Torchlight III

Torchlight III is a totally adequate action RPG and absolutely feels like a new Torchlight game. However, there are still signs of time restraints, hopefully some of them addressable with updates.

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Torchlight III is an action RPG set in a vibrant fantasy world. Choose from several distinct hero classes, each with unique abilities and gear, and embark on a grand adventure to save the frontier from invading monsters. Rejoin the famed Torchlight universe and explore randomly generated dungeons filled with loot, combat, and quests in this exciting sequel.

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Reviews

58%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,591 reviews

gameplay458 positive mentions

story169 negative mentions

The game features interesting classes with unique mechanics, providing a variety of playstyles.
The graphics are colorful and visually appealing, maintaining the charm of the Torchlight series.
The pet system is improved, allowing for more customization and utility during gameplay.

The game feels unfinished and is plagued by numerous bugs, including pets disappearing and quests not updating.
The story is linear and lacks depth, making the gameplay feel repetitive and unengaging.
There is no mod support, and many features from previous Torchlight games, such as dual wielding and fishing, are missing.

gameplay
1,709 mentions
27 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Torchlight III has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant departure from the depth and complexity of its predecessors, Torchlight I and II. While some appreciate the fluid combat and engaging mechanics, others criticize the repetitive nature of the gameplay, lack of meaningful progression, and numerous bugs that disrupt the experience. The introduction of new mechanics, such as the fort system and relics, has been met with both interest and skepticism, as many feel these features do not add enough depth to the overall gameplay loop.
- “Overall, Torchlight 3 is a worthy addition to the action RPG genre, with its charming world, deep gameplay mechanics, and a commitment to ongoing improvement.”
- “The gameplay is fun and most aspects of the series are back with some new weird design choices.”
- “The gameplay is solid, combat is fun...if not a little repetitive (but people lying to themselves right now are playing Diablo 2 in droves and that is the definition of dated and repetitive...so whatever).”
- “The game itself is very beautifully designed when it comes to mere graphics, but it's ruined by the broken game mechanics, the endless bugs and glitches with no bugfixes since 2022, and the level design that lacks any sense of differentiation; you can never tell where you are or where you're heading.”
- “The gameplay loop feels extremely boring.”
- “The graphics, areas, enemies, and bosses all look good but the gameplay gets so boring and repetitive that after the first few hours, it truly lacks depth.”
story
1,436 mentions
10 % positive mentions
78 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The story in "Torchlight 3" has been widely criticized for being bland, linear, and poorly constructed, with many players expressing confusion over its narrative and a lack of engaging character development. Reviewers noted that the quests often feel repetitive and lack depth, leading to a sense of aimlessness throughout the game. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a significant downgrade from previous entries in the series, leaving many players disappointed and uninterested in the plot.
- “Each act has its own storyline/lore, while still being connected throughout the game.”
- “The story delivery is very well done, but this kind of game is about gameplay, and as I have written it in the previous two points, the gameplay is not top tier.”
- “The story, if you can believe it, is actually worse than Torchlight 2's story, and it's not nearly fun enough to make up for it; at least the writers of TL2 had the decency to properly lay out where you had to go for each quest, and why.”
- “I've played it through a couple of times and I still don't know what the story is - that's how poorly the narrative is constructed.”
- “There's no sense of progression or achievement, the story itself is very poorly written, the characters are pretentious and hollow, the voice acting is cringy at best, and the jokes are barely fit for a 3-year-old.”
- “The story is confusing and forgettable since it lacks all the depth from the first two games.”
graphics
1,007 mentions
41 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics of Torchlight 3 have received mixed reviews, with many praising the colorful and vibrant art style that aligns with the series' tradition, showcasing improved visuals compared to its predecessors. However, some players criticize the graphics as feeling simplistic or cartoonish, likening them to a mobile game, and note issues such as graphical glitches and a lack of depth in character animations. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered appealing, they are often overshadowed by gameplay concerns and technical issues.
- “The graphics in this game are just amazing.”
- “The game's colorful and vibrant art style, reminiscent of its predecessors, immediately draws players into its world.”
- “Torchlight 3 looks amazing, the graphics are cartoony, immersive and fresh.”
- “The game itself is very beautifully designed when it comes to mere graphics, but it's ruined by the broken game mechanics, the endless bugs and glitches with no bugfixes since 2022, and the level design that lacks any sense of differentiation; you can never tell where you are or where you're heading.”
- “The graphics are far too cartoony, and would suit a mobile game more; the gameplay is somehow both dull and frustrating, and the maps are boring copy/paste affairs.”
- “Im disappointed with the graphics, they look worse than even Torchlight 2; you can clearly see this was going to be a mobile game, this looks just like sh*t.”
stability
417 mentions
