Rise of the Third Power

I had a great time with Stegosoft Games’ latest offering. The team’s love for the JRPG genre is shining through, and their ability to spin a great narrative helps the work lift well beyond what you usually get from 'RPG Maker'-like projects.

88%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

90% User Score Based on 425 reviews

Critic Score 83%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

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About

Rise of the Third Power is a single player role playing game with drama, warfare, comedy and historical themes. It was developed by Stegosoft Games and was released on February 10, 2022. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

In "Rise of the Third Power," players navigate a tactical RPG set in a fantasy world on the brink of war. The game features strategic combat with customizable parties and a focus on character development. As the story unfolds, players must make difficult decisions that will impact the fate of their nation and the lives of those around them.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+10

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 425 reviews

story176 positive mentions

grinding45 negative mentions

Engaging story with well-developed characters that evoke emotional responses.
Beautiful pixel art and animations, especially in combat, enhancing the overall experience.
Fun and strategic combat system that encourages character rotation and synergy.

Repetitive combat mechanics that can become stale over time, especially on lower difficulties.
Some character portraits clash with the pixel art style, detracting from immersion.
Linear map design with occasional confusing transitions that can hinder exploration.

story
423 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
54%
4%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with many praising its engaging narrative, character development, and political intrigue reminiscent of classic JRPGs. While some players found the writing to be strong and the plot compelling, others criticized pacing issues, predictable twists, and a lack of resolution for certain character arcs. Overall, the story is seen as a highlight for many, offering a blend of humor and serious themes, though it may not break new ground in terms of originality.
- “The story in this game is one you will want to see through to the end!”
- “A very enjoyable, compact JRPG, with an engaging political story, solid battle system, and simply fantastic music.”
- “The story is excellent, albeit a little sad.”
- “While the overall story is alright, the characters are dull and, at times, downright irritating.”
- “However, the lack of resolution left me frustrated, as the supposed 'big bad evil' remained alive, and many plot threads were left dangling.”
- “The problem is that the story is not very compelling.”
gameplay
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
54%
8%
The gameplay is a blend of classic turn-based mechanics with some innovative features like an exhaustion system and character swapping, which some players find engaging while others see as cumbersome. Overall, the combat is described as solid and enjoyable, with a good variety of mechanics and challenges, though the linearity and certain design choices have drawn criticism. The game successfully balances nostalgia with modern elements, making it appealing to fans of the genre, despite some players feeling it lacks depth and evolution in its mechanics.
- “An interesting mature story, strong and unique characters, and solid gameplay to back it all up.”
- “The combat system is engaging and offers a good level of challenge, while the soundtrack is excellent and complements the gameplay well.”
- “The gameplay is amazing.”
- “The biggest issue with the gameplay is its complete lack of evolution.”
- “My one real complaint would be the exhaustion system; it just feels like an arbitrary timesink just to have a mechanic that makes the game different from other RPG Maker titles.”
- “Overall, while I appreciate the character development Rise of the Third Power employs, the actual gameplay is cluttered with bad design choices.”
music
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
34%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the gameplay effectively. While some tracks are described as catchy and memorable, a few critics noted instances of repetitiveness or derivative elements. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's emotional depth and immersive experience.
- “A very enjoyable, compact JRPG, with an engaging political story, solid battle system, and simply fantastic music.”
- “The combat system is engaging and offers a good level of challenge, while the soundtrack is excellent and complements the gameplay well.”
- “The music enhances the atmosphere, though I did encounter some looping issues with the battle theme during prolonged fights.”
- “I want to say it's a little too derivative and lacking in creativity for me, but nonetheless the music is a plus.”
- “The music enhanced the atmosphere, though I did encounter some looping issues with the battle theme during prolonged fights.”
- “Besides that, the only other thing I felt was a bit lacking was the music.”
graphics
77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
54%
4%
The graphics of "Rise of the Third Power" are a nostalgic homage to the 16-bit era, featuring solid pixel art and improved battle animations that enhance the overall experience. While some players appreciate the charming aesthetic and emotional character portraits, others find the art style occasionally jarring and not fully cohesive with the pixelated visuals. Overall, the game successfully blends retro graphics with modern effects, creating a visually engaging experience that resonates with fans of classic JRPGs.
- “The pixel graphics are fantastic and have a lot of nice little touches.”
- “The graphics are pretty great, the skill effects are stylish and gorgeous in combat.”
- “Rise of the Third Power, as it can be mainly deduced from its aesthetics in pixel art, is literally a nostalgic and melancholy dive directly into the video game ocean of the 90s.”
- “The rise of the third power, however, has only 2D graphics, not much more than what was standard back when the SNES ruled the JRPG world (think Final Fantasy VI, Chrono Trigger, Terranigma).”
- “Sadly, despite massive improvements in the graphics department, Rise of the Third Power falls short of what I'd come to expect from Stegosoft.”
- “The most frustrating thing to me was the way some of the visuals were arranged -- it can be difficult to see where there is a staircase, where there is a pathway, which lights in a cave are doors vs. lanterns, and even where your character is when they spawn on a new screen covered up by something like a tree or wall.”
humor
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and balance, seamlessly blending witty dialogue and character banter with emotional moments. Players appreciate the well-written characters and the use of tongue-in-cheek humor, which often includes pop culture references and self-awareness without becoming overbearing. While some feel that the humor occasionally disrupts serious plot points, the overall consensus is that it enhances the game's charm and engagement, making for a fun and memorable experience.
- “The humor is clever and sharp, not overbearing or obnoxious like how a lot of indie retro RPGs tend to be.”
- “The character interactions were a highlight of the game and made me laugh very often.”
- “The dialogues made me laugh a couple of times.”
grinding
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
98%
