Company of Heroes 3 Game Cover
It is no exaggeration to say that Company of Heroes 3 is a triumph of the RTS genre…It offers an amazingly deep strategic experience, fantastic onboarding for newcomers, and plenty of content to keep fans playing for dozens of hours.

Company of Heroes 3 is a real-time strategy game set in World War II, where players command armies across diverse landscapes in Mediterranean coastal towns and mountain fortresses. The game features a new dynamic battle system, improved command wheel, and improved destruction physics, allowing for more tactical options and environmental destruction. Players can engage in historical battles and missions, or craft their own with the improved map editor.

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Reviews

59%
Audience ScoreBased on 9,445 reviews
gameplay484 positive mentions
stability392 negative mentions
  • The game has improved significantly since launch, with better graphics, sound, and gameplay mechanics.
  • The dynamic campaign map adds a unique layer of strategy, allowing for varied tactical approaches.
  • Multiplayer is engaging and fun, with a balanced unit roster and a variety of strategies.
  • The single-player campaign feels repetitive and lacks depth, often relying on skirmish missions.
  • There are still numerous bugs and performance issues, particularly in the campaign mode.
  • The game lacks content compared to its predecessors, with fewer factions and commanders available.
  • gameplay1,500 mentions

    The gameplay of "Company of Heroes 3" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the core mechanics that remain familiar to the series while also noting several new features such as tactical pauses, breaching mechanics, and elevation advantages that enhance strategic depth. However, criticisms include issues with balance, repetitive gameplay, and a lack of polish in both graphics and user interface, leading some to feel that it falls short of its predecessors. Overall, while the gameplay is generally considered enjoyable and engaging, it is marred by bugs and design choices that detract from the experience.

    • “The gameplay is smooth once you understand the mechanics - and the games play quickly.”
    • “The core gameplay of Company of Heroes 3 is still really good.”
    • “The gameplay is fantastic and multiplayer is a ton of fun (despite me being terrible at it).”
    • “While the core mechanics still hold potential, several glaring issues make the game almost unplayable in team-based multiplayer settings.”
    • “The over-reliance on these strategies reduces the depth and satisfaction of the team-based gameplay, especially for those who value team coordination and strategic diversity.”
    • “The gameplay is a huge step down, the insistence on playing it like Ardennes Assault just makes it a slow-paced and frustrating game.”
  • graphics1,432 mentions

    The graphics of "Company of Heroes 3" have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while there are some improvements in detail and performance compared to its predecessors, the overall aesthetic feels cartoonish and lacks the gritty realism of "Company of Heroes 1" and "2." Some players appreciate the vibrant color palette and enhanced effects, while others criticize the graphics as outdated and not significantly better than those of the previous games, leading to a sense of disappointment given the game's long development time. Overall, the graphics are seen as a step up in some areas but a downgrade in others, particularly in terms of immersion and realism.

    • “The graphics are solid with great performance, which sadly is a rare thing these days.”
    • “Through its innovative mechanics and stunning visuals, 'Company of Heroes 3' impressively breathes new life into the cherished franchise.”
    • “The graphics are the best you’ll find in a modern RTS with DX12 and AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution, which means it runs great on my limited gaming laptop.”
    • “The graphics are a complete step down from coh2, almost like it's trying to bridge the graphical gap between the first and second games.”
    • “The graphics look worse, the animation/art style is toy-like compared to the previous 2 games.”
    • “The graphics are extremely lackluster for 2023, the mechanics are incidental, the only difference is the setting of the game.”
  • story1,112 mentions

    The story in "Company of Heroes 3" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it lacking compared to its predecessors. The narrative often feels disjointed, as it alternates between the perspective of the Afrika Korps and a Libyan Jewish family, which some players found confusing and disconnected from the gameplay. While the missions themselves can be engaging, the overall campaign is criticized for being repetitive, with many skirmishes that detract from the story-driven experience, leading to a sense of monotony and frustration with bugs and mission design.

    • “Unlike the previous Company of Heroes games, you get to feel the story, be in the story, and also see some sympathy towards the squads and squad mates.”
    • “The well-crafted storylines, accompanied by impressive voice acting and cutscenes, immerse players in the characters' struggles and sacrifices.”
    • “The dynamic campaign is more like Total War than anything else while still retaining missions like the ones you will find in Company of Heroes 2.”
    • “The campaign is exceedingly boring, with way too many skirmish missions and too few proper campaign missions.”
    • “The story feels forced, a token gesture to Jews in Benghazi at the time of this conflict, and tone-deaf with bad German voice acting.”
    • “The disconnect from mission to cutscene is so horrific it completely derails any coherence the plot may otherwise have had.”
  • stability413 mentions

    The stability of the game has been a significant concern among players, with many reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and crashes that hinder gameplay, particularly in the campaign mode. Despite some improvements over time, issues such as freezing during missions, poor vehicle pathfinding, and animation glitches remain prevalent, leading to frustration for many users. While some players have experienced fewer problems, the overall consensus is that the game still feels unfinished and requires further patches to address its numerous stability issues.

