Darksiders III

A Quality Experience From Another Age

Starting at $2.99Buy now

Get on Steam

Get on Xbox Games Store

Get on Epic Games Store

Get on PS Store

In Darksiders III, play as Fury, the most enigmatic and unpredictable of the Four Horsemen, as she traverses diverse post-apocalyptic landscapes to hunt down and defeat the Seven Deadly Sins. Wield Fury's magic, whip, and intellect in this hack-and-slash Action Adventure game, restoring balance to a ravaged Earth. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes soundtrack and two post-launch DLCs. Explore the Darksiders franchise with the previous games available on Steam.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,976 reviews

story656 positive mentions

optimization46 negative mentions

Engaging combat system with a variety of weapons and abilities.
Interesting and atmospheric world design with interconnected levels.
Challenging boss battles that require strategy and skill.

Frequent crashes and performance issues, particularly on PC.
Main character lacks depth and can be unlikable at times.
No map feature, making navigation confusing and frustrating.

story
1,982 mentions
33 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story of "Darksiders III" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its character development, particularly that of Fury, the protagonist, as she embarks on a quest to capture the seven deadly sins. However, some critics argue that the narrative feels predictable and lacks the depth and engagement found in its predecessors, often describing it as simplistic or rushed. While the game successfully ties into the overarching lore of the series, it has been noted that it doesn't significantly advance the main storyline, leaving some fans wanting more from the narrative experience.
- “The story is gripping, with memorable characters and intense boss battles against the seven deadly sins.”
- “The story follows Fury, one of the Nephilim horsemen, and her quest to destroy the seven deadly sins. It fits well within the Darksiders universe and provides a compelling narrative.”
- “Fury's character development throughout the story is impressive, showcasing her evolution from a prideful and angry horseman to someone who learns about her flaws and seeks redemption.”
- “The overall production quality, design, and world is just as good, if not better than it was in its predecessors, but the actual story told is almost non-existent.”
- “It feels unfinished, boring, and doesn't progress the franchise's overarching story much.”
- “The story is bland (but ok), combat is immensely repetitive and the worst: their take on 'souls-like' seems more related to making the player frustrated.”
gameplay
1,424 mentions
24 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Darksiders III has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant shift towards a more souls-like combat system that emphasizes dodging and countering over the traditional hack-and-slash mechanics of its predecessors. While some appreciate the challenge and depth this brings, others find the mechanics clunky and frustrating, particularly the dodge system, which can feel unreliable in chaotic battles. Overall, the game offers a unique experience that may appeal to fans of the genre, but it diverges from the established gameplay style of the earlier Darksiders titles, leading to disappointment among some long-time fans.
- “The combat system shines, offering fluid and dynamic mechanics that emphasize dodging, countering, and strategic use of Fury's elemental powers.”
- “Fury’s transformation abilities keep the gameplay fresh, allowing her to shift between forms that offer unique combat options and exploration opportunities.”
- “The gameplay is fast-paced and very skill-based.”
- “A huge departure from the other entries in the series which isn't inherently bad, but the game suffers from a number of poor game design mechanics that force play by trial and error coupled with potentially long backtracking between checkpoints.”
- “Overall, Darksiders 3 is a good game, but lacks the gameplay depth that the previous two had by substituting tried and true hack and slash mechanics for very obtuse and out of place soulslike ones.”
- “The developers should have at least noticed how good the mechanics in Darksiders 2 were before scrapping them all to make this.”
graphics
611 mentions
50 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics in Darksiders III receive mixed reviews, with many praising the game's unique art style and vibrant character designs that stay true to the franchise's aesthetic. However, some players note technical issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and a lack of graphical settings, leading to a perception of the visuals as somewhat outdated for a 2018 release. Overall, while the visuals are often described as stunning and atmospheric, they are also criticized for not meeting the high standards set by contemporary titles.
- “The art direction is stunning, capturing the franchise's signature style while enhancing it with a darker, more immersive aesthetic.”
- “Darksiders 3 boasts a captivating art style, with environments that range from desolate wastelands to towering demonic fortresses.”
- “The graphics are stunning, and the soundtrack is pretty alright.”
- “The art style looked hideous, the characters laughable and childish, and the overarching gnostic vibes and twisting of lore was not in the least appealing.”
- “The graphics are mediocre for what the game is worth, and if you consider it to any AAA released this year, it looks like a PS3 game.”
- “The graphics feel like they are stuck at console level even at epic settings, the FPS keeps dropping and clipping for no reason and the game just plain overall runs like garbage.”
music
225 mentions
44 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The music in Darksiders 3 has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it good but ultimately forgettable compared to the standout soundtracks of its predecessors. While some appreciate the atmospheric and thematic elements of the score, others criticize its sparseness and lack of memorable tracks, noting that it often fades into the background during gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a competent accompaniment that enhances the experience without overshadowing it, but it fails to leave a lasting impression.
