allowing for larger map sizes.
| Useful links: |
| How to install Heroes 3 HD mod guide |
| HoMM3 HD mod Quality of Life improvements |
Want to Play Heroes III Online? Easier Than Ever!
Playing Heroes III online has never been simpler, and once again, the HD Mod is your best friend here. If it’s already installed, just click on “HD+” in the top right corner of the HD Launcher. This will add the “Online Lobby” option to the multiplayer section, where you can create an account and find opponents. (Watch out for cheaters!)
HD+ also fixes some game bugs and is better optimized for online play.
| Useful links: |
| How to install Heroes 3 HD mod guide |
| Heroes 3 Complete GOG version (works only with this version) |
Looking for New Content, Towns, and Units That Stay True to Heroes III?
Your best choice is probably Horn of the Abyss (version 1.7), which includes two complete new towns – the pirate-themed Cove and steampunk-inspired Factory. HotA provides two story campaigns, new neutral units, plenty of new artifacts, and supports random maps up to gigantic sizes, offering hours of extra gameplay.
In short, HotA feels like an unofficial expansion pack that surpasses the original ones in content! Thanks to HD mod, HotA also offers an online lobby, so you can easily play with friends.
| Useful links: |
| How to install Heroes 3 Horn of the Abyss step-by-step |
| Latest news about HotA |
What Are WoG and ERA?
WoG, short for “In the Wake of Gods,” is a mod that first emerged in 2001. The creators weren’t happy with certain game elements, so they added things like an 8th level of units, battle commanders (similar to Heroes IV), and customizable gameplay options through WoG Options. However, some of these options had issues, and poor configuration could worsen gameplay.
ERA came as a solution, containing WoG in a more stable form. Currently, the ERA Project is actively developed on GitHub, with regular updates and improvements. ERA Project can be easily installed through Heroes Launcher.
| Useful links: |
| How to install and setup Heroes Launcher with ERA Project |
| Latest mods for ERA Project |
Interested in Extra Towns Like Pavilion or Forge?
The VCMI engine has seen significant improvements in recent years and allows you to install various mods with just a click. It also features an online lobby where you can play with others from around the world. VCMI can be easily installed through Heroes Launcher.
| Useful links: |
| How to install VCMI and recommended mods via Heroes Launcher (YT) |
| Latest mods for VCMI |
Heroes Launcher: A One-Stop Hub for All Your Mods
Heroes Launcher is a platform that allows you to run Heroes 3 Complete, Horn of the Abyss, ERA Project, Master of Puppets or even Arcomage all in one place. It features a Mod Browser for easy installation and updates for available mods.
| Useful links: |
| How to install and setup Heroes Launcher with ERA 3 |
| Heroes 3 Complete GOG version (necessary for installing modifications) |
What About LotS, SW Mod, or MoP?
In addition to the main modifications we’ve discussed, there are others that are still in development and quite popular. One of these is Legacy of the Silence (LotS), a project that has added more than 17 new factions, new monsters, artifacts, and basically a lot of everything. However, this is also a drawback of the mod, as quality currently outweighs quantity.
The Succession Wars mod is another project I’m very excited about, but it has been a while since its last update. The SW mod has transformed the entire Heroes III into the graphical style of Heroes II, and it looks amazing.
Master of Puppets (MoP) is a long-standing project in the Heroes community, but it has been without updates and HD Mod support for the past few years. While I found information in 2023 that the author is working on a fourth version, nothing has changed so far. Like any modification, MoP brings new units, artifacts, and game mechanics. You can also install it using the Heroes Launcher.
| Useful links: |
| How to install Heroes III: The Succession Wars mod with HD mod step-by-step |
| Legacy of the Silence |
| Master of Puppets |
WoG Folder – All HoMM mods, one cloud