    • “Much improved graphics and effects, no glitches yet.”
    • “By now most of the noticeable bugs have been fixed and most games you play should be bug free or if there are bugs they are irrelevant with two major exceptions: loiters and the 8-rad armored car for Axis.”
    • “It runs great, it feels like COH, and I like most of the changes they've made since COH2.”
    • “After a year and a half, the game is still buggy, the graphics lack the immersiveness you'd experience in both COH1 and COH2, and the vehicle movements are just so unrealistic - I don't believe a Sherman can maneuver like that.”
    • “It's incredibly frustrating to get deep into the campaign only to be stopped from continuing by a bug that freezes the game on the enemy's turn.”
    • “The game is so buggy that I have witnessed the code glitch and give me values that I should not have been seeing when my units get defeated.”
  • optimization227 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews. While many players report improved performance compared to previous titles, particularly in terms of stability and frame rates, others have experienced significant issues such as stuttering, crashes, and poor performance during large-scale battles. Despite these concerns, several users highlight that the game runs smoothly on various hardware configurations, indicating that optimization efforts have been made, though further improvements are still needed.

    • “The game seems very well optimized and runs really well.”
    • “Performance wise, I have yet to have a single issue and the game feels really well optimized especially late game in skirmish/coop battles where usually the amount of units you have on the map takes a serious toll on your PC.”
    • “The optimization in this game is actually good!”
    • “Game is in no way optimized and the unit pathing is a joke; engineers will spend a legit 20 minutes doing nothing.”
    • “The latest patch absolutely devastated performance; it's unbelievable that they haven't rolled this back.”
    • “This game is a crashing, non-optimized, horrible looking piece of software.”
  • monetization170 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many reviewers labeling it a "cash grab" due to the early introduction of microtransactions and a focus on cosmetic purchases over meaningful content updates. Players express disappointment that the developers prioritized monetization over fixing core gameplay issues, leading to a perception of the game as unfinished and lacking in value for its price. While some acknowledge that the microtransactions are primarily cosmetic, the overall sentiment is that the aggressive monetization tactics detract from the game's quality and integrity.

    • “My gripes aren't with the fact that the game has paid microtransactions, as I welcome having the ability to support Relic ever since they parted ways with Sega.”
    • “As far as pricing goes, the game is $60 with no microtransactions, which seems fair compared to other games and better than COH2.”
    • “I would also add that the monetization is not aggressive, and that the most important things like battlegroups can be bought with in-game currency, which is not hard to earn.”
    • “Not only is the game incomplete, the Italian campaign boring and repetitive, but also the blatant and excessive focus on monetization is disgusting.”
    • “This game feels like a cash grab, with gameplay on the side and a few new units.”
    • “The sudden monetization of the game with an in-game skin store was disheartening, but now the 'free' Year 1 DLC that was promised to us in the preorder is locked behind a $15 paywall.”
  • music116 mentions

    The music in Company of Heroes 3 has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it forgettable and lacking the emotional impact of previous titles in the series. Critics note a limited soundtrack with repetitive tracks that fail to enhance gameplay, contrasting sharply with the more dynamic and engaging scores of Company of Heroes 1 and 2. While some appreciate the orchestral elements, the overall consensus is that the music does not effectively complement the game's atmosphere or action, leaving players disappointed.

    • “In terms of presentation, Company of Heroes 3 impresses with its high-quality graphics, authentic sound design, and a stirring musical score that heightens the overall atmosphere.”
    • “The soundtrack complements the on-screen action perfectly, enhancing the emotional impact of each moment.”
    • “The music fits the game's atmosphere and adds to the immersion of the player, while the sound effects are realistic and make the game more intense and engaging.”
    • “The music is also pretty bad and boring compared to COH 1 and COH 2; it feels like there's mostly silence in the background, and there are also some bits straight up taken out of COH 1.”
    • “The soundtrack difference between COH 2 and COH 3 is an obvious demonstration of how lazy and greedy Relic Studio got; unfortunately, that's what financial success means nowadays.”
    • “The music and audio in general do not hit as hard; the voices of some units are not appropriate for their role or mentality, and the scale of battle somehow seems smaller than COH 1 and 2.”
  • replayability89 mentions

    Replayability in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the dynamic campaign and multiplayer modes for their strategic depth and variety, while others criticize the lack of content and repetitive gameplay in single-player campaigns. Many reviews highlight that multiplayer offers significant replay value, but the absence of modding support and diverse factions limits long-term engagement. Overall, while there are elements that enhance replayability, such as different strategies and faction choices, many players feel the game still needs more content and improvements to fully realize its potential.

