Shadow Warrior 3

Lo Wang is back and after some soul searching he's out to save the world... again... or at least try.

68%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

replayability, optimization

67% User Score Based on 3,715 reviews

Critic Score 70%Based on 37 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $10.41

Buy NowGet on Steam €38.99 Buy NowGet on Xbox Games Store Buy NowGet on PS Store $39.99

About

Shadow Warrior 3 is a single player arcade role playing shooter game with horror, fantasy, comedy and science fiction themes. It was developed by Flying Wild Hog and was released on February 28, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

In Shadow Warrior 3, players step into the shoes of Lo Wang, a skilled ninja warrior on a quest to recover a powerful ancient dragon. Traverse stunning environments, wield an array of weapons, and engage in fast-paced combat with hordes of enemies. With a blend of brutal action and dark humor, this game offers an entertaining and immersive experience for fans of first-person shooters.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,715 reviews

story278 positive mentions

replayability56 negative mentions

Fast-paced and enjoyable gameplay, reminiscent of Doom Eternal.
Visually stunning graphics and creative enemy designs.
Humorous dialogue and character interactions add charm to the experience.

Extremely short campaign, taking only 5-6 hours to complete.
Lacks the depth and RPG elements of previous entries in the series.
Repetitive level design with linear paths and limited exploration.

