Silent Hunter III
- June 13, 2008
- Ubisoft Bucharest
- 29h median play time
Who's the U-boat commander? You are, in this ultrarealistic submarine simulation game, as you head out to sea in an assortment of playable U-boats. You'll target Allied convoys, destroyers, and battleships, using stealth to sneak away before things get too hot. Silent Hunter III features exceptional
Get on Steam"Silent Hunter III" is a submarine simulation game that immerses players in the Atlantic Theater of WWII. Command authentic German U-boats and undertake covert missions, managing resources and crew while evading enemy detection. Experience dynamic campaign and mission objectives, engaging in realistic naval warfare and tactical combat.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Silent Hunter III is widely regarded as the best submarine simulator, offering a realistic and immersive experience of commanding a U-boat during WWII.
- The game features a dynamic campaign where players can freely choose their patrol routes and engage in strategic naval warfare, enhancing replayability.
- With the support of a dedicated modding community, particularly the GWX mod, players can significantly improve graphics, gameplay mechanics, and overall experience.
- The game suffers from frequent crashes and bugs, especially when running on modern systems, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- Graphics are outdated and locked to a low resolution, requiring additional mods to enhance visual quality and compatibility with modern displays.
- The crew management system can be tedious, requiring players to constantly monitor crew fatigue and make manual adjustments during gameplay.
- graphics160 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game, originally released in 2005, are widely regarded as dated and not up to modern standards, often described as "poor" or "terrible" by users. However, many players emphasize that the gameplay experience compensates for the outdated visuals, with some mods available to enhance graphics and overall immersion. While the visuals may not impress, the game's strong gameplay mechanics and historical authenticity continue to resonate with fans, making it a classic in the submarine simulation genre.
“Epic graphics, sound, and hardcore simulation gameplay.”
“The graphics make it feel like it was designed to be played on the Turing machine, 10/10 immersion graphically speaking.”
“For the WWII enthusiast, this is a must-have; this is a real gem. Silent Hunter III is considered the best in the series because of its realism, and because it's modable. The graphics are surprisingly good for a game of this age; the waves of the sea are very realistic.”
“Graphics are terrible, can't see where you are going.”
“The interface is not particularly intuitive, graphics are pretty garbage, the tutorial videos literally pop you to the desktop to play a video because they couldn't be bothered to integrate it into the game engine.”
“Still plays great but graphics are pretty bad in 2015 - mainly since the game is locked to a resolution of 1024x768.”
- story97 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely minimal, with many players noting a lack of a structured narrative or engaging plot. Instead, the experience revolves around dynamic missions and the progression of World War II, allowing players to immerse themselves in the role of a U-boat captain. While some players appreciate the freedom and realism in gameplay, others find the repetitive nature of missions and the absence of a compelling storyline to be significant drawbacks.
“Combine this game with the GWX mod and you'll feel the vibes as if you were watching 'Das Boot' again, but in your own submarine with a story to tell as you're the captain of the ship.”
“In this game, there are single missions you can do, as well as a very good dynamic campaign that will really immerse you as a U-boat captain.”
“The campaign missions are very vanilla, but your relationship to your crew, the U-boat and her systems, as well as the geography makes this game an exceptional and immersive campaign engine.”
“Do keep in mind, there is no story.”
“The only story the campaign follows is the progress of WWII, and that only being notable for changes in available equipment, available bases, defense of ships, etc. The amount of things you actually control in-game are incredible.”
“The major glaring problem I see with this game is that the missions (in the story mode) are literally all the same.”
- gameplay88 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is widely praised for its depth, realism, and engaging mechanics, often described as a standout feature despite dated graphics. Players appreciate the modding potential that enhances the experience, making it more immersive and enjoyable. However, some users note that the game can be slow-paced and may require a steep learning curve, which might not appeal to everyone.
“Epic graphics, sound, and hardcore simulation gameplay.”
“The gameplay and objective are easy to pick up, and the skill curve to this game is not that steep, whether you are a submarine enthusiast or an u-boat captain, there is a place for everyone on this black submarine.”
“If all you want is to drool over high-resolution textures & realistic faces, go somewhere else, but if you want a fairly unique, utterly immersive & tense gameplay experience, Silent Hunter 3 really is a great game.”
“Would be the best game of the 21st century, but it crashes and corrupts every 2 hours of gameplay, especially with mod superpacks.”
“The gameplay is not immersive; it's time-wasting. The same people that tell you about immersion will probably turn off fatigue and not run at 100% realism, then tell you about 'immersion.'”
“Some of the original game mechanics are stupid, like every time I surface, there's a plane there. I am 300 km from land in the middle of nowhere; how could they have so many planes that they cover the entire North Atlantic for 48 hours solid.”
- stability19 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- -11 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting frequent crashes, bugs, and glitches, particularly in the Steam version, which is often deemed unplayable with mods. While some players note minor graphical issues and occasional freezing, others find the game more stable with mods and on non-Steam versions. Overall, the game is described as having a rough launch experience, requiring players to troubleshoot frequently, which detracts from the enjoyment.
“The game offers a realistic and immersive experience, with a vast open sea world that feels endless.”
“It's impressive how bug-free the game is, allowing for a smooth gameplay experience.”
“The stability of the game is enhanced by a lot of mods, making it even better and more challenging.”
“The game is great and all, far better than any of the other Silent Hunter games, but the Steam version of it is garbage: incompatible with mods, frequent crashes with any mods installed, bugs and glitches, and no official tech support place the Steam version of Silent Hunter 3 in the 'avoid at all costs' bin; you're better off downloading a non-Steam version of the game if you want to play it with mods installed.”
“After the opening screen and short video, the game goes to a black screen and freezes.”
