Blood Bowl 3

51%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,790 reviews
  • monetization
  • graphics
  • stability
Blood Bowl 3 Game Cover
Blood Bowl 3 is a solid game that has a RNG system and match breaking bugs that will make you want to rage quit while the graphic and sound design, including the humour, reminds you: it’s just a game.
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Blood Bowl 3 is a brutal sports game set in a fantasy world, where players control teams of anthropomorphic creatures and compete in the violent game of Blood Bowl. Three editions of the game are available for preorder, each offering exclusive customization packs and in-game items. The objective is to score the most touchdowns while tactically injuring and outsmarting opponents, all in the name of Nuffle, the god of violence and Blood Bowl.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

51%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,790 reviews
graphics155 positive mentions
monetization162 negative mentions
  • The game captures the core fun of Blood Bowl with a nice graphical style.
  • Improvements have been made since launch, making the game more stable and enjoyable.
  • The new ruleset and team management features add depth to the gameplay.
  • The game is still plagued by bugs and connectivity issues, making it frustrating to play.
  • The monetization model is seen as predatory, with many customization options locked behind a paywall.
  • The AI is poor, making single-player mode unchallenging and less enjoyable.
  • monetization532 mentions

    The monetization model of the game has been widely criticized as predatory and excessively greedy, with many players feeling it prioritizes profit over gameplay quality. Microtransactions are primarily cosmetic but are implemented in a way that forces players to spend significantly to customize their teams, often requiring purchases for individual players rather than across the entire team. Overall, the monetization strategy has led to disappointment among fans, who feel it detracts from the overall gaming experience and reflects a cash grab mentality from the developers.

    • “The monetization really isn't that bad, it's all cosmetics, and you will get the boards, balls, and dice from normal game progression.”
    • “The microtransactions aren't bad, considering with the new (free) competitive seasons and the coach levels, there's enough of the in-game currency offered for free to extensively customize a few of your favorite teams.”
    • “Since all the current and future races will be playable for free, I do not agree with the people who call their monetization strategy predatory; the only inaccessible content is cosmetics, and having that behind a paywall instead of gameplay elements is something I support.”
    • “The game is built around microtransactions.”
    • “I'm calling it money grubbing instead of 'microtransactions', because the amounts they're asking for are far from 'micro'.”
    • “The monetization system is extremely predatory: cosmetics can be purchased, however each piece purchased will only work on a limited number of players (2) which is roughly the same number of pieces you would get if you bought a physical team box from GW.”
  • graphics468 mentions

    The graphics in Blood Bowl 3 have received mixed reviews, with some players praising the improved visuals and updated aesthetics compared to Blood Bowl 2, while others criticize them as a downgrade or lacking in charm and detail. Many users noted that while the graphics are technically better, they often struggle with visibility and clarity during gameplay, and some features, like player mutations, are not visually represented. Overall, the graphical enhancements are seen as a step forward, but not enough to compensate for other gameplay issues and a perceived lack of content.

    • “As a veteran of earlier versions of the tabletop game, I’m having a blast playing online and the interface and visuals are better than in Blood Bowl 2.”
    • “The graphics are great.”
    • “The graphics and the new leveling system are great, the new rules and skills are cool.”
    • “Graphics are a downgrade from Blood Bowl 2.”
    • “The graphics and overall visual design is off target and the gameplay feels sluggish, forced, and subpar when compared to Blood Bowl 2.”
    • “The graphics are ugly, frequently difficult to distinguish between player and pitch.”
  • stability445 mentions

    The stability of Blood Bowl 3 has been widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. Despite some patches addressing initial issues, many users still experience game-breaking problems, including freezes, disconnects, and unresponsive AI, leading to a frustrating gaming experience. Overall, the game is perceived as unfinished and in need of substantial improvements to reach a playable state.

    • “I played 3 games in a row that all were bug free.”
    • “This latest version seems bug free to me and I have been really enjoying it.”
    • “However, the UI is smoothed out and nearly bug free now.”
    • “This game was delayed years and now, over a year after release, it's still a buggy mess, with slow to roll out patches, made worse now that cross-play is enabled, with basic functions breaking or still not being implemented.”
    • “The game is unplayable currently as it freezes (as in a total crash you have to alt-f4 out of) any time there is pass interference then awards the win to whoever is willing to afk in the game longer.”
    • “It's a buggy, buggy mess, doing things like 'soft crashing on the last turn, you not being able to do anything about it, and then sticking up a 'conceding match' to you when it finally comes about (was winning 2-0 too).”
  • gameplay361 mentions

    The gameplay of Blood Bowl 3 has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the core mechanics and fun factor reminiscent of its predecessor, Blood Bowl 2. However, numerous bugs, clunky interfaces, and a reliance on microtransactions for customization have marred the experience, leading to frustrations over missing features and performance issues. While some players find the gameplay enjoyable and engaging, others criticize it for being less polished and more restrictive than expected, suggesting that it feels incomplete and in need of significant improvements.