story
1,302 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
68%
11%
The story of "Shadow Warrior 3" is generally perceived as short, linear, and lacking depth, with most players completing it in about 5-6 hours. While some appreciate the humor and engaging dialogue, many criticize the plot for being simplistic and disconnected from previous entries in the series, leading to a feeling of rushed storytelling. Overall, the narrative serves primarily as a vehicle for gameplay rather than a compelling experience, leaving fans of the franchise feeling underwhelmed.
- “The storyline in Shadow Warrior 3 is engaging and well-written. It balances humor and action perfectly, with witty dialogue and interesting plot twists that keep you invested in the characters' journey.”
- “The engaging storyline adds depth and keeps you invested in the characters' journey.”
- “The story was fun and stupid which is exactly what you'd expect from Shadow Warrior.”
- “The story is about as bad as the second game, but now Wang has lost any of the campy charm that might have once made you smirk.”
- “The story indeed is nonsense and just slapped together and I feel ripped off even getting this on sale.”
- “The story is far-fetched, shallow and severely lacks depth, the twists are predictable and the pacing is atrocious.”
gameplay
1,292 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
60%
8%
The gameplay of Shadow Warrior 3 has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its fast-paced, arena-style combat reminiscent of Doom Eternal, featuring smooth mechanics and engaging combat loops. However, the game is criticized for its brevity, with a typical playtime of around 4-6 hours, leading to feelings of repetitiveness and a lack of depth compared to its predecessors. While some appreciate the streamlined approach and the introduction of new mechanics like grappling hooks and gore weapons, others lament the loss of RPG elements and the overall linearity of the gameplay experience.
- “Each weapon feels unique, and the combat mechanics are smooth and responsive, making every encounter a joy.”
- “The gameplay is fun and fast-paced, kind of like Doom. 100% easy 10 hours to platinum.”
- “The core gameplay loop is amazing, it's everything else that barely meets an acceptable standard.”
- “The gameplay loop gets old real fast, especially the repetitive nature of Shadow Warrior 3's gameplay quickly becomes tedious with us jumping from one arena to another fighting the same mini bosses with hardly any story progression.”
- “The gameplay is very linear with some platforming between battle arenas and some cutscenes as filler. For such a short game, it seems a bit rushed because it has some glaring flaws with things like motion blur and boss battle mechanics.”
- “The repetitive gameplay can become a bit monotonous, and the character development could be deeper. I really liked the story and idea but gameplay was horrible; it was fun at some points but nowhere near as fun as the first or second game.”
humor
586 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
91%
9%
The humor in "Shadow Warrior 3" has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying its crude, juvenile jokes and one-liners, while others find it forced and unfunny compared to its predecessors. Many appreciate the lighthearted tone and occasional laugh-out-loud moments, but a significant number of reviewers feel that the humor lacks the charm and wit of earlier installments, often resorting to repetitive or cringe-worthy gags. Overall, while the game maintains a comedic element, its effectiveness varies widely among players, leaving some satisfied and others disappointed.
- “I really liked that it does not take itself seriously, it is very light and full of humor.”
- “It balances humor and action perfectly, with witty dialogue and interesting plot twists that keep you invested in the characters' journey.”
- “Shadow warrior 3 delivers its signature humor in a fast-paced, action-packed adventure, although the game's length leaves you wanting more.”
- “The dialogue is painful and unfunny.”
- “The narrative sucks and the humor is painfully unfunny.”
- “The jokes written are horribly unfunny and have become far removed from what they were in the past games.”
graphics
486 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
31%
4%
The graphics in Shadow Warrior 3 have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the stunning visuals, vibrant art style, and detailed environments that create an immersive experience. While some noted that the graphics are a significant improvement over previous entries, others pointed out that the overall performance could be inconsistent, particularly during cutscenes. Despite mixed feelings about gameplay and story elements, the game's visual presentation stands out as a highlight, making it a visual treat for players.
- “The game showcases stunning graphics, making it a visual treat compared to the previous entries.”
- “The detailed environments and jaw-dropping graphics create a dark yet vibrant world that immerses you completely.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the sound is great, and the soundtrack is an interesting mix of different styles and genres.”
- “This mess of a game is all visuals with repetitive poor quality voice lines, too many cut scenes, poor mechanics, and bad design choices.”
- “Sure, there's fancier graphics in this one, but at a certain point, the game just kinda feels bland.”
- “Even the graphics in this one are worse than in Shadow Warrior 2.”
music
298 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
46%
3%
The music in "Shadow Warrior 3" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its energetic blend of hip-hop and traditional Asian elements that enhance the gameplay experience. However, some players noted issues with audio mixing, where sound effects often overshadow the soundtrack, making it less memorable. Overall, while the soundtrack is appreciated for its unique style and fitting atmosphere, it has been criticized for not living up to the high standards set by previous entries in the series.
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the action, with adrenaline-pumping music that keeps you engaged during combat.”
- “Visually the game looks great and the soundtrack is an outstanding hodgepodge of East Asian instruments and hip-hop beats.”
- “The combat is the most fun I had with a FPS in years, the soundtrack is awesome, funny dialogue (mostly), beautiful and outstanding environments and visuals, amazing enemy and weapon design, good level design and a brilliant structure and pacing makes this game a goddamn masterpiece.”
- “It’s discount doom with terrible, annoying music and repetitive, boring combat.”
- “Music in the game is a huge letdown, especially when Shadow Warrior 1 had such an iconic theme and 2 had a banger remix of it. 3 falls flat in this regard and the music is nothing to write home about.”
- “Comparing all three games' soundtracks together, Shadow Warrior 3 was by far the most disappointing one.”
replayability
206 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
65%
27%
Overall, "Shadow Warrior 3" suffers from a significant lack of replayability, with many players noting its short playtime of around 5-6 hours and the absence of features like New Game+ or mission select. While some updates have introduced limited replay options such as harder difficulties and survival modes, the consensus is that the game does not offer enough content or variety to justify its price, making it feel more like a one-time experience rather than a game worth revisiting.
- “It takes around 12 hours to complete and then you have game+, survival mode, and challenges that give it a bit of replay value.”
- “The new survival mode and chapter select adds a lot of replayability to a rather short game if you care about the whole 'git gud' side of games.”
- “If you're a fan of fun FPS games rather than your standard Call of Duty affair, then this is worth your time. It may be a short play, but it is a replayable one.”
- “The price of $40 is also unacceptable for a 6-hour game with barely any replayability, and the game locks a few cosmetic options as a pre-order bonus (still not accessible to the rest of us) and the 'deluxe' edition (no upgrade option available for purchase).”
- “It's way too short, lacks any substance that would make it replayable, and it just rips off Doom Eternal.”
- “There is zero replayability or even a new game +; the free DLC better have 20 more hours of content, otherwise I'm going to turn the devs into sashimi.”
optimization
180 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
43%
31%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing stuttering and frame drops, particularly during cutscenes, despite having capable hardware. While some users report solid performance and good graphics, others criticize the overall optimization as poor, especially in comparison to similar titles. The game shows potential with its visuals and gameplay, but significant performance issues remain a concern for many players.
