Heroes of Might and Magic III
VCMI · originally by New World Computing
An open-source recreation of the Heroes of Might and Magic III engine that imports your own copy's data and extends the game with mods, new towns and modern resolutions.
About
VCMI is an open-source recreation of the Heroes of Might and Magic III engine, giving it new and extended possibilities: high resolutions, a mod system with new towns and campaigns, a map editor, touch-screen support and ports to every major desktop and mobile platform. Major releases come around three times a year.
No game content is included. VCMI requires the original Heroes III data files. Its launcher imports them for you from the GOG offline installer or from an existing Heroes III installation (Complete or Shadow of Death edition).
Saves made with a different major version of VCMI are usually not loadable, so finish ongoing games before updating.
- High resolutions and widescreen
- Launcher imports game data straight from the GOG installer
- Mod support with new towns, campaigns and a map editor
- Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS
- Heroes Chronicles supported
What you need
The port contains none of the game. These come from your own copy and stay on your machine.
Heroes III data files
Heroes of Might and Magic III, Complete or Shadow of Death edition. The easiest source is the GOG offline backup installer, which comes as an .exe and a .bin file; the VCMI launcher reads both directly. An existing installation works too: the launcher detects it, or you copy its Data, Maps and Mp3 folders into Documents\My Games\vcmi.
Setup
- 1
Run the downloaded installer (Windows), open the disk image (macOS) or mark the AppImage executable (Linux), then start VCMI Launcher.
- 2
Pick your language, then choose how to import Heroes III: select the GOG offline installer's .exe (the .bin is found automatically), or let the launcher detect an existing installation.
- 3
If detection fails, copy the Data, Maps and Mp3 folders from your Heroes III installation into Documents\My Games\vcmi and press Scan again.
- 4
Follow the launcher's remaining steps, optionally install the recommended mods, and press Start game.
Questions people ask
- Is the VCMI download safe?
- Yes, as far as provenance and integrity can be proven. The download on this page is VCMI's own GitHub release (1.7.5), pinned to a SHA-256 in Recompiled's public lockfile, so you can confirm the file you received is byte for byte what the project published. VCMI is open source, so anyone can read what the program does. Hash the file on the Verify page before you run it.
- Is VCMI legal?
- Yes. VCMI is an open-source reimplementation of the game's engine, and the download contains none of Heroes of Might and Magic III: it reads the game from a copy you already own. What is not legal is obtaining a ROM or disc image you do not own, and Recompiled never hosts or links to one.
- Do I need the original game to play Heroes of Might and Magic III with VCMI?
- Yes. VCMI contains none of Heroes of Might and Magic III, so you need a copy you already own: Heroes III data files. The What you need section says exactly what to supply. Nothing you supply leaves your machine.