SpellForce 3: Versus Game Cover

"SpellForce 3: Versus Edition offers free entry to the Eo MTW genre, with Skirmish or 1v1 multiplayer matches against AI or human opponents. Players can try out Orcs, Humans, or Elves, each with unique strengths and traits, and upgrade for more content. The single-player scenario 'Old Haalâyash' provides a sneak peek of the full campaign. "

  • PC
  • Windows

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 214 reviews
story20 positive mentions
stability2 negative mentions
  • Spellforce 3 combines RTS and RPG elements effectively, offering a unique gameplay experience reminiscent of Warcraft 3.
  • The game features beautiful graphics, engaging storytelling, and a variety of factions with distinct abilities, enhancing replayability.
  • It has a friendly community and offers a free-to-play version, making it accessible for new players to try before purchasing additional content.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs and crashes, which can significantly hinder the gameplay experience and progress in the campaign.
  • There is a lack of players in the multiplayer mode, making it difficult to find matches and enjoy the competitive aspect of the game.
  • The learning curve is steep, with a confusing UI and mechanics that can be overwhelming for new players, leading to frustration.
  • story41 mentions

    The story in the game is generally praised for its engaging narrative and rich lore, with many players finding it compelling enough to enhance their overall experience. While some critiques mention lore inconsistencies and repetitive missions, the combination of strong character development, immersive voice acting, and a captivating soundtrack contributes to a well-executed storytelling experience. However, players who prioritize gameplay over narrative may find the story less impactful, as the game also emphasizes its RTS mechanics.

    • “The storytelling is absolutely amazing and engaging, but you have to be a complete sadist to complete this game on hard or above.”
    • “The game excels in weaving an enthralling narrative, with even the side missions feeling as compelling as the main questline.”
    • “The accompanying music and voice acting further enhance the immersive experience, creating an atmosphere that draws players deeper into the game's rich lore and captivating storyline.”
    • “The story execution looked promising if not particularly original, but the mind-numbing combat made me lose interest fast.”
    • “There is a story, but most of the game is focused on gameplay.”
    • “Cons: constant repeating of story maps, lack of character design and depth, but I guess for an older game I can't blame them.”
  • gameplay36 mentions

    The gameplay of SpellForce 3 is praised for its successful blend of RPG and RTS mechanics, offering a unique and engaging experience that has improved significantly since its initial release. Players appreciate the strategic base-building, diverse factions, and immersive narrative, likening it to classic titles like Warcraft. While some find the mechanics basic or lacking depth, the overall consensus is that the game provides satisfying and dynamic gameplay, making it a standout in the RTS genre.

    • “A really unique and fun game, with an interesting story and well-executed RTS mechanics with the 'reforced' update.”
    • “With its engaging gameplay, strategic base building, diverse factions, and captivating narrative, it feels like a worthy successor to the beloved Warcraft series.”
    • “Probably the best new RTS out there, fun new mechanics, easy to learn if you're familiar with other RTS games.”
    • “Could have had deeper mechanics and less puzzles.”
    • “Tries to be both a CRPG and an RTS, and delivers a mediocre gameplay experience on both genres.”
    • “The gameplay wasn't enjoyable though.”
  • graphics29 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals, meticulous attention to detail, and beautiful art style, which significantly enhance the overall gaming experience. Players appreciate the detailed environments and smooth animations, although some note that unit and spell animations could be more impactful. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, elevating the game's appeal alongside its engaging gameplay and soundtrack.

    • “The stunning graphics bring the game's world to life, with meticulously crafted environments and attention to detail that showcases the developers' dedication.”
    • “Beautiful graphics, great music, and top-notch voice acting elevate the overall experience to new heights.”
    • “The graphics and soundtrack are absolutely gorgeous and it runs smoothly.”
    • “There's no oomph to the unit animations, spell animations, and impact visuals.”
    • “Yes, if graphics are none of your concern.”
    • “The graphics, music, controls, and sound effects are all great, but some of the voices could be a bit more atmospheric, such as the orcs who sound just like regular humans at times.”
  • music9 mentions

    The music and voice acting in the game are widely praised for enhancing immersion and enriching the storytelling experience, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful soundtrack as one of the best they've encountered. While the overall sound design is considered excellent, some players noted that certain character voices could benefit from more atmospheric differentiation. Overall, the combination of stunning graphics, captivating music, and high-quality voice acting significantly elevates the gameplay experience.