- “It is a fun, colorful, masterfully optimized adventure in a fantasy world.”
- “From the technical perspective, Shadow Warrior 3 has been optimized solidly.”
- “Performance wise, on my system the game ran beautifully with an average of 100+ frames per second.”
- “Game fell off hard on shitty optimizations, unbearable cutscene stutter, probably been this for years too. Until the day you guys aren't lazy to fix this, I ain't playing.”
- “This game's performance is a joke, ranging from 60fps to 250fps depending on what's going on. My 4090 is asleep during most of this, and the couple of cores my 5900x is using are being hammered. Much like every other game from the last few years, devs can't figure out how to multithread past 6 threads, leaving the 12 and 16 thread CPUs that are most common according to Steam surveys a total waste.”
- “Firstly, presentation is poor from the get-go as this game doesn't run well period, with stuttering that is now synonymous with Unreal Engine 4 that was reported 'fixed' in a measly patch, but I haven't seen proof of that as after testing on a variety of machines, all suffering from the same stuttering issues.”
stability
128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
88%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting various bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly during platforming and cutscenes. While some users noted that these issues were not game-breaking, they still found them annoying and indicative of a lack of polish. Overall, the game is described as a mixed bag, with some enjoying the experience despite the bugs, while others found the technical problems significantly detracted from their enjoyment.
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “It looks amazing, runs great, and has good battle loops.”
- “Wasn't buggy, loved all the creative mobs of enemies.”
- “Shadow Warrior 3 is an unfunny, buggy mess that is a slog to play.”
- “Extremely short (5 hours or so), buggy (can't climb up expected ledges, spawning below the map, etc) and doesn't live up to what the first two did.”
- “I found major glitches every minute of the 2 painful hours into the game, to the point where I simply closed out of it due to frustration.”
grinding
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
3%
94%
The grinding aspect of Shadow Warrior 3 is generally viewed as tedious and repetitive, with players expressing frustration over the lack of variety in gameplay and enemy encounters. While the initial gunfights are enjoyable, the experience quickly becomes monotonous, with many feeling that the game fails to maintain engagement over time. Although some improvements have been noted compared to previous titles, the overall consensus is that the grinding elements detract from the enjoyment of the game.
- “The boss fights are also better and not too tedious.”
- “The repetitive nature of Shadow Warrior 3's gameplay quickly becomes tedious, with us jumping from one arena to another fighting the same mini-bosses with hardly any story progression.”
- “This one is different from the previous games; there are no more interesting maps to explore, just a series of increasingly grindy killbox encounters. It gets somewhat difficult, but it becomes way more boring and grindy, and fast.”
- “It really gets old and boring after a while for me, and it feels very tedious. It seems like every 5 minutes there's another arena with a horde of enemies.”
emotional
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
87%
13%
The emotional aspect of "Shadow Warrior 3" has received mixed reviews, with some praising its narrative depth and wholesome ending that ties up past storylines, while others criticize it for lacking the emotional resonance and character growth found in earlier installments. Despite attempts to evoke feelings, many feel the writing falls short, with some moments described as cringe-worthy, leaving players longing for the emotional impact of the first game. Overall, while there are notable emotional moments, the game struggles to fully deliver on this front compared to its predecessors.
- “The narrative is a significant step up from its predecessors, providing more depth and emotional moments.”
- “Even with how butchered SW2's writing was compared to the original title, I was glad they didn't undo the emotional impact of the first game's narrative and ending.”
- “When it comes down to writing, though, the unexpected emotional resonance of the first game's story is a tough act to follow, and Shadow Warrior 3 can't manage it, though not for lack of trying.”
- “Pretty short with a boring story and cringe-worthy humor, which detracts from the emotional experience.”
- “I wish it was just a boring story like SW2, as the emotional depth was lacking.”
character development
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
46%
11%
Character development in the game has been widely criticized for being limited and lacking depth, with many reviewers expressing a desire for more engaging story arcs and character growth. While the character designs and visual elements are praised for their quality and creativity, the overall narrative and character progression feel underwhelming, particularly in comparison to previous installments. Some characters, like Lo Wang, have shown potential for development, but the game fails to deliver a compelling or believable evolution for most characters.
- “Lo Wang: Lo Wang has been given decent character development over the previous games and made into a strong and interesting character who actually cares about what he's doing.”
- “For example, part 2 had additional side missions and it was very cool; character development and weapon upgrades were much more extensive and gave more opportunities.”
- “The game also looks amazing and the work that went into the demon, environmental, and character design is insane.”
- “Limited character development. I feel that the character development could be deeper.”
- “The repetitive gameplay can become a bit monotonous, and the character development could be deeper.”
- “Character development from SW2 to SW3 is hardly believable.”
monetization
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
5%
80%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players criticizing it as a "cash grab" that lacks the depth and effort expected from the studio, especially given its budget. However, others appreciate the absence of microtransactions, suggesting that this approach enhances the gaming experience by avoiding interruptions from ads. Overall, while some feel the game is a rushed conclusion to the series, others value the focus on gameplay without additional monetization pressures.
- “+ no microtransactions”
- “+ no microtransactions”
- “Shadow Warrior 3 brings Lo Wang back but not without a few ups and downs. I'll start with the ringing endorsement because positivity and all that: the gameplay is absolutely amazing. We may have less weapons and no ads, but your accuracy is honestly not needed.”
- “Considering how much budget this studio has from the first two games, this feels like a half-baked cash grab to finish the series and go on to something else.”
- “It's a cash grab, or they just didn't think they needed to put any effort into it. I was going to play at least until the return window was almost closed, but I can't even make it to that; 45 minutes was pushing it.”
- “Game was a shameless cash grab; I've logged hundreds of hours into the Shadow Warrior series.”
atmosphere
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
25%
15%
The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag, with some praising its grand scale, impressive visuals, and engaging music that enhance the gameplay experience. However, others criticize it for lacking the charm and unique qualities of its predecessors, describing it as a generic knockoff with a disjointed atmosphere. Overall, while there are moments of captivating design and humor, the game's atmosphere fails to consistently resonate with players.
- “The humor adds a lightheartedness to the intense action and helps create a unique and memorable atmosphere.”
- “Stages look awesome, every level has a grand scale and insane atmosphere.”
- “Setting and atmosphere are great, levels and enemies are visually impressive and both the gunplay and the occasional parkour passages are a lot of fun.”
- “This game has neither, it's a cheap Doom Eternal knockoff with zero charm and atmosphere, limited sword abilities, or anything that made Shadow Warrior what it is.”
- “If you haven't played the previous ones, don't buy it. If you have and missed the atmosphere, don't pay the full price; wait for a discount.”
- “I would also praise the 'tasty oriental atmosphere' in the design of locations and music (the soundtrack also attracted attention only in a positive way), but now everything is completely in a fantasy style.”