F.E.A.R. 3

F.E.A.R. 3 is an exciting horror shooter with atmosphere as thick as the blood that splatters the walls of nearly every level. Not the scariest game on the market, but good co-op and multiplayer sets this game apart from its contemporaries.

59%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, monetization

62% User Score Based on 5,398 reviews

Critic Score 77%Based on 5 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $2.49

Buy NowGet on Steam$19.99

Buy NowGet on Xbox Games Store

About

In F.E.A.R. 3, play as Point Man or Paxton Fettel in a terrifyingly gruesome adventure, where you'll face your twisted mother, Alma, in co-op mode several years after the events of F.E.A.R. 2. Experiance Divergent Co-op, where your abilities impact both your gameplay and your partner's, while engaging in frenetic combat with 360-degree cover and evolving slow-mo modes. Prepare for a deep, socially engaging experience filled with fear and paranormal events.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

62%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,403 reviews

story459 positive mentions

grinding24 negative mentions

The game features enjoyable co-op gameplay, allowing players to experience the story together.
Gunplay is satisfying, with a variety of weapons and abilities that make combat engaging.
The graphics and sound design are decent, creating a visually appealing atmosphere.

The game loses the horror elements that defined the earlier entries, feeling more like a generic shooter.
The story is convoluted and lacks coherence, making it difficult to follow.
Limited weapon slots and a cover system detract from the gameplay experience, making it feel less dynamic.

