Runner3

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 173 reviews
  • music
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Runner3 Game Cover
Does Choice Provision's latest rhythmic platformer Runner3 live up to the series' high standards? Find out in our review.
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Runner3 is a comedy platformer game with single-player and massively multi-player modes. It features fast-paced rhythm-music gameplay, spectacular visuals, and phenomenal music. Players can explore branching paths, collect gold and gems, and encounter quirky characters in this thrilling and joyous adventure to save the multiverse from the Timbletot.

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Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 173 reviews
music32 positive mentions
optimization2 negative mentions
  • Runner3 features stunning visuals and a vibrant art style that enhances the gameplay experience.
  • The game introduces new mechanics like double jumps and ground slams, adding depth to the platforming.
  • The soundtrack is catchy and complements the gameplay, maintaining the series' tradition of great music.
  • The game is significantly shorter than its predecessors, with only three worlds, leading to a feeling of lack of content.
  • Visual clutter and shifting camera angles can obscure obstacles, making the gameplay feel unfair and frustrating.
  • Many players have reported issues with hit detection and audio cues, leading to confusion during gameplay.
  • music83 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its catchy and upbeat nature while others find it lackluster compared to previous entries in the series. Many players appreciate the integration of sound effects with gameplay, but note inconsistencies in rhythm and a feeling of repetitiveness in the tracks. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, it does not consistently match the quality or impact of earlier games in the franchise.

    • “The simplicity of the movement, the perfect and upbeat soundtrack, and the incredible narration kept me going through I don't even know how many hours of extremely fun and simple gameplay.”
    • “I found the connection between your movements and the music super satisfying, loved the sound design, and enjoyed the wacky world of it all.”
    • “The music is amazing, the gameplay is still fun despite the challenges, and the level design is still entertaining.”
    • “The music feels much more limited and premade in this game.”
    • “The music is also lackluster - I enjoy Spookyland's soundtracks and visuals, much like I enjoyed the Supernature from Runner 2, but the majority of the OST doesn't give that hype that the previous two games had.”
    • “It's genuinely bewildering how bad the music is, and each world only gets like three tracks to share across its many, many levels.”
  • graphics60 mentions

    The graphics in Runner3 have received mixed reviews, with some praising the vibrant and improved visuals, character animations, and creative backgrounds, while others criticize them for being overly busy and distracting. Many players feel that the updated 3D graphics detract from the charm of the simpler, retro art style of the previous games, leading to a less enjoyable experience. Overall, while the graphics are seen as a step forward in terms of detail and creativity, they may overwhelm the gameplay and obscure the player's focus.

    • “The visuals can be downright gorgeous, between the excellent background work and the improved character animations.”
    • “The graphics just look great.”
    • “The catchy tunes, challenging levels, and great graphics make this one of the best in the runner series.”
    • “Runner 3's updated graphics and increased enemy count made my computer lag even when I reduced my graphics settings and got rid of all the enemies.”
    • “But the confusing camera angles, the dizzying visuals, and the 10-year-old humor of farts and stupid faces really don't do the game justice.”
    • “The new engine is graphically inferior - there's low resolution textures right in your face throughout the game, and the style itself is just ugly.”
  • gameplay57 mentions

    The gameplay in Runner3 has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the introduction of new mechanics like double jumping and improved level design, while others criticize the game's increased difficulty and frustrating camera angles that detract from the experience. While the vibrant visuals and catchy soundtrack enhance the gameplay, many feel that it lacks the charm and rhythm-based connection found in its predecessors, leading to a less cohesive and enjoyable experience overall. Despite its fresh elements, some players believe that Runner3 falls short in comparison to Runner2, particularly in terms of gameplay balance and mechanics.

    • “The simplicity of the movement, the perfect and upbeat soundtrack, and the incredible narration kept me going through I don't even know how many hours of extremely fun and simple gameplay.”
    • “There are two big mechanics Runner 3 introduces, the first one being you can double jump, which allows for more leniency in the platforming and introduces new level designs and platforming potential along with it.”
    • “The gameplay is constant fun, and the level design is excellent.”
    • “As much as I really want to like Runner3, it feels so far removed from the first two games, and it's got really weird gameplay changes. Why do all the levels feel so much longer? Maybe because they had to fit a hundred gold in each of them for some reason.”
    • “The retro stages stink and nearly appear to be a last-minute addition; the sprites are low quality, and the movement mechanics feel very janky.”
    • “The problem is its unfair difficulty, tied to absurd issues such as the camera (yes, in a runner!) and new mechanics being introduced in the middle of a level, far after a checkpoint.”
  • story12 mentions

    The game's story is enhanced by engaging hero quests that encourage players to revisit levels for hidden collectibles, though some players find the storytelling style overly simplistic. While the quests add replayability and feature enjoyable environments and humor, the mechanics can be frustrating, requiring multiple playthroughs to fully uncover all quest items. Overall, the narrative elements are complemented by improved graphics and new gameplay features, but the execution may not resonate with everyone.

