Dead Space 3

About

In Dead Space 3, Isaac Clarke and soldier John Carver brave the harsh planet Tau Volantis to stop the Necromorphs, uncovering exclusive story elements and strategies in co-op mode. Players can choose between single-player and co-op campaigns, with the latter providing a unique perspective on the story. Together, they battledeadlier enemies and survive harsh elements to save humanity.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,918 reviews

story606 positive mentions

monetization56 negative mentions

story
2,680 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
65%
12%
The story of "Dead Space 3" has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing it for being weak, predictable, and filled with clichés, particularly regarding the forced love triangle between Isaac and Ellie. While some appreciate the continuation of Isaac's journey and the exploration of the necromorph lore, others feel that the narrative lacks depth and coherence, especially when played solo, as significant story elements are locked behind co-op missions. Overall, the game is seen as a departure from the horror roots of its predecessors, leaning more towards action and less on suspenseful storytelling.
- “The ancient graveyard feeling of Tau Volantis and its orbit is actually insanely captivating, the sound design (with a few exceptions) stands the test of time just the same as the previous Dead Space games, and the story is actually a pretty good continuation of Isaac Clarke's foray into unending madness.”
- “The story, a tapestry of personal struggle and cosmic horror, is where 'Dead Space 3' truly shines. The plot doesn't shy away from exploring the psychological toll of facing insurmountable odds, and the relationships between characters are so well-crafted that you feel every pang of emotion along the way.”
- “The story is engaging and emotionally resonant, with twists and turns that keep players invested in the fate of the characters.”
- “The plot is godawful, filled with predictable tropes from action movies, disposable characters that the game sorta tries to make you care for them but die in the most unconventional ways.”
- “The story was horrendous, it made what happened in ds2 insignificant as why couldn't they just go to the source of the marker from the beginning as they already knew that these things were connected.”
- “The story is a jumbled mess that often feels too ridiculous or convenient to fully immerse you in the experience.”
gameplay
978 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
66%
10%
The gameplay in "Dead Space 3" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a shift towards more action-oriented mechanics compared to its predecessors. While some appreciate the new weapon crafting and co-op features, others criticize the repetitive nature of combat, the lack of horror elements, and the introduction of microtransactions that detract from the experience. Overall, the gameplay is seen as enjoyable but less innovative and engaging than in earlier titles, leading to a sense of disappointment among long-time fans of the series.
- “The gameplay is great when it adheres to the franchise's roots and ranges from okay to abysmal when it focuses on being an action game.”
- “The gameplay mechanics offered a familiar yet slightly enhanced experience compared to previous games.”
- “The mechanics are polished to a sheen, allowing for a seamless switch between dismembering gruesome necromorphs and piecing together the puzzle of your own survival.”
- “There's almost no new mechanics introduced except for a dodging roll you can do on command (which most of the time is useless because you fight in tight spaces for the majority of the game).”
- “Thus, the gameplay quickly became a mindless shooting gallery that got stale 3 hours into the game and the remaining 10 hours were a miserable grind solely for the sake of the story.”
- “The gameplay is boring as hell: run, shoot, run, shoot, run, shoot... lather, rinse, repeat.”
graphics
394 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
53%
6%
The graphics of Dead Space 3 have received mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful visuals and atmospheric environments, particularly in the game's depiction of space and the frozen planet Tau Volantis. While some players note that the graphics hold up well for a game released in 2013, others feel that they fall short compared to earlier installments in the series, citing issues with character models and overall aesthetic coherence. Overall, the visuals are often highlighted as a strong point, even if they show signs of aging.
- “The graphics are a marvel, bringing the desolate ice planet and the grotesque monstrosities that lurk within it to life in harrowing detail.”
- “Being a game 11 years old, its graphics are not only top-notch quality by today's standards but superior in many aspects, such as physics, animations, and design, far superior to most of the games that are released currently.”
- “The aesthetics of the game are stunning, immersing players in the strange, frozen landscapes of Tau Volantis.”
- “The graphics somehow feel downgraded with lots of filters mixed together.”
- “Right from the start the graphics look awful, way worse than Dead Space 1 and 2.”
- “The graphics are somehow worse than Dead Space 2.”
atmosphere
318 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
57%
4%
The atmosphere in "Dead Space 3" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant shift from the horror-centric dread of the first two games to a more action-oriented experience. While some appreciate the game's immersive environments and sound design, others feel that the tension and psychological horror elements have been largely diminished, resulting in a less engaging atmosphere overall. Despite these criticisms, certain aspects, such as the detailed settings and occasional eerie moments, still manage to evoke a sense of unease, though they often fall short of the franchise's earlier standards.
- “The dark and eerie atmosphere of the game really drew me in.”
- “Immersive atmosphere: from the eerie silence of derelict spacecraft to the bone-chilling encounters with grotesque necromorphs, Dead Space 3 masterfully crafts an atmosphere of dread and tension.”
