There's no bigger M&M fanboy than me out there (finished every core Might and Magic game except M&M1 (that's M&M2-9), all without any FAQs!). I'd pay up to $100 for a quality, PC exclusive Might and Magic 10 game, not gonna happen in a million years though.
World of Xeen was the best, I think every one will agree here.
My top nine M&M list would look like this:
1.
World of Xeen - what else can I say? Huge world, you can level up to godly levels, fight some megadragons in the clouds... plus Dragon Pharaoh!
2.
M&M3: Isles of Terra - NOSTALGIA reasons only...
3.
M&M6: Swords of Xeen - super-rare game, made on WoX engine, "licensed" by NWC. Story doesn't make ANY sense in the M&M world but it's still a damn cool oldschool M&M game, think of it as M&M5.5.
Here's info from Underdogs:
http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?id=1113
plus 1 screen:
http://www.thelegacy.de/Museum/6114/
lots of screens:
http://www.ag.ru/gallery/2386
4.
Might and Magic 6: Mandate of Heaven - the proper sixth part. Excellent engine, excellent designed dungeons (Tomb of Varn, Darkmoor Castle (a CASTLE inside a CASTLE!)), blasters at the end, in two words: tons of fun.
5.
Might and Magic II: Gates to Another World - heh, 4 or 16 color hardcore DOS fun. You meet mr Lloyd (the one who designed the Lloyd's Beacon spell!) himself.
6.
Might and Magic 9 - yeah I loved it. Graphics + music = very intense M&M mood. Broken engine, broken quests and promotions but it retains the "old" M&M atmosphere.
7.
Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer - that was fun. Especially the elemntal portals/ dungeons. Besides who didn't dream about having a freaking DRAGON in your party?
8.
Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor - ugh, totally forgetable.
9.
Might and Magic 1 - still haven't finished it. It's so damn hard
Fun fact: I played M&M2 for the first time in 2001. It sucked me in so much I had to finish it. Yeah, I'm hardcore.
...
If you really loved the old M&M games be sure to check out
YENDORIAN TALES 2 & 3. It's the closest thing to M&M ever created, both parts are excellent games.
I mean it even looks like a M&M game!:
http://www.ag.ru/gallery/7420