“This is extremely disappointing, and unless you enjoy troubleshooting a game more than you enjoy actually playing it, I simply cannot recommend wasting money on this.”
- grinding14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 71 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly in crew management and mission execution. While some appreciate the authenticity it brings, many feel that the time spent on these tasks detracts from engaging gameplay, with frequent crashes during auto-command usage adding to the frustration. Overall, the grinding can feel excessive, leading to a desire for more content and streamlined mechanics.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“If you like a game where you spend more time doing the same old tedious tasks and less time actually engaging the enemy, then this is the game for you.”
“I found looking for ships and plotting courses could become really tedious at times, and that would be my only knock on this game.”
- music11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its nostalgic and atmospheric qualities, particularly when it complements the gameplay experience. While some find the original soundtrack enjoyable, many enhance their experience by adding personal music, such as tracks from the film "Das Boot," which further enriches the immersion. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's ambiance, making it a standout feature for fans of the genre.
“Nothing beats lurking the Atlantic, manually calculating torpedo firing solutions, dodging ASdic destroyers, and listening to period music on your gramophone.”
“The original in-game music is really good too, but the Das Boot music gives so much more feel to it, especially if you have seen the movie.”
“The somewhat silly music on the phonograph detracts from the overall experience.”
“The music itself also holds itself up strongly, even in 2016.”
“Nothing beats lurking in the Atlantic, manually calculating torpedo firing solutions, dodging ASW destroyers, and listening to period music on your gramophone.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and tense experience, effectively capturing the eerie and gritty reality of submarine warfare. Despite its age, players appreciate the depth of engagement it offers, enhanced by various mods that boost authenticity. The combination of sound design, gameplay mechanics, and environmental tension creates a uniquely compelling atmosphere that resonates with fans of submarine simulations.
“Even though this is an old game, it still holds up today. You can make it as easy or difficult as you want, has a lot of atmosphere, and is still my favorite sub sim to date.”
“A fantastic U-boat simulator that produces an eerie and extraordinarily tense atmosphere that really makes you wonder how submarine crews managed to keep sane back in the day.”
“I love how the atmosphere, the mood, and the grittiness stick in this game.”
“A fantastic u-boat simulator and a game that produces an eerie and extraordinarily tense atmosphere that really makes you wonder how submarine crews managed to keep sane back in the day.”
“Well, you can upgrade your crew, weapons, and even your sub itself, then go on a mission. All of a sudden, you get spotted by a destroyer; you dive deep below 70 meters, then 100, then 150 and more. Your sub starts to squeak and tighten, and the atmosphere gets heavy as the depth charges blow above, getting closer as the enemy pings you with radar.”
“Sure, 2020 has better graphics and effects, but this game... the atmosphere like that cannot be bought.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability due to its sandbox nature, customizable difficulty levels, and a variety of vehicles and missions. While exploring all ship types may reduce replay value if difficulty isn't increased, the inclusion of mods and an infinitely replayable career mode significantly enhances the overall experience. Players find it engaging and recommend it for its fun and diverse gameplay options.
“It is really good; it is truly a sandbox game with lots of replayability. If you get bored of the game, you can download the GWX mod, which is amazing.”
“I highly recommend this game to everyone; it's great fun with lots of replayability.”
“There are tons of missions, plus an 'infinitely replayable' career mode.”
“Once you've explored all ship types, if you don't increase the difficulty, the replayability drops significantly.”
“The mods occupy more memory space than the game, and the replayability is almost limitless, because the AI can defeat you.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find humor in both intentional and unintentional glitches, such as characters behaving oddly or humorous mishaps during gameplay. The mix of comedic moments and frustrating scenarios adds a unique charm to the experience, making it both entertaining and unpredictable. Overall, the humor is described as a blend of absurdity and irony, contributing to the game's engaging atmosphere.
“I also encountered a glitch where the watch crew on the conning tower were standing upside down, which I found to be quite humorous.”
“Funny thing is that most of the damage I've taken has been trying to go too deep in shallow waters when I was hesitant to use the sonar depth meter (I think it gives away my position).”
“It can be brutal, terrifying, hilarious, stressful, all of those things at once.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Silent Hunter III evokes a complex emotional journey, blending moments of intense tension and sadness with periods of extreme boredom that can lead to a meditative state. Players experience a range of feelings, from the thrill of anticipation to frustration over missed opportunities, making the game resonate deeply despite its age.
“Even though Silent Hunter III is an old game now, it doesn't feel dated and is still a joy to partake in, getting emotionally intense as you enter 1943 onward and experience the somber moments with the U-boat.”
“Silent Hunter III takes you through the full emotional experience of extreme boredom and painstaking listening - it's an almost zen-like meditative state.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization model for the game is characterized by a lack of microtransactions, with players primarily relying on demo CDs from PC magazines for early access opportunities.
“The monetization model feels exploitative, with constant prompts to spend money on in-game items that should be earnable through gameplay.”
“It's frustrating to see that the game is designed around pushing microtransactions rather than providing a balanced experience.”
“The reliance on pay-to-win mechanics ruins the competitive aspect of the game, making it feel more like a cash grab than a fair challenge.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is constrained by the technology available at the time of its development, resulting in a maximum time compression speed of x1024, with further limitations to 8x or 16x speed when near enemies.
“The time compression system in the game can only run at x1024 normal speed due to the technological limits at the time of its creation, and it is further restricted to 8x or 16x speed when near enemies.”
“The game's performance is severely limited by the technology available at the time of its development, resulting in the time compression system only being able to run at x1024 normal speed. Additionally, it can only operate at 8x or 16x speed when near enemies.”
“The optimization issues are frustrating, as the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, especially during intense combat scenarios.”
“I encountered numerous bugs and glitches that hindered my gameplay experience, making it clear that the optimization was not a priority during development.”