4 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. While some users claim to have experienced minimal issues, the majority highlight game-breaking problems, including crashes, unresponsive mechanics, and multiplayer instability. Overall, the game is perceived as unfinished and plagued by technical issues, leading to a frustrating experience for many players.
- “I've experienced no glitches as I've read in other reviews.”
- “I loved the feel of the game; I was surprised how bug-free it was.”
- “Great little ARPG... looks great, runs great.”
- “The game is in such a disastrous, frustrating, buggy state that I cannot honestly recommend this to anyone right now.”
- “This game is a beautiful broken buggy mess.”
- “Nearly a year after release and the game is still so buggy, WASD bugs every few minutes, skills auto-cast with no input from the player; it's beyond broken.”
grinding
245 mentions
0 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
99 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of Torchlight III has received mixed to negative feedback, with many players finding it excessively tedious and repetitive. Critics highlight the slow progression, low drop rates, and the need to farm the same content repeatedly, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the mindless nature of grinding for loot and character leveling, others feel it lacks the rewarding experience found in previous Torchlight titles and other ARPGs.
- “You're stuck farming an endless dungeon, with repetitive maps and dull combat, for very, very low drop rates.”
- “The gameplay itself is so painfully slow and tedious.”
- “The endgame is basically farming the same maps over and over again with random modifiers until you obtain a streak of 39 wins (why 39? I dunno).”
music
160 mentions
29 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the evocative compositions by Matt Uelmen that evoke nostalgia for the Diablo series, while others find the soundtrack lackluster and forgettable. Many players note that the music enhances the atmosphere but fails to leave a lasting impression, leading some to mute it in favor of their own playlists. Overall, while the music is generally considered pleasant, it does not reach the heights of previous installments in the franchise.
- “The soundtrack is splendid as it usually happens if you invite Matt Uelmen to compose it.”
- “The music is great, aesthetics are Disney good, the multiplayer implementation is good, the loot doesn't feel that meaningful early game but it builds on itself.”
- “Music is good, adding a mood of adventure and danger when exploring, where it had me wondering if the soundtrack was available for purchase.”
- “The music is boring and uninteresting.”
- “The soundtrack is much more forgettable than past installments of the franchise.”
- “The game's main menu greets you with some ghastly noise that tries to pass off as music.”
monetization
128 mentions
2 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
59 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of Torchlight 3 has drawn significant criticism, with many reviewers labeling it a "cash grab" that feels unfinished and poorly executed. Originally designed as a free-to-play title with microtransactions, the game was shifted to a buy-to-play model, yet it retains many mechanics that suggest a monetization strategy. While some players appreciate the absence of microtransactions, the overall sentiment is that the game lacks meaningful content and progression, leading to disappointment among fans of the franchise.
- “Like Diablo Immoral, this game started out as an attempt to turn a beloved franchise into a mobile game, but in this case, the developers listened to their better angels and decided to make a real game without microtransactions.”
- “But what I really like about Torchlight 3 is that there are no microtransactions here.”
- “There are absolutely zero microtransactions, and nothing even close to leading into that they will have them.”
- “The game was supposed to be a mobile cash grab and they switched it last minute into the unfinished game it is today.”
- “Torchlight 2 was one of my favorite ARPGs of the decade; however, Torchlight 3 is a blatant, soulless cash grab with so little meaningful content and progression it feels like a mobile game for 8-year-olds.”
- “This is not an ARPG; this was a cash grab game that was meant to have microtransactions, and no matter what they do to this game from here on out, it will never be better and this game will soon be forgotten.”
optimization
109 mentions
20 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
22 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, lag, and bugs that detract from the overall experience. While some users experienced smooth gameplay without major problems, others noted that the game struggles on more powerful systems and lacks essential optimization features, leading to frustration and a sense of unfinished development. Overall, the game's performance appears inconsistent, with calls for better optimization and bug fixes to enhance playability.
- “The game's performance itself is impeccable.”
- “Even after hours of playing, there's no performance loss.”
- “Visuals are great, and the game is well optimized.”
- “As much as it saddens me to say this, the devs over-promised and under-delivered, pretty much gave up less than halfway through development. Just play Torchlight II; this game has worse controls, worse classes, worse optimization. Literally, the only reason I never refunded it was I hoped the devs would make it better, but even Torchlight Infinite, the mediocre mobile game, is better than this.”
- “There are many bugs still present, some worse than others, and the performance sometimes takes a huge hit, causing me so many unjustified deaths.”
- “The game is a good idea and foundation, but the ugly truth is it's been in the same state for the last year, meaning no updates or optimizations. Act 1 plays fairly well, but Act 2 is a mess with sound bugs, lag spikes, and rubberbanding of your character, which makes it almost unplayable.”
humor
102 mentions
