Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition

With zombies, more is better. Dead Rising 3 delivers the undead and great tools to kill them with by the truckload.

73%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

optimization, stability

75% User Score Based on 8,131 reviews

Critic Score 72%Based on 11 reviews

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About

Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition is a single player and multiplayer survival action adventure game with a horror theme. It was developed by Capcom Game Studio Vancouver and was released on September 5, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition throws players into the sprawling, zombie-infested city of Los Perdidos, where anything can be fashioned into a weapon. With intense combat, extensive weapon and character customization, and smarter zombies, survival depends on quick thinking and resourcefulness. Race against time to escape before a military strike eradicates the city and its undead threat.

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75%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,131 reviews

story542 positive mentions

optimization204 negative mentions

The game offers a fun and chaotic zombie-slaying experience with a wide variety of combo weapons and vehicles.
The crafting system allows players to create weapons on the fly, enhancing gameplay and creativity.
Co-op mode adds to the enjoyment, making it a great game to play with friends.

The PC port is plagued with technical issues, including a frustrating 30 FPS cap and various bugs that can lead to lost progress.
The story and characters are often considered forgettable and lack the charm of previous entries in the series.
Navigation can be tedious due to numerous roadblocks and a sprawling map that feels empty and unmemorable.

story
2,388 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
69%
8%
The story of "Dead Rising 3" follows Nick Ramos, a mechanic trying to escape a zombie-infested city, and while it features some engaging moments and humor, many players find it lacks the depth and charm of its predecessors. The narrative is often described as predictable and filled with cliché elements, relying heavily on fetch quests and a less compelling cast of characters. Despite its shortcomings, the game offers a fun and chaotic experience with plenty of zombie-slaying action, making it enjoyable for those who prioritize gameplay over story.
- “The storyline is engaging, and for its time, the graphics were impressive—especially considering it’s now an older title.”
- “The main story, the untold side stories, and especially the creativity with weapon and vehicle combinations all made it a memorable game for me.”
- “The story is simple but funny and easy to follow, never getting in the way of the action.”
- “The drab, gritty setting lacked the personality of the mall or the over-the-top chaos of the casinos, and I found myself just rushing through the story because it never really grabbed me.”
- “The story tries to flesh out Nick’s character and the world’s lore a bit more, but it often feels like a means to keep players moving from one crazy mission to the next rather than something deeply engaging.”
- “The story is forgettable and tonally uneven.”
gameplay
874 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
56%
8%
The gameplay of Dead Rising 3 has received mixed reviews, with many praising its chaotic and fun zombie-slaying mechanics, improved crafting systems, and the ability to create combo weapons on the fly. However, some players criticize the game for being overly simplistic and repetitive, lacking the challenge and urgency of its predecessors, and suffering from technical issues such as a 30fps cap and bugs. Overall, while the gameplay is enjoyable and offers a vast open world to explore, it may not fully satisfy fans of the earlier titles in the series.
- “Dead Rising 3 is a bold evolution of the series, embracing a larger world, smoother mechanics, and next-gen ambitions.”
- “Gameplay-wise, Dead Rising 3 retains the chaotic and visceral combat the series is known for, but enhances it with more responsive controls and a deeper crafting system.”
- “The gameplay is incredibly enjoyable, and there were times where my friend and I would cackle like maniacs.”
- “Game aged like milk... I'm finding ways to have fun on this plus nostalgia but... the game is buggy, the gameplay is kinda scuffed and anything that isn't zombies is scripted terribly.”
- “Overall, gameplay-wise it is in some way an upgrade, story was meh and I liked 'DR2: Off the Record' more and missed the stupid and not serious things.”
- “The gameplay is completely repetitive and the last 5 missions of the story mode are literally you traveling from one side of the city to then go and travel back to where you were originally.”
graphics
740 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
60%
7%