- “The soundtrack of Darksiders 3 is a powerful blend of orchestral and electronic music, perfectly capturing the game's epic scope and dark undertones.”
- “The music is a great accompaniment when it plays, and the main menu theme feels foreboding yet empowering.”
- “The story, atmosphere, characters, and music are all top notch and exactly what I'd hoped for in a third installment of my favorite series.”
- “The lack of music being played especially during free roam is one major annoyance.”
- “There is almost no music in this game, which adds a bit to the game feeling cheap.”
- “The music is mostly just something that plays in the background and is rarely noticeable.”
optimization
159 mentions
19 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
29 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, frame rate drops, and loading freezes, particularly in complex environments. While some users noted improvements post-launch and found the game playable on capable hardware, others experienced persistent problems that detracted from their overall enjoyment. Overall, the game is seen as needing further optimization to fully realize its potential, especially given its graphical demands.
- “At launch, it definitely had some performance woes, but that's ancient history and it actually runs quite lovely these days on a capable rig.”
- “The game runs very well for me and I noticed no major performance issues whilst playing.”
- “Performance has been steadily improving, quality of life features are being added quickly, and bugs and crashes have been increasingly rare for me.”
- “It seems launching half-assed optimized games is definitely the standard these days.”
- “The biggest problem the game faces, however, is related to its performance.”
- “The game is unoptimized as could possibly be.”
character development
148 mentions
51 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
Character development in "Darksiders 3" primarily focuses on the protagonist, Fury, who undergoes significant growth from a brash and abrasive character to a more relatable and humbled figure. While many reviews praise her evolution and the depth of her interactions, some critics note that the development feels rushed or lacks impact, particularly in comparison to previous installments. Overall, the character design is well-received, but the execution of character arcs, especially for supporting characters, is seen as inconsistent and underdeveloped.
- “The character development and ending for the game is so promising; it really highlights what a pity it was that the final horseman, Strife, did not receive his own proper game like the other three.”
- “Fury starts out brash, abrasive, and difficult to like, but undergoes some serious character development, which adds quite nicely to the experience.”
- “I loved Fury's character, abilities, boss fights, character design, puzzles, and interactables.”
- “However, character development is lacking, and the plot can sometimes feel disjointed or convoluted.”
- “The game makes some character development noises, but if it comes at all, it comes too late.”
- “Fury felt more self-aware, and very on the nose at times, and some of her character development feels extremely rushed and forced.”
grinding
96 mentions
3 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive due to the high enemy health pools and the necessity to backtrack frequently. While some appreciate the exploration and the ability to respawn enemies for farming, others criticize the lack of meaningful rewards for grinding and the feeling of being underpowered despite leveling up. Overall, the grinding experience can feel excessive and detracts from the enjoyment of combat and exploration for a significant portion of players.
- “There is no inventory or weight limit, and for the most part, drops for materials and gear are hard-set. Consumables, soul clusters, and lower-tier materials have a chance to drop from pretty much any enemy. This means that there is no grinding for materials. When you want to upgrade your weapon beyond a certain point and do not have the materials for it, you will need to boot up New Game+. Whenever Fury dies, all enemies and destructible environmental objects respawn, meaning that if you want to farm souls to level Fury up, you can, but do not have to. You will get enough to have a good time of it.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “No grinding.”
- “The amount of grinding required to unlock everything is just a bit too much and the rewards aren't really worth the grind.”
- “It feels like you progress well in the beginning but eventually getting new weapons/hollows and improving one of your three stats feels tedious and doesn't make you feel more powerful.”
- “All enemies respawn every time you die, making some areas very tedious and repetitive.”
stability
89 mentions
4 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with many players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly impact gameplay. While some users noted minor issues or found the game playable, the overall consensus indicates that the game suffers from technical problems, including controller recognition issues and freezing during load screens. Despite these challenges, a few players still enjoyed the game, suggesting that it has redeeming qualities amidst its instability.
- “Pretty much bug free.”
- “Runs great on my laptop, no hitches or hacks anywhere.”
- “No glitches, no graphic bugs, game runs smoothly for me.”
- “Game doesn't recognize controllers (while the 2 previous did without issues), and is full of glitches/bugs that makes it unplayable.”
- “What an uninspired buggy mess with a really crappy setup for saves.”
- “Darksiders 3 is a good game however it all starts out fine, until later half of the game where the game begins to hard crash, game freezes, unrendered platforms, it makes the game impossible to finish.”
replayability
56 mentions
