Beholder 3
- December 15, 2022
- Paintbucket Games
- 5h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Beholder 3," play as Frank Schwarz, a government spy and landlord in a totalitarian state, tasked with spying on tenants and Ministry co-workers to climb the Ministry's ladder. Conduct surveillance, search for contraband, and eliminate targets, all while navigating the power struggle among different factions. Balance your undercover work with personal life as you try to provide for your family and regain your lost position.
Nintendo Switch
PC
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Playstation 5
Steam Deck
Windows
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Xbox Series X|S
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Xbox
Reviews
- Engaging story with moral dilemmas that affect gameplay and character outcomes.
- Combines the best elements of Beholder 1 and 2, offering a familiar yet fresh experience.
- Improved UI and controls, making it easier to manage tasks and interactions.
- Riddled with bugs and performance issues that can disrupt gameplay.
- Limited character development and choices, making the story feel linear and less impactful.
- Some mechanics feel unpolished, such as the camera system and NPC interactions.
- story179 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story in "Beholder 3" has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its engaging plot and character depth, while others criticize it for being overly linear and lacking meaningful choices. Many noted that the narrative feels less impactful compared to its predecessors, with bugs and quest design issues detracting from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game still offers intriguing themes and a compelling atmosphere, making it enjoyable for fans of the series.
“The story is fantastic and really keeps me on edge while playing this game.”
“Great story, fun characters, and overall a very unique experience that is inherent to the Beholder franchise.”
“The plot of the game is very good; I liked it.”
“The story was a bit boring and was lacking the typical Beholder humor/vibe.”
“You're railroaded down the story they want to tell and none of your 'choices' matter.”
“Missions are full of bugs, story is unacceptably weak compared to Beholder 2; who made this game??”
- gameplay108 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Beholder 3" is a blend of mechanics from its predecessors, offering a mix of apartment management, espionage, and narrative depth, which fans of the series may appreciate. However, many players have noted issues with repetitiveness, bugs, and a lack of innovation, leading to a gameplay experience that can feel tedious and frustrating at times. While the game captures the atmosphere and tension of its predecessors, it struggles with balancing its mechanics and providing a fresh experience.
“The cinematic art style is wonderful and the gameplay mechanics are simple yet calculated.”
“"Beholder 3" offers a unique and immersive experience that keeps players engaged with its thrilling premise and gameplay mechanics.”
“Its blend of stealth gameplay, narrative depth, and atmospheric tension make it a standout title in its genre.”
“Its pretty mundane until you unlock the ministry, which is like 4 hours into the gameplay at least for me.”
“The gameplay feels janky; the UI of the first one was so good that no matter how they would have changed it, it would have sucked.”
“Gameplay wise, sooner or later it will become really boring and repetitive.”
- graphics32 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning, artistic style and charming aesthetics, which enhance the overall experience. However, many players report significant performance issues, including lag and crashes, particularly when loading new areas, indicating that the game is poorly optimized despite its visual appeal. Overall, while the graphics are a highlight, technical shortcomings detract from the enjoyment.
“The graphics are special and beautiful.”
“The graphics and art style are great and quirky.”
“Beautiful, artistic graphics.”
“I wanted to complete the series because damn, Beholder 1 and 2 are such good games, but this is literally unplayable. There are so many bugs and the game is overall terribly optimized. Not even Beholder 2, with far better graphics, was that laggy. Since I started to play this one, I can't even finish the game; it just crashes no matter what I do. Trust me, I never had a game crashing this much. Optimize and fix this thing.”
“Another flaw is how basic the graphics menu is in the settings section, so it's not easy to adjust how much it will require of your machine.”
“You make indie games, not AAA ones, so your games need to be the least demanding possible. It's cartoon graphics, not The Last of Us 2...”
- stability31 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting persistent bugs and glitches even after multiple patches and years since its release. Common issues include freezing, game crashes, and problematic mechanics, which detract from the overall experience. While some players remain hopeful for future improvements, the current state is described as an "unfinished buggy mess," leading many to hesitate in recommending the game.
“I like the game, but I don't recommend it due to how buggy it is after almost 3 years.”
“This whole game is just an unfinished buggy mess. I played it for barely 3 hours, and I really doubt it's just me experiencing so many issues, as I keep all my software and drivers updated.”
“The game is not polished at all. Every time you load an unloaded zone, the game freezes and stutters like hell.”
- optimization26 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 35 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, frequent bugs, and frame drops that hinder gameplay. Despite some updates aimed at improving performance, numerous users still find the game unplayable or frustratingly laggy, especially in comparison to its predecessors. While a few players noted minor improvements, the consensus remains that the game requires substantial optimization work to meet expectations.
“I highly recommend a controller because the game seems more optimized for it.”
“Overall, a good game with nice plot, but optimization should be better.”
“As of update 1.0.5, most of the game-breaking issues have been fixed, and I did not have performance issues.”
“Bad optimization: I often encounter sudden frame drops when getting in or out of the tube station.”
