Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

About

In Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, players choose between the Global Defense Initiative, the Brotherhood of Nod, or the alien Scrin in a fight for control over Tiberium, a dangerous and valuable resource. The third installment in the popular real-time strategy series features a single-player campaign with live-action cutscenes, as well as online multiplayer. The game is known for its fast-paced action and strategic gameplay, as well as its iconic factions and units.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,245 reviews

story215 positive mentions

stability23 negative mentions

Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars is a classic RTS that still holds up well today, with engaging gameplay and a compelling storyline.
The game features impressive graphics for its time, along with enjoyable live-action cutscenes that enhance the overall experience.
The diverse factions and unit types provide a variety of strategies, making the gameplay dynamic and fun.

The recent patches have significantly unbalanced the campaign, making it frustratingly difficult even on easy mode, with the AI receiving unfair advantages.
The game is locked at 30 FPS, which can detract from the overall experience and responsiveness of gameplay.
Multiplayer support is virtually non-existent, requiring third-party solutions to play online, which can be cumbersome and frustrating.

story
704 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
65%
4%
The story of "Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars" is generally well-received, featuring a compelling narrative that continues the franchise's long-standing conflict between the Global Defense Initiative (GDI) and the Brotherhood of Nod, with the addition of the alien Scrin faction. Players appreciate the engaging cutscenes, often featuring notable actors, and the depth of world-building, although some missions suffer from erratic difficulty spikes due to balancing changes aimed at multiplayer. While the overall storyline is considered enjoyable, some critiques highlight that certain missions can feel frustratingly unbalanced, detracting from the experience.
- “A gripping story about the charismatic cult leader Kane from three different perspectives, which always brings up new aspects.”
- “The campaign has a ton of mission variety and objectives, full of characters that are well acted and do grow on you by the end of the game.”
- “With its stunning visuals, gripping storyline, and strategic depth, it transports players into the heart of the Tiberium conflict, where every decision could mean the difference between victory and defeat.”
- “The story only makes things worse.”
- “It's a boring and bad game with a lame story (compared to C&C or Tiberian Sun).”
- “The story is unimaginative and the main plot twist (alien invasion) comes way too late to have a meaningful impact.”
gameplay
312 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
51%
3%
The gameplay of "Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars" is characterized by its fast-paced, engaging mechanics that blend traditional real-time strategy elements with modern enhancements, making it accessible yet challenging for players. While many appreciate the nostalgic feel and variety in unit design, some critiques highlight issues with AI difficulty, mission balance, and a lack of innovation compared to earlier titles in the series. Overall, the game remains a solid choice for RTS enthusiasts, offering a mix of strategic depth and enjoyable gameplay, despite some dated mechanics and imbalances.
- “Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars is a masterclass in real-time strategy that effortlessly blends nostalgia with engaging gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is fast-paced, the micro is smooth and intense, and the factions are some of the most unique in the franchise.”
- “Each mission feels impactful, and the variety in objectives keeps gameplay fresh and exciting.”
- “The mission designs and mechanics, especially the way the AI is boosted, is what breaks it for me.”
- “After 10 hours on this game, I've concluded that it has very hard gameplay, a broken AI that remembers how you have done previous missions and acts accordingly, making it a chess match with AI. If setting it to easy is still this hard, then this game must be really anti-climactic or have one of those badly written stories they think they can fix by making every mission a flat-out grind.”
- “There's a serious imbalance in campaign gameplay due to asymmetrical AI balancing that will tarnish any remaining nostalgia you'd have for the game after the first handful of missions.”
graphics
296 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
47%
6%
The graphics of the game have received largely positive feedback, with many users noting that they hold up well despite the game's age, originally released in 2007. Players appreciate the beautiful visuals, detailed unit designs, and impressive special effects, which contribute to an engaging gameplay experience. However, some critiques mention readability issues in chaotic battles and a dated aesthetic that may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point of the game, enhancing its nostalgic value and enjoyment.
- “The graphics hold up surprisingly well given the game's age.”
- “The graphics are surprisingly impressive for a game of its age, and the cutscenes featuring live-action actors add a unique flair that enhances the overall experience.”
- “The graphics still hold up to par with recent RTS games.”
- “Though the sparse aesthetic fits C&C’s post-apocalyptic landscapes, this visual style hasn’t aged well.”
- “The graphics are very primitive; not sure why it's so bad.”
- “Another issue is the graphics look half done.”
music
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
50%
