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Shenmue 3

A seamless continuation of the series that makes up for its limitations with pure heart. It's like Ryo never left us.
Shenmue 3 Game Cover
70%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, character development
72% User Score Based on 646 reviews
Critic Score 69%Based on 47 reviews

Platforms

PCEpic GamesPlaystation 5CloudPlaystation 4Steam DeckWindowsPlayStation
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Shenmue 3 Game Cover

About

Shenmue 3 is a single player open world hack and slash game with fantasy, romance, mystery and historical themes. It was developed by YS Net and was released on November 18, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Shenmue III" is the 2019 sequel to the 2001 action-adventure game, continuing the journey of teenage martial artist Ryo Hazuki seeking his father's killer in 1980s China. After a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2015, raising over $6 million, the game became the most funded video game in the platform's history. The game offers an open-world environment with a focus on exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving.

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Shenmue 3 screenshot
Shenmue 3 screenshot
Shenmue 3 screenshot
Shenmue 3 screenshot
Shenmue 3 screenshot
Shenmue 3 screenshot
Shenmue 3 screenshot
Shenmue 3 screenshot
Shenmue 3 screenshot
Shenmue 3 screenshot
Shenmue 3 screenshot
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72%
Audience ScoreBased on 646 reviews
story59 positive mentions
grinding51 negative mentions
  • Shenmue III is a faithful continuation of the original games, capturing the same atmosphere and charm that fans love.
  • The game features beautiful environments and a vibrant art style, immersing players in the world of Shenmue.
  • The variety of mini-games and side activities, such as fishing and gambling, provide enjoyable distractions and enhance the overall experience.
  • The combat system has been simplified and lacks the depth of the previous games, making it feel less engaging.
  • The pacing of the story is slow, with many fetch quests and unskippable cutscenes that can frustrate players.
  • The introduction of a stamina system that requires players to eat frequently interrupts the flow of gameplay and adds unnecessary grind.
  • story
    401 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of Shenmue III is characterized by its slow pacing and minimal progression, often feeling like a filler episode rather than a substantial continuation of Ryo Hazuki's quest for revenge against Lan Di. While it retains the nostalgic atmosphere and routine elements of the original games, many players express frustration over the lack of meaningful plot advancement and the reliance on tedious fetch quests. Ultimately, the narrative leaves fans yearning for a more conclusive resolution, as it ends on a cliffhanger and does not significantly develop the overarching storyline established in the previous entries.

    • “The story unfolds primarily in rural China, beginning in Bailu Village before expanding into the bustling port city of Niaowu.”
    • “Yes, it's a huge coming-of-age story for a young man investigating the murder of his father, but please be aware, story progression is very much a slow burn and told over a series of games.”
    • “The narrative continues Ryo Hazuki's journey with intrigue and loyalty to the series' past, keeping fans invested.”
    • “Shenmue 3 doesn't progress the plot at all... it's just a long rescue mission, there is no dialogue with Lan Di and all of the 'revelations' in this story we already knew from Shenmue 2.”
    • “After years of anticipation, Shenmue III feels less like a long-awaited continuation and more like a filler episode that leaves you wondering when the real story will finally resume.”
    • “The story is sluggish and the action is meh.”
  • gameplay
    149 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Gameplay in Shenmue III is a mix of exploration, life simulation, and martial arts training, but it suffers from outdated mechanics, uneven pacing, and a lack of engaging narrative resolution. While some players appreciate the nostalgic elements and immersive world, many criticize the clunky controls, tedious mini-games, and the introduction of frustrating mechanics like stamina management, which detract from the overall experience. Overall, the gameplay feels like a relic of the past, appealing primarily to long-time fans of the series rather than newcomers seeking modern gaming experiences.

    • “Gameplay remains a blend of exploration, life simulation, martial arts training, and occasional combat.”
    • “Some players appreciated the return to the world and characters of the previous games, as well as the exploration and martial arts gameplay.”
    • “What makes it more enjoyable are the much smoother controls and more refined and challenging combat mechanics which feel almost like an actual fighting game this time around.”
    • “Its flaws are impossible to ignore: dated mechanics, uneven pacing, and a narrative that still withholds resolution.”
    • “This game is a mess of amateurish game design mistakes from the weird combat system where input lag was built in to replace the old responsive Virtua Fighter system to the weak gameplay loops.”
    • “Gameplay is terribly outdated.”
  • graphics
    118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of Shenmue III have received mixed reviews, with many praising the lush environments and attention to detail that evoke a nostalgic feel reminiscent of the original games. While some players appreciate the modern updates and vibrant visuals, others criticize the character models and overall graphical fidelity as being outdated compared to contemporary standards. Overall, the game is noted for its beautiful artwork and immersive atmosphere, though it may not meet the expectations of those seeking cutting-edge graphics.

