About
VCMI is a full open-source reimplementation of the Heroes of Might and Magic III engine, maintained by a dedicated community since the mid-2000s. It preserves complete compatibility with original HoMM3 campaigns, maps, and data while unlocking HD resolutions, new content possibilities, and a rich mod ecosystem accessible through the in-game launcher. The project supports Heroes III: Shadow of Death and Complete editions (available on GOG). Network multiplayer, new town types, scripting, and AI improvements go well beyond the original game. VCMI is widely regarded as the definitive way to play HoMM3 on modern hardware and Linux.
Identity
Launch
- Binary
- vcmilauncher
- Needs files
-
- Data
- Maps
- Mp3
Runtime
- Runs as
- Native Linux
- Proton
- not needed
⚙ Setup notes
Proton: None needed — this is a native Linux build via Flatpak (eu.vcmi.VCMI on Flathub/Discover). The Flatpak's default entry point is the launcher vcmilauncher (which manages data files and mods); the game client itself is vcmiclient (no hyphen). Run with flatpak run eu.vcmi.VCMI, or start the client directly via flatpak run --command=vcmiclient eu.vcmi.VCMI.
Install: Install via Discover in Desktop Mode.
Data: Copy the Data/, Maps/, and Mp3/ directories from your Heroes III: Complete or Shadow of Death installation to ~/.var/app/eu.vcmi.VCMI/data/vcmi/ (Flatpak path) or ~/.local/share/vcmi/ (non-Flatpak).
GOG: The GOG version is recommended — use innoextract to unpack the installer if needed.
Mods: The built-in VCMI Launcher lets you manage mods including HD visuals.
The one thing to know
Supply your own copy: Requires owned Heroes of Might and Magic III: Complete or Shadow of Death data files (Data/, Maps/, Mp3/). Purchase on GOG and copy the three directories to the Flatpak data path.
HD Mod: HD Mod assets are separate and optional — install via the VCMI Launcher mod browser.
Native: Native Flatpak is the recommended approach on Steam Deck; no Proton required.
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.