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Puzzle Quest 3

49%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
monetization, grinding
46% User Score Based on 650 reviews
Critic Score 60%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

PCPCAndroidAndroidiPhoneiPhoneXboxXboxXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|SPlaystation 5Playstation 5Playstation 4Playstation 4WindowsWindowsPlayStationPlayStationXbox OneXbox OneMobile PlatformMobile PlatformiPadiPadPhonePhoneTabletTabletSteam DeckSteam Deck

About

Embark on a heroic journey across Etheria to discover the meaning behind the ancient Red Dragon's dying words. Prepare for a new Quest!

Puzzle Quest 3 screenshot
Puzzle Quest 3 screenshot
Puzzle Quest 3 screenshot
Puzzle Quest 3 screenshot
Puzzle Quest 3 screenshot
Puzzle Quest 3 screenshot
Puzzle Quest 3 screenshot
Puzzle Quest 3 screenshot
Puzzle Quest 3 screenshot
Puzzle Quest 3 screenshot
Puzzle Quest 3 screenshot
+2

46%
Audience ScoreBased on 651 reviews
story108 positive mentions
monetization38 negative mentions

  • The character banter is witty, and the minions are cute.
  • Good game to play in the background with interesting, ever-changing graphics.
  • Challenging levels and easy to learn, making it addictive.
  • Progress is heavily gated behind loot chests, requiring keys that can be expensive or time-consuming to obtain.
  • The game has a convoluted monetization system with multiple currencies and paywalls, making it feel like a cash grab.
  • The user interface is messy and not intuitive, making navigation frustrating.
  • story
    452 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "Puzzle Quest 3" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it weak, linear, and lacking the engaging depth of its predecessors. While some appreciate the nostalgic references to earlier games, others criticize the dialogue as forgettable and the overall narrative as a mere backdrop to the gameplay. Overall, the consensus suggests that the story fails to capture the charm and immersion that made the original "Puzzle Quest" titles beloved.

    • “Every story progression point involves moving to a new part of the map, engaging with conversation and continuing forward.”
    • “The story beats are pretty cool, many characters from Puzzle Quest 1 are mentioned, and Eveline, the guide/tutor from the other PQ games, is one of your first companions.”
    • “The story is quite nice and captures the spirit of the original.”
    • “The story is not very interesting.”
    • “The story is dog-water and the game feels completely void of personality.”
    • “There's a story that's 100% on-rails and very barebones compared to PQ1 & 2.”
  • gameplay
    144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Puzzle Quest 3 features a fast-paced match-3 mechanic that some players find enjoyable, though many criticize the introduction of time limits and diagonal gem movement, which detracts from strategic planning. While the core mechanics are solid and reminiscent of previous titles, the overwhelming presence of free-to-play elements, numerous currencies, and grind-heavy progression systems have led to a mixed reception, with some players feeling that these factors hinder the overall experience. Despite its fun core gameplay loop, many reviewers express disappointment with the game's monetization practices and the lack of depth compared to earlier installments.

    • “The matching gameplay is cool, it's fast, tight, and there is some skill especially in spell usage, but nothing too hard to understand.”
    • “The core gameplay loop becomes increasingly strategic and thoughtful as you gain spells and abilities.”
    • “There's a clever and mostly fun core mechanic, which is a match-3 board where you get 2 seconds to swap as many tiles as you can into lines of 3+ of the same color.”
    • “The tutorial puts a lot more effort into teaching you the monetization systems than the actual gameplay elements.”
    • “The story is weak, the characters are forgettable, and the peripheral gameplay - upgrades and comparable - are built around a terrible grind and timed check unlocks that are designed to force you to wait to play or spend premium currency to proceed.”
    • “It's too simplistic, generic, boring, repetitive, rinse & repeat, just sucks, lacks a soul, lacks purpose, lacks strategy, lacks compelling mechanics, lacks everything.”
  • monetization
    80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization model of the game has been widely criticized as predatory and overly aggressive, with many reviewers labeling it a "shameless cash grab." Players express frustration over the excessive reliance on microtransactions, convoluted currency systems, and time-gating mechanics that detract from the overall experience. While some acknowledge that the game is free-to-play, the overwhelming presence of in-game purchases and pay-to-win elements has led to disappointment, particularly among long-time fans of the series.

    • “The microtransactions part can be completely ignored by people who don't want to spend money without it affecting how fun the game is.”
    • “Well, it appears they listened to some of the feedback and they fixed some of the monetization as well as adding a turn-based, action point system to matches instead of a timer.”
    • “I played the first two puzzle quests and liked them, and I like this one too, once I got over the shock of the monetization.”
    • “This game employs every predatory monetization strategy in the metaphorical 'why free-to-play games are evil' book.”
    • “The amount of monetization is beyond anything you would expect from a game on Steam.”
    • “To have waited this long for another mainline entry to the series and we're presented with this free-to-play cash grab dribble hurts my soul.”
  • graphics
    70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the modern, cartoony style and the action-packed visuals, while others criticize the 3D elements for being distracting and unnecessary. Many users express a preference for the simpler, old-school graphics of previous titles, noting that the current visuals do not significantly improve upon earlier iterations. Additionally, technical issues such as the game not remembering graphics settings have been reported, further detracting from the overall experience.

