So... Say I wanted to play the Might and Magic and Heroes of Might and Magic games that are available on gog.com in canonical order. What would that order be? Games in question are MM 1 to 8 and HoMM 1 to 4.

What would be the proper order story wise?

The original might and magic story-line runs from 1-5. The Enroth storyline begins in Heroes I and 2, so that may as well be your next step as the Corak vs. Sheltem line is finished. Then Might and Magic VI, then heroes III (plus expansions) then Might and Magic VII and VIII.

Immediately before Heroes IV the world is destroyed, resulting from events set up in Heroes III and developed in another set of spinoffs.

So basically follows the release order then. Ok. I tried to find a chonology online and the only one that came up on google returned an error.

>>> Then Might and Magic VI, then heroes III (plus expansions) then Might and Magic VII and VIII

CORRECTION:

- MM6
- Heroes 3: The Shadow of Death (a retconned storyline. Considering how hard it is you should play this last, even though chronologically it's here)
- Heroes 3: The Restoration of Erathia original campaign.
- MM7
- Heroes 3: Armageddon's Blade
- MM8
- Heroes 4



is a

From newest to oldest from my History of M&M posted on another site:


Heroes of Might and Magic IV: Winds of War (2003), 3DO Company, The
Heroes of Might and Magic IV (2002), 3DO Europe, Ltd.
Heroes of Might and Magic IV: The Gathering Storm (2002), 3DO Company, The
Might and Magic IX (2002), 3DO Europe, Ltd.
Heroes Chronicles: The Final Chapters (2001), 3DO Company, The
Heroes of Might and Magic: Quest for the DragonBone Staff (2001), 3DO Company, The
Heroes Chronicles: Clash of the Dragons (2000), 3DO Company, The
Heroes Chronicles: Conquest of the Underworld (2000), 3DO Company, The
Heroes Chronicles: Masters of the Elements (2000), 3DO Company, The
Heroes Chronicles: Warlords of the Wastelands (2000), 3DO Company, The
Heroes of Might and Magic III Complete (Collector's Edition) (2000), 3DO Company, The
Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer (2000), 3DO Company, The
Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia (1999), 3DO Company, The
Heroes of Might and Magic (Millennium Edition) (1999), 3DO Company, The
Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor (1999), 3DO Company, The, Ubi Soft Entertainment Software
Heroes of Might and Magic II Gold (1998), 3DO Company, The
Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven (1998), 3DO Company, The
Heroes of Might and Magic II: The Price of Loyalty (1997), New World Computing, Inc.
Heroes of Might and Magic II: The Succession Wars (1996), 3DO Company, The
Heroes of Might and Magic (1995), Softgold Computerspiele GmbH
Swords of Xeen (1995), New World Computing, Inc.
Might and Magic: World of Xeen (1994), New World Computing, Inc.
Might and Magic: Darkside of Xeen (1993), New World Computing, Inc.
Might and Magic: Clouds of Xeen (1992), New World Computing, Inc.
Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra (1991), New World Computing, Inc.
Might and Magic II: Gates to Another World (1988), New World Computing, Inc.
Might and Magic: Book I (1987), New World Computing, Inc.

I'd play in release order if you want to make the most sense of it. the Heroes Chronicles are in various parts of the timeline, unfortunately they aren't available on GOG.

If I decide to attempt a project like this, I would only be considering the games available here, since I don't own any of them and would need to buy them. Honestly making the maps is what has me interested in them, at least the earlier ones. Even the ones that have an automap I would probably block out my own in excel for purposes of note taking.

EDIT: Browsing through the linked forum thread, the timeline seems more convoluted than the Zelda timeline...

I don't think that's physically possible.

Well, officially, there is no timeline for Zelda. I think the creator explained it that most of the games were just retellings of the same legend and some of the details changed. I like that explanation, since many of the games are about Link saving Zelda. Of course you do have some games that don't follow that storyline, but you could argue that they are just different legends involving the same hero. And since they are legends, there really is no chronology for them.

And in other places interviewing those who made the story for the games they said there was a timeline, they just weren't going to reveal it.

I've read that after HoM&M IV, the whole universe got a full reboot... is that true?

Would hat mean that anything I play in HoM&M V, Dark messiah or VI is just a whole other irrelevant story (irrelevent to previous games)?

Any official news on linking everything together in later games perhaps (since the reboot takes places in another world)?

Where does Crusaders of Might and Magic fit in the timeline?

Anywhere between Heroes III and IV.

That makes sense, thanks.