8%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it fits the post-apocalyptic setting and has some memorable tracks, it lacks the iconic quality of previous titles, particularly those featuring composer Frank Klepacki. Some describe the soundtrack as generic or forgettable, while others appreciate its adequacy and ability to enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, the music is seen as a step down from earlier entries in the series, but still contributes positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “The soundtrack is, as always, a banger and the units' voice lines are just as insane or even better than they were before.”
- “The sound design deserves special mention, as the iconic music and unit acknowledgments create a nostalgic atmosphere for longtime fans and enhance the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “While it is unfortunate that Frank Klepacki did not return to grant C&C3 a score similar to the stupendous soundtracks of Red Alert 2 and prior, Steve Jablonsky and Trevor Morris lived up to his quality - if not necessarily style - and brought quality music to the title.”
- “Music could be better though, it's easy to forget this game has music.”
- “Audio: 5/10 - the music is generic and nothing good like the older titles have.”
- “The only major sin is the lack of Frank Klepacki - this is the first C&C game where I did not even notice any of the music.”
atmosphere
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
31%
10%
The atmosphere in the game is generally praised for its immersive qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the tension, suspense, and detailed environments that enhance the gameplay experience. While some feel it lacks the romantic and apocalyptic feel of its predecessor, Tiberian Sun, the sound design and iconic cutscenes contribute positively to the overall atmosphere. Overall, the game successfully creates a diverse and engaging atmosphere, though opinions vary on its effectiveness compared to earlier entries in the series.
- “The atmosphere and the iconic cutscenes and the ridiculous amusing units.”
- “C&C3 is absolutely oozing with atmosphere, tension, and suspense while playing almost identically to the previous six entries.”
- “There's so much detail in little animations, textures, all the environmental locations, globetrotting from North America to Europe, Australia, South America, London, from relatively untouched mildly futuristic cities with fun details on all the buildings, cars, streets, parks, to harbor areas, to slums, to DC, to deserts, to more apocalyptic wastelands with scorched earth, tiberium running rampant, oppressive atmospheres, decaying abandoned buildings - I think every single mission has a handcrafted unique detailed location, map filled with neat props and stuff.”
- “The atmosphere of this game is a big step back from Tiberian Sun, and everything just looks super drab by comparison.”
- “The atmosphere is lacking in comparison to its predecessor, Tiberian Sun; the Tiberium wastelands sorely lack the same sort of apocalyptic feel that was present in Tiberian Sun.”
- “Far from the atmosphere of Tiberian Sun.”
stability
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
4%
85%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting various glitches, particularly with online play and AI pathing, leading to frequent freezes and crashes, especially on Windows 10. While some players find it runs smoothly on older hardware and appreciate its overall performance, many express frustration over the lack of support for multiplayer and persistent bugs that detract from the experience. Overall, the game is deemed playable but requires patience due to its instability issues.
- “Great game, still runs great on an older laptop.”
- “Plays smooth and bug-free.”
- “Runs great on a 6-year-old laptop; cinematics still look surprisingly high-res. All the fun actors are doing a great job, the music is decent, the effects work is great, good modding potential, UI is clear, all signposting is done clearly, no clunkiness or rough edges. A polished, streamlined experience where there's a lot of detail, but all the units stand apart and you can tell what's going on while still having a bunch of effects on the screen at any given time.”
- “Buggy, no support from one of the most destructive companies to the gaming industry, shutting down servers without allowing fans to support multiplayer on their own.”
- “Specifically, I've had game freezes when trying to alt-tab a few times, and clicking the multiplayer online option automatically freezes the game and becomes impossible to close by traditional means.”
- “Every time I click online it freezes and 5 minutes later says I have something wrong with my connection.”
replayability
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
48%
13%
The game offers significant replayability, bolstered by a well-received campaign, numerous bonus objectives, and a vibrant modding community that provides endless content and customization options. While some players note that single-player replay value may be limited due to repetitive strategies, the variety in difficulty settings and AI opponents enhances the overall experience. Overall, the combination of user-generated content and diverse gameplay modes makes it a highly replayable title, especially for RTS enthusiasts.
- “The campaign still holds up to this day and offers a lot of replay value.”
- “Furthermore, the ability to mod the game offers endless replayability, with creative mods available to enhance or completely transform the experience.”
- “With a plethora of user-created content available, including new maps, factions, and campaigns, the game's replayability is virtually limitless.”
- “I loved the Red Faction series, all except this one. It felt like more of a whoever has the most troops wins game. The strategy is always the same: collect Tiberium, make cheap all-around units, rinse and repeat. There's no point in saving up for powerful units because by the time you have a decent amount, you've been steamrolled by a bunch of low to mid-tier units that seem to have more bang for the buck. Now, there were some good things in this game, like the campaign, but in my opinion, it doesn't have that much of a replayability factor.”