Reviews on the aspect of "grinding" in these games are mixed. While some players appreciate the minimal grinding and streamlined mechanics that enhance the overall experience, others find certain elements tedious and repetitive, particularly in boss fights and regular battles. Overall, many players suggest that the games offer options to reduce grinding, such as difficulty settings and story modes, making them more accessible and enjoyable for those who prefer to focus on the narrative rather than grinding for levels or materials.
- “The standard difficulty was a pleasant challenge with no grinding or dying repeatedly to a boss.”
- “Grinding in this game feels rewarding, as each session brings me closer to unlocking new abilities and gear.”
- “I appreciate how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it never feels tedious and always offers a sense of progression.”
- “The final boss fight sucked; grindy, repetitive, boring, and completely unnecessary.”
- “This could be okay and even interesting if it offered unique ways to customize the team or forced hard choices about skills and talents, but instead it just makes leveling up feel underwhelming and tedious.”
- “One thing I do have to mention is that at some point (closer to the end of the game) the regular battles took up a long time; sometimes it felt tedious.”
emotional
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
14%
The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players praising its ability to evoke strong feelings through well-crafted story arcs and character interactions, while others criticize the art style and tonal inconsistencies that detract from emotional moments. Many reviewers noted the game's blend of humor and heartfelt scenes, highlighting specific instances that resonated deeply, such as nostalgic encounters and impactful plot twists. Overall, while the game successfully elicits emotional responses, some players feel it could benefit from a more cohesive emotional tone and character design.
- “Storyline is one of the best, comedic, great emotional ride, easy mechanics to understand, beautiful art style.”
- “It's filled to the brim with a great sense of humor, yet also knows when to tone down the funny and get serious for more emotional scenes, and it's great.”
- “I will say when Arielle returned to Evenheart Castle and met her nanny in her room, that was an emotional encounter for me... well done story creation, writer, well done.”
- “The very long-winded dialogue sequences don't pair well with the boring story.”
- “The emotional moments feel forced and lack genuine impact.”
- “I found it hard to connect with the characters due to their shallow development.”
character development
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
47%
18%
Overall, character development in "Rise of the Third Power" is praised for its depth and engaging storytelling, with many players appreciating the balance between character growth and gameplay. However, some critiques highlight inconsistencies and limitations in character options, suggesting that while the narrative is strong, certain aspects of character progression could be improved. The game is recommended for those prioritizing story and character development, despite some design flaws.
- “Character development is top-notch, dialogue is great, with plenty of opportunities to laugh, and combat is a lot of fun.”
- “"Rise of the Third Power" offered me an engaging adventure, allowing for plenty of exploration and character development.”
- “Overall, I'd say it's a great game, with good character development, and a comprehensive progression system!”
- “There are a few particular story elements in which massive character development takes place off screen.”
- “Overall, while I appreciate the character development Rise of the Third Power employs, the actual gameplay is cluttered with bad design choices.”
- “A bit too much plot development for my tastes, and character development options are more limited.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
23%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is largely praised for its engaging music and varied environments, which contribute to a rich and immersive experience. While some users noted issues with music looping during battles, the overall aesthetic, including beautiful pixel art and atmospheric graphics, enhances the game's charm. The blend of humor and strong storytelling further enriches the atmosphere, making it a key highlight for players.
- “The music is pretty good and contributes a lot to a suitable atmosphere.”
- “Pixel art is absolutely beautiful, creating a nice atmosphere and stunning sceneries.”
- “I enjoy the atmospheric graphics; they have little motes of dust floating in the air and beams of light coming through windows.”
- “Well, to be honest, it's mainly the mismatched atmosphere of the game.”
- “The music enhanced the atmosphere, though I did encounter some looping issues with the battle theme during prolonged fights.”
- “Environments are varied and each location usually has its own atmosphere.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
83%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with only minor graphical glitches and occasional issues with enemy choices and scenery reuse. Players report that these glitches are not intrusive and can be addressed by the responsive developers. The game runs well on various platforms, including the Steam Deck.
- “Runs great on my deck as well.”
- “The game maintains a smooth performance without any crashes.”
- “I've experienced no lag or glitches, making for a stable gaming experience.”
- “There are some glitches, some weird random enemy choices, and some unabashedly reused scenery, but the overall game is well-written and enjoyable.”
- “There were a couple minor graphical glitches with a couple tilesets and a handful of scenes having a few portraits bug out, but nothing really intrusive.”
- “I did have a few small graphical glitches in mostly unimportant areas.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users noted that Roland's performance is highly dependent on optimization; without proper enhancement of his abilities, he struggles significantly.
- “Roland's performance varied greatly; if his abilities weren't optimized, he fell flat.”
- “The game's optimization allows for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I love how the developers continuously improve optimization, making the experience better with each update.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's replayability is viewed negatively, with users expressing a strong reluctance to revisit it.
- “I shudder at the thought of replay value.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying feel pointless.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization in this game is viewed positively, as players feel it is thoughtfully implemented and not a mere cash grab, distinguishing it from other titles on Steam.

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83%Critics’ scoreBased on 3 critic reviews

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29h Median play time

33h Average play time

20-36h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 11 analyzed playthroughs

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Rise of the Third Power is a role playing game with drama, warfare, comedy and historical themes.

Rise of the Third Power is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 33 hours playing Rise of the Third Power.

Rise of the Third Power was released on February 10, 2022.

Rise of the Third Power was developed by Stegosoft Games.

Rise of the Third Power has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Rise of the Third Power is a single player game.

Similar games include Chained Echoes, Sea of Stars, Cosmic Star Heroine, Octopath Traveler, Skyborn and others.

Rise of the Third Power

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