Shelter 3

About

In Shelter 3, you are a new elephant mother, responsible for protecting your calf and leading your herd to safety. Navigate treacherous landscapes, forage for food, and avoid predators while making wise decisions for your herd's survival. As the matriarch, use ancient knowledge to guide your elephants through a journey of wisdom and leadership.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

48%

Audience ScoreBased on 253 reviews

story42 positive mentions

replayability7 negative mentions

The game features beautiful graphics and a charming art style, consistent with previous Shelter titles.
The soundtrack is lovely and enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.
The concept of leading a herd of elephants and the exploration of their social dynamics is an interesting twist.

The gameplay is slow and repetitive, primarily consisting of walking from point A to point B with little engagement.
There is a lack of emotional connection to the herd members, making their deaths feel insignificant.
The game is short, with many players completing it in under two hours, leading to a lack of replayability.

story
155 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
66%
7%
The story in "Shelter 3" is described as beautiful yet disappointingly short, lacking the emotional depth and engagement found in its predecessors. While some players appreciate the branching paths and the game's artistic presentation, many feel that the narrative fails to create a strong connection, resulting in a less impactful experience overall. The gameplay is often criticized for being slow and tedious, which detracts from the storytelling, leaving players wanting a more substantial and immersive narrative.
- “In a 40-60 min run, Shelter 3 is capable of telling a stronger, deeper, and more dramatically meaningful story than other games in 40-60 hours.”
- “The story is lovely, but it's presented in an incredibly boring way.”
- “The beautiful music, gorgeous art style, and the story are all on point... most of the time.”
- “The story line at the start feels extremely misleading, making it sound like you are on a journey to find the rest of your herd, where instead you just find their remains and basically bring one of your herd to die with no sense of really why you need to do this or what the point of it was.”
- “Unfortunately, Shelter 3 ventures down a different route and lacks the solid foundation of a story or any character structure, which ultimately left me wondering why I should care about the loss of a member of my herd.”
- “It feels like they wanted to write a novel, but had to fit a game in around it, and so ended up having to miss everything but the important plot points, but because we didn't get all the stuff in between, the scenes came out dry and meaningless.”
gameplay
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
80%
10%
The gameplay in this title has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it slow, repetitive, and lacking in depth compared to previous entries in the series. While some appreciate the artistic visuals and serene atmosphere, the mechanics are often described as poorly explained and frustrating, leading to a lack of engagement and emotional connection. Overall, the game feels more like a walking simulator with minimal interactive elements, resulting in a disappointing experience for fans of the franchise.
- “Sure, it doesn’t have the same circle-of-life motif as the other mainline titles, but it really doesn’t need it, and every other piece of the equation is there; it combines the point-a to point-b pathing of Shelter 1 and Paws with the open world of Shelter 2 and Meadow, all while keeping the maternal survival gameplay of the mainline series.”
- “While the game mechanics are somewhat light and vaguely presented, the perfect blend of visual style, soundtrack, and level design made the game feel mysterious, profound, and captivating.”
- “I do feel like some of the interactions were a bit lackluster, and the learning curve felt a little different, but once you get a feel for the game and its mechanics, it plays a lot smoother.”
- “Most predators can’t be deterred so much as avoided, as far as I can tell, and many of the mechanics aren’t particularly well explained, which resulted in half of my herd dying before I even reached the first landmark on my initial attempt.”
- “The total gameplay is so short (I completed the full game in 75 minutes), the actual gameplay itself is very slow, boring, and short - even the cutscene moments are also slow, repetitive, and uninteresting to the point I almost don't even know why they're included.”
- “Gameplay wise, I'd say there is like 40% of the game that is literally just slowly walking at this agonizing pace from point A to point B.”
music
83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
36%
4%
The music in the game has been widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, with many reviewers highlighting it as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. Fans of the Shelter series appreciate the soundtrack's ability to evoke feelings and complement the game's visuals, although some noted that the music's tension did not always align with gameplay events. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant asset, contributing to the game's charm and storytelling.