    • “The hero quests are an interesting addition to the game and give you an incentive to revisit levels.”
    • “There's shiny new graphics, some new camera tricks, and a hilarious new story with fun environments to boot.”
    • “This game has quests, so each level might have a quest giver, to whom you also return to receive a reward.”
    • “I could not sit through them, as I felt like I was being told the story as if I was a toddler (no offense Charles Martinet, I will forever love your voice and narration).”
    • “Why ruin your storytelling?”
    • “Levels contain 'normal' and 'gem' paths and it's never specified on which path the quest item will be spawned, so to get everything, you will have to play a level about 4-8 times, and that's if you decide to get everything on the first run.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, featuring diverse worlds, multiple characters, and numerous levels designed for repeated play. While many players appreciate the variety of collectibles and alternate paths that enhance replay value, some express frustration with the game's mechanics over time. Despite mixed feelings, the consensus is that the game offers substantial replayability, making it a worthwhile investment.

    • “Great game, lots of replayability.”
    • “Good things I have to say about the game: the variety of worlds, the multiple playable characters, tons of levels, and replayability.”
    • “Replayability is spot on; there are so many things to collect and the levels are very replayable.”
    • “They try to add replay value by adding alternate paths and collectibles to the levels, but after a while I was disliking the game so much that I just ignored them.”
    • “It's worth the money, but Runner 2 is still a far superior game in the more 'important' aspects, like difficulty balance, gameplay, length, and replayability.”
    • “The replay value is high as this game will keep you on your toes, getting every collectible possible as these guys want you to keep your stinkin' money in the in-game shop!”
  • humor6 mentions

    The game is praised for its heartwarming and witty humor, featuring well-crafted cutscenes, silly animations, and a hilarious storyline. Players appreciate the blend of fun environments and clever inside jokes, making it both entertaining and easy to enjoy. Overall, the humor significantly enhances the gaming experience.

    • “The game has heart and humor, which really counts for something!”
    • “There's shiny new graphics, some new camera tricks, and a hilarious new story with fun environments to boot.”
    • “There's cool silly animations all over the place; the comedy is great, funny singing, puppet shows, inside jokes—just crazy the amount of cool stuff I haven't even mentioned.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization appears to be inconsistent; while some users report smooth performance on high settings with mid-range hardware, others experience significant performance issues, particularly on macOS, requiring them to lower settings drastically for a playable experience. Additionally, there are indications that the game may be demanding even on Windows systems.

    • “And about the performance, I haven't had a single problem with the framerate on max settings (my setup: GeForce GTX 1060, i5-4690, 16 GB RAM).”
    • “Additionally, this raises a performance issue on my MacBook Pro; I had to turn all settings to the bare minimum, including the resolution, in order to reach a rather playable state.”
    • “I usually blame OSX for its poor optimization and integration of games, but a friend of mine found the game quite demanding on Windows as well.”
  • stability2 mentions

    While the game features appealing graphics and vibrant colors, players have reported noticeable glitches, particularly with the double jump mechanic, which can feel unresponsive and inconsistent. Overall, the stability of the game is marred by these issues, affecting the overall experience.

    • “The double jump is pretty much buggy; you barely get off the ground, and the same goes for the regular jump.”
    • “The game offers some pleasant graphics and really vibrant colors, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Users report mixed emotional experiences, noting moments of frustration when interactions with the game environment feel unresponsive or unclear, leading to a disconnect between intention and action.

  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed feedback, with some users noting that the new character designs veer towards an unattractive aesthetic reminiscent of previous installments.

    • “The new character designs lean a bit too far into the ugly factor that Runner2 started.”
    • “Character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression.”
    • “The characters are one-dimensional and fail to evoke any real emotional connection.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a vibrant and colorful aesthetic that contrasts beautifully with darker elements, creating a visually stunning experience that enhances gameplay enjoyment once players find their rhythm.

    • “The colorful atmosphere juxtaposed with his black sheen is gorgeous to look at, and once you get in the groove, it's fun to play.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

Buy Runner3

Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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