Rugby Challenge 3
- June 28, 2016
- Wicked Witch
- 163h median play time
Get on Steam"Rugby Challenge 3" offers an immersive Be A Pro mode, where you experience rugby from a player's perspective and advance through their career. Enjoy creating and customizing players and teams with the new online player creator, tattoo system, and accessory options. Dive into the fast-paced Rugby Seven-a-side mode, and tailor the gameplay to your preference with various customization options. With 110+ teams and 50+ stadia, this game offers a realistic rugby experience featuring major leagues and teams.
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Playstation 3
Xbox
Xbox 360
Reviews
- The game offers a variety of features and game modes, making it enjoyable for rugby fans.
- Despite its flaws, it is considered the best rugby game currently available on PC.
- The addition of the FanHub allows players to download updated teams and players, enhancing the overall experience.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and gameplay issues, including poor AI and unrealistic player behavior.
- Many players feel that the game is simply a reskin of its predecessor with minimal improvements, making it not worth the high price.
- Controls are frustrating, with no option to rebind keys, leading to a steep learning curve and gameplay frustrations.
- gameplay34 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for its lack of realism, sluggishness, and persistent issues from previous titles, such as poor AI control and frequent ball drops. While some players find enjoyment in the game despite its flaws and appreciate the content available, many feel that the gameplay remains slow and unrefined, with minimal improvements since earlier versions. Overall, while it offers hours of playability for rugby fans, the gameplay experience is marred by technical shortcomings and a lack of fluidity.
“At the end of the day, the game is still very playable and enjoyable. Give it some time before you post a negative review with 0.50 hours of gameplay.”
“It's a good game essentially with lots of content despite the licensing issues, and if you're into your rugby, there are hours of gameplay value.”
“Sorry PS4 fans, but with a decent PC setup, the loading screens, gameplay speed, and smoothness/sharpness outplay PS4 in every way.”
“The gameplay is too slow, needs to be more free flowing.”
“Gameplay isn't fluid, feels sluggish when running and passing, rucks are a lottery if you're going to win one or lose it.”
“No improvement in gameplay.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been widely criticized for being outdated and unimpressive, with many noting that they are similar to previous installments and fall short of contemporary standards, such as those seen in FIFA. While some users acknowledge that the graphics are decent overall, issues like poor character face textures and missing models detract from the experience. Overall, there is a consensus that significant improvements are needed to meet expectations for a sequel.
“Graphics are good, but the character's face textures are a little off.”
“Graphics/settings/gameplay very similar to rc1 & 2 except for the following obvious updates.”
“Graphically, not impressive at all, same as the first game, except somehow they must have forgotten the model for SBW and a few others.”
“Gameplay isn't great and the graphics are awful for a 2016 released game...”
“When the developers start actually fixing basic game-breaking bugs and perhaps even improve and update the visuals as one might expect of a sequel, then I might reconsider my stance - but is that likely to happen?”
- stability10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of Rugby Challenge 3 is heavily criticized, with players reporting numerous visual and game-breaking bugs that detract from the overall experience. Many reviewers suggest that the game feels more like a buggy version of rugby than a polished sports title, and they recommend alternatives like Rugby League Live for a more stable experience. Overall, the lack of significant improvements over previous iterations leaves players frustrated and disappointed.
“This game is absolutely not worth full price and is still bug-ridden.”
“It's buggy to the point that it's frustrating to play.”
“Despite most likely being the best rugby union game currently available on PC (that's not saying much), all Rugby Challenge games are full of visual and game-breaking bugs/glitches, and I see very few improvements over the first game, let alone the second.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is derived from its absurd glitches and handling errors, leading to comically frustrating situations, such as being fired from a team despite a successful record. Players find the game's mechanics, like broken offloading and erratic player behavior, to be a source of unintentional hilarity, often attributing their misfortunes to ridiculous in-game bureaucracy.
“It's hilarious that I was fired from the team in Go Pro after winning dozens of matches and rated as a national treasure... I will blame it on some shady sports bureaucracy instead of a stupid glitch.”
“There are an absurd amount of handling errors (literally all of the game is spent scrumming), offloading is hilariously broken, and your wingers decide to charge off into touch before you can pass to them.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is well-optimized, providing a smooth gameplay experience that enhances overall enjoyment.
“Runs smoothly and is very fun to play.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with users expressing frustration over the lack of meaningful improvements and unresolved bugs, leading to a reluctance to purchase future sequels.
“Due to the lack of improvements and complete failure to fix simple and annoying bugs, this feels like an insulting cash grab. I will certainly not be purchasing any more Rugby Challenge 'sequels', at least not until they actually start resembling a sequel as opposed to a half-hearted patch.”