- “The music is gorgeous and the story it tells is moving.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing, as too the visuals, and generally, I play slower-paced games.”
- “The music, as always, underlines your journey beautifully, whether it be a peaceful landscape or danger might be lurking around.”
- “Even the music only changes to alert for like 20 seconds for those moments and then it's over.”
- “However, the visuals are ruined by the other animals that almost look static for how lifeless they are; and because there was no sense of danger or relief, the music contributed nothing to the mood.”
- “Nothing's worse than, by the end of the game, hearing music indicative of danger, and just ignoring it knowing that nothing will happen.”
emotional
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the ending can be heart-wrenching and beautiful, the overall emotional connection to characters is lacking compared to previous installments. Some players felt detached from the story and characters, which diminished the impact of key moments, while others appreciated the emotional journey and the themes of love and loss. Overall, the game is seen as visually stunning but falls short in creating the deep emotional bonds that defined earlier titles in the series.
- “The ending, as usual, was heart-wrenching and lovely.”
- “Shelter games somehow always give me a sense of a guardian; it gives me a connection to the creature I'm meant to take care of, and it feels heartbreaking when you lose them.”
- “Part of the beauty in the shelter games is the deep emotional connection that is portrayed without words, but simply through animals’ maternal instincts and the harsh reality of survival in the wild.”
graphics
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
35%
5%
The graphics in the game are consistently praised for their beauty and adherence to the beloved shelter art style, featuring stunning visuals and atmospheric environments. However, some players feel that the graphics are less optimized compared to previous titles in the series, with certain elements appearing lifeless or muddled. Overall, while the visuals are a highlight, they are accompanied by critiques regarding gameplay depth and replayability.
- “The graphics are beautiful, well in line with my expectations for shelter games.”
- “Shelter 3 is an absolutely beautiful game, it has amazing graphics and a unique style.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous, and I love how you can interact and bond with your herd.”
- “Graphics - may be personal but it's cold and also the worst from the three shelter games.”
- “Graphics look worse than in Shelter 2 or Meadow; they are also less optimized.”
- “However, the visuals are ruined by the other animals that almost look static for how lifeless they are, and because there was no sense of danger or relief, the music contributed nothing to the mood.”
replayability
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
56%
28%
Overall, the game suffers from a significant lack of replayability, with many users noting its linearity and short playtime as major drawbacks. While some mention minimal options for alternative paths, these do not provide enough incentive to revisit the game after completing it. Comparisons to Shelter 2 highlight its shortcomings, as players express disappointment in the absence of engaging mechanics that would enhance replay value.
- “I was not bothered by the length, since the options to plan your journey offer good replayability.”
- “Implement these changes and I believe this could be as immersive and replayable as Shelter 2.”
- “Shelter 2 completely blew it out of the water, with a vast world you can explore with your cubs, dangers you have to be aware of, collectibles and some replayability with the different skins you can unlock by continuing your family tree -- so when Shelter 3 was announced, I was very hyped and expected yet another gem.”
- “I usually don’t judge too hard on short playtimes, but I managed to 100% the game in 40 minutes, and there’s not much replayability, even if you try to get the other ending.”
- “I'm almost impressed with how they could have messed it up this bad because this was a game that had the potential for lots of replay value.”
- “The replayability dies the moment you get all your achievements or see every alternative path, of which there are few.”
stability
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been widely criticized for its instability, with numerous reports of bugs and glitches that significantly detract from the overall experience. Players have encountered issues ranging from visual anomalies to gameplay interruptions, leading many to feel that the game feels rushed and unfinished. While some users noted that certain glitches have been patched, the overall consensus is that the game remains riddled with problems that hinder immersion and enjoyment.
- “Absolutely baffling how buggy and unimmersive this is compared to previous Shelter games.”
- “To have an engine already built so far ahead of time, still be behind schedule and deliver a buggy, unfinished, unpolished game is just laziness.”