- “The skittering of unseen claws, the distant moans of necromorphs, and the haunting melodies all conspire to create an atmosphere that grips you and refuses to let go, even after you've put down the controller.”
- “It's a horror game that had no fear or atmosphere to it from start to end.”
- “The pacing and creeping atmosphere from the earlier games is totally erased, replaced by a string of cinematic setpieces of explosions while the game throws hundreds of enemies at you.”
- “They removed the horror/tense atmosphere from the previous games and leave you with little more than the combat which, in my opinion, was never great to begin with.”
monetization
174 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
64%
32%
The monetization strategy in the game has drawn significant criticism, primarily due to the prevalence of microtransactions and DLC that many players feel detract from the core experience. Reviewers describe these elements as intrusive and indicative of a cash grab mentality, with some content locked behind paywalls and a forced co-op system that limits access to certain story elements. While some players report being able to enjoy the game without engaging with the monetization aspects, the overall sentiment is that these practices undermine the game's integrity and the legacy of the franchise.
- “The launcher works fine, being always online is far less of a problem in 2024, and compared to all the monetization that came after this game, EA was going lightly here.”
- “Lots of microtransactions that you can easily ignore & still do well as a heads-up.”
- “I did not buy any microtransactions while playing and did not feel hampered in any way, though they are slightly 'immersion breaking'.”
- “Instead of being a faithful Dead Space game, they went with a more generic shooter game and attempted to make more money through in-game microtransactions, which completely destroyed the game's vibe.”
- “Massive story content is locked behind co-op (good luck getting that to work unless you have a friend you can coerce into playing through this game with you), in-game resources are soft-locked behind paywalls, and scummy microtransactions try to seep their way into the game with the 'real' ending to the experience lying in a co-op only escapade.”
- “The biggest issue, and the thing that killed both the franchise and developer along with it, was EA's insistence on 'replay value' pork like forced online co-op to complete some side missions, and in-game microtransactions to 'buy' resources and skip the grind, or weapons/armor sets unavailable any other way with real-world money.”
music
132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
62%
5%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack as excellent and immersive, particularly during key moments, while others criticize it for being out of place or repetitive. Many players noted that the audio mixing could be improved, as voice levels often overshadow the music. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, it fails to consistently match the game's intended atmosphere, leading to a varied reception among players.
- “The music is amazing in this game.”
- “The soundtrack is incredible and is 300 times better than 1 and 2.”
- “The campaign is long, the soundtrack is great and the gunplay doesn't get old with the mixing you can do with the tuning.”
- “The overall feel is so junky, like someone deep fried this game and whatever expectations you might have had for a horror experience before starting the game is killed by the odd music choice.”
- “The music in this game feels very out of place with the theme of the game, especially when compared to the previous games.”
- “After DS2, I had high hopes for this game. This does not feel like a Dead Space game to me... they essentially removed all of the good things from the previous game... even the music ruins the immersion.”
humor
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Dead Space 3" is often described as a mix of intentional and unintentional comedy, particularly when played in co-op mode, where players find joy in the absurdity of the game's mechanics and character interactions. Many players appreciate the lighthearted moments, such as crafting ridiculous weapons and the quirky AI, while others note that the humor sometimes detracts from the horror experience. Overall, the game is seen as more funny than scary, providing a fun, albeit chaotic, experience when shared with friends.
- “The game gives you enough resources to craft weapons around chapter 16 and 17, and the funny thing is the game is 19 chapters total, so yeah you can craft 1 weapon and play with it for 2 chapters without trying it xd xd xd.”
- “The dialogue and/or storytelling is at times unnatural, but when playing with a friend it makes the awkwardness or jank hilarious and fun.”
- “It's absolutely hilarious how many horrible situations this game puts Isaac through this time around.”
stability
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
2%
94%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly detract from the overall experience. Many players have experienced game-breaking issues, particularly related to the EA Origin launcher, which exacerbates the instability. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," leading to frustration and disappointment, especially when compared to its predecessors.
- “Runs great graphically on PC.”
- “And runs great on Steam Deck!”
- “Buggy mess, very disappointing after the previous two titles.”
- “Insane considering the age of this game how buggy and unfinished it is.”
- “It's so buggy that sometimes the only way to move forward in the campaign is to get lucky when a recurring bug doesn't happen.”
grinding
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
6%
90%
