Homeworld 3

About

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

43%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,121 reviews

story1.8k positive mentions

optimization92 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 campaign story is weak, poorly written, and lacks the depth and emotional resonance of previous titles.
Gameplay feels simplified and lacks the strategic depth that made earlier games great, often devolving into spam tactics.
AI pathfinding and unit behavior are frustrating, with ships often ignoring orders and getting stuck on terrain.

story
12,386 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
71%
14%
The story of *Homeworld 3* has received overwhelmingly negative feedback from players, who criticize it for being shallow, poorly written, and lacking the depth and epic scale of its predecessors. Many reviewers express disappointment with the character-driven narrative, which they feel detracts from the grand themes of survival and conflict that defined the original games, instead focusing on a small cast of characters and their personal dramas. The campaign is also noted for its brevity, with only 13 missions that can be completed in a short amount of time, leaving players feeling unsatisfied and disconnected from the story. Overall, while the gameplay and graphics have been praised, the story is seen as a significant letdown for long-time fans of the series.
- “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.”
- “The campaign story is actually good, but heavily reliant on cutscenes which play, often mid-mission, interrupting action.”
- “The campaign is incredibly short, with only 13 missions that can be completed in about 8 hours, which is disappointing for a game of this caliber.”
- “The story is a complete mess and a boring one, generic is best to describe it.. can't believe they went through with it.”
- “The story is absolutely terrible and makes no sense, the graphics while decent aren't worth everything else being bad.”
gameplay
3,441 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
67%
10%
The gameplay of Homeworld 3 has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant simplification compared to its predecessors. While some appreciate the modernized mechanics and stunning visuals, others criticize the lack of depth, strategic options, and the removal of key features like subsystems and hyperspace mechanics. The game is described as fast-paced and chaotic, often leading to a "blob vs. blob" combat style that detracts from the tactical gameplay that fans of the series expect. Overall, while the core gameplay retains some elements of the original titles, it feels less engaging and more streamlined, leaving many long-time fans disappointed.
- “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 and visuals are the two things that get a recommendation from me.”
- “The gameplay is too twitchy and not strategic enough.”
- “The gameplay does not feel the same way as the previous titles nor the storytelling.”
- “The gameplay is a downgrade from its predecessors with less depth.”
graphics
2,360 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
39%
3%
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 quality and the overall gameplay experience. While the visuals are often described as breathtaking and a highlight of the game, they are sometimes overshadowed by criticisms of the story and gameplay mechanics, leading to a mixed reception overall.
- “The graphics are stunning and initially create a captivating atmosphere.”
- “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.”
- “Even graphically, Homeworld 3 is a downgrade from previous titles.”
- “This game is nothing like the first two and does not deliver on anything other than graphics.”
music
1,175 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
45%
3%
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 entries, describing it as repetitive or uninspired. Overall, the music is generally regarded as good, but it does not consistently reach the heights of the iconic scores from "Homeworld 1" and "Homeworld 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
384 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
56%
24%
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 with good graphics, others noted that the game struggles with stability and efficiency, leading to a frustrating experience overall. Overall, it appears that the game requires further optimization and patches to address these performance concerns.
- “1.3 also optimized performance quite a bit, so large battles look very smooth and epic.”
- “Loving the addition of co-op for playing with me and my friends and on top of the game seems well optimized on a myriad of different PCs and laptops I have played on.”
- “The visuals are stunning and well optimized running 100+ fps on epic settings with an RTX 3080 like card (the RTX 4000 ADA SFF) using Proton on Linux.”
- “The story is piss-poor, the gameplay and controls are atrocious, the performance is sub-par on modern PCs, and most of the new 'gimmicks' are executed so poorly you'll wish you had lost a round of Russian roulette instead.”
- “However it really does need to be noted that as of the time of writing, the game is plagued with horrible performance issues with even 4090 users reporting the same lows of 19-20 fps during the benchmark as the more mid and low-end users.”
- “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
295 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many long-time fans expressing disappointment over its lack of depth and resonance compared to earlier titles in the series. Critics highlight that the characters often come across as overly emotional and immature, detracting from the serious tone expected in a military strategy game, while the narrative struggles to evoke genuine emotional investment. Despite some beautiful graphics and music that can still elicit feelings, the overall storytelling is seen as hollow and forced, failing to capture the poignant emotional journeys that defined the franchise's earlier installments.
- “My father played it and then so did I, the music made me cry and dig into the deep space and how scenes worked was inspired there.”
- “Homeworld has always truly been for me as that awesome heartfelt and tense campaign where you were trying to lead your people through impossible odds in the vastness of space.”
- “But if you want to experience a good Homeworld story go with the first two games; they have a heart-wrenching story and while the first one is harder in my book, it was very enjoyable.”
- “Game has very nice graphics, but unfortunately the writers created a very boring story not focused much on the Homeworld universe at all.”
- “Boring, terribly boring story.”
- “Boring story not worth the price.”