“I wanted to complete the series because damn, Beholder 1 and 2 are such good games, but this is literally unplayable. There are so many bugs and the game is overall terribly optimized. Not even Beholder 2, with far better graphics, was that laggy. Since I started to play this one, I can't even finish the game; it just crashes no matter what I do. Trust me, I never had a game crashing this much. Optimize and fix this thing.”
“Everybody is commenting on this, but the optimization is horrible and there are numerous bugs that get in the way of the player.”
- atmosphere15 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised as one of its strongest elements, effectively creating a tense and immersive experience through its stealth mechanics and narrative depth. While some reviews note a lack of innovation in design, many players appreciate the game's ability to evoke a sense of mystery and engagement, particularly in its portrayal of a totalitarian state. Overall, the atmosphere is described as captivating, with a blend of creepy undertones and strategic gameplay that enhances the overall experience.
“The game effectively captures a sense of tension and stealth as you navigate through the lives of your tenants, waiting for the opportune moment to set up surveillance and uncover any illicit activities. One of the game's strengths lies in its ability to create a palpable atmosphere, with its creepy undertones and strategic gameplay.”
“Its blend of stealth gameplay, narrative depth, and atmospheric tension make it a standout title in its genre.”
“The designs are disappointing, the atmosphere just isn't there, and the gameplay is frustrating.”
“Things like breaking into rooms while tenants are sleeping is a simple mechanic that could make or break the atmosphere of the game.”
“I really liked the plot and the gloomy atmosphere and the style of the totalitarian state.”
- music11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for enhancing the atmosphere and fitting well with the totalitarian theme, contributing positively to the overall experience. However, some players find the composition lacking in depth, failing to convey the darker elements of the narrative. Despite a few technical issues, the musical accompaniment is often highlighted as a strong point, with many reviewers recommending the game for its engaging soundtrack.
“The soundtrack fits very well with the totalitarian world, really adds a lot to the experience.”
“The musical accompaniment in the game is also on a high level; in general, I recommend it for purchase.”
“I've enjoyed the story, the gameplay, and characters (especially Kim) as well as the background music.”
“There is no violence, such as police beating up people, and while some topics are very real and dark, it is still unconvincing with a lackluster music composition that fails to deliver the dark grittiness of the beholder.”
“But the great problem for me and some other players (reported at the forum) is a bug consisting of the game getting locked with a black screen and background music after the prologue cutscene. It stays frozen for 5 minutes or more before a loading screen shows up filled with 100%, which also stays frozen, making it impossible to quit from the game. This forces you to restart your PC, which is not good for any PC's health.”
“I am pleased with the graphics, music, and all the design, which have become much better than in the previous parts.”
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the Beholder series has received mixed reviews, with some players noting a decline in the signature dark humor present in earlier installments. While there are still funny missions and quirky characters that provide entertainment, many feel that the overall comedic tone has shifted towards a more serious and less humorous approach in the later games.
“It's a funny game.”
“The random event you might get when sneaking around is also quite funny.”
“New funny missions, people, and conversations... the Beholder series has it all to be an entertaining game.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unenjoyable, particularly noting that daily tasks quickly become forgettable and monotonous. Many reviewers express frustration with the time spent on grinding for resources, describing it as boring and detrimental to the overall gameplay experience.
“If I had to choose a couple of things I disliked, I would say that the daily tasks quickly become tedious and easily forgettable.”
“So I personally did not have money and spent about 1 hour grinding money from daily activities, which was the most boring thing. There were no consequences for not having money to escape.”
“Gameplay design is so tedious and just not fun.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited, with many players noting a lack of meaningful choices and a forced plot progression that diminishes the incentive to replay. While some users mention the presence of multiple endings, the overall content is perceived as insufficient for extensive replay value.
“I won't say which ones I went with, but I will note that the choices give it a little replay value, even if that's just reloading your save to see what the other option does.”
“Replayability - I've only unlocked one ending but believe there are at least three more.”
“Inferior to Beholder 1/2 - only 12 hours of content (being very generous); no replayability whatsoever.”
“Then the game distinguishes itself with several bad decisions regarding the story, leading to a lack of replayability, owed largely to a very forced plot progression that, compared to the past titles, leaves next to no choices for how to make your run unique.”
“I won't say which ones I went with, but I will note that choice gives it a little replay value, even if that's just reloading your save to see what the other option does.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development in this game is viewed as lacking, with some users expressing hope that it will improve the franchise in the future. While the character design is praised, the dialogue is criticized for being cheesy, detracting from the overall experience.
“I hope this game will bring good character development to the franchise.”
“The dialogues are cheesy, but the character design is impressive.”
“The dialogues are cheesy, though the character design isn't.”
“Character development feels shallow and predictable, lacking depth.”
“I expected more growth from the characters, but they remain one-dimensional throughout the game.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its impactful dialogues and dramatic moments, which effectively immerse players in the characters' experiences and feelings.
“The dialogues and drama were so powerful that they truly made me feel connected to the characters.”
“The emotional depth of the story left a lasting impact on me.”
“I was moved to tears by the heartfelt moments and the character development.”