    • “The environments were grounded and as realistic to their real-world counterparts as the graphics of the time allowed.”
    • “The graphics are lush and well crafted for its generation.”
    • “The graphics are gorgeous; I enjoyed exploring the world here. It looks like they took a lot of time designing these locations, and it shows.”
    • “The graphics are outdated and there are noticeable framerate drops and random glitches in the cutscenes.”
    • “Shenmue 3 feels like an old Dreamcast game painted over with modern graphics, and what I mean by this is that instead of building on or learning from Shenmue's old mechanics and fixing the problems that plagued those two games, Shenmue 3 decides instead to embrace those problems while adding new ones that make Shenmue 3 feel like an incredibly outdated game.”
    • “Its controls, pacing, voice acting, graphics, and level design are even more dated than those of the original two games (released 20 years ago), there is absolutely no excuse for a game which got $7 million from backers and a big chunk of money from both Sony and Deep Silver to look and play like this.”
  • grinding
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of Shenmue III has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and time-consuming. While some appreciate the opportunity to enhance skills and earn money through various mini-games, others criticize the slow pacing and repetitive tasks that detract from the overall enjoyment of the game. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant part of the experience, often leading to frustration rather than rewarding gameplay.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “I loved Shenmue 1 & 2 and really wanted to like this one too, but it turned out to be an incredibly tedious and uninteresting experience, and I ultimately couldn't bring myself to even finish it completely.”
    • “In Shenmue 3, there is one part in the main story early on where I first had to spend multiple in-game days grinding out money to buy the item I needed, after which I was told to 'come back tomorrow', got to do *one* quick time event the next day and was told to 'come back tomorrow' again immediately after, with the same thing happening the next day once more.”
    • “The gameplay is very grindy (mostly just earning money to buy x item to move the story along), and it leaves you feeling unrewarded given the recycled fights and gameplay loop.”
  • music
    45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality and nostalgic charm, with many reviewers highlighting its ability to enhance the overall experience. While some noted inconsistencies in voice acting and sound design, the soundtrack is often described as fantastic, with a mix of iconic themes and soothing melodies that complement the game's vibrant visuals and engaging world. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's ambiance and enjoyment.

    • “The music is great.”
    • “Amazing music/graphics and loveable characters.”
    • “It's a gorgeous world with an incredible soundtrack, great world building and fun gameplay if you can get past some of the more dated mechanics.”
    • “The soundtrack is a bit disappointing though.”
    • “The music also feels neutered here.”
    • “It's a little weird that cut scenes keep blacking out between transitions and the music abruptly cuts off when entering new areas of the game.”
  • atmosphere
    21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Shenmue III is praised for its immersive atmosphere, characterized by richly detailed environments that capture the essence of rural and urban settings in Japan and China. The game prioritizes slow pacing and routine over action, allowing players to enjoy the serene beauty and intricate details of its world, complemented by a fitting soundtrack. While some critiques mention repetitive gameplay, the overall consensus highlights the game's strong commitment to atmosphere and worldbuilding, making it a unique experience for fans of the series.

    • “Environments are often richly detailed and atmospheric, capturing the quiet beauty of rural villages and the crowded vibrancy of urban markets.”
    • “One of Shenmue's greatest strengths is the atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is very immersive and beautiful.”
    • “Rather than reintroducing the story for newcomers or reshaping itself to fit contemporary action-adventure conventions, Shenmue III commits fully to being a Shenmue game in the purest sense, embracing slow pacing, routine, and atmosphere over spectacle or narrative urgency.”
    • “If you value atmosphere over spectacle, routine over reward, and being over winning…”
    • “Yes, I know, 2 hours is not enough, but conversations and atmosphere seem quite old.”
  • humor
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of intentionally funny dialogue, quirky characters, and nostalgic voice acting reminiscent of the earlier titles. While some players appreciate the comedic moments and the charm of the broken localization, others find the humor overshadowed by a disappointing story progression and frustrating gameplay. Overall, the humor elicits both laughter and frustration, with many moments being unintentionally amusing rather than genuinely funny.

    • “The voice acting is funny but will bring a lot of memories of the past series.”
    • “There are a lot of funny, quirky moments, as well as some deeper ones, and many fun new characters.”
    • “The dialogue is just as awkward and unintentionally hilarious as the past games; I actually found myself laughing randomly because of the dialogue and how little our protagonist seems to care.”
    • “It's not funny like the first two games; it just hurts to play. Don't play this game under any circumstances, not even as a joke. I don't think you understand just how this game will break a ninja.”
    • “The humor falls flat and feels forced, making the experience more cringeworthy than entertaining.”
    • “I expected a lot of laughs, but instead, I found myself rolling my eyes at the weak jokes and awkward attempts at comedy.”
  • emotional
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Shenmue III" resonates strongly with longtime fans, evoking nostalgia and a sense of connection to the series' legacy, though it may not deliver the expected narrative depth for newcomers. While some players find charm in revisiting the familiar world, others criticize the dialogue and pacing as lacking emotional impact, leading to mixed feelings about the overall experience. Ultimately, the game appeals primarily to those already invested in its story, with its emotional payoff being a significant draw for dedicated fans.