    • “While the campaign pacing may fluctuate, the interesting multiplayer modes and diverse faction choices contribute to a high replay value.”
    • “The dynamic campaign map is a standout feature, offering players a high degree of strategic freedom and replayability.”
    • “Company of Heroes 3 is quite fun and detailed, with lots of new content to come and a lot of replayability value.”
    • “The campaign is pretty good, but not very replayable.”
    • “Unfortunately, the lack of 'commanders' for each faction really takes away a big chunk of the replayability of the game if you play the game the same way I do.”
    • “No replay value to me after a single playthrough and a few skirmishes.”
  • humor65 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding amusement in its numerous bugs, poor AI, and awkward animations, often laughing at the game's shortcomings rather than with it. While some appreciate the ironic and tongue-in-cheek elements, particularly in voice lines and character interactions, others feel that the humor is overshadowed by the game's frustrating mechanics and lack of content. Overall, the humor tends to stem from a combination of intentional comedic elements and unintentional glitches, creating a unique but often frustrating experience.

    • “The game has a gallows humor to it, with vast arrays of voice lines that add a funny touch to the gameplay.”
    • “It's funny to watch YouTube compilations of the terrible UI choices, misspelled maps, and poorly scripted NPC characters waving their arms around.”
    • “The in-game voice lines from the men are hilarious at times, with their banter and cursing adding flavor to the troops' interactions.”
    • “Then to top this all off, the game is so riddled with bugs it's not funny.”
  • grinding53 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players describing the campaign as tedious and filled with repetitive skirmishes that lack engaging content. Many reviews highlight the frustratingly slow merit point system, which requires extensive grinding or real money to unlock paywalled content, leading to a sense of monotony and dissatisfaction. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a major flaw, detracting from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “There's no grinding out points to buy options, which is nice, but all the cosmetics are locked away in a shop for war bonds that you purchase with real money.”
    • “The campaign is a tedious affair, lacking the brutal, visceral storytelling that defined Company of Heroes 2.”
    • “It's a giant sprawl of units in an attempt at a campaign with tons of filler battles and is just tedious to engage in.”
    • “It's just tedious and takes forever.”
  • atmosphere53 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its improved graphics, sound design, and immersive environments, while others lament the loss of the gritty, intense ambiance that characterized earlier titles in the series. Many players feel that the current atmosphere lacks the historical depth and emotional engagement found in previous installments, leading to a perception of superficiality and disconnection from the World War II setting. Overall, while there are elements of atmosphere that resonate well, significant portions of the community express disappointment in its execution compared to earlier games.

    • “The meticulously designed environments, whether it's the charred ruins of a European village or the dense jungles of the Pacific, create an atmosphere that is as visually striking as it is emotionally evocative.”
    • “In terms of presentation, Company of Heroes 3 impresses with its high-quality graphics, authentic sound design, and a stirring musical score that heightens the overall atmosphere.”
    • “The music fits the game's atmosphere and adds to the immersion of the player, while the sound effects are realistic and make the game more intense and engaging.”
    • “Improved graphics but it lacks the style, feel, and atmosphere of past titles that I prefer.”
    • “For example, you may feel the WWII atmosphere deeply in COH 1 or COH 2, such as speeches, commanders, etc., but in COH 3 you cannot feel the historical ambiance.”
    • “The sound is forgettable, the music is sad compared to the previous title, and there really is no atmosphere at all.”
  • emotional23 mentions

    The emotional reception of "Company of Heroes 3" is largely negative, with many fans expressing disappointment over its lack of narrative depth and emotional engagement compared to its predecessors. Reviewers lament the game's generic scenarios, bugs, and a campaign that fails to evoke the same feelings as earlier titles, leading to a sense of heartbreak and frustration among long-time fans. While some appreciate the visual and atmospheric elements, the overall sentiment is one of sadness and disillusionment, as expectations for the game were not met.

    • “The meticulously designed environments, whether it's the charred ruins of a European village or the dense jungles of the Pacific, create an atmosphere that is as visually striking as it is emotionally evocative.”
    • “The soundtrack complements the on-screen action perfectly, enhancing the emotional impact of each moment.”
    • “I had been looking forward to this and the fact it is such a let down has honestly made me feel real sad about how the future of this genre is going to end up.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is highly praised, as players feel a genuine connection to the soldiers they command, enhancing emotional investment in their fates. However, this depth is contrasted by a shift to a more cartoonish art style, moving away from the grittier tone of the previous installment.

    • “The character development is superb, making you genuinely care about the fates of the soldiers under your command.”
    • “They have done away with the grittier tone of the second game in favor of a more cartoonish character design, especially with unit cards and the like.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks the depth that was present in earlier installments.”
    • “I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't evolve in any meaningful way.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

65hMedian play time
517hAverage play time
12-748hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 91 analyzed playthroughs

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