- “This game is very buggy and it just feels rushed or incomplete in some parts.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The atmosphere in the game is generally praised for its beauty and detail, effectively adapting to various situations and enhancing the overall experience. However, some players feel that the repetitive environments detract from the immersion, and the gameplay mechanics, such as the food system, can hinder the enjoyment of the atmosphere. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a casual, atmospheric story experience, despite some criticisms regarding pacing and environmental variety.
- “What I liked most was that the atmosphere was adapted to the situation.”
- “However, it felt like they improved on certain aspects, like the art style seemed to look more detailed, and the way they made the atmospheres of different areas feel was also amazing.”
- “It is not particularly fast-paced; instead, it focuses on immersing you in the beautiful atmosphere and family dynamic of your herd.”
- “Why this dreamy atmosphere all the time?”
- “It's more of a walking and eating elephant simulator, with atmosphere and a few anticlimactic dangers sprinkled in there.”
optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some users noting that while many previous bugs have been addressed, performance issues persist, including frequent frame drops and poor graphics quality compared to earlier titles. Several players reported needing to lower their settings significantly to achieve playable performance, with some experiencing overheating issues on their systems. Overall, the game is considered less optimized than its predecessors, leading to a disappointing experience for many.
- “Many of the bugs and performance issues from the previous games have also been fixed, although I did notice a few small frame drops throughout the course of my playthrough.”
- “Sometimes it would run smoothly, but it drops frames significantly and constantly.”
- “I do have a few issues though, regarding performance and conveyance, which I will explain.”
- “It is poorly optimized and I had to run it on the lowest settings, while I can normally run games on pretty high settings.”
- “I had the game on the lowest possible resolution and performance settings and my iMac's fans were running at almost 4000 RPM when entering the second loading screen/section of the game, just past the introduction, so I had to stop playing.”
- “The game (at the time of this review, may change in the future) runs worse performance-wise than Shelter 1, Shelter 2, and Meadow.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
16%
67%
The grinding aspect of the game is criticized for being tedious and slow, particularly due to the protagonist's sluggish movement, which detracts from player engagement. Many reviewers liken the experience to a walking simulator, making it feel more laborious than enjoyable, and suggest that the pacing hampers investment in the story. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant drawback, making the game feel overpriced for the experience it offers.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Essentially, it's a tedious walking simulator that's pricier than what it's worth.”
- “Thanks to the slow, tedious gameplay mixed with the text-based story, it's rather hard to get invested in this story or listen to other things while you aren't fully engaged, causing a weird middle-ground issue.”
- “So it turns out elephants move very slowly, and without the screen shake that usually accompanies huge animals stomping around (which would have been absolutely nauseating in this case), this rate of movement gets awfully tedious in a hurry.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is a mix of funny and disturbing moments, which adds a unique flavor without detracting from gameplay quality. Players find humor in quirky animations, such as crocodiles awkwardly squirming during encounters, enhancing the overall experience.
- “It's been both funny and disturbing on different occasions, but it doesn't significantly reduce gameplay quality.”
- “Not to mention the crocodiles on land sometimes look a bit funny as they squirm in place in the water during the two delta crossings and crocodile encounters you can put yourself into during the game.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for feeling rushed and lacking depth, leading players to perceive it as a quick cash grab rather than a thoughtfully developed experience. Fans believe they deserve better treatment and more value from the game's offerings.
- “The game seems rushed; not much love went into it, and that's where the fanbase deserves better than a quick cash grab.”
- “The monetization system feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, forcing players to spend more to fully experience the game.”

55%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Shelter 3 review
Shelter 3's environment may be pretty, but it's not enough to forgive a game that ultimately feels unfinished.
Pcgamer.com
55%

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4h Median play time

4h Average play time

4-5h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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