The graphics of Dead Rising 3 have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the visuals are decent for their time and can still hold up well, they suffer from issues such as texture pop-in, a washed-out color palette, and performance problems, particularly on lower-end systems. Some players appreciate the detailed environments and the sheer number of zombies on screen, but others criticize the game's optimization and the frequent frame rate drops, especially when many elements are rendered simultaneously. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered good, they are marred by technical issues that detract from the experience.
- “The graphics and open world of the game are pretty good, allowing players to enjoy a variety of locations and explore a city filled with zombies.”
- “The graphics hold up well even several years after the game's release.”
- “Dead Rising 3 features high-quality graphics with detailed environments and character designs.”
- “Graphically, there were constant texture popping, sometimes loading in obstacles as you hit them with your vehicle. Although I never found zombies teleporting, their models would lose hair or skin textures, even at point-blank range.”
- “However, the visuals themselves were a bit muddy, with washed-out textures and a grim, brownish color palette that felt less vibrant than previous games.”
- “Despite being released on next-gen hardware, Dead Rising 3 suffers from frequent framerate drops, texture pop-in, and other graphical glitches that detract from the overall experience.”
optimization
554 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
51%
37%
The optimization of Dead Rising 3 has received overwhelmingly negative feedback from players, with many citing severe performance issues, including frequent crashes, stuttering, and a frustrating 30fps cap that requires manual tweaks to unlock. While some users report being able to run the game smoothly with high-end hardware and modifications, the general consensus is that the game is poorly optimized for PC, making it difficult to recommend without significant patches to address these issues. Overall, players suggest waiting for improvements before purchasing, as the current state hampers the enjoyment of an otherwise fun game.
- “On PC, the game fares better, with higher resolutions and improved performance, though it's still not a technical marvel by today’s standards.”
- “While the game benefits from higher resolutions and smoother frame rates compared to its console counterpart, the optimization is inconsistent.”
- “Before you start: make sure to look up how to unlock 60fps, tweak the Steam launch options according to your specs for optimal performance, and you're good to go.”
- “This game is optimized like a piece of shit, and there is no Chinese dubbing in this game.”
- “Skip this entry in favor of playing Dead Rising 1, Dead Rising 2, or Dead Rising 2: Off the Record instead because this port is a buggy, unoptimized mess that isn't as good as the other entries in the series.”
- “The performance is abysmal on current-day tech and the game constantly has rendering problems.”
humor
370 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in "Dead Rising 3" is a mix of dark comedy and absurdity, featuring a variety of funny weapons, quirky outfits, and over-the-top character interactions that often lead to hilarious moments. While some players feel the humor doesn't quite match the charm of earlier entries in the series, many appreciate the game's ability to blend chaotic zombie-slaying with comedic elements, especially in cooperative play. Overall, the game maintains a lighthearted tone amidst its horror themes, making it an entertaining experience for fans of the genre.
- “Awesome funny zombie game! I recommend it if you want goofy chaos and just absolute ramming through zombies.”
- “The freedom and creativity here are unmatched, and it encourages experimentation in a way that’s consistently rewarding and hilarious.”
- “It's a perfect blend of horror, comedy, and absolute lunacy that will leave you laughing and craving more.”
- “Capcom support isn't even a joke; it's so bad that it's just not funny unless you are really bored sitting on the can, you know?”
- “Most of it is just one-line explanations or unfunny jokes that lead into the next unexplained or detailed plot development, with characters that have hilariously little to say about the current situations going on.”
- “Not funny, didn't laugh.”
stability
260 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
1%
87%
The stability of Dead Rising 3 has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting significant bugs, glitches, and performance issues, particularly on PC. Many users noted a frustrating 30fps cap that exacerbates these problems, leading to crashes, freezing, and game-breaking glitches that can corrupt save files. While some players experienced minimal issues, the overall consensus is that the game is plagued by instability, making it a challenging experience for many.
- “The game is also quite stable, being great for coop play and generally a bug-free experience.”
- “I have not had any issues; the game runs great on my PC maxed out at 1440p.”
- “No crashing, no bugs that I can think of; it runs great with a screen full of zombies.”
- “This game should be called Glitch Rising 3. 13 hours of pure glitches; I have never deleted a game so fast.”
- “The game is a buggy mess on modern systems. FPS is capped at 30, and uncapping it makes the game even buggier to the point where you can't even aim down your gun when shooting.”
