Heroes of Science and Fiction just graduated from eighteen months of Steam early access, and the timing could not be more perfect for strategy fans still drumming their fingers waiting for Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era.
Here's the thing: Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era, the prequel developed by Unfrozen and published by Hooded Horse, is one of Steam's most wishlisted games right now. It out-wishlists Total War: Warhammer 40,000. It out-wishlists the new James Bond game. The appetite for hex-grid, turn-based kingdom-crawling is genuinely massive. The bad news is that Olden Era got pushed into 2026 so the team could give it the care it deserves, leaving a pretty significant gap in the strategy calendar.
HoMM in Space, and That's Not a Bad Thing
Heroes of Science and Fiction, developed by Oxymoron Games, is exactly what it sounds like: the HoMM formula transplanted into a sci-fi setting. Instead of fantasy kingdoms, players take control of one of five factions competing for dominance over a remote star system. The loop will feel immediately familiar to anyone who has spent time with the classic Heroes series: explore a top-down map, secure resources, build up cities, recruit armies, and crush your rivals in turn-based combat.
The five factions each bring something distinct to the table. The roster includes cybernetic moles and religious insects, which tells you everything you need to know about the game's personality. Each faction comes with seven unit types, a unique faction ability, and multiple commanders to choose from. Four of those factions have dedicated campaigns, and dozens of skirmish maps let you experiment with all five.
What the 1.0 Update Actually Adds
The version 1.0 release is a substantial one. The update delivered a fourth campaign that wraps up the game's overarching story, a new planet type used as the theme for fresh maps, seven new buildings, and improved AI behaviours. Achievements also made it in.
The biggest addition, though, is multiplayer. The game now supports online play, LAN, local hot seat, and Steam Remote Play. That last option is particularly useful for getting a friend into the game without them needing to own a copy.
Oxymoron Games has confirmed that post-1.0 support is planned, including smaller updates and future DLC, so the game's roadmap does not end here.
Hex-grid tactical combat
Pricing and What Comes Next
To mark the full release, Oxymoron Games has put Heroes of Science and Fiction on sale at 40% off its standard price, bringing it down to $15 (£12.50) for the next couple of weeks. For a fully released strategy game with campaign content, multiplayer, and post-launch support confirmed, that's a solid entry point.
What most players miss is that this is not just a placeholder until the real HoMM arrives. The sci-fi setting gives it a distinct identity, and eighteen months of early access development means the 1.0 build is arriving in a polished state. It scratches the same itch as the classic Heroes games, just with a very different coat of paint.
For fans hungry for more strategy content in the meantime, you can browse the latest gaming news and reviews on our website to stay on top of what else is hitting the strategy genre this year. Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is still the one to watch for 2026, but right now, there's a star system that needs conquering. Make sure to check out more:
