Homeworld 3

After years of development, Blackbird Interactive and Gearbox Publishing are finally ready to launch the next chapter of the Homeworld series. Was it worth the wait?

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Homeworld 3 is a single-player and multiplayer sci-fi RTS game with a good story, offering tactical fleet combat in a fully 3D space. Expect strategic freedom with 3D terrain, space derelicts, and hazards like particle storms and asteroid fields. Play in co-op or against others, using hulking spacecraft and turrets to outmaneuver and outgun your enemies.

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Reviews

43%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,535 reviews

story908 positive mentions

optimization46 negative mentions

Visually stunning with great graphics and sound design.
Gameplay offers some fun moments and tactical options with the new terrain mechanics.
Wargames mode provides a fresh take on multiplayer and adds replayability.

The story is poorly written, lacking depth and coherence compared to previous entries.
Campaign is short and feels rushed, with little time for resource management or fleet organization.
AI and unit pathfinding are frustratingly bad, often leading to units ignoring commands or getting stuck.

story
6,182 mentions
15 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The story of *Homeworld 3* has received overwhelmingly negative feedback from players, who feel it lacks the depth and epic scale of its predecessors. Many reviewers criticize the character-driven narrative, which they believe detracts from the broader themes of survival and conflict that defined the original games, resulting in a plot that feels shallow, predictable, and filled with clichés. Additionally, the abrupt pacing and forced transitions between missions, along with poorly executed cutscenes, have left players feeling disconnected from the story and characters, leading to disappointment for long-time fans of the franchise.
- “It's a far more close and personal story; it's given faces to the characters we once only heard through radio chatter.”
- “The attention to detail and the effort put into creating such a masterpiece is evident in every mission and cinematic moment.”
- “It continues the story and expands the universe setting while providing upgraded visuals to an already great looking game series.”
- “The campaign is a glorified tutorial with a very weak story.”
- “The story is a dumpster fire, if you buy this game for the story alone you will be immensely disappointed in the terrible direction at every turn they took the story.”
- “The story is absolutely terrible and makes no sense, the graphics while decent aren't worth everything else being bad.”
gameplay
1,718 mentions
24 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Homeworld 3 has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant simplification compared to its predecessors. While the graphics and sound design are praised, the gameplay mechanics feel less strategic and more chaotic, often devolving into unit spam rather than tactical engagements. Players have expressed disappointment over the removal of key features from earlier titles, such as subsystems and hyperspace mechanics, leading to a less immersive and engaging experience overall. Despite these criticisms, some players still find enjoyment in the core gameplay and new mechanics introduced, particularly in the Wargames mode.
- “Homeworld 3 is an exciting game full of spectacular fleet battles, strategic gameplay, and dopamine-releasing explosions.”
- “The gameplay is pretty solid after the 1.3 update.”
- “Gameplay is nice, they've addressed a lot of the problems with the older games and brought back some nice features from Homeworld 1.”
- “The gameplay is really lacking for a full release; even after a year, the devs continue to push out war games DLCs which only contain a few ship sets and some war games stuff that feels the same.”
- “The gameplay is too twitchy and not strategic enough.”
- “The gameplay is a downgrade from its predecessors with less depth.”
graphics
1,175 mentions
58 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics in Homeworld 3 have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals, detailed ship designs, and impressive environmental effects, showcasing a significant upgrade from previous titles in the series. Many players noted the game's ability to create a captivating atmosphere through its graphics and sound design, although some expressed disappointment with the cutscene art style, which diverges from the hand-drawn aesthetic of earlier games. Overall, while the visuals are a highlight, they are often seen as insufficient to compensate for perceived shortcomings in gameplay and storytelling.
- “The graphics are stunning and the sound design (e.g., unit radio chatter) is good.”
- “The visuals are beautifully crafted, with detailed ship designs and breathtaking space environments that truly bring the universe to life.”
- “Homeworld 3 is a game that truly excels in some areas (visual design, graphics, soundtracks, unit voice lines, map design) and does very poorly in others (main character dialogue, bad skirmish replay system, inflexible and frustrating hotkeys, limited unit variety in mp) and has some very promising areas that are novel and deserve praise (war games rogue lite which is extremely dynamic and a lot of fun co-op).”
- “The CGI sequences in the missions are annoying, technically outdated, and no longer have the aesthetics of the sequences from the previous parts.”
- “While the visuals are modernized and provide a shiny new coat of paint, it lacks the same sense of scale and immensity that the previous games had.”
- “The graphics are a huge upgrade, but the gameplay is a total downgrade compared to previous series.”
music
585 mentions
52 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in "Homeworld 3" has received mixed reviews, with many praising the return of composer Paul Ruskay and the nostalgic elements that echo the original games. While some players find the soundtrack to be atmospheric and fitting, others feel it lacks the memorable impact of previous installments, describing it as repetitive or less engaging. Overall, the music is generally regarded as good, but it does not consistently reach the heights of the iconic scores from "Homeworld 1" and "2."
- “The music is as great as the previous installments.”
- “The visuals, soundtrack, and story are top notch!”
- “The music remains incredible.”
- “The music has gone from epic to terrible, or more like background noises.”
- “The music is disappointing compared to the previous game.”
- “The music, once a powerful emotional anchor, fails to capture the magic of the second game.”
optimization
192 mentions
20 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
24 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly during large battles where frame rates can drop drastically, even on high-end hardware. While some users experienced smooth gameplay and good graphics, others highlighted the need for substantial performance patches to address the frequent stuttering and low frame rates. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game has potential, it currently suffers from poor optimization that detracts from the overall experience.
- “1.3 also optimized performance quite a bit, so large battles look very smooth and epic.”
- “Firstly, the game is beautiful to look at, sound design is great, and I've yet to run into a single performance-based issue or crash in my first 20+ hours.”
- “Not wanting to end things on a negative note, the art style is fantastic, and the performance seems to scale well on most hardware.”
- “The game may look good, but it is very poorly optimized.”
- “Performance degradation from Denuvo is obvious.”
- “The number one issue I have is the game performance; I can't see a reason why this game is running badly as soon as a fight starts when the effects are nothing special or flashy.”
emotional
147 mentions
95 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many long-time fans expressing disappointment over the lack of depth and resonance compared to earlier titles. Critics highlight that the characters often come off as overly emotional and immature, undermining the serious tone expected in a military context, while the story fails to evoke the same heartfelt connections that defined the franchise. Despite some beautiful graphics and music that can still elicit strong feelings, the overall narrative is seen as hollow and lacking the emotional weight that fans cherished in previous installments.
- “The music, once a powerful emotional anchor, fails to capture the magic of the second game.”
- “The very realistic 3D space environments, the absolutely emotional and intense survival story mixing elements of sci-fi and mystery, the novelty that it was having your fleet carry over from mission to mission giving you a true feeling of taking care of your people and fleet.”
- “It's an emotional ride.”
- “Boring story, bad gameplay.”
- “Boring story not worth the price.”
- “Game has very nice graphics, but unfortunately the writers created a very boring story not focused much on the Homeworld world at all.”
atmosphere
134 mentions
60 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in Homeworld 3 has received mixed reviews, with many praising its stunning graphics, immersive sound design, and the haunting soundtrack that evoke the series' signature feel. However, several players lament the loss of the hand-drawn cutscenes and the subtle storytelling that characterized earlier installments, feeling that the new CGI cutscenes detract from the overall atmosphere. While some find the atmosphere compelling and reminiscent of the original games, others argue that it lacks the depth and emotional weight that made the previous titles memorable.
- “The atmosphere of the game and environments to explore are top notch.”
- “The music, atmosphere, and art design carry the weight of the game's great predecessors.”
- “Homeworld 3 continues the tradition of knocking the soundtrack and atmosphere out of the park; it's honestly a treat to the ears and complements the visuals perfectly.”
- “The atmosphere, the soul of Homeworld just isn't there.”
- “The cutscenes are choppy and oddly paced, the backstory feels lackluster with peculiar animation mannerisms, and the atmosphere is uninspired.”
- “It actually ruins the atmosphere of isolation they were hoping to achieve, and that the other games did so well.”
stability
110 mentions
19 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, crashes, and AI issues that detract from the overall experience. While some users noted that the game runs well on high-end systems, others experienced severe performance problems and glitches, particularly in multiplayer and skirmish modes. Overall, the game appears to be in a somewhat unstable state, with ongoing technical issues that need addressing through patches and updates.
- “This is no buggy nightmare like so many other recent releases.”
- “Great graphics, great soundtrack, great models, largely bug-free gameplay (only a bit of occasional snagging on terrain features), interesting campaign missions, maps, and tactical situations.”
- “Otherwise, it's a fantastic well-polished game with no glitches or problems (disclaimer: that I've encountered, I'm aware some non-QWERTY keyboard users are having some issues).”
- “It's been a couple of months since it came out, and after multiple patches, the game still suffers from terrible netcode, frequent crashes, units refusing to obey orders, audio and camera glitches, and more.”
- “The UI is buggy and unclear, displaying wrong numbers on control groups constantly, and it's hard to tell what I have currently selected. The unit pathing is a mess.”
- “The ship AI is buggy, inconsistent, and fails to use its weapons properly. You will watch your destroyer or battlecruiser focus fire on a single fighter while ignoring other threats.”
replayability
90 mentions