18 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The reviews for "replayability" in Darksiders III are mixed, with many players noting a moderate to low level of replay value. While some appreciate the inclusion of New Game Plus and the ability to explore different combat styles, others criticize the lack of depth, limited customization, and absence of side quests, leading to a feeling of repetitiveness after the initial playthrough. Overall, fans of the series may find some enjoyment in replaying the game, but it generally lacks the robust replayability seen in earlier titles.
- “This, with the exploration, adds replayability to a game that's just a fun adrenaline rush to play.”
- “It fits in really well with the series as a whole, and has loads of replay value to try and level up and bring in those achievements.”
- “With the addition of both the crucible and new game plus, the game's replayability is just that much better!”
- “30 hours to complete the game, never touch it again since it has no replayable value.”
- “Darksiders III seriously lacks replayability and just gets more and more boring because it takes away player originality and reduces the replayability of the game.”
- “If you are a Darksiders fan, wait for a sale, because this game is severely lacking in depth and replayability when compared to previous Darksiders games.”
atmosphere
43 mentions
63 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its rich detail, immersive world design, and dark, post-apocalyptic art style, which effectively enhances the gameplay experience. While many reviewers appreciate the atmospheric music and distinct environments that encourage exploration, some feel that it does not quite reach the heights of its predecessors, particularly in terms of depth and engagement. Overall, the game successfully captures a captivating atmosphere, though opinions vary on its execution compared to earlier titles in the series.
- “The interconnected world design encourages exploration, with plenty of secrets to uncover and environments that are rich in detail and atmosphere.”
- “The game utilizes a dark and atmospheric art style that perfectly captures the post-apocalyptic setting.”
- “The audio and creepy sounds give such a great atmosphere to the game, and with headphones, it makes you feel like you're inside the game.”
- “And every time you try to get back into the atmosphere of the story, Fury will just utter out the next angsty, tough girl drivel that could've been taken straight out of a Duke Nukem game in terms of ego.”
- “None of the atmosphere of Dark Souls is here but the combat feels a bit like it.”
- “Darksiders 3 retains the art style and atmosphere of the series, but instead of improving on what made the previous games such a joy to play, this one emulates Dark Souls' elements and does nothing to improve on those either.”
humor
39 mentions
97 % positive mentions
-5 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny and well-integrated into the gameplay, while others criticize it as forced or poorly executed. Many appreciate the witty writing and humorous character interactions, particularly in combat scenarios, but some feel that the humor can be inconsistent or overshadowed by gameplay issues. Overall, the game's comedic elements contribute to its charm, though opinions vary on their effectiveness.
- “Its a nice game with humor and decent difficulty; it's not AAA but overall just a 'good' game.”
- “The writing is witty, humorous, and filled with metaphor.”
- “To hell with those people who didn't like this game, I'm loving it so far; very pretty, main character is awesome, platforming is light but fun, combat is fast-paced and satisfying, puzzles are tough, and plenty of funny moments.”
- “Dying from a single hit on the easiest difficulty feels like an unfunny joke.”
- “The attempts at humor fall flat and often feel forced.”
- “The game's jokes are more cringeworthy than amusing.”
emotional
19 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits mixed responses from players, with some finding the character dynamics and story elements heartwarming and reminiscent of classic titles, while others feel the emotional beats are either forgettable or poorly executed. Many appreciate the depth of character relationships, particularly the bond between the horsemen, but criticize the rushed development and lack of impactful moments. Overall, the game succeeds in creating a dark yet engaging atmosphere, though it struggles to resonate emotionally with all players.
- “Atmosphere is heartwarming, yet still dark.”
- “The fact that she knows her brothers so well and despite wanting to lead the group and pretending that she doesn't care about them, she respects them and loves them is a heartwarming thing to realize about the bunch since in 1 and 2 it barely seems like a family that would stay together and fight alongside each other against hell and heaven and the charred council.”
- “I honestly didn’t care, enjoyed the emotional impact, especially after the horse trailer; it broke my heart.”
monetization
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users criticizing it as a cash grab due to its unfinished feel and high price point, particularly for DLC. However, a notable positive is the absence of microtransactions, which several players appreciate as a refreshing change in a market often plagued by such practices. Overall, while the game's pricing and perceived lack of value are contentious, the lack of microtransactions is seen as a significant advantage.
- “What you pay for is what you get - cool story, no microtransactions and a decent (not perfect) hack and slash fighting style from the start to the end.”
- “No microtransactions in sight, and that alone deserves some kind of reward.”
- “No microtransactions for miles in this game, so that's a huge plus in my book for this game.”
- “This game I would consider to be an unfinished product that was released into the market as a quick cash grab.”
- “That's lazy and dumb, and I sure hope they do better on any future DLC than that pathetic cash grab.”
- “Worst cash grabber ever... biggest Dark Souls ripoff and no save checkpoints. So what are you asking for $60... and for DLC... $80? Don't make me come and shoot you!”