There's not reallly that much more lore, not consistent lore anyway, except the overarching story of Coran and Sheltem from 1-5.
I suggest starting with Worlds of Xeen (combo of 4+5) is you want to start with the easiest game. The interface is intuitive, the graphics have aged very well, and the combat is both simple and easy.

The games are quite independent from each other so the order isn't too important. You can export you MM1 party into MM2 but it won't change much.

MM2 is basically a bigger MM1 with improved graphics so if you want to skip the first part you'll also want to skip the second.

MM3 has a new engine, which was optimized for World of Xeen (MM4+5). Swords of Xeen uses the same engine but as a fan-made game isn't as good or polished than the others.

MM6 starts a new engine which got optimized in MM7 and 8. The latter being smaller and easier than MM6.

World of Xeen is the easiest game to start but I recommend trying MM3 first.


Most fun in MM1 is exploring and drawing your own maps. You don't get many hints in-game but you can always ask at the forum here if you have problems.

It won't hurt trying out all the games for a few minutes and make your decision afterwards, the other games won't really get spoiled.

If you do decide to start with World of Xeen, avoid the pyramids until you have defeated Lord Xeen; otherwise, you will find that Clouds of Xeen is much easier than intended.

Don't start with Swords of Xeen; saying it isn't as polished as the others is an understatement. The game is plagued with things like balance issues and buggy scripting, and it definitely feels like a fan mod or ROM hack rather than a commercial release.

Personally I really enjoyed MM1. There's very little guidance, as you say, so you simply need to keep exploring and mapping things out. Eventually you'll stumble upon some things you should do. It's an interesting game in that you have to explore to even find out what the main storyline is. If you decide to keep going, some important things that players don't always realize:

1) If you create your own characters (which you should!) they won't start with any useful equipment. But the pre-made characters have better stuff. Take it from them! Just leave the inn with half of your characters and half pre-made characters, transfer their items over to your characters, then sign back in, switch out people again and repeat. Makes the early game easier.

2) Always remember to (S)earch after combats! You can rest first to heal up, but if you leave the square you're in before searching, you'll forfeit the treasure. This is the primary way to find better gear in the game. Robbers are awesome to have for opening treasure without setting off traps, so it's worth having one in your party even though they're rather terrible in fights.

Having said all that, others in this thread are correct when they say the games are largely independent form each other, so you can skip ahead if you're not having fun. The next one to try is MM3 (MM2 is like more MM1). If you like that, keep going through 4 and 5. If you don't, skip ahead again to MM6, where the style changes again.

I would say start with MM8. I think I had the most fun with this one.

I am playing it right now after finishing MM6, and it's night and day!

MM6 is a long grind. MM8 is so much easier and the dungeons aren't so humongous.

MM7 would be another solid option. It's more challenging than MM8 and not as grindy as MM6.

I personally find the first two games to be a tad too old for my tastes, though your mileage may vary there. The games are all pretty self-contained, so you don't need to worry too much about missing out on them, aside from some of the details and background for the whole Corak/Sheltem storyline. That said, don't discount the DOS-era M&M games entirely: Isles of Terra and World of Xeen have aged remarkably well for being over 20 years old. They're a little aimless in the way that all of those old RPGs are aimless, but there are always walkthroughs should exploration cease being fun.

Of course, if those don't fit your fancy, feel free to start with VI or VII. Mandate of Heaven is a much bigger, more epic-scale game, but For Blood and Honor benefits greatly from being more contained and streamlined. If either game works for you, you'll probably want to play Day of the Destroyer as well, though personally I think that one is easily the weakest of the 3 games running on that engine. Still worth your time if you want some more Might and Magic, and probably preferable to Might and Magic IX... which I think is better than it has any right to be, but would hardly consider great.

IMO,

Starting with MM6 is good and bad. The early to mid game are relatively easy and fun. But the last few dungeons will make you quit. Still, 2/3 of a game is a lot to go through.

MM7 fixes a lot of problems with MM6. Melee combat is especially improved. With MM7 there are fewer road blocks than MM6.

I recently started with Might and Magic X and that's been pretty fun, I have not finished it but its decent enough.

I am currently playing through Might and magic 6 and it defiantly shows its age but there is still something that draws me in.

The only other game I have played is Might and Magic II: Gates to Another World back on my Sega Genesis and I was so bad at that I couldn't really tell you anything.

This game did have such an annoying "horde" problem. Thank goodness VII fixed that.

I don't think it was a problem :) MM7 might be better in some aspects, but it lacks proper low/middle/high level zones. In MM6 you always have some dungeon of your level to clear, MM7 desperately lacks them.

I'd say that the early installments are "Nintendo Hard." If that's your cup of tea, then feel free to start with MM1.

I myself have only played 3-9, and I think my favorites are 6 and 7.

7 was my first game, and IMO as good an introduction to the series as any.

6 was good too, although it was also pretty hard (and some monsters, such as the Eyes, were outright maddening).

8 and 9 were rushed, and it shows. If you keep that in mind, you might be able to look past the bugs at a couple of half-decent games... or you might just compare them unfavorably to 6 and 7.

3, 4, and 5 were all fun, but 3 was pretty hard. 4 and 5 aren't too challenging if you take full advantage of the fact that they're basically one big game.

Tee hee! Would you say they drove you...insane? :D

Oh, the cleverness of me.