SpellForce 3

About

"SpellForce 3" is a fantasy real-time strategy game that combines compelling RPG elements, allowing players to create their own hero and build their own army to fight epic battles in a stunningly visualized world with a deep, emotional story. Despite some bugs and grinding, the innovative mix of RTS and RPG, along with the option for co-op and PvP gameplay, makes for a marvelous and exceptional gaming experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+26

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,472 reviews

story727 positive mentions

stability116 negative mentions

Engaging story with well-developed characters and excellent voice acting.
Beautiful graphics and immersive environments that enhance the gameplay experience.
Unique blend of RPG and RTS elements that offers a fresh take on both genres.

RTS mechanics can feel unbalanced and frustrating, with overwhelming enemy AI and constant unit spamming.
Clunky controls and UI, making it difficult to manage heroes and units effectively during combat.
Numerous bugs and performance issues, including long loading times and quest-breaking glitches.

story
1,754 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
54%
4%
The story in SpellForce 3 is widely praised for its depth, engaging characters, and well-crafted narrative, drawing players into a rich fantasy world filled with intrigue and moral complexity. Many reviewers highlight the excellent voice acting and the emotional weight of the storyline, which features unexpected twists and a blend of RPG and RTS elements that enhance the overall experience. However, some players note that the game suffers from bugs and quest-related issues that can disrupt the flow of the story, detracting from an otherwise compelling narrative.
- “The storytelling is absolutely stellar, the voice acting is beyond top-notch, the graphics are great, the music is grand, exploring the map is always fun, the icon art is really well-detailed, the companions you can get and most other characters feel alive, responsive, all have their interesting stories, and there's so many little touches that really add up making the experience truly something to remember.”
- “I genuinely had many chill moments, just enjoying the story and narration.”
- “The story is engaging and the game length is decent.”
- “The story is mediocre at best.”
- “The story isn't anything novel, and while it tries to provide 'choices' during the game, nothing feels like it changes the outcome.”
- “The story felt like it was stretched to last longer without any additional content.”
gameplay
574 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
58%
8%
The gameplay of SpellForce 3 is a unique blend of RPG and RTS mechanics, offering a mix of engaging hero-based combat and strategic resource management. While many players appreciate the depth and immersive storytelling, some criticize the gameplay for being tedious, clunky, or lacking in complexity, particularly in the RTS elements. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable, with beautiful graphics and a compelling narrative, but it suffers from bugs and a steep learning curve that may deter some players.
- “The RTS aspect of the game is blended surprisingly well into RPG gameplay.”
- “Great gameplay, almost like the developers made the game just for me.”
- “The gameplay is a pretty unique combination of a well thought out RTS and a pretty good RPG.”
- “The gameplay usually just switches between a mediocre CRPG and a mediocre RTS without ever coming close to being a 'perfect blend' as the store page advertises.”
- “There's a solid story, beautiful art, a dark world, etc., a wide variety of skill trees, etc. Unfortunately, it's all bolted on to some gameplay that's ultimately trash.”
- “The gameplay itself gets quite repetitive, but that's the nature of this type of game - each new map means you start from scratch without two pieces of wood to rub together and have to build up an army.”
graphics
523 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
33%
3%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning detail and immersive environments, often described as beautiful and well-crafted. Many reviewers noted that the visuals surpass those of recent blockbuster titles, showcasing a high level of artistry and attention to detail. However, some players experienced performance issues and found the graphics demanding on their systems, leading to concerns about optimization and clarity in gameplay.
- “The graphics are still gorgeous after quite a few years, and a side quest made me feel emotional about a stone golem.”
- “The graphics and music are beautiful, the voice acting is great, and the gameplay is brilliant.”
- “Graphically, this is by far the most beautiful of the Spellforce games (as should be expected).”
- “The graphics are often non-intuitive and 'messy' to look at - it's not always obvious what terrain is traversable, or which locations are reachable.”
- “The graphics are not nice, everything is tiny, the interface doesn't feel intuitive or comfortable, abilities and hero stats feel like just a tiny bit of the game, it all just feels tiresome.”
- “The graphics are so incredibly pretty and detailed, but it looks disappointing - with maxed out graphics it's just gray and somewhat foggy.”
music
207 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
32%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its grand, diverse, and immersive qualities that enhance the overall atmosphere and storytelling. The soundtrack is described as epic and emotional, fitting various gameplay moments perfectly, although some players noted it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the combination of beautiful graphics and a compelling score contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout feature for many players.
- “The music is incredible and the gameplay is a solid 10/10!”
- “The soundtrack is diverse and memorable, and honestly contains one of the most touching pieces of video game music ever: fragile.”
- “The music, the artwork, the amount of detail in this game is awe-inspiring.”
