Grim Legends 3: The Dark City

Grim Legends 3: The Dark City is a concluding episode of a trilogy that really bears little resemblance between the three episodes, although the darker story found in this episode is perhaps the most befitting of the trilogy's moniker. The game's basic hidden object and puzzle solving gameplay will be familiar, although the memory mirrors and rune battles add a twist to proceedings that stops the gameplay from becoming stale and too overfamiliar. The bonus chapter also manages to give players a choice in how the story pans out, something that will hopefully be carried on to other Artifex Mundi titles. There are still a few minor issues with the hidden object games that need stamping out and stop the episode from being a must-play, but for fans of the publisher or the casual point and click genre, the episode is well worth spending an evening playing through it.

90%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

stability, character development

94% User Score Based on 486 reviews

Critic Score 70%Based on 1 reviews

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About

Grim Legends 3: The Dark City is a single player casual puzzle game. It was developed by Artifex Mundi and was released on June 2, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Grim Legends 3: The Dark City" is a thrilling hidden object puzzle adventure game, where you play as Sylvia, a member of a monster hunting Order, on a mission to retrieve a stolen artifact and save the city of Lichtenheim from a Nightmare creature. With 36 hand-painted locations, the game focuses on mini games and puzzles, taking you on a captivating journey through a gothic city while uncovering mysteries of your own past. The game offers endless enjoyment with a one-time purchase and the ability to unlock and own it forever.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

Grim Legends 3: The Dark City screenshot

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 486 reviews

story190 positive mentions

stability6 negative mentions

The game features beautiful graphics and a captivating storyline that keeps players engaged.
Puzzles and mini-games are varied and enjoyable, with some new mechanics like combining items and magic battles.
The voice acting and sound design are of high quality, enhancing the overall immersive experience.

The game is relatively short, with some players completing it in around 3-5 hours, which may not justify the full price.
Some players found the story pacing rushed and felt that character development was lacking compared to previous entries in the series.
There are issues with certain achievements being difficult to unlock, particularly those related to completing tasks within strict time limits.