story
2,257 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
65%
14%
The story of "F.E.A.R. 3" has received largely negative feedback, with many players describing it as unremarkable, convoluted, and filled with plot holes. While some appreciate the attempt to wrap up the series' narrative, they find it lacks the depth and coherence of its predecessors, often feeling like a disjointed action shooter rather than a horror experience. Overall, the game's narrative is seen as a weak point, overshadowed by its gameplay mechanics and co-op features.
- “The story is simple but offers a nice twist with the addition of co-op.”
- “The campaign, playable solo or with a friend, offers intense firefights and heart-pounding moments as you unravel the twisted story.”
- “I thought it was a nice continuation of the previous titles, bringing us back into the perspective of the point man and providing us with more backstory behind his and Paxton’s treatment as children at the hands of their cruel grandfather, Harlan.”
- “The story is completely raped and incomprehensible from start to finish.”
- “The 'story' literally breaks the lore established from previous games, and just generally doesn't make any sense.”
- “The story is awful and just poorly written; they tried to turn this game into a COD wannabe game or something so they could compete with the other games that came out at that time.”
gameplay
1,180 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
62%
11%
The gameplay in *F.E.A.R. 3* has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a shift from the tactical, horror-driven mechanics of its predecessors to a more generic, cover-based shooter style reminiscent of *Call of Duty*. While the introduction of co-op gameplay and unique character abilities, such as Paxton Fettel's possession mechanics, adds some variety, the overall experience is often described as repetitive and lacking the atmospheric tension that defined earlier entries in the series. The game features solid gunplay and a satisfying slow-motion mechanic, but many feel it ultimately falls short of the franchise's legacy, leaning too heavily on modern shooter tropes and losing its distinct identity.
- “Though the plot is forgettable, it’s the gameplay that stands tall here.”
- “The gameplay is extremely entertaining in my opinion.”
- “Fear 3 builds upon the franchise's legacy with its unique cooperative gameplay and chilling atmosphere.”
- “More importantly, the tactical movement and positioning are replaced with simply holding your ground and shooting waves of enemies coming at you – it no longer has the unique gameplay of the series, but more like playing Call of Duty.”
- “The gameplay is messy and confusing, the level design unnatural, the story nonexistent, the weapons are poor, and some sections of the game are so horribly repetitive, with the worst possible checkpoints.”
- “The gameplay is literally Call of Duty now.”
graphics
578 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
54%
10%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some praising the improvements over previous titles and others criticizing them as dated or subpar. While many players appreciate the atmospheric visuals and lighting effects, others feel that the graphics do not live up to modern standards, often comparing them unfavorably to earlier entries in the series. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the graphics are decent for their time, they lack the polish and creativity seen in earlier installments, leading to a somewhat disappointing visual experience.
- “The graphics bring this haunted world to life, or should I say, to an eerie, otherworldly existence.”
- “The game features great graphics and sound design, creating an immersive experience that will leave you jumping at every shadow.”
- “Clean graphics, great looking environments and plenty of gruesome imagery.”
- “Starting with the obvious, the graphics look like dogshit and the lighting lacks the contrast of the first game.”
- “The graphics are barely a step up from Fear 2, the story is even more convoluted to the point that it doesn't make any sense and is almost completely ignored by the players.”
- “The overall art style and graphics are unappealing and look incredibly bad for a 2011 game.”
atmosphere
415 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
52%
13%
The atmosphere in "F.E.A.R. 3" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant departure from the dark, immersive horror of the first two games. Critics highlight a shift towards a more action-oriented, arcade shooter experience, resulting in a loss of tension and suspense, with jump scares often feeling cheap and ineffective. While some levels maintain a degree of atmospheric tension, the overall consensus is that the game fails to capture the eerie, unsettling ambiance that defined its predecessors.
- “Fear 3 builds upon the franchise's legacy with its unique cooperative gameplay and chilling atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is often gloomy and frightening, each place is in ruins, filthy and bloody.”
- “The atmosphere and sound engineering are top notch in this game.”
- “The atmosphere from the original games is gone, and it's hardly even a horror game.”
- “It removes all the atmosphere and horror and replaces it with a cooperative, arcadey experience that feels more like Call of Duty with jump scares.”
- “Let's just say the difference between this game and the previous titles is night and day: there is no atmosphere, the horror elements have been stripped out completely, and the gameplay is discount Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.”
replayability
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
67%
8%
The replayability of the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the co-op mechanics and the option to play as different characters, which adds variety and encourages multiple playthroughs. However, many reviewers criticize the linear design and lack of meaningful choices, leading to limited incentive for replaying the campaign. Overall, while there are elements that enhance replay value, such as character differences and cooperative play, the game's short length and repetitive nature diminish its long-term appeal for many players.
- “The addition of divergent co-op mechanics adds replay value, encouraging multiple playthroughs to experience both sides of the narrative.”
- “Two distinctly different characters with very different playstyles give it a decent degree of replayability.”
- “This game did still make for a great FPS, in that its campaign was wildly entertaining, and had tons of replayability with friends as well as changing the difficulty for more XP to go toward the player rankings.”
- “Bear in mind, there's nearly 0 replayability in this game; you will most likely play the game once or twice.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices or branching paths, coupled with linear level design, diminishes the game's replay value, resulting in a relatively short-lived experience for some players.”
- “They get very repetitive very quickly, and offer little to no replay value.”
music
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
64%
17%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many describing it as forgettable and lacking the memorable qualities of its predecessor. While some appreciate the atmospheric elements and the inclusion of tracks like Danzig's "Mother," others criticize the soundtrack for being standard and not effectively contributing to the horror experience. Overall, the sound design is seen as passable, with some moments of tension, but it fails to leave a lasting impression.
- “Sound design and music is amazing, really keeps you on edge as you move through dimly-lit corridors.”
- “The atmosphere is rich, industrial music peppers the air, explosions and blood clouds dance in your slowed down vision.”
- “Sometimes the music in this game gives me an adrenaline rush and that alone is enough to make me go berserk and rain hell on my enemies; I even forget this is a horror game, I feel like I am the horror.”
- “The music and sound are terrible.”
- “The soundtrack is also average and forgettable.”