    • “For longtime fans, this familiarity is comforting and even emotional, a reminder of why the series left such a lasting impression in the first place.”
    • “I like that you have a longer time before that final game over; as someone who played Shenmue 1, I shed a tear!”
    • “I played the entire series; I was already emotionally involved before playing Shenmue 3, so don't trust my word for it when I say it's a masterpiece.”
    • “Kinda boring story, not interesting in the slightest compared to the other two games.”
    • “Minimum 40 minutes of watching the most half-witted, dull-brained, boring storyline before gameplay even starts.”
  • character development
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game has been criticized for being inconsistent and lacking depth, with many new characters described as forgettable compared to those from previous installments. While character designs are noted for their detail, the overall progression and engagement with characters are seen as significantly diminished, leading to a less impactful narrative experience. The voice acting and dialogue also vary widely in quality, further detracting from character immersion.

    • “Character designs are varied and far more detailed, and the game's architecture maintains the simulated game world design of the originals.”
    • “The castle architecture and new character designs in the endgame were excellent, and I know that the game was supposed to end on a cliffhanger, but there should have been a more dramatic, drawn-out confrontation.”
    • “It's not for everyone; it's a quirky Dreamcast-feeling game with odd character designs and animations.”
    • “It doesn't really progress too much and the character development is all over the place.”
    • “- no character development (ren barely says anything)”
    • “It's worse in every single way from Shenmue 1 & 2, the pacing, voice acting, dialogue, scope, character designs, story, they dramatically changed the combat into something worse (why?), most of the progression or continuation from the previous games is gone.”
  • optimization
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is notably poor, with frequent stuttering issues attributed to its Unreal Engine 4 foundation, and limited graphics customization options. Players have also reported a lack of cloud save functionality and the requirement for an always-online connection, further detracting from the experience. Overall, the performance is criticized for being technically limited and inconsistent, impacting both visuals and audio quality.

    • “It's on the faithful end, having quality of life enhancements carry over from Shenmue 2, but ditching the tank controls is its modern concession aside from performance.”
    • “As for the performance, being a game running on UE4, there are stuttering issues.”
    • “Performance is bad, stutters a lot, cloud save is non-existent, and the game requires an always online connection.”
    • “Technically limited; you can't even customize the graphics, only choose low, medium, or high. It's badly optimized.”
  • stability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while it runs smoothly on Steam Deck at high settings and performs well on PC with 60+ FPS, some users report significant bugs, framerate drops, and glitches, particularly during cutscenes. Despite these issues, many appreciate the game's attention to detail and charm.

    • “It runs great on Steam Deck at high settings with a 30/40 lock.”
    • “There is a certain quality to it, with attention to detail, basically bug-free, and a laid-back charm and spirituality that Shenmue drives for.”
    • “On PC, it runs great and feels smooth at 60+ fps.”
    • “Can't even play it properly; it seems to be a buggy mess.”
    • “The graphics are outdated, and there are noticeable framerate drops and random glitches in the cutscenes.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Shenmue 3 offers significant replayability through its continuation of the story from the previous game and the inclusion of extensive dialogue options with branching questions, encouraging players to explore different narrative paths.

    • “Shenmue 3 continues right where the second game left off and features a substantial amount of great dialogue and conversations with branching questions, which adds significant replay value.”
    • “The game's multiple endings and choices throughout the story encourage players to experience it again, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
    • “With various side quests and character interactions that change based on your decisions, the replayability factor is incredibly high, allowing for a unique experience every time.”
    • “Shenmue 3 continues right where the second game left off, but despite the branching conversations, it lacks significant replay value.”
    • “While the game offers some interesting dialogue options, the overall experience feels too linear to warrant multiple playthroughs.”
    • “The story is engaging, but once you've completed it, there's little incentive to replay the game.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers appreciate the Shenmue series for its artistic integrity, contrasting it with modern games that often prioritize profit over creativity. This sentiment highlights a desire for a return to more genuine gaming experiences rather than monetization-driven designs.

    • “The Shenmue series as a whole is a throwback to when video games were an art and not formulaic big business cash grabs.”
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69%Critics’ scoreBased on 47 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Shenmue 3 is a open world hack and slash game with fantasy, romance, mystery and historical themes.

Shenmue 3 is available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck and others.

On average players spend around 4 hours playing Shenmue 3.

Shenmue 3 was released on November 18, 2020.

Shenmue 3 was developed by YS Net.

Shenmue 3 has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Shenmue 3 is a single player game.

Similar games include Shenmue I & II, FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE, Dreamfall Chapters, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Shadow of the Tomb Raider and others.