atmosphere
269 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
36%
4%
The atmosphere in Homeworld 3 has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its stunning graphics, immersive sound design, and engaging music that evoke the series' signature feel. However, there is significant criticism regarding the loss of the unique charm and depth found in the original games, particularly due to the shift from hand-drawn cutscenes to CGI, which some feel detracts from the overall experience. While some players find the atmosphere compelling and reminiscent of earlier titles, others argue that it lacks the emotional weight and storytelling subtlety that made the first two games memorable.
- “It is strikingly beautiful, with the same haunting atmosphere I longed for.”
- “The atmosphere of the game and environments to explore are top notch.”
- “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.”
- “It actually ruins the atmosphere of isolation they were hoping to achieve, and that the other games did so well.”
- “The cutscenes are choppy and oddly paced, the backstory feels lackluster with peculiar animation mannerisms, and the atmosphere is uninspired.”
stability
223 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
1%
80%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting frequent crashes, buggy AI, and inconsistent unit controls. While some users experienced relatively smooth gameplay on high-end systems, others faced significant performance issues and glitches, particularly in multiplayer and skirmish modes. Overall, the game is described as needing substantial bug fixes and optimization to improve the player experience.
- “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.”
- “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, 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, and the unit pathing is a mess.”
- “This is a short, awkward, buggy mess wrapped up in one of the worst stories ever seen in any media.”
replayability
180 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
61%
17%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited, primarily due to a short campaign with a linear structure and minimal variation in playthroughs. While the introduction of the "war games" mode offers some potential for replayability through cooperative gameplay and roguelike elements, many players feel it lacks depth and variety, leading to a generally low replay value. The reliance on scripted missions and a lack of significant multiplayer engagement further detracts from the game's long-term replayability prospects.
- “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.”
- “I think it's quite awesome as an idea, you get to pick 1 out of 3 buffs for your ships for each artifact you find, this way the game is very, very replayable.”
- “The campaign missions are okish but there is very little replay value once you finish the story.”
- “There's nothing else here, replayability is basically nonexistent, and I can't imagine multiplayer would be any fun, either.”
- “The campaign has no replayability, as there is only ever 1 way to beat the mission.”
monetization
103 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
24%
73%
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 planned DLC that detracts from the core experience. Players feel that the game lacks depth and spirit, with essential content being locked behind additional paywalls, leading to a perception of it being an unfinished product designed primarily for profit rather than player satisfaction. Overall, the sentiment is that the game prioritizes monetization over quality, leaving fans of the original series feeling let down.
- “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 content to play the game, which means more microtransactions.”
- “I honestly would not be shocked if loot boxes or an in-game store riddled with microtransactions were added soon.”
- “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, and extra content is removed behind 'planned DLC'.”
humor
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often derived from its janky AI, absurd gameplay mechanics, and poorly executed cutscenes, leading to moments of unintentional comedy that players find entertaining. Many reviewers highlight the hilarity of the game's writing and character animations, which can be so bad that they become amusing, while the chaotic nature of fleet control and mission failures adds to the comedic experience. Overall, the game's humor is a mix of genuine laughs and laughter at its shortcomings, making it a unique aspect of the gameplay.
- “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
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
1%
98%
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being tedious and cumbersome, with many players expressing frustration over the excessive micromanagement required to control large fleets and execute unit abilities. The gameplay often devolves into repetitive tasks that detract from strategic depth, leading to a sense of monotony and frustration, particularly in modes like the campaign and multiplayer. Overall, players feel that the grinding mechanics overshadow the enjoyment of combat and exploration, making the experience feel more like a chore than a game.
- “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.”
- “The pacing and behavior of ships has been 'modernized' to something more akin to Starcraft 2, a spam game where even though the tactical choices are present, the skirmishes feel like an unstoppable tedious clickfest about fabricating ships with 0 odds of survival.”
- “Ships have never been more generic and expendable than they are here, and victory is simply a matter of grinding, production-based attrition rather than any test of tactical or strategic finesse.”
character development
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
69%
23%
Character development in the game has been widely criticized for being rushed, superficial, and lacking emotional depth, with many players feeling that it fails to capture the nuanced storytelling of earlier entries in the series. The abundance of cutscenes intended to enhance character arcs often results in cringeworthy melodrama rather than meaningful growth, leaving players dissatisfied with the overall narrative quality. Additionally, character designs have drawn negative feedback, with some feeling they are uninspired and poorly executed, further detracting from the game's storytelling 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.”
- “It has unnecessary inconsistencies, the worst dialogue I have seen in a game in years, an antagonist that is for all intents and purposes a petulant child, character development that is undone in two cutscenes, and a conclusion that leaves the player unimaginably unsatisfied.”