- “Skip this entry in favor of playing Dead Rising 1, Dead Rising 2, or Dead Rising 2: Off the Record instead because this port is a buggy, unoptimized mess that isn't as good as the other entries in the series.”
music
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
52%
9%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its dynamic and atmospheric qualities that enhance gameplay, while others find it lacking compared to previous installments. The soundtrack effectively adapts to different scenarios, but many players feel it doesn't capture the lighthearted charm of earlier titles, often leaning towards generic or forgettable tracks. Overall, while there are standout moments and a variety of genres represented, the music may not resonate with all fans of the series.
- “Sound design and music are generally solid, with a soundtrack that effectively shifts from tense to bombastic as needed, and voice acting that—while not always award-worthy—does a fine job of bringing the game’s quirky world to life.”
- “The soundtrack adapts to the tone of missions—ramping up during boss fights and dialing down during exploration.”
- “The sound design is pretty good and makes slicing zombies down the middle very satisfying and badass; the soundtrack also does a nice job at building tension and making the player feel cool when mincing through hundreds of zombies at any given time.”
- “The soundtrack wasn't anything special.”
- “Most of the soundtrack is 100% forgettable.”
- “The characters are uninteresting, the environment is dull, the music is lacking and boring, much unlike the other 5 games of the series.”
replayability
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
57%
9%
Overall, "Dead Rising 3: Apocalypse Edition" is noted for its high replayability, particularly due to its co-op gameplay, extensive collectibles, and various challenges. While many players find the game fun and engaging enough to return to, some criticize the lack of meaningful replay incentives after completing the main story, as well as the reduced challenge level compared to previous entries in the series. Despite these concerns, the game still offers a wealth of content that can keep players entertained for hours.
- “This feature adds considerable replay value and makes navigating the zombie-infested city even more enjoyable, as players can share resources, combo weapons, and strategies.”
- “This game has great replay value, tons of zany weapons and vehicles, strange outfits, epic amounts of violence, and just the right amount of creepy, pervy madness.”
- “Overall fun game, the co-op mode adds replay value.”
- “This game sacrifices the tense moments for the casuals who just wanted to kill zombies and ignored how the difficulty made the game replayable.”
- “The only real weakness is since the game is so easy and the zombies aren't really a threat it gets old very quick and has little replayability once you've beaten it once.”
- “There is no replayability, since saving survivors doesn't carry over, and nothing affects the outcome or story of the game; there is no incentive to replay the game except to collect some items, which isn't very rewarding at all.”
grinding
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
5%
94%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in tasks like achieving the "prestige hound" achievement, which requires an excessive number of kills. While some appreciate the opportunity for character progression and the variety of tasks, the overall sentiment leans towards frustration with the game's lengthy and monotonous grinding mechanics, especially in navigating the expansive map and completing side missions. Players often feel that the grind detracts from the enjoyment of the game, making it feel more like a chore than a rewarding experience.
- “Side missions and item collection are not as tedious as they first appeared.”
- “The 'prestige hound' achievement requires you to do many tedious tasks including grinding out 340,000 kills.”
- “While the prospect of exploring a massive open-world filled with zombies may sound exciting on paper, the reality is a tedious slog of repetitive tasks and mindless button mashing.”
- “Driving around the whole map is a tedious task.”
atmosphere
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
61%
6%
The atmosphere in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its rich, immersive qualities and effective sound design that enhances the experience, while others criticize the lack of tension and the failure of voice acting to capture the intended humor and mood. The visual and audio elements contribute to a gritty, apocalyptic vibe reminiscent of classic zombie films, though some feel it lacks the charm of earlier installments. Overall, the atmosphere is noted as a significant aspect, with varying opinions on its effectiveness and execution.
- “The sound design is solid across the board, with satisfying weapon effects, atmospheric groans from the undead, and intense combat audio that keeps the adrenaline flowing.”
- “With its rich atmosphere, clever level design, and sheer scale, Dead Rising 3: Apocalypse Edition is an absolute must-play for fans of the series and open-world enthusiasts alike.”