    • “Blood Bowl 3 attempts to translate the beloved turn-based strategy gameplay of the tabletop classic into the digital realm.”
    • “The gameplay is great, I haven't encountered any bugs or other technical issues and the community is fantastic.”
    • “At the core, Blood Bowl is great, the gameplay is fun.”
    • “Quite simply, this game is dreadful, with no guide, rigged gameplay, and no enjoyment factor.”
    • “The game isn't polished at all and the gameplay does not feel fulfilling in any way, shape, or form.”
    • “It's a nearly unplayable mess filled with game-ruining bugs ranging from important aspects of the UI completely disappearing during gameplay, to incorrect calculations leading to plays that should not have happened or even scores being negated.”
  • humor64 mentions

    The humor in Blood Bowl 3 is described as over-the-top and often absurd, successfully embracing its silly setting with charming cutscenes and entertaining commentary. While many players find the game genuinely funny, some criticize the limited dialogue and the game's numerous issues, which detract from the overall comedic experience. The humor surrounding the game's monetization strategies and technical problems adds a layer of irony, making for a mixed but often amusing reception.

    • “Whereas Blood Bowl 1 and 2 were more grounded with some tongue-in-cheek humor, Blood Bowl 3 really went all out with the humor.”
    • “The game really embraces its silly setting this go-around, and the humor for the most part really works and adds a lot of charm.”
    • “It's really fun to beat up some fantasy football players and push your luck with funny dice rolls.”
    • “They're not funny; they only have about 5 lines each, and it takes about 4 matches before you turn them off in frustration.”
    • “Compensating players with something solid and not funny money?”
    • “They're not funny; they only have about 5 lines each, and it takes about 4 matches before you turn them off in frustration.”
  • optimization62 mentions

    The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting poor performance, lag, and game-breaking bugs across all platforms. While some users have noted improvements and a lack of issues on newer systems, the general consensus is that the game feels unfinished and poorly optimized, particularly in terms of server performance and gameplay mechanics. Overall, the optimization is seen as a significant drawback, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “It looks good, it sounds good, it's optimized well.”
    • “Haven't experienced all the issues everyone keeps bringing up about performance and only been disconnected from the server once and I just hit the reconnect button and it was fine.”
    • “Performance is improving.”
    • “Woeful performance, it's laggy and buggy.”
    • “The devs have learned (next to) nothing from bb2, making this a bug-riddled, poorly optimized and barely playable mess.”
    • “The game itself is not optimized at all and almost causes my $2000 setup to explode by using all CPU and RAM available during infinite loops.”
  • story52 mentions

    The story aspect of Blood Bowl 3 has been widely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement compared to its predecessor, Blood Bowl 2. Players express disappointment over the single-player campaign, which is described as a series of uninspired matches without meaningful storylines or character development, and they lament the absence of features like visible mutations that enhance storytelling. Overall, the game is seen as prioritizing multiplayer and monetization over a compelling narrative experience, leaving many players feeling that the campaign mode is a significant downgrade.

    • “I loved the storyline of the Reikland Reavers campaign!”
    • “What I want to see for BB4 is BB2 with more storylines!”
    • “I recommend playing Blood Bowl 2 for a few reasons: 1. You have more customization, 2. You have more teams, 3. You have a campaign that seems to have a proper story for a team.”
    • “The game is focused on the multiplayer to the point of neglecting the storytelling that engages casual players.”
    • “Somehow there's even less of a story to the campaign mode than there was in Blood Bowl 2 (which was essentially nonexistent).”
    • “No items rewarded through 'campaign', which is just 3 game tournaments that do not have any sort of storyline, just gimmick cut-scenes.”
  • grinding42 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, often requiring hundreds of hours to unlock new content or teams, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. The shift to a battle-pass model has intensified the grind, with many feeling that it prioritizes monetization over fun gameplay. Additionally, clunky controls and buggy multiplayer features further exacerbate the grind, making the experience feel more like a chore than an engaging game.

