What I wouldn't give for a new Heroes of Might and Magic game with the pixel art style of HOMM2 and the gameplay mechanics of HOMM3...

Aren't there mods out there for HOMM3 to make it look like HOMM2?

edit: found one called "The Succession Wars"

https://heroes3wog.net/the-succession-wars/

Not exactly what you asked for but https://store.steampowered.com/app/867210/Songs_of_Conquest/ is somewhat close.

I played the campaign and it scratched the itch

The SsethTzeentach review is something else