Risen 3: Titan Lords

Combat quibbles and muddy graphics do little to spoil the fun of this enjoyable RPG.

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In Risen 3: Titan Lords, players explore a vast fantasy world as a hero seeking to defeat the Titan Lords, who have brought darkness and destruction to the world. With intense combat, diverse character development options, and a variety of magic and weaponry, players must build their skills and make alliances to save the world from eternal darkness. The game offers a thrilling pirate-themed adventure filled with diverse quests and moral choices.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

64%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,826 reviews

story419 positive mentions

stability81 negative mentions

Beautiful graphics and immersive world design.
Engaging story with interesting quests and characters.
Improved combat mechanics compared to previous titles.

Combat system can feel clunky and unresponsive.
Voice acting and dialogue can be cheesy and poorly executed.
Game can become too easy as you progress, diminishing challenge.

story
1,582 mentions
26 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The story of Risen 3: Titan Lords has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it average or lacking compared to its predecessors. While some appreciate the engaging quests and the freedom to explore, others criticize the plot for being predictable, poorly paced, and filled with generic fetch quests. The game features a variety of factions and side quests, but the overall narrative is often described as disjointed and uninspired, with some players feeling disconnected from the characters and their motivations.
- “Overall a super fun game with a great continued story.”
- “The story is full of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat.”
- “The unique universe and story really pulls you in and the gameplay is pretty good as well.”
- “The story falls flat and not even the side stories or characters can make up for it.”
- “The story is really lackluster and feels pointless.”
- “The story is basic, the combat system feels awkward and based on luck, there are a lot of bugs and the game overflows you with side quests.”
graphics
605 mentions
43 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The graphics in Risen 3: Titan Lords receive mixed reviews, with many players noting improvements over its predecessors, particularly in environmental detail and vibrant colors. However, some criticize the animations and overall performance, describing them as outdated or inconsistent, with occasional graphical glitches. While the visuals can be appealing, they often do not meet the standards of more recent titles, leading to a perception that the game feels like a polished version of Risen 2 rather than a significant upgrade.
- “The graphics in 3 are yet another step forward for the Risen series, very colorful and detailed, with rich landscapes and also comes with background wildlife such as parrots flying in the jungle.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous, especially when tweaked, looks better than many DX11 games, though art design plays an important part in this.”
- “I had a lot of fun playing this game, gigantic improvements from Risen 2 in terms of graphics and gameplay itself.”
- “From stuttering graphics on a fairly powerful computer to a wooden performance with bad voice acting, this was a pain to play.”
- “The graphics are terrible and you can tell items on the ground so you could miss treasure.”
- “The graphics are bizarre; the game came out in 2014 yet somehow looks much, much older.”
gameplay
456 mentions
24 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Risen 3 has received mixed reviews, with many players noting improvements over its predecessors in terms of mechanics and graphics, yet still finding it repetitive and lacking depth. Combat mechanics are often criticized as clunky and frustrating, leading to a sense of boredom for some players, while others appreciate the exploration and RPG elements. Overall, while Risen 3 offers a more polished experience than Risen 2, it still struggles with issues that detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “Combine Risen 1 and Risen 2, add better gameplay, and you get Risen 3.”
- “The gameplay is a lot of fun, especially as a mage.”
- “I had a lot of fun playing this game, gigantic improvements from Risen 2 in terms of graphics and gameplay itself.”
- “Buggy, rigid, slow, boring, repetitive, crashes, confusing game mechanics.”
- “The gameplay overall just barely keeps you playing the game and not giving it up.”
- “The fighting mechanics are the worst I've seen in Piranha Bytes games so far.”
humor
148 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, featuring quirky characters and witty dialogue that often elicits genuine laughter, though it can also veer into cheesy or awkward territory. Many players appreciate the entertaining side quests and NPC interactions, while some find the voice acting and certain comedic elements lacking in execution. Overall, the game successfully incorporates humor that adds charm and enjoyment, despite some inconsistencies in delivery.