- “They totally removed the great sound design and cues from the first 2 games and replaced it with a run-of-the-mill, looping soundtrack that doesn't match in-game dynamics closely enough.”
optimization
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
61%
9%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance and good graphics on modern hardware, others experience significant frame drops and poor optimization, particularly in certain areas and with older DirectX versions. Overall, many reviews highlight that the game runs acceptably well, but inconsistencies in performance and graphical fidelity compared to its predecessors are notable concerns.
- “Well optimized, very polished; the story is kind of all over the place, but serviceable.”
- “The graphics are good and serve the purpose; very fluid performance.”
- “Great performance / engine optimization.”
- “It looks graphically inferior to the prequels, performance is inferior to the previous games somehow, and they retroactively made the story from every single previous DLC and expansion pack non-canon.”
- “This title has nothing to appeal to an action shooter perspective or a horror perspective and the performance tanks in areas that have no right to cause frame drops.”
- “Very poorly optimized and repetitive.”
humor
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often described as unintentionally hilarious, with players enjoying the absurdity of enemy dialogue and interactions, such as tiny enemies shooting peas and repetitive phrases like "did you see that?" While some found the comedic elements to be a welcome distraction from the lack of genuine scares, others noted that the humor often stemmed from the game's broken mechanics and poor design choices, making it more of a comedic experience when played with friends. Overall, the humor adds a layer of enjoyment, albeit in a way that contrasts sharply with the game's intended horror atmosphere.
- “My favorite oft-repeated enemy phrase is, 'Did you see that?' The humor makes the same enemy yells during combat tolerable given how often they repeat throughout the levels.”
- “As Kiba Snowpaw, I give this game a howling thumbs up for anyone who loves a good scare mixed with a dash of humor.”
- “I had a great time laughing and being goofy with friends on the online modes, especially the wave survivals that get surprisingly fun.”
emotional
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The emotional aspect of the game has been widely criticized, with many players expressing disappointment over a boring and cliché-ridden story that fails to evoke any genuine fear or connection. Reviewers noted that characters felt flat and unengaging, leading to a lack of emotional investment in the narrative. Overall, the game's shortcomings have left players feeling disheartened about the franchise's decline.
- “It's just so heartbreaking to see what this series has become.”
- “I don't believe we need to be privy to every aspect of a character, however they made them seem like cardboard cutouts, instead of real humans, ghosts, or aliens; there was no difference as they all acted flat and emotionally frigid.”
- “I'll stick to fanfiction to get an emotional high...”
- “I just got done playing this game and I have to say that this game is not as good as the other Fear games. It feels more like a Call of Duty ripoff than a Fear game. The story is boring, it's easy as hell even on high difficulty, and it's not scary. This is the final nail in the coffin for the Fear franchise... that really makes me sad.”
- “Very sparse and boring story, frustrating boss enemies, and appalling server issues. Most of the time my friend and I spent finishing the game was reloading levels after it cut our connection near the end.”
- “Towards the end of the game, you start to get tired of boring story sequences interrupting the action!”
grinding
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
4%
92%
Players overwhelmingly describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and unengaging, with repetitive combat mechanics that lead to frustration rather than satisfaction. Many reviewers note that the gameplay devolves into a monotonous cycle of shooting and waiting for health regeneration, compounded by chaotic enemy waves and poorly designed level paths. Overall, the experience is characterized by a lack of rewarding moments, making it feel more like a chore than an enjoyable challenge.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Worst fear game by far. I played through it once on Xbox and hated it. I thought I may have just disliked certain parts, but now I realize why I hate this game: the story and enemies suck, and it's just tedious and annoying to play. Can't even complete it. Save your money, even if it's on sale; avoid this trash like the plague.”
- “Playing as Point Man is just boring and tedious, as you most likely will stay behind cover most of the time, popping out to shoot enemies and waiting for health to regenerate, and repeat.”
- “There are a few fun levels, but overall there are too many tedious portions and sections where they just throw lots of enemies at you all at once, and it becomes too chaotic.”
monetization
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers feeling that it lacks the development and focus of its predecessors. Players are advised to stick with the first two games, which are seen as superior, while the third installment is viewed as an attempt to exploit the franchise's fanbase without offering substantial new content or improvements.
- “Do yourself a favor and play (or replay as the case may be) the first two games, as they continue to hold up - much better than this cynical cash grab.”
- “It's clear that the original developers, Monolith, had no hand in this and this game was purely a cash grab to milk fans of the franchise.”
- “Feels like an obvious cash grab aimed at a niche fanbase, which doesn't really make much sense, but whatever.”
stability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
82%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report a smooth experience with no major bugs or crashes, others have encountered significant issues, including server disconnections and game-breaking glitches. The co-op mode is generally praised for its reliability, but there are still complaints about occasional bugs and performance drops during intense moments. Despite these issues, many players appreciate that the game runs well on high refresh rate monitors and does not suffer from frequent crashes.
- “The game runs great honestly, while lacking in color.”
- “The game runs great on a 144Hz monitor.”
- “With that said, the game is extremely buggy at times and has the ability to sometimes kick you from servers, which subsequently got fixed once single-player co-op got moved to the host's IP instead of the game's servers.”
- “Might have been a good game way back when, but now it is a buggy mess.”
- “Cons: not much different from Fear 2 (especially the visuals), some FPS drops during set pieces, lacking effective 'horror', AI can get buggy, the last interval could have been a lot less annoying.”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
50%
40%
Character development in the game is widely criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, with many players finding the plot progression predictable and formulaic. The character design, particularly for key figures like Fettel, has also been noted as inconsistent and confusing, detracting from the overall narrative experience. Overall, the lack of believable character arcs and engaging storytelling leaves players feeling disconnected from the characters.
- “The character design of Fettel in this game was so different from the previous ones that I didn't realize that he was that cannibal from the first game!”
- “Character development is minimal, and the plot progression may feel predictable or formulaic to players familiar with the horror genre.”
- “When one of the most loveable characters in the franchise dies, I just wanted to skip the (unskippable) cutscene; a straight line has more dimensions than the character development.”
- “No character development or proper believable narration to speak of.”