- “Only downside is that the battle music is very intense and never stops until you exit combat, and since taking out an enemy citadel can be quite a slog that takes long.”
- “Unfortunately, there was barely any music during actual gameplay.”
- “The music is so forgettable that I didn't even notice there was any at all.”
stability
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting significant bugs, freezes, and glitches that hinder gameplay. Many players describe the experience as "buggy" and "unplayable" at times, particularly during critical moments like battles and loading screens. While some updates have addressed certain issues, a substantial number of players still find the game to be fundamentally flawed and in need of further optimization.
- “I snapped this up for $30 a year after release and it's been bug free.”
- “I found the gameplay essentially bug free (playing it after the issuing of numerous updates).”
- “Game has few minor bugs but runs great!”
- “The buggy nature of your workers is a major flaw in every RTS scenario I have played, which means that the battles devolve into me amassing a kill stack after populating regions with multiple defensive towers as being the only reliable-to-build buildings.”
- “Staggers and freezes during some fights that are required and makes the game basically unplayable.”
- “Spellforce 3 is a horrible mess of bugs, glitches, and memory leaks that crashes every 30 minutes or so.”
optimization
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
57%
28%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly in windowed-borderless mode and during intense gameplay scenarios. While some users have noted improvements and smoother performance after patches, others continue to experience stuttering, high GPU usage, and general unoptimization, especially on lower-end systems. Despite its graphical appeal, the game is often criticized for not being well-optimized, leading to a frustrating experience for many players.
- “For theory crafters, there's a good attribute and ability system, and the number of variations on individual character and team builds provides lots of opportunities to maximize performance and win on Circle Mage difficulty.”
- “Reforced has fixed many, if not all, of the bugs and optimization issues of the past.”
- “The display settings section actually notes the performance to visual fidelity impact each option may have on your gameplay.”
- “It is very poorly optimized so it ends up stuttering a lot.”
- “The game is poorly optimized, and runs hot on your GPU.”
- “Unoptimized pile of garbage with awful performance; tweaking graphical settings literally doesn't make any difference.”
grinding
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
6%
89%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and repetitive, often detracting from the enjoyment of the gameplay. Many reviews highlight that the combination of RPG and RTS elements leads to a frustrating experience, with micromanagement and inventory tasks feeling burdensome. While some appreciate the depth of the story and gameplay, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grinding mechanics make the game feel more like a chore than a fun experience.
- “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
- “Games are supposed to be fun, not tedious, frustrating, and stressful to the point that all I do is get angry and never actually look forward to playing it... like it’s a chore.”
- “While the gameplay is deep and the story is good, the gameplay is also extremely tedious.”
- “The RTS side is not as fun as you would think; it's 'lite RTS', so no real challenge, just a grinding slog... which is a shame because the CRPG side is top notch.”
- “Playing through the campaign again with a friend feels more like grinding than actual gameplay, which says a lot.”
atmosphere
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
37%
9%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning graphics, immersive sound design, and compelling music, which together create a rich and engaging experience. Reviewers highlight the attention to detail in the environments and character designs, as well as the effective storytelling that enhances the overall ambiance. Many feel that the game's atmosphere successfully evokes a sense of nostalgia and draws players into its fantasy world, making it a standout feature despite some gameplay flaws.
- “The writing is fantastic and tells a compelling story from start to end as a prequel to the original SpellForce games. The music is moving and provides a perfect fantasy atmosphere, and the graphics are really quite good, with set pieces on a scale I haven't even seen before.”
- “The atmosphere in this game is incredible though.”
- “Overall, the good story, interesting RPG elements, and fantastical atmosphere are the reasons to get this game.”
- “They should have put more work in this to improve the atmosphere.”
- “Despite this, I found this game extremely enjoyable; the gameplay is varied enough with different factions in the RTS segment and character builds in the RPG segment to keep me interested, and the atmosphere generated by both the music and the graphics is great.”
- “The overall atmosphere reminds me of Dragon Age: Origins, one of my all-time favorites.”
character development
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
41%
15%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the deep and engaging arcs of the heroes and the thoughtful exploration of complex themes, while others criticize the lack of depth in companion development and character design options. The writing and voice acting are generally well-received, contributing to a compelling narrative, but some feel that the character progression systems are simplistic and fail to offer meaningful choices. Overall, while there are standout moments and intriguing characters, the execution of character development varies significantly across different aspects of the game.
