Dominions 3: The Awakening

About

"Dominions 3: The Awakening" is a turn-based strategy game set in a fantasy world, where players design their own pretender gods to compete for true godhood. With over 60 nations, 1500 units, 600 spells, and 300 magic items, the game offers a vast array of magical rituals, horrifying creatures, and strategic options. Accompanied by a medieval musical score, this highly detailed game includes a 300-page manual for a deep and immersive experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 104 reviews

gameplay10 positive mentions

graphics8 negative mentions

The game offers immense depth and variety, with a complex system of units, spells, and strategies that keeps players engaged for hours.
Despite its outdated graphics, the gameplay is rich and rewarding, providing a unique fantasy experience that stands out from other strategy games.
The game has a strong community and excellent mod support, allowing for endless replayability and customization.

The learning curve is steep, with a lack of adequate tutorials and a lengthy manual that can be overwhelming for new players.
The user interface is clunky and outdated, making it difficult to manage units and navigate the game's many mechanics.
Many players find the game tedious due to micromanagement, especially in late-game scenarios where managing large armies becomes a chore.

graphics
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
62%
22%
The graphics of the game are widely criticized as outdated and basic, often described as clunky or crude, which can detract from the overall experience. However, many reviewers emphasize that the gameplay mechanics and strategic depth more than compensate for the visual shortcomings, encouraging players to look beyond the graphics to appreciate the game's complexity and creativity. Overall, while the visuals may not impress, they are deemed sufficient for conveying necessary information, allowing players to enjoy a rich and engaging strategy experience.
- “The artwork, music, and overall style generate a pleasant themed atmosphere.”
- “Don't be fooled by the graphics; this is an epic game that you should definitely get if you enjoy fantasy and/or strategy games.”
- “The graphics are sufficient for the job they do, and there's a plethora of additional mods and maps available for it.”
- “Clunky controls and ancient graphics nearly killed the game for me.”
- “The lack of decent graphics and sound doesn't do the game any favors either.”
- “There is a pretty cool strategy game hidden in here somewhere but I couldn't find it underneath the hideous graphics and god-awful user interface.”
gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
46%
13%
The gameplay is praised for its deep and multifaceted mechanics, offering a rich experience that remains engaging despite primitive graphics. Players can explore various strategies through diverse factions, units, and spells, although the complexity of the mechanics can be daunting and often requires external resources for full understanding. While battles are automated and some mechanics are cryptic, the overall design is considered excellent, making it a rewarding strategy game for those willing to invest time in learning its intricacies.
- “A lot of fun can be had exploring the mechanics, which are deep and multi-faceted.”
- “In spite of the primitive art, there's a tremendous amount of depth to the gameplay, particularly in which age you start in, the map, your faction and their preferred biome and units, and your god.”
- “Don't let yourself be fooled by the graphics; the gameplay of this game is actually amazing.”
- “Gameplay is basically 'stack mashing', where you pile up a giant glob of units and lob it at the enemy and hope for the best.”
- “The worst flaw of this game is that most of the cryptic game mechanics cannot be accessed in-game and you have to rely on Google search to find out.”
- “I am only mad about the makers' negligence about the 'gamer' at the other end and that user-hostile attitude almost asking the gamer 'guess what have I got here in my pocket?' which seems like arrogance and a lack of the skill of presenting eager people with easy-to-use game mechanics.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
56%
17%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and nostalgic qualities, with many reviewers highlighting its creativity and ability to enhance the overall experience. Composed by Erik Ask-Upmark and Anna Rynefors, the soundtrack features a blend of medieval European and Scandinavian folk music, effectively setting the mood for different game eras. While some critiques mention repetitive loops, the majority agree that the music is a standout element that elevates the gameplay.
- “The artwork, music, and overall style generate a pleasant themed atmosphere.”
- “The music, which I don't think is mentioned enough in all these reviews, is some of the best I have ever heard in a game. Very creative and thought-provoking, it really sets the mood.”
- “You will find music from both of these projects in the game – intro music and early age music is Dråm, while middle and late age music is Falsobordone.”
- “On first glance, this game has sloppy graphics and looped music.”
- “9/10 for a wonderful strategy game, and it only lost points on graphics, interface, and music.”
- “The music for Dominions 3 was performed by Erik Ask-Upmark and Anna Rynefors.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, especially as empires grow and the management of multiple units and territories becomes overwhelming. While some appreciate the strategic depth, many feel that the repetitive nature of unit management and the lack of engaging combat contribute to a sense of boredom over time. Overall, those who dislike grinding may want to seek alternatives for a more streamlined experience.
- “It sounds trite, but when you're managing 10 stacks of units being made each turn, at 10 different territories, every turn for each front, it gets really tedious.”
- “As with a 4X game, this starts to become somewhat tedious the larger your empire grows, and the more laboratories with wizards you have to keep track of, although it's thankfully not as terrible as constantly managing a build queue since you tend to have relatively few major centers to check.”
- “Dominions, while initially fun, becomes tedious and boring very quickly.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviewers highlight the exceptional replayability of the game, citing its vast selection of nations, units, spells, and commanders, along with a plethora of player-created maps. The strategic depth of the game ensures that players can enjoy countless unique experiences, making it a title with virtually limitless replay value.
- “Replayability until eternity.”
- “With such a dizzying array of nations, units, spells, and commanders, coupled with a massive number of player-made maps and an engine that provides real strategic play, Dominions contains an eternity of replay value for those who can grasp its juicy offerings.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviews indicate that while the game offers extensive customization options for civilizations, it ultimately leans heavily on optimization strategies and resource exploitation. Players can enhance their leaders with magical items and permanent improvements, which further emphasizes the focus on maximizing efficiency in gameplay.
- “Leaders can also be given magical items you forge to greatly improve their combat performance, and can gain permanent (as long as they live) improvements to their magic-casting capabilities.”
- “All of the promise of customizing your civilization to suit your own fantasy gives way to cold calculations and optimization strategies, and all the exploration is just for finding more resources to exploit.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Overall, users find the game's stability to be generally good, though some report minor bugs, particularly when running on Windows 10 at 1440 resolution.
- “Fantastic, but a bit buggy with Windows 10 and 1440 resolution; still works.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experienced constant lag and random freezes during gameplay.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its cohesive artwork, engaging music, and overall thematic style, creating a pleasant and immersive experience for players.
- “The artwork, music, and overall style create a beautifully immersive atmosphere.”
- “The game's atmosphere is captivating, drawing you into its unique world.”
- “Every element, from the sound design to the visuals, contributes to an enchanting atmosphere.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is highlighted by a comedic guide that addresses multiplayer issues, providing players with a lighthearted take on the frustrations they may encounter. This blend of humor and gameplay challenges adds an entertaining layer to the overall experience.
- “Multiplayer doesn't work? Just read the hilarious guide!”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch; I found myself laughing out loud at the witty dialogue.”
- “The quirky characters and their funny interactions kept me entertained throughout the entire game.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story is likened to a personal simulation of life, where players can experience the role of a pretender god, resonating with users on a relatable level.
- “Being a pretender god is like real life for me; therefore, I recommend this virtual simulation of my life story.”