Grim Legends 3: The Dark City

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 243 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Grim Legends 3: The Dark City Game Cover
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In "Grim Legends 3: The Dark City" , players join Sylvia, a monster hunter with memory loss, in a gothic city to retrieve the stolen Incarceri Stone. This high-quality hidden object puzzle adventure features 36 hand-painted locations, 36 mini-games, and hidden object scenes, challenging players to uncover dark secrets while combating evil forces and unraveling past mysteries.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 243 reviews
story95 positive mentions
stability3 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful graphics and animations, enhancing the overall visual experience.
  • The storyline is engaging and offers interesting plot twists, making it a captivating adventure.
  • The puzzles and mini-games are varied and enjoyable, providing a good balance of challenge without being overly difficult.
  • The game is relatively short, with some players feeling it lacks depth compared to previous entries in the series.
  • There are issues with translations and wording in hidden object scenes, leading to confusion.
  • Some players found the new mechanics, such as the combat puzzles, to be less appealing and not fitting with the overall tone of the series.
  • story179 mentions

    The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its engaging and intriguing plot, as well as the integration of mini-games and hidden object scenes. However, some found the narrative to be somewhat linear or lacking depth, with occasional plot holes and a rushed pace. Overall, while the story is generally considered enjoyable and well-crafted, it may not reach the heights of previous installments in the series, and some players felt it could have been more original or complex.

    • “The story is really engaging.”
    • “The story was outstanding, with the trademark grim legends plot twists mostly hitting their mark.”
    • “The story is intriguing and the characters keep developing as the game goes on.”
    • “The story is a bit rushed (not deep because it's a hidden game anyways), like you solve the problem, deal with evil and that's it.”
    • “There are plot holes and unexplained things that come up.”
    • “I just wasn't invested in this story at all.”
  • graphics68 mentions

    The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the stunning artwork, vibrant color schemes, and improved visual quality compared to previous entries. The animations and cut scenes are described as beautiful and well-detailed, contributing to an immersive experience. Overall, the visuals are considered among the best in the hidden object genre, showcasing a significant advancement in production values.

    • “The artwork is stunning and the plot is interesting.”
    • “The jump in the quality of the visuals from previous games hit home immediately, as beautiful water effects and other animations took the art to a new level.”
    • “The graphics, character designs, and environment designs were really cool.”
    • “Don't expect anything story-wise, but the visuals and gameplay are top-notch.”
    • “Graphically, this game is very pretty, especially for the genre which isn't always known for good-quality visuals (although that's improving with time).”
    • “Artifex Mundi have certainly improved the production values over time with their games, particularly in terms of voice acting, but the graphics and sound also seem better in this one.”
  • gameplay38 mentions

    The gameplay in Grim Legends 3 introduces new mechanics that enhance puzzle-solving and progression, making it more engaging than its predecessors. Players appreciate the smooth and intuitive interface, alongside a variety of puzzles and hidden object scenes that keep the experience fresh, despite some criticism regarding the simplicity of certain challenges. Overall, the game is praised for its polished execution and beautiful art, though some feel it diverges from the series' traditional themes.

    • “The gameplay is both smooth and intuitive, offering puzzles that consistently keep players engaged.”
    • “Wonderful art, well thought out mechanics as well as quality of life tweaks.”
    • “This is truly a great hidden object game that feels a lot more like an adventure, since you don't just jump from one hidden object scene to the next, but have a lot of gameplay surrounding it.”
    • “The dark city doesn’t innovate at all in the gameplay department.”
    • “Tldr: even higher quality hidden object games end up recycling the same minigames and mechanics and reskinning different art and simple thin storylines on each.”
    • “It felt a bit too action-packed for a point-and-click adventure game’s slow exploration and problem-solving gameplay.”
  • music29 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric quality and seamless integration with the storyline, enhancing the overall experience. Reviewers praised the haunting soundtrack, excellent voice acting, and sound effects, noting that they contribute significantly to the game's immersive environment. While most found the music to be a standout feature, a few expressed minor criticisms, indicating that it occasionally cut out during gameplay.