- “It features the best campaign ever in an RTS, an amazing cast of heroes with deep character development, full and amazing voice acting, and good writing that isn't afraid to tackle complicated themes such as religion, the struggle of both the powerful and the powerless, dealing with death, redemption, and so many more.”
- “The story line holds your attention and the character development is intriguing.”
- “Introducing an RTS campaign with the most character development I've ever encountered, and the best writing.”
- “The graphics and music are very nice and probably the reason I have played so far, but there is no character development for your companions (or your own character). You can talk to them between story missions to get a little bit of their background and unlock their special ability, that's all. The RTS part is very simple, and for an RPG, there are little to no choices to make (apart from how you build your character and your companions).”
- “Character development is subpar even though there was a great effort to make that important.”
- “The game recently got a redesign, which improved the aspect of allowing you to level up a character and take them to skirmish maps or RPG maps, but the character development and skills are plain boring. The skill trees are tiny with boring skills and annoying 'buffs' that make you spam them every few seconds. Who has time for that in an RTS with units the size of ants?”
replayability
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
61%
13%
The reviews on replayability are mixed, with some players noting a lack of significant replay value after completing the campaign, while others highlight the potential for replayability through different story choices, character builds, and multiplayer modes. Several users appreciate the engaging narrative and voiced dialogue options that encourage multiple playthroughs, although some feel that the game does not offer enough incentive to replay it extensively. Overall, while there are elements that can enhance replayability, many players express that the game may not hold their interest for repeated sessions.
- “The game is awesome; it immerses you in the game world, and the campaigns are really tough. The gameplay is really smooth, and the new game modes give a lot of replayability. I give it 10/10 for the game. Good job, developers!”
- “Extremely fun and replayable to test new builds.”
- “I absolutely love the story and how engaging it is, plus it has a lot of replay value due to the sheer amount of dialogue choices, and they are all voiced.”
- “Replayability factor for me is very low.”
- “However, once you finish the campaign it becomes hollow and there is no replay value unless you want to play the campaign again.”
- “It's a shame to miss out on so much stuff because let's be honest, nobody is playing this twice no matter how much you artificially try to make it replayable.”
humor
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of intentional and unintentional comedic moments, such as the absurdity of orcs saving a holy order and the over-the-top power of heroes leading to laughable outcomes. Players find the dialogue and quest resolutions amusing, often highlighting the irony in serious situations, like recruiting townspeople for war despite the emotional weight of their losses. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch to the gameplay, enhancing the enjoyment and nostalgia reminiscent of classic RTS experiences.
- “It's funny when you bring a bunch of orcs to save a holy order and they flip out afterwards because they've been saved by orcs.”
- “There was an unintentionally funny moment where the leader of a town I requisitioned to fight my enemies asked me to remember that all the people lost in war are the sons and daughters of the town, and all their lives matter... but then I have to recruit hundreds of soldiers from the town of 10 people and send them to their death over and over with no consequence.”
- “The story is great, the dialogue is informative (sometimes hilarious), and most importantly, the combat is satisfying!”
monetization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the investment in game quality over aggressive marketing, while others criticize the presence of unskippable advertisements that interrupt gameplay and detract from the experience. Many users express frustration at being forced to watch lengthy ads upon starting the game, which they liken to outdated marketing tactics. Overall, while the game's quality is acknowledged, the monetization strategy, particularly regarding advertisements, has drawn significant negative feedback.
- “How stupid can you be to force people to watch an unskippable video advertisement every time they boot up the game?”
- “I understand that some players have been desperate for news on the expansion, but as someone who just picked this up and hasn't even decided if I like the base game, being forced to sit through an advertisement is very reminiscent of those old DVDs that forced you to sit through unskippable previews so they could make a couple extra bucks.”
- “You get spammed with an annoyingly loud, way too long, unskippable advertisement video for their new addon... that's right: you buy a game, start it for the first time, and are forced to watch an ad you can neither skip nor disable completely!”
emotional
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of SpellForce 3 is highlighted by its stunning graphics, impactful storytelling, and a memorable soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players have noted the depth of the dialogues and the emotional weight of certain side quests, particularly one involving a stone golem, which adds to the game's darker themes. While some critiques mention gameplay flaws, the emotional resonance and beautiful music create a powerful and engaging atmosphere for many players.
- “The graphics are still gorgeous after quite a few years, and a side quest made me feel emotional about a stone golem.”
- “The perfectionism and the passion applied to the voices makes the story an emotional and extraordinary experience.”
- “It raises up every scene and makes it a powerful and emotional experience.”