    • “The accompanying music and voice acting further enhance the immersive experience, creating an atmosphere that draws players deeper into the game's rich lore and captivating storyline.”
    • “The soundtrack is one of the best I've ever heard and is accompanied by top-notch voice acting which really draws me into the story and keeps me interested in NPCs and my companions.”
    • “Beautiful soundtrack and great voice acting.”
    • “The graphics, music, controls, and sound effects are all great, but some of the voices could be a bit more atmospheric, such as the orcs who sound just like regular humans at times.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game's stability is criticized for numerous bugs, including issues with the camera and automatic deselection of the hero character. Additionally, players report problems with hosting multiplayer sessions and a lack of solutions, while singleplayer mode is deemed unreliable due to missing content and persistent glitches.

    • “The camera is buggy; your hero automatically unselects itself at times.”
    • “I can't host multiplayer and there are no solutions provided. Singleplayer is still buggy and not worth it when half the content is missing.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite demanding, with some suggesting it requires an excessive time investment, while others describe it as moderately grindy at times.

    • “It's a bit grindy at times.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It's a bit grindy... sometimes.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the depth and meaningful choices that enhance immersion, others criticize the lack of character design and depth, particularly noting the repetitive story maps. Overall, the game's age may account for some of these shortcomings.

    • “The characters evolve in such a realistic way that you genuinely feel their struggles and triumphs, creating a strong emotional connection.”
    • “Each character's backstory is intricately woven into the gameplay, allowing players to explore their motivations and growth throughout the story.”
    • “Cons: constant repetition of story maps, lack of character design and depth, but I guess for an older game I can't blame them.”
    • “The depth of character development and meaningful choices throughout the game add an extra layer of immersion, making every decision feel impactful.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is significantly enhanced by its music and voice acting, which immerse players in its rich lore and captivating storyline. While the graphics and sound effects contribute positively, some voice performances, particularly for orc characters, could be more distinctive to further enrich the experience.

    • “The accompanying music and voice acting further enhance the immersive experience, creating an atmosphere that draws players deeper into the game's rich lore and captivating storyline.”
    • “The graphics, music, controls, and sound effects are all great, but some of the voices could be a bit more atmospheric, such as the orcs who sound just like regular humans at times.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Reviewers appreciate the game's monetization model, highlighting that it offers free access without microtransactions or pay-to-win elements, which is a rarity in the industry. Some users express a desire for more promotional content to have discovered the game earlier, but overall, the focus on quality over monetization is praised.

    • “The only downside is that, unless I lived under a rock, I wish there were more ads about SpellForce in general from many years ago so I could have gotten hooked sooner. But at the same time, it seems like they put all the money into the game itself, which is so rare for any company to do.”
    • “Name one other company that offers free access to their game without microtransactions or pay-to-win... there is none.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Users express frustration with the emotional impact of the Versus mode, feeling that it intrudes on their experience of the campaign, even when they have no interest in PvP. This constant presence detracts from their ability to fully engage with the narrative and emotional depth of the single-player content.

  • replayability1 mentions

    The game offers strong replayability, with many users rating it an 8 out of 10. Players appreciate the variety of choices and outcomes that encourage multiple playthroughs, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “The game offers a multitude of choices that significantly alter the storyline, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
    • “With various character builds and strategies to explore, I find myself coming back to this game time and again.”
    • “The dynamic world and random events ensure that no two playthroughs are ever the same, keeping the experience exciting.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game is praised for its beautiful graphics and good audio, contributing to a satisfying experience, while also being well-optimized for performance.

    • “Beautiful graphics, good optimization, and good audio provide a satisfying experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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