    • “The graphics are fairly nice and on the higher side for a game with a primarily mobile-friendly build.”
    • “The graphic are cool and there is a lot of action for a casual match 3 game.”
    • “Lots of classes, magic, races, weapons, etc. with a good storyline and graphics.”
    • “The 3D graphics illustrating 'combat' serve literally no purpose apart from slowing down loading times.”
    • “The harpy enemy is particularly aggravating in this department as it not only provides no value or entertainment to have these graphics, the camera is also following the flight animation of the harpy, constantly moving part of the viewport up and down, which quite frankly is nauseating and distracting.”
    • “I don't know how they managed to make it look worse than the second game; somehow, they went from a dark theme and styled graphics to 3D ugly characters.”
  • grinding
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many players finding it tedious and overly reliant on microtransactions and energy systems. Critics argue that the game feels excessively grindy, requiring significant time investment to unlock items and features, often leading to frustration due to random loot drops and limited storage. While some players appreciate the challenge, the consensus suggests that a more balanced approach to grinding or enhanced gameplay fulfillment is needed for a better experience.

    • “Seriously, I stopped and restarted this game 3 times because it just becomes tedious.”
    • “This is one of the worst monetization models that I've seen - there's like seventy different kinds of currency, and although you can earn it all for free, the game was already feeling very grindy after three or four hours of play.”
    • “It's just mobile multi-currency microtransaction lootbox time-gated grindy uninteresting generic trash wearing the skin of its better predecessors.”
  • stability
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game currently suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent glitches, freezing, and unresponsive controls, which are more pronounced than typically expected for an early access title. Users have reported unsuccessful troubleshooting attempts and a variety of bugs affecting gameplay, indicating that the game is not yet polished and requires substantial fixes. However, there is some optimism that these issues will be addressed in future updates.

    • “The game is not very polished and has some bugs and glitches that need to be fixed.”
    • “This is more buggy than you would expect from an early release version; the mouse often freezes at the start of a battle and you have to stop the game and restart.”
    • “Loading errors, spells and gear not applying effects they are supposed to, display glitches... the list will go on and on.”
  • music
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music and soundtrack are highly praised for enhancing the game's excitement, akin to an action movie, while also providing a comfortable auditory experience. Overall, the combination of cool music and good animation contributes significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere.

    • “The music and soundtrack bring the game to life with all the excitement of an action movie.”
    • “The music and soundtrack bring the game to life with all the excitement of an action movie.”
    • “The music and soundtrack also brings the game to life with all the excitement of an action movie.”
    • “Also, the sounds and music are comfy.”
  • humor
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in Puzzle Quest 3 is highlighted by the ironic situation of players earning plentiful in-game gems while facing a frustrating gear grind, which some find amusingly exploitative. The game's free-to-play model adds a layer of comedic absurdity to the grind, making the experience both entertaining and frustrating. Overall, the humor stems from the juxtaposition of the game's mechanics and the players' reactions to them.

    • “The funny thing is, the gems you earn in-game are actually reasonably plentiful (I have around 1,700) even if you use them for a periodic unlock or revival.”
    • “I'm sure this call was made to try to pillage the player wallet, and it's kind of hilarious how bad the gear grind immediately is.”
    • “The humor in the game really shines through in the absurdity of the situations you find yourself in.”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game suffers from notable bugs and performance issues, suggesting it may be a poorly executed mobile port that lacks proper optimization for PC.

    • “The game also has some bugs and performance issues that need to be fixed.”
    • “I assume it's a badly done mobile port that was never optimized for PC.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find Puzzle Quest 3's replayability appealing, especially given its free-to-play model on mobile and Steam, which encourages experimentation with various strategies and content. The game's mechanics, including chests and minions, contribute to a diverse experience that invites repeated play.

    • “Puzzle Quest 3 offers an incredible level of replayability with its diverse chests and minions, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
    • “The game's free-to-play model on mobile and Steam means you have nothing to lose by diving into its replayable content.”
    • “With so many different strategies and combinations to explore, Puzzle Quest 3 keeps you coming back for more, ensuring endless fun.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the strategic use of support and curse spells, alongside attack options, allowing players to engage deeply with the gameplay without the need for constant interaction with the board. This design fosters a more reflective and immersive experience, enhancing the emotional connection to the game's narrative and mechanics.

60%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Buy Puzzle Quest 3

4h Median play time
4h Average play time
3-4h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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