98 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it entertaining and charming, particularly in character designs and quirky enemy names, while others criticize it for being sparse and repetitive. Many appreciate the funny writing and amusing gameplay moments, especially when playing with friends, but some feel that it lacks the depth and variety of humor found in previous installments. Overall, while the game has its funny moments, it may not meet the expectations of those seeking a more robust comedic experience.
- “A funny game, in particular with friends.”
- “Super fun combat system, the railmaster class is hilarious; I was having so much fun collecting loot I didn't notice how great the story is.”
- “This game contains a lot of humor which is nice and refreshing.”
- “There are also some good things about the game and it can be quite fun, just right now you have to constantly fight with bugs. Let me list a bunch of things that have bugged me (I'm quite funny).”
replayability
81 mentions
31 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
Replayability in this game is a mixed bag; while some players enjoy the variety offered by different character classes and community mods, others find the overall experience lacking, citing limited content and repetitive gameplay. The presence of customizable skills and stronghold building adds some replay value, but many reviewers express disappointment with the linearity and lack of engaging endgame content. Overall, the game shows potential for replayability, especially with future updates, but currently falls short compared to other titles in the genre.
- “It was perfect, was a blast to play co-op with friends, and had infinite replayability thanks to all sorts of amazing mods made by the community.”
- “Its a very good dungeon crawler, with lots of replay value through the other classes and difficulties, and is never a bore if you want to try playing it differently.”
- “The replay value is fantastic as well, as there is a wide variety of different skill paths, weapon choices, and ongoing challenges.”
- “This game has zero replayability and it’s sad since you’d think an ARPG would at least give you hundreds of hours of gaming, but nope, this was barely a 30-hour game and that’s that.”
- “There is no variety, no replayability, no good skill tree, and not many items.”
- “It’s fully linear, with a few side missions, uninteresting environments, limited choices of equipment, abilities and upgrades, unimpressive story, poor cinematics, and middling replayability at best.”
character development
46 mentions
35 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
Character development in Torchlight III has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it shallow and lacking depth compared to its predecessor, Torchlight II. While the game features unique character designs and a basic skill tree, the absence of attribute points and limited build options have left players feeling that their choices are ultimately inconsequential. Overall, the character development is seen as simplified and less engaging, detracting from the immersive experience that fans of the series may expect.
- “Character development is good for a softcore ARPG.”
- “I loved the polished Diablo feel, with immersive maps and character development.”
- “It is a fun action RPG that has a fresh feel to its character design.”
- “There is no real character development and if you loved TL2, you very likely will not enjoy Torchlight 3.”
- “Character development is pretty unimaginative with minimal build depth or interesting interaction between skills (of which there are only a small handful in two skill trees per character).”
- “Hopefully some of these UI issues will be fixed (since I'm now stuck with it), but it seems that the dumbed-down character development is permanent.”
atmosphere
40 mentions
33 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a blend of cozy and dark elements, enhanced by beautiful music from Matt Uelmen and lively animations. While many players appreciate the charming art style and atmospheric locations, some feel that the game lacks depth in storytelling and can feel overly casual, detracting from the immersive experience. Overall, the game successfully captures the essence of the Torchlight series, though opinions vary on its ability to evoke a truly engaging atmosphere.
- “You're supposed to slowly but steadily discover this dark but soothing world, floor by floor, delving deeper under the ground, while soaking up the atmosphere.”
- “It has some of the best guitar pieces he ever did and lots of moody sounding stuff all heavily contributing to world building and atmosphere.”
- “Overall the art direction has the flair, charm, and atmosphere of a Torchlight game.”
- “These bugs create fear, uncertainty, and doubt instead of a cozy atmosphere a game of this genre is supposed to envelop its players.”
- “The mechanics didn't offer anything really fresh; the atmosphere wasn't as deep as in the original game (that certain Diablo 1 magic disappeared), and the 'overworld' parts felt a lot like boring empty spaces.”
- “The only thing that T II did better was create an atmosphere that got you stuck into the game; this one feels more casual.”
emotional
20 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many players expressing disappointment over a lackluster and uninspiring story that fails to engage. While some players found enjoyment in specific gameplay elements, the overall sentiment highlights feelings of frustration and boredom, particularly regarding the game's narrative and character development. Despite a personal attachment to the series, the game's execution has left many feeling disillusioned and dissatisfied.
- “I am attached emotionally to the TL series and I still do until now.”
- “The first boss fight gave me nightmares, made me feel like I was playing Path of Exile, no real game mechanics just one-shots, and gear-starvation.”
- “After giving the game a chance, I actually started to really enjoy the railmaker class and some touching up of the graphics allowed it to run smoothly.”
- “I have never seen such a meaningless RPG like this one, so short and with a boring story.”
- “The only thing that you can do is follow the boring story and level up your characters.”
- “Still a boring story.”