22 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited, primarily due to a short campaign with a linear structure and minimal variation in mission outcomes. While the introduction of the "war games" mode offers some potential for replayability through cooperative gameplay and procedural elements, many players feel it lacks depth and variety, leaving them unsatisfied. The reliance on player-created challenges and the hope for future mods or updates are seen as necessary for enhancing replay value.
- “War games is some of the most fun I've had in an RTS in a very long time, with incredible replayability and dynamic gameplay.”
- “The cooperative wargames mode adds much needed replayability to a game that would otherwise be very short, which is good, because I don't see myself replaying the campaign anytime soon.”
- “The addition to war games was a really good idea and makes the game so much more replayable.”
- “Replayability is sadly limited; there’s nothing that changes during a second playthrough, save for your persistent fleets. But then again, that’s how old-school RTS campaigns worked.”
- “The campaign missions are okay, but there is very little replay value once you finish the story.”
- “The lack of factions really hurts the replayability.”
monetization
51 mentions
6 % positive mentions
22 % neutral mentions
73 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers expressing disappointment over the reliance on microtransactions, season passes, and DLCs that feel underwhelming and incomplete. Players feel that the game prioritizes profit over quality, resulting in a soulless experience that lacks the depth and storytelling of its predecessors. Overall, the sentiment is that the game is overpriced and designed primarily to extract money from players rather than deliver a fulfilling gaming experience.
- “Overall, the game seems to be a vessel to sell microtransactions in the form of new factions for the multiplayer, just like Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak did.”
- “There is a 'season pass' kind of DLC which suggests they are going to focus on us purchasing extra stuff to play the game, which means more microtransactions.”
- “Look forward to microtransactions and season passes to make more cash grabs.”
- “This game lacks spirit and cut corners for a blatant cash grab that fits the modern day entertainment industry.”
- “Overall the game seems to be a vessel to sell microtransactions in the form of new factions for the multiplayer just like Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak did.”
- “After nice graphics, none of the RTS mechanics/promises are there after all the development, instead things are simplified and dumbed down, the lore is butchered, extra content is removed behind 'planned DLC' and the Denuvo was the icing on this cash grab.”
humor
42 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its janky AI, absurd gameplay mechanics, and poorly executed cutscenes, which often lead to unintentional comedic moments. Players find themselves laughing at the game's failures, such as ridiculous animations and nonsensical storylines, while the dialogue and character interactions can be amusingly bad. Overall, the humor is a mix of intentional and unintentional elements that create a lighthearted experience, even amidst the game's shortcomings.
- “I found myself actually having fun losing, and with the janky AI sometimes sending my harvesters into a random corner, it just made me laugh.”
- “You'll still get the radio chatter, which can be hilarious at times when events overlap and you get conflicting messages.”
- “The writing is hilariously bad.”
grinding
40 mentions
3 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
Overall, the reviews highlight that grinding in the game is perceived as tedious and cumbersome, with many players expressing frustration over the micromanagement required for ship control and formation adjustments. The gameplay often devolves into repetitive tasks that detract from the enjoyment of battles, leading to a sense of monotony and a lack of strategic depth. While some players found aspects of the game enjoyable, the overwhelming consensus is that the grinding mechanics significantly hinder the overall experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Overall, it (Homeworld 3) was a big letdown; it's not even fun to play. The campaign was a huge slog that was more tedious than fun.”
- “Managing all of those ships could get quite tedious with how large your fleet of combat ships can get.”
- “The gameplay now feels cumbersome, with a focus on either creating a massive blob of ships or tediously micromanaging each unit.”
character development
35 mentions
9 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has been widely criticized for being rushed, superficial, and lacking emotional depth, with many reviewers noting that it fails to capture the nuanced storytelling of earlier entries in the series. While there are more cutscenes aimed at character development, they often feel forced and inconsistent, leading to a disjointed narrative that leaves players unsatisfied. Overall, the character designs and arcs are seen as disappointing, with many feeling they lack intrigue and coherence, resulting in a hollow experience.
- “While the story is more personally dramatic than HW1 or HW2 (and more than Deserts of Kharak), by design surely, it did feel like some of the character development was rushed at places.”
- “Definitely doesn't give the same vibe as HW1 and HW2, but I like the change; it shows character development instead of a character (Karen Sjet) that's too god-like and has no emotion.”
- “Narrative-based story and character development.”
- “Certain character developments feel like they just come out of nowhere, like they are skipping a letter from A to C. The problem isn't that the story turned into a cat fight; it's how it turned into a cat fight that people have such a problem with.”
- “The campaign’s storyline feels disappointingly hollow, lacking the emotional depth and character development that were hallmarks of the earlier games.”
- “The story as a whole didn't capture a sense of mystery like Homeworld 1 & 2 did, and the character development felt a bit flat, opting for a general cookie-cutter villain with confusing intentions.”