    • “On average $20 AUD per extra team you want to play unless you are prepared to grind heaps to unlock the latest team (and with the latest patch the grinding has become worse).”
    • “Game has improved in the first season but the battle pass is insanely grindy for a game with like 20% of the actual game of Blood Bowl's content.”
    • “Season 1 has about 50 tiers to unlock (not including manager leveling). If you like grinding, then good news, you will not gain 1 level per match; you will probably have to put 75+ games into this in order to get everything unlocked... there is of course the in-game currency for those of you who do not wish to, but it's going to sting your wallet badly.”
  • music24 mentions

    The music in the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players criticizing it for being recycled from the previous installment, Blood Bowl 2, leading to a lack of freshness and variety. Sound design issues, including poor integration and repetitive commentary, contribute to an overall unsatisfactory audio experience that quickly becomes intolerable. While some users noted that the music itself isn't inherently bad, its repetitive nature and the absence of new content detract significantly from the game's enjoyment.

    • “My biggest gripe with this game is that they put so much effort in cut scenes, animations, camera movements, music, player customization, and blood effects.”
    • “Music blares just fine, and players animate normally... you can click nothing.”
    • “- music isn't bad”
    • “So it's a bit of a slap in the face to come into this edition, hear the same recycled music and voice-over content from Blood Bowl 2.”
    • “The sound design (background music, animation sounds, and especially the commentary) will become old in a couple of hours and intolerable by five.”
    • “They directly copied all the music and voice acting from the previous game.”
  • replayability18 mentions

    The game's replayability is primarily centered around its multiplayer experience, with many players noting that the AI is only useful for learning the basics and does not enhance replay value. While the game has improved significantly since its pre-release, allowing access to all factions and making certain races more playable, some users feel that facing the same teams repeatedly diminishes overall replayability. Overall, it is seen as a work in progress, with potential for future enhancements.

    • “I would not recommend this game for people focusing on the single-player as it is catered towards multiplayer, with most of the replayability existing there, and an AI that is only useful for learning the basics such as tackle-zones and passing.”
    • “Actually, it's a good game, much more playable than it is said, and I like it even more than Blood Bowl Two!”
    • “However, as of the full release, the game is far more playable than its pre-release.”
    • “I would not recommend this game for people focusing on the single-player as it is catered towards multiplayer with most of the replayability existing there, and an AI that is only useful for learning the basics such as tackle-zones and passing.”
    • “You will fight the same teams each time you play, destroying replayability.”
    • “But in a nutshell, sure it is much more playable now but far from a finished game that I would recommend.”
  • emotional16 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to their teams in Blood Bowl, experiencing heart-wrenching moments when beloved characters are lost in brutal matches. While the satisfaction of team growth and victories is highlighted, many feel disillusioned by the game's current state, comparing it unfavorably to its predecessor and expressing frustration over perceived quality issues. Overall, the emotional highs and lows of gameplay are significant, but they are overshadowed by disappointment in the game's execution.

    • “Seriously though, this is a pretty standard adaptation of Blood Bowl and is good fun growing a team, seeing them win, get battered, and even die. Losing a player you've become attached to, which you will if you like winning, can be just as heart-wrenching as in XCOM and games of that ilk.”
    • “Matches are brutal and emotional, team improvements satisfying as ever, and casualties... causing them a hell of a fun, not so much receiving. I've played both vs. AI and PvP, and really can't wait for the first full PvP season and ladder!”
    • “I love Blood Bowl, so seeing it reduced to this is heartbreaking.”
  • atmosphere10 mentions

    The atmosphere in Blood Bowl 3 is highly praised for its impressive cinematics, detailed models, and vibrant stadium settings, which enhance the overall experience. Reviewers note that the game's acoustics contribute significantly to creating an engaging environment, making it stand out compared to previous titles. However, some players express a desire for even more content to enrich the atmosphere further.

    • “Blood Bowl 3 really nails the atmosphere in a way the other games did not.”
    • “Come across no bugs and the new atmosphere of the stadiums and display of the pitch is looking great.”
    • “In good moments there can be quite an atmosphere, as the acoustics are on top.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The game provides extensive team and character development options, enabling players to customize their teams and enhance their skills. While it emphasizes aggressive tactics and brutal violence, appealing to fans of gore, the overall presentation, including visuals and animations, enhances the character development experience.

    • “The game offers many team and character development options, allowing players to customize their teams and improve their skills.”
    • “Blood Bowl 3 encourages aggressive tactics and delivers brutal violence, making it an excellent game for players who enjoy gore and mayhem.”
    • “The visuals are spectacular. In-game animations are outstanding. Cutscenes are an absolute delight.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

59% average critic score

Buy Blood Bowl 3

Play time

43hMedian play time
147hAverage play time
9-268hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 40 analyzed playthroughs

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