fheroes2 Engine Gets Version 1.1.18 Update
The open-source Heroes of Might and Magic II engine returns to monthly releases with improved AI behavior and editor features.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
The fheroes2 project released engine version 1.1.18, improving AI use of Vampire Lord and Ghost abilities and preventing the AI from casting Berserker when it would be ineffective. The project is returning to monthly releases after a long delay.
Why it matters
The update refines how computer-controlled heroes play, reducing aggressiveness on lower difficulty levels in response to player feedback. It also signals the project's renewed release cadence after a period of delay caused by personal matters affecting core team members.
The release notes come from the project's own changelog, listing 5 new maps and 4 updated maps alongside more than 60 closed issues since the previous version. The notes do not give a date for the next release.
The players
fheroes2 project
An open-source, free reimplementation of the engine for the classic strategy game Heroes of Might and Magic II, maintained by volunteer developers.
The details
Among the changes, AI heroes can now predict the future states of more objects without cheating, and an HP bar option shows health for all monsters on the battlefield. The Editor's Auto Playtest was reworked so map makers can choose hero classes, and the Hotkey dialog gained category selection and a configurable Delete hotkey.
Timeline
November 9, 2026: Version 1.1.18 release is published.
Roadmap
Fan-driven reimplementations like fheroes2 keep the original Heroes of Might and Magic II engine playable on modern systems, extending a game first released in 1996. This version continues that effort by refining AI behavior and map editing tools for a community still building on the original design.
Players of fheroes2 will see computer opponents behave differently, with less aggression on lower difficulty settings and smarter use of certain special abilities. Map makers gain more control over Auto Playtest through hero class selection and improved text editing in the Virtual Keyboard.
The takeaway
Players who enjoy tuning difficulty can expect the lower-level AI to feel less punishing in this version. Map makers can use the updated Auto Playtest to test their creations with specific hero classes.
Further reading
Explore more on Artificial Intelligence to see how game AI decision-making is developed and refined.
More information
Support the project through the fheroes2 project Patreon support page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by GamingOnLinux.