- “The game has a lot of humor and quirky characters that will make you laugh out loud.”
- “The dialogue in this game is so absolutely, hilariously cheesy.”
- “I also enjoyed the writing and voice acting which had me laughing out loud in some places.”
atmosphere
128 mentions
56 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in Risen 3 is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its unique blend of pirate and medieval fantasy elements, while others feel it lacks the immersive quality of its predecessors. The game features beautiful graphics and a strong sense of place, particularly in its island design and environmental details, but some reviewers noted a decline in atmospheric depth and NPC presence compared to earlier titles. Overall, while the game succeeds in creating a visually appealing world, opinions vary on its ability to fully engage players in a cohesive and captivating atmosphere.
- “The game has a unique and immersive world with a dark and gritty atmosphere that will keep you hooked.”
- “The water effect in this game is a masterpiece; you can tell by watching the water particles scatter on the cliffs or when it rains you can almost feel the humid atmosphere.”
- “The settings, the NPCs, the towns, the music, the humor... everything adds to a distinct atmosphere that only Piranha Bytes can create.”
- “The problem with Risen 3 is that it tries to be a catch-all, sometimes failing to assume its medieval fantasy aspect, sometimes failing to assume its pirate atmosphere.”
- “Risen 3 feels highly railroaded; it has less atmosphere, less flair, worse quest design, less fun mechanics, and a very un-Piranha Bytes-esque visual design.”
- “The atmosphere got boring.”
music
112 mentions
45 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The music in the Risen series has received mixed reviews, with some praising the atmospheric soundtracks and memorable compositions, particularly in Risen 1 and Risen 2, while others find the music in Risen 3 to be forgettable and lacking in impact. Many players appreciate the integration of music with the game's atmosphere, though some criticize it for being too generic or stock-like, failing to enhance immersion. Overall, while the soundtracks are generally considered good, they do not consistently leave a lasting impression across the series.
- “The soundtrack is great, and I love the music in general that was composed for the game.”
- “The music is beautiful and the voice actors are solid, with a few brilliant exceptions.”
- “Music is one of the best, it perfectly suits the game.”
- “Worst music tracks in the series.”
- “Not so much for music though - it's like white noise - not to be remembered, not to be annoying, not to improve the immersion.”
- “Soundtrack isn't noteworthy, while it does serve as an adequate filler.”
stability
85 mentions
2 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its instability, with numerous reports of crashes, freezes, and various glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. While some players note improvements over previous titles in the series, many still find the experience frustratingly buggy, leading to a mix of enjoyment and disappointment. Overall, the game's stability issues are a major concern, making it difficult for players to fully engage with the content.
- “The engine is also fixed - no broken achievements, companion AI is quite alright, no glitches I can think of, the game froze on me just twice and that was during very long sessions.”
- “Seems bug-free so far.”
- “Firing water with a musket crashes and freezes the game (and PC - unplayable).”
- “In addition to the fact that on a newer computer it is a problem to start the game at all, the game accidentally freezes or textures start to disappear.”
- “Buggy as hell, initially had trouble even getting the game to start without crashing.”
optimization
56 mentions
29 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
36 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including low frame rates and stuttering graphics, even on high-end systems. While some users managed to achieve smoother performance after adjusting settings, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences. A few players noted that despite the optimization problems, they found some aspects of the game visually pleasing and enjoyable once properly configured.
- “It took me about 5 minutes to balance the graphics versus the performance, but once that was done I really started to enjoy the game.”
- “The game runs smoothly for me and the graphics aren't perfect, but they are certainly very pleasing.”
- “Nice visuals, smooth performance, very polished.”
- “From stuttering graphics on a fairly powerful computer to a wooden performance with bad voice acting, this was a pain to play.”
- “The game is poorly optimized; it seems locked at around 33 fps on a 3070 ti and a 5800x with 32 gigs of RAM.”
- “They ruined my game; I feel so stupid for buying this game. It's very badly optimized; it lags for no reason.”
grinding