- “Replayability for single-player is not overwhelmingly high.”
- “A little more diversity in units and skills could improve this game and give it a higher replayability, in my opinion.”
optimization
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
36%
14%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while many players report smooth performance on modern systems, some experience significant frame rate drops in specific scenarios. The graphics are generally praised, with improvements noted for widescreen resolutions, but there are still instances of performance issues that detract from the experience. Despite these concerns, the game is considered one of the better-optimized entries in the series, particularly in terms of unit balance and gameplay.
- “The graphics are very good, the game is very well optimized, and the difficulties feel fair most of the time (you can change them between missions in any case).”
- “Performance-wise, this game runs pretty good.”
- “Do not waste your money on this horribly optimized piece of dog ass they call a game; other than the major issues, it's a classic.”
- “The great live action cutscenes make a return, but instead of the wonderful B-movie quality of previous installments, it is now little more than catwalk performances by semi-famous actors.”
- “One of the best C&C games in terms of unit power balance, optimization, storyline, and gameplay.”
humor
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its campy and often cringe-worthy voice acting, which many players find amusing despite its poor quality. The mix of serious themes with goofy cutscenes and absurd gameplay moments adds to the overall comedic experience, making it a memorable and entertaining title. Players appreciate the balance of humor and atmosphere, even as they note the game's sometimes frustrating difficulty and quirky AI behavior.
- “Still, a great game with good campaigns and good cutscenes, with Redmond Boyle being a hilariously bad acted character yet Kane is full of charisma and cunning.”
- “Let's not also forget that you shouldn't save and load mid-mission; otherwise, the AI does this weird reset dance and immediately sends all its units at you, which, in one mission, led to this funny firing line situation because the main base was inaccessible by land, so a bunch of Nod knuckleheads crammed into one spot as they were regularly blown up by bombers.”
- “Absolutely cringe-worthy acting in the cutscenes, but it's hilarious and honestly it's still a great RTS game.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
11%
78%
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is often tedious and frustrating, with players facing overwhelming AI and repetitive missions that detract from strategic gameplay. While some find the challenge rewarding, many express that the experience can feel like mindless grinding, especially in later missions. The inclusion of mods offers some variability, but the core gameplay remains a slog for many.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Oh by the way, both of which are flying units with an insane tedious range, delete 30 minutes of your progress on the grindy push against the mission.”
- “It takes away any sense of tactics or strategy and reduces the game to mindless grinding until you get lucky enough to break through.”
- “This also compounds problems with pacing; the AI is overwhelming in the first 10 minutes, but once you've stabilized, it never learns, never really adapts. It's just a matter of time until you win, and it can get quite tedious as a result.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits mixed feelings; while long-time fans may experience nostalgia and a heartwarming connection to the franchise, newcomers may find the campaign's difficulty and linearity frustrating. The lack of speed settings and modding options further detracts from the enjoyment, leaving some players feeling disappointed despite the familiar charm of the series. Overall, the emotional resonance varies significantly based on players' backgrounds with the Command and Conquer franchise.
- “If you played C&C from the beginning of the series, you'll have a heartwarming, familiar feeling, as if you just met your old friend from school days.”
- “Again, I really wish I grew up with the Command and Conquer franchise, but I suppose it's heartwarming to see a newer generation appreciating these games.”
- “Still, a boring story is boring.”
- “Aside from the boring story, I could mention things like speed settings being gone for good (which was one of my biggest complaints about Generals). I just can't enjoy RTS games when they're too slow, and C&C3 sure is too. Some campaign missions didn't give us enough freedom and, as a result, felt more like a puzzle with only one correct solution.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Reviews indicate a strong sentiment against monetization practices, with some labeling the game as a "shameless cash grab." However, there are also positive remarks about the absence of microtransactions and DLC, highlighting a nostalgic experience reminiscent of earlier gaming standards.
- “The nostalgia feels, no origin, no 40GB patch, and it's not tainted with EA's microtransactions.”
- “Don't fall for this shameless cash grab.”
- “Microtransactions for a good cause.”
- “At least it was back then, no DLC, no microtransactions, and a well-made game.”

85%Critics’ scoreBased on 4 critic reviews

Buy Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

8h Median play time

28h Average play time

23h Main story

36h Completionist

2-70h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

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PC Review - 'Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars'