About
fheroes2 is a from-scratch, open-source recreation of the Heroes of Might and Magic II game engine, written in C++ by ihhub and a large community of contributors. It replicates the original gameplay faithfully while adding higher resolution support, improved AI, countless bug fixes, and quality-of-life improvements the original never had. The engine requires the original game's data files (sold on GOG) or the free official demo. Active development continues with regular releases; the project hit v1.1.16 in 2026. It is one of the most polished open-engine recreations available on Linux and Steam Deck.
Identity
Launch
- Binary
- fheroes2
- Needs files
-
- DATA
- MAPS
Runtime
- Runs as
- Native Linux
- Proton
- not needed
⚙ Setup notes
Native: Native Linux via Flatpak (io.github.ihhub.Fheroes2 on Flathub/Discover). No Proton needed.
Install: Install via Discover in Desktop Mode.
Data: On first launch, point fheroes2 at your Heroes of Might and Magic II data: either supply the GOG installer .exe (fheroes2 can extract it automatically) or copy the DATA, MAPS, ANIM, and MUSIC subdirectories to ~/.var/app/io.github.ihhub.Fheroes2/data/fheroes2/.
Demo: A free in-game demo downloader is also available if you only want to try before buying.
Controller: Controller/trackpad support: use the Keyboard (WASD) and Mouse Steam Input layout; right trackpad = mouse, triggers = mouse buttons.
The one thing to know
Supply your own copy: Requires owned Heroes of Might and Magic II data files (DATA/, MAPS/ at minimum). Purchase on GOG and supply the .exe installer — the fheroes2 Flatpak can auto-extract it.
Demo: The free official demo is also supported for basic play.
Native: Native Flatpak path is strongly recommended over any Proton approach.
Controller: Controller input needs the Keyboard + Mouse Steam Input layout manually selected.
Community guides
Write-ups and threads from people who got this (or a similar) game running. deckport links to them — it doesn't reproduce them.
Get the artwork
deckport never hosts game images. Open this game on SteamGridDB, pick
the cover / hero / logo / icon you like, and drop them into the
game folder under .deckport-art/ before you push it to the
Deck. The importer files them under the right names automatically.
Run it on your Deck
Two files: the one-time importer (deckport.py) in your
Deck's home folder, and this game's install helper. Copy the game
into ~/Games and run the helper with Steam closed — it
writes the recipe (binary, launch options)
and registers the shortcut with artwork.