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, with many players noting that it detracts from the overall experience. Tasks such as backtracking, generic item fetch quests, and overwhelming enemy encounters contribute to a sense of monotony, making the gameplay feel like a chore rather than an engaging challenge. While some players find satisfaction in the progression through grinding, the overwhelming sentiment is that it often feels like filler content that disrupts the game's pacing and enjoyment.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A lot of grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The tedious end-of-level boss crab thing will ensure that I never play this otherwise excellent game, ever again.”
- “Game drags itself with tedious tasks, definitely filler content.”
- “Weapon and upgrade systems are painfully not fun and tedious in comparison to how it was handled in the last two games.”
replayability
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
67%
6%
Replayability in Dead Space 3 is a mixed bag, with many players praising the extensive weapon customization and cooperative gameplay that enhance replay value, while others criticize the forced online co-op and microtransactions that detract from the experience. Some reviews rate replayability as high as 8/10 due to the variety of playstyles and unique chapter identities, while others feel it offers little incentive for multiple playthroughs, with ratings as low as 2/10. Overall, the game provides options for replayability, particularly in co-op mode, but opinions vary significantly on its long-term appeal.
- “The cooperative campaign is a blast to play and has some unique features such as Isaac and Carver having separate hallucination experiences and conversations with other characters, which leads to a higher replay value.”
- “All the levels are really fun; each chapter has a lot of identity, which I found surprising due to the setting, and there's a really in-depth weapon crafting system that significantly increases the game's replayability.”
- “There’s a lot in Dead Space 3 that we know and love about the series as a whole, together with plenty of options and replay value thanks to the creative and flexible combat mechanics and unlockable difficulty modes.”
- “Overall, I recommend this game to the Dead Space lovers, but the replay value is zero for me.”
- “The biggest issue, and the thing that killed both the franchise and developer along with it, was EA's insistence on 'replay value' like forced online co-op to complete some side missions, and in-game microtransactions to 'buy' resources and skip the grind, or weapons/armor sets unavailable any other way with real-world money.”
- “Replayability - 2/10”
emotional
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
8%
The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players feeling that key emotional moments lack depth and fail to resonate, while others praise the character development and impactful storytelling, particularly in earlier installments. Critics highlight forced emotional plot devices and clichéd backstories that detract from genuine engagement, leading to frustration rather than connection. Overall, while some moments evoke strong feelings, many players find the emotional narrative inconsistent and unearned.
- “Hey listen to me EA, it really makes my heart hurt to know that Dead Space 4 never happened. I played the Dead Space remake and ended up continuing with Dead Space 2 and Dead Space 3. You really developed Isaac Clarke's character very well; I almost shed tears at the ending of Dead Space 2, and you made me cry at the ending of Dead Space 3. I really hope you continue the 4th installation.”
- “The story is engaging and emotionally resonant, with twists and turns that keep players invested in the fate of the characters.”
- “I found nothing but pain, despair, and I cried twice.”
- “Boring setting, boring story and characters, and uninspired monster design.”
optimization
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
43%
19%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant stuttering and frame drops, particularly in solo play, while others report smooth performance even on older hardware. The requirement to launch the EA Play launcher has been noted as a performance hindrance. Overall, while some users find the game well-optimized and visually impressive, others highlight persistent technical issues that detract from the experience.
- “There is no loading screen throughout the game and you run smoothly through the story without any distraction.”
- “Game is pretty dang optimized as well runs on high very well on my old PC (2010 workstation SFF).”
- “The good: buttery smooth performance and still visually stunning to this day.”
- “I'm trying to run this game with a 4090 and 132 GB of RAM, and no matter what I do, I'm getting unbearable stuttering.”
- “Unplayable, stuttering at over 400 fps, broken crap garbage.”
- “This game though... has an optimization problem or something.”
character development
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
73%
12%
Character development in Dead Space 3 is a mixed bag; while the game attempts to delve deeper into Isaac Clarke's past and relationships, many players feel that his growth is minimal and poorly executed compared to previous installments. The introduction of Carver offers some additional development, particularly in co-op play, but overall, the character arcs are criticized for lacking depth and coherence, often feeling juvenile or underwhelming. Despite these shortcomings, some players appreciate the emotional focus and the exploration of the series' mythos.
- “Unlike its predecessors, DS3 focuses more on character development and emotions rather than pure action or survival.”
- “The main character Isaac Clarke's past and personal relationships are further fleshed out, and this character development is one of the most fascinating aspects of the game.”
- “Furthermore, Dead Space 3's plot remains engrossing, with a deeper examination of the series' mythos and interesting character development.”
- “Isaac feels worse here than ever before, and I honestly think his character development was handled with graceless, trembling hands.”
- “Isaac is acting like a high school teenager at 50 years old and has minimal character development from the previous games.”
- “The story, the storytelling, the atmosphere, the dialogues, the character development, everything sounds like it was made by a 14-year-old and is ultra cringe.”