45 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious due to repetitive combat mechanics, slow progression, and a reliance on fetch and kill quests. While some appreciate the intricate dialogue and skill-building systems, others feel that the grinding detracts from the overall experience, making battles feel monotonous and frustrating. Overall, the game may appeal to those who enjoy lengthy playthroughs and complex systems, but it risks alienating players who prefer a more dynamic and engaging gameplay experience.
- “Some parts are grindy and fill in for lack of story content to get you to the next level to progress the story because the developers were too lazy to put in any good side quests or fun hunting/crafting to fill in between story missions.”
- “Having actually enjoyed Gothic 3, and then Risen 1 and 2, I was quite surprised by how tedious I found this game, to the point where I stopped playing and uninstalled it after about 10 hours.”
- “And while there's plenty of content, it eventually becomes a tedious slog through the same old monsters.”
character development
40 mentions
15 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its rewarding system and the inclusion of three unique factions that offer distinct options and plot consequences. However, some players criticize the lack of depth and noticeable choices, particularly regarding companions, which are described as shallow. Overall, while the character development system shows improvement over previous installments, it still faces scrutiny for not fully meeting players' expectations in terms of meaningful growth and engagement.
- “+3 different factions to choose from - each one is unique and offers specific character development options as well as plot consequences.”
- “The character development system is very close to the one Risen 2 had, with some minor but welcome changes.”
- “These do not feel like tacked on backtracking to add game time thank goodness, but honest progression, both in character development and story.”
- “There is no depth in it, no noticeable choices or visible character development.”
- “- companions - they're extremely boring and shallow without any character development.”
- “To be honest, I think the games today are focused way too much on graphical appearance and feel and not enough on story and plot development, or character development.”
replayability
38 mentions
37 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its multiple factions, diverse playstyles, and numerous quests, allowing players to explore different storylines and endings. However, some reviews indicate that while there is decent replay value, it may not be enough to encourage multiple playthroughs for all players, especially when compared to larger RPGs like Skyrim. Overall, the replayability is praised for its variety, but some players feel it could benefit from additional incentives for starting new games.
- “The game has a lot of replay value, with multiple paths and endings to discover.”
- “The sheer amount of quests in this game is absolutely astonishing, pretty good replay value as the different guilds you can join add great spells into the mix.”
- “You can go just about anywhere right from the start, and the different gameplay styles and factions give it a fair amount of replayability.”
- “Not only does it have less content than Skyrim by a lot, but it also has less replay value as I don't see many people starting another playthrough of Risen 3.”
- “- no replayability”
- “While the game does have some replay value from joining different factions and completing different quests, it could do with some incentive to start a new game such as unlocking significantly harder difficulties or additional content.”
emotional
10 mentions
80 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted through the believable and heartwarming relationship between the protagonist and Patty, as well as nostalgic interactions with characters from previous titles, which add depth to the experience. However, some players feel that the overall gameplay and story lack engagement, making the emotional connections feel peripheral rather than central to the experience.
- “His relationship with Patty is very believable and sometimes heartwarming, though don't let him hear you say that.”
- “It was heartwarming to see the characters from previous games; you can even meet with the antagonist of the second game and clink some drinks with him. Even though it plays a small role, it is a very nice addition, and I really appreciate the developers for giving us, players, tangible lines to merge previous games with the newest title.”
- “It goes without saying, it was also heartwarming to see the characters from previous games.”
monetization
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is perceived as a low-effort cash grab, with users criticizing the developers for attempting to replicate better games without the necessary resources or skill, leading to a product that feels poorly executed and exploitative.
- “Comes off like a low effort cash grab by a group of devs that wanted to rip off other better games, but didn't have the time, budget, or ability to do any of it quite right.”
- “Thinking you can slap something that bad together and be happy with it is ridiculous and is part of why this game was just a cash grab.”