- “Amazing game, solid graphics, exciting combat, and a heavy, no-hope atmosphere all make this one of my favorite games of all time.”
- “As for the Russian voice acting, it can be noted that it absolutely failed to cope with the task of conveying the atmosphere and humor inherent in the first part.”
- “The abundance of combo weapons and the open-ended environmental design detract from the survival themes and atmosphere that defined the earlier games.”
- “The zombies that fill the city are bland, often just blending in with the dull atmosphere.”
emotional
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the depth of the main character and certain touching moments, while others criticize the overall narrative for being generic and lacking emotional investment. The game's attempts to explore darker themes and character relationships often fall flat, leading to a disconnect between players and the story. Despite some heartfelt moments, many find the gameplay and side characters uninspiring, detracting from the potential emotional engagement.
- “His empathy, vulnerability, and moral compass add surprising emotional depth to a game known for chaos and carnage.”
- “Dead Rising 3's narrative, while not flawless, manages to strike a balance between chaos and emotional engagement.”
- “You get to make an emotional connection with the main character you play as, which is always good, whether you relate to him, or the story touches you; either way, the characters in the game aren't boring.”
- “Boring story with the most infuriating crybaby main character, the most abhorrent floaty character controls you can imagine, absolutely unacceptable screen/camera shake which nauseates to no end, watered down graphics and color palette that melts your eyeballs, complete with the edgelord cast of 'characters' and bosses who are the most obvious/cringe seven deadly sin archetypes.”
- “Boring story, boring gameplay, boring quests.”
- “It's a boring story-wise but fun-wise?”
character development
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
43%
21%
Character development in Dead Rising 3 receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the growth of characters like Nick, while others criticize it as weak and repetitive. Although the game features high-quality graphics and engaging character designs, many feel that the depth of character development does not significantly enhance the overall narrative experience. Overall, while some players find the character arcs enjoyable, others believe they lack the complexity and innovation seen in other titles.
- “While it isn’t going to shake the way we see narratives, watching Nick grow more brave and steadfast was still nice, despite the fact we see this character development all the time.”
- “The best character development since Dying Light.”
- “In the first game, the story was good, the character development was great, and the malls' progress throughout the game was fun and enjoyable.”
- “While it can be quite fun at times, the story is awesome (though cheesy), and the humour often lands, Dead Rising 3 is a repetitive action-adventure game with terrible graphics for its time, poor level design, weak character development, a small generic world, and too many damn zombies.”
- “Very little character development.”
- “Character development is not very good.”
monetization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many users perceiving it as a cash grab that exploits nostalgia for the original title. Players have reported numerous bugs, particularly related to ads and gameplay mechanics, which detract from the experience and suggest a lack of polish. Additionally, the presence of low-quality textures and the absence of microtransactions are noted, but overall, the game's monetization strategy is viewed unfavorably, with calls for better optimization and transparency.
- “All I see this as is a simple cash grab for what used to be a good series.”
- “This port screams cash grab and needs far better optimization before it is playable without any hiccups.”
- “There is an ads bug and a weapon wheel bug that make this game completely unplayable.”

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72%Critics’ scoreBased on 13 critic reviews

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16h Median play time

19h Average play time

6-30h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 70 analyzed playthroughs

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Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition is a survival action adventure game with horror theme.

Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox One, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 19 hours playing Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition.

Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition was released on September 5, 2014.

Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition was developed by Capcom Game Studio Vancouver.

Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Dead Rising 4, Dead Rising 2, Just Cause 3, Watch Dogs, State of Decay: YOSE and others.

Dead Rising 3 Apocalypse Edition

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