story
358 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
46%
1%
The story in this game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its engaging and intriguing plot, as well as the incorporation of multiple endings and a bonus chapter. However, some found the narrative to be somewhat linear or lacking depth, particularly in the middle sections, and noted that it diverges from the fairy-tale themes of previous installments. Overall, while the story is considered entertaining and well-crafted, it may not resonate with everyone, especially those seeking a more complex or original narrative.
- “The story is really engaging.”
- “In this captivating hidden object/puzzle/adventure, you take on the role of Sylvia, an acolyte from a secret monster-hunting order, on a quest to recover a stolen powerful relic in a gothic city.”
- “The story was outstanding, with the trademark Grim Legends plot twists mostly hitting their mark.”
- “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.”
- “The story started out with a lot of promise, but I found myself disinterested within the first few chapters of the game.”
graphics
136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
32%
2%
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, character designs, and overall aesthetic are described as immersive and beautifully detailed, making it a standout in the hidden object genre. Overall, the visuals are considered top-notch, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “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 and cut scenes are amazing, and the story, while part of their standard fare, is still engaging.”
- “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.”
gameplay
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
72%
4%
The gameplay in Grim Legends 3 is praised for its smooth and intuitive mechanics, introducing new puzzle-solving elements that enhance player engagement. While some found the initial pace slow, the overall experience is described as polished and enjoyable, with varied puzzles and hidden object scenes that keep the gameplay fresh. Despite some concerns about the story's fit with the gameplay style, the game is recognized for its advanced graphics and quality mechanics, making it a standout entry in the series.
- “The gameplay is both smooth and intuitive, offering puzzles that consistently keep players engaged.”
- “I never thought Artifex could and would make their game more fun and less repetitive in the gameplay, but Grim Legends 3 did it!”
- “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.”
music
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
40%
5%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its atmospheric quality and how well it complements the storyline and visuals. The soundtrack is described as haunting and engaging, enhancing the overall experience, although a few users noted occasional issues with music cutting out. Overall, the combination of music, voice acting, and sound effects contributes significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere.
- “The music and voice acting is flawless and both fit the atmosphere of the game very well.”
- “Very lovely soundtrack with lots of atmosphere.”
- “The storyline was engaging and the soundtrack was on point.”
- “Music would cut out every so often.”
- “Didn't like the soundtrack very much.”
- “The music fit well.”
atmosphere
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
15%
15%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its dark, gritty tone and engaging visuals, enhanced by a lovely soundtrack and competent design. While some reviewers note that the historical setting is eclectic, mixing elements from various eras, the overall ambiance is described as intense and immersive, making it a standout addition to the genre. However, a few critics feel that the atmosphere may not align perfectly with the established themes of the series.
- “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 games go for a bit more horror-y atmosphere.”
- “With its competent design and atmospheric visuals and soundtrack, it’s an excellent addition to any game library.”
- “The music and voice acting are flawless and both fit the atmosphere of the game very well.”
- “All this fantasy setting and especially fairy tale atmosphere - gone.”
- “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.”
- “Dark, gritty atmosphere.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players found the emotional aspect of the game lacking, with many feeling disconnected from the characters and their experiences. While the voice acting was praised for its emotional depth, the narrative twists did not resonate as intended, leaving players feeling uninvested in the story's consequences. Despite some relatable characters, the emotional impact was overshadowed by plot mechanics and technical issues.
- “[i]The Dark City[/i] boasts some very good voice acting, with excellent casting and emotional performances that clearly show astonishment or fear.”
- “Whilst [i]The Dark City[/i] 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 conveyed emotionally, as it was relegated to a backseat behind the plot.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
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. This inconsistency affects the overall enjoyment and emotional investment in the game.
- “The mechanics and interface worked smoothly with no glitches.”
- “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 development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
While the character designs and graphics received praise for their creativity, many users expressed disappointment in the limited character development and background information, feeling that the depth of the characters was insufficient beyond what was revealed through minigames.
- “I 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.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some elements, like the battle puzzles, can feel repetitive and tedious, others, such as the unmasking puzzles, offer enough variation in execution to keep them engaging. Overall, the enjoyment of grinding varies among users, with some finding it less fun.
- “Good but some 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.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted as particularly enjoyable in the bonus chapter, which many found funny and engaging. However, some users noted that it falls short compared to the humor found in its predecessor, making it a disappointing aspect for fans of the earlier title.
- “The bonus part was very funny to play and also interesting.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, though it offers some additional enjoyment 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.”
- “The replay value for the game is low.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews do not provide any information regarding the optimization of "The Dark City," focusing instead on the quality of voice acting and emotional performances. Therefore, no summary can be made about optimization based on the provided texts.

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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Grim Legends 3: The Dark City
Grim Legends 3: The Dark City is a concluding episode of a trilogy that really bears little resemblance between the three episodes, although the darker story found in this episode is perhaps the most befitting of the trilogy's moniker. The game's basic hidden object and puzzle solving gameplay will be familiar, although the memory mirrors and rune battles add a twist to proceedings that stops the gameplay from becoming stale and too overfamiliar. The bonus chapter also manages to give players a choice in how the story pans out, something that will hopefully be carried on to other Artifex Mundi titles. There are still a few minor issues with the hidden object games that need stamping out and stop the episode from being a must-play, but for fans of the publisher or the casual point and click genre, the episode is well worth spending an evening playing through it.
Trueachievements.com
70%

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7h Median play time

9h Average play time

3h Main story

5h Completionist

5-14h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Grim Legends 3: The Dark City is a casual puzzle game.

Grim Legends 3: The Dark City is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, iPhone, Windows and others.

The main story can be completed in around 3 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 5 hours to finish. On average players spend around 9 hours playing Grim Legends 3: The Dark City.

Grim Legends 3: The Dark City was released on June 2, 2016.

Grim Legends 3: The Dark City was developed by Artifex Mundi.

Grim Legends 3: The Dark City has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Grim Legends 3: The Dark City is a single player game.

Similar games include Enigmatis 2: The Mists of Ravenwood, Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride, Abyss: The Wraiths of Eden, Enigmatis 3: The Shadow of Karkhala, Mythic Wonders: The Philosopher's Stone and others.

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