    • “The visual appeal of the game is undeniable, featuring beautiful hand-painted locations and clear hidden object scenes, all enhanced by great voice acting and music.”
    • “Very lovely soundtrack with lots of atmosphere.”
    • “The music and voice acting is flawless and both fit the atmosphere of the game very well.”
    • “Music would cut out every so often.”
    • “Didn't like the soundtrack very much.”
    • “The music fit well.”
  • atmosphere10 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its dark, gritty visuals and engaging soundtrack, creating a compelling fantasy setting that blends historical elements with horror. Reviewers note the high polish and quality of design, contributing to an immersive experience, although some feel it may not align perfectly with the established tone of the series. Overall, the atmosphere is described as intense and captivating, enhancing the storytelling and gameplay.

    • “The setting is historically all over the place, happily mixing elements from the 1600s to early 1900s (as well as plenty of dark fantasy), but it looks nice: I like it when these hogs go for a bit more horror-y atmosphere.”
    • “Very lovely soundtrack with lots of atmosphere.”
    • “With its competent design and atmospheric visuals and soundtrack, it’s an excellent addition to any hog library.”
    • “All this fantasy setting and especially the fairy tale atmosphere - gone.”
    • “The setting is historically all over the place, happily mixing elements from the 1600s to the early 1900s (as well as plenty of dark fantasy), but it looks nice: I like it when these hogs go for a bit more horror-themed atmosphere.”
    • “Dark, gritty atmosphere.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    Overall, the emotional aspect of the game received mixed reviews; while some praised the strong voice acting and relatable characters, others felt a lack of emotional investment due to bland settings and underdeveloped consequences of key plot twists. The emotional impact was often overshadowed by gameplay mechanics, leaving players feeling disconnected from the characters and their journeys.

    • “The dark city boasts some very good voice acting, with excellent casting and emotional performances that clearly show astonishment or fear.”
    • “Whilst the dark city marks a distinct departure from previous games, it is an excellent adventure with characters that are more relatable, and a truly unforeseen twist, that unfortunately lost some emotional impact.”
    • “I thoroughly enjoyed the twist itself; however, the consequence of the twist was not born out emotionally, as it was relegated to a backseat behind the plot.”
  • stability5 mentions

    Overall, user reviews on stability are mixed; while some players report a smooth experience with no glitches or technical issues, others encounter bugs, particularly when interacting with items or unlocking achievements. The presence of both positive and negative feedback suggests that stability may vary depending on individual experiences.

    • “The mechanics and interface worked smoothly with no glitches.”
    • “Still a bit buggy when I click or use an item to unlock something.”
    • “Between the buggy achievements and the bland settings, I just wasn't emotionally invested.”
    • “There are no glitches or technical problems at all.”
  • character development3 mentions

    While the character designs and graphics received praise, many users expressed disappointment in the limited character development and background information, feeling that the depth of the characters was primarily conveyed through minigames rather than through the main narrative.

    • “I also really liked the character designs.”
    • “The graphics, character designs, and environment designs were really cool.”
    • “For starters, I enjoyed it, but on the other hand, I was disappointed in the lack of character development or background information aside from what you learn in the minigames.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some enjoy the battle puzzles, others feel they become repetitive and tedious. In contrast, the unmasking puzzles, despite sharing a similar visualization, offer enough variation in execution to keep them engaging.

    • “Good but some aspects didn't really appeal to me and felt more tedious than fun.”
    • “The battle puzzles are a little repetitive; however, the unmasking puzzles rely on the same visualization but are different in execution, making them less tedious to play through.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted as particularly enjoyable in the bonus chapter, though some players feel it falls short compared to its predecessor. Overall, while the bonus content provides a fun experience, it may not fully capture the comedic essence of earlier installments.

    • “The bonus part was very funny to play and also interesting.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, though it offers some additional fun through achievements and collectibles for completionists.

    • “There are also the usual little flourishes, like achievements and collectibles that add some extra fun (and replayability) to the game if you're a completionist.”
    • “The replay value for the game is low.”
    • “Once you complete the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
    • “The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel tedious.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization of [i]the dark city[/i] is highlighted by its strong voice acting, featuring excellent casting and emotional performances that effectively convey feelings of astonishment and fear.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Buy Grim Legends 3: The Dark City

Play time

7hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
3hMain story
5hCompletionist
5-14hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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