Geneforge 3

About

Geneforge 3 is a single player role playing game with a historical theme. It was developed by Spiderweb Software and was released on March 31, 2005. It received positive reviews from players.

Geneforge 3 is an indie fantasy role-playing game, where you can explore a hostile world, create your own army of mutant monsters, and make decisions that impact the story's outcome. With multiple factions to choose from and various endings, the game encourages replayability as you switch allegiances and strategies in each playthrough. The third entry in the Geneforge series, this adventure offers a vast and open storyline with diverse opportunities for player choice.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 43 reviews

story7 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game offers nearly 60 hours of engaging story and enjoyable gameplay, with significant improvements in mechanics and hit chance compared to its predecessor.
The writing is detailed and fulfilling, providing a complex narrative with moral ambiguity that encourages players to make meaningful choices.
The creature creation and management systems add depth to the gameplay, allowing for strategic combat and exploration in a richly developed world.

The game suffers from technical issues, including slow loading times and glitches that hinder gameplay, making it frustrating for players.
The linear structure and limited faction choices reduce the sense of freedom and exploration that characterized earlier entries in the series.
The graphics and user interface are considered outdated, which may detract from the overall experience for some players.

story
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
70%
9%
The story of Geneforge 3 is praised for its complexity and depth, offering a compelling narrative that engages players for nearly 60 hours through nuanced faction interactions and ethical dilemmas. While some reviewers note a more linear structure and a sense of familiarity in the plot, many appreciate the improved writing and the opportunity to explore both sides of the conflict. Overall, the game is recognized for its rich storytelling, despite some criticisms regarding the repetitiveness of its themes.
- “The story of Geneforge 3 is just as complex and compelling as you can expect from the first two entries; despite there being only two major factions down from four in 2, the interplay between them is far more nuanced.”
- “I played this game years ago and fell in love with the immense depth of story and features it has.”
- “What it lacks in graphics, it makes up tenfold in story.”
- “What gameplay improves, however, the story does not.”
- “Characters feel more forced here and story beats are the same as is found in other RPG series.”
- “However, I am tiring of the 'same song, different tune' story that is going on.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the nostalgic charm of its 90s and early 00s style, while others criticize them as subpar and lacking modern appeal. Despite the visual shortcomings, many reviewers emphasize that the gameplay and story compensate for the graphics, suggesting that the game's strengths lie in its narrative rather than its visual presentation. Overall, the graphics are described as simple and functional, with a clear divide between those who enjoy the retro aesthetic and those who find it lacking.
- “Additionally, this game has many small technical and graphical improvements over the first two entries in the series that make it feel like a proper sequel rather than merely another game in the same universe.”
- “This series also exemplifies how 90's and early 00's graphics are timeless, and how graphics have always been and will be secondary to excellent gameplay.”
- “It's not easy to make a game more visually appealing to a new audience that would have otherwise been turned off by the classic art style while also not annoying longtime players who might find the new version too alien.”
- “The new graphics do not sit well with me personally, and I made that known at the time it released.”
- “The design is partial due to a specific wish on the one hand and the very barebones graphic engine on the other.”
- “Con's: the graphics are subpar at best, must be able to use your imagination.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay is praised for its significant improvements over the previous installment, featuring refined mechanics, new elements like crafting and human companions, and an engaging 60-hour story. While the graphics may not impress, the gameplay is considered timeless and enjoyable, successfully blending innovation with classic elements. However, some players feel that despite the gameplay enhancements, the story does not match the same level of quality.
- “Nearly 60 hours of great and entertaining story and enjoyable gameplay.”
- “Much of the mechanics are done so much better than the second and is a great innovation to the prior Geneforge.”
- “The gameplay didn't change much but there are new features like crafting and human companions.”
- “What gameplay improves, however, the story does not.”
- “This game doesn't get rid of old mechanics; it just refines them further.”
- “The gameplay didn't change much, but there are new features like crafting and human companions.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game lacks a traditional soundtrack, which has drawn criticism, but it compensates with effective ambient sounds that enhance the exploration experience. Overall, the absence of music is noted as a significant drawback, alongside dated graphics and a poor user interface.
- “This game has no music, and a really bad UI.”
- “Geneforge features rather dated graphics and no soundtrack, though.”
- “Despite lacking a soundtrack, the game makes up for it with some great ambient sounds while exploring.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is noted for its thoughtful approach, avoiding typical slapstick and derivative fantasy tropes, which may appeal to players seeking a more nuanced and engaging experience rather than mindless entertainment.
- “The humor in this game is clever and witty, making every interaction enjoyable.”
- “I love how the game balances humor with serious moments, creating a unique experience.”
- “The dialogue is filled with hilarious quips that keep you laughing throughout the adventure.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect tedious, particularly when revisiting earlier areas later in the game, as the experience points scaling significantly discourages excessive grinding.
- “That's really tedious, especially when you are further in the game and want to travel back to the first island.”
- “It wasn't an exploit, since standard XP scaling pretty heavily discouraged grinding.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's replayability is considered medium, with users highlighting its unparalleled freedom that allows players to engage in a variety of activities, enhancing the overall experience.
- “Replayability: medium”
- “The replayability of this game is unparalleled because you can do anything you want to do.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Geneforge 3 maintains the series' signature atmosphere, characterized by a pervasive sense of danger, a bleak environment, and complex moral dilemmas, appealing to fans of the previous installments.
- “Geneforge 3 has the same heart and soul—the ever-present danger, oppressively bleak atmosphere, and murky morality—as any other game in the series, and if you loved the first two, you'll love this one too.”
- “Geneforge 3 has the same heart and soul-- the ever-present danger, oppressively bleak atmosphere, and murky morality-- as any other game in the series, and if you loved the first two, you'll love this one too.”