Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power

61%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,084 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power Game Cover
A well made, if a little brief, third game in the Trine series, and hopefully not the last.
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"Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power" is a 3D fantasy action platformer where players control three heroes with unique abilities. The game features stunning graphics and immersive environments as the heroes journey to recover power artifacts. Cooperative play is available, allowing players to combine abilities for unique solutions to puzzles and combat. However, some players have criticized the game for its short length and departure from the series' previous 2D perspective.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Cloud
  • Linux
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

61%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,084 reviews
story260 positive mentions
stability241 negative mentions
  • story1,441 mentions

    The story of "Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power" has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over its abrupt ending and perceived incompleteness. While some appreciated the charming fairy-tale elements and character development, the consensus is that the narrative feels like only a fraction of a larger tale, leaving players on a cliffhanger without resolution. The game's shift to 3D gameplay and the requirement to collect items to progress further detracted from the overall experience, leading to frustration among those hoping for a more cohesive and fulfilling story.

    • “The story follows three heroes—Amadeus the wizard, Pontius the knight, and Zoya the thief—who are bound to the magical artifact known as the Trine.”
    • “Trine 3 is the ultimate fairy tale game, blending enchanting visuals with a captivating story.”
    • “The story is actually okay; Trine was never really shining when it comes to story, but the main problem is it's not finished.”
    • “The game ends really anticlimactically, and the story leaves you disappointed.”
    • “Everything seemed to be made with the same love and care as the previous games but unfortunately due to funding, this one ended up unfinished with two more parts needed to complete the story that was planned out.”
    • “The story ends abruptly and without any resolution (it is blatantly obvious that a full story was planned but then seems to just be discarded 1/3 of the way through).”
  • gameplay845 mentions

    The gameplay of *Trine 3* has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the shift to a 3D environment that introduces new mechanics and puzzle dynamics. However, this transition has also led to frustrations due to clunky controls, a lack of character progression, and a significant reduction in gameplay length compared to its predecessors. While the visuals and cooperative multiplayer experience are praised, the overall gameplay is often described as simplified and less engaging, leaving some fans of the series disappointed.

    • “The game stands out by introducing a shift from the series' traditional 2D gameplay to 3D environments, adding a new dimension to its physics-based puzzles.”
    • “Despite its flaws, Trine 3 offers a cooperative multiplayer experience and continues to charm fans with its engaging gameplay and whimsical atmosphere.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and funny at the same time as you take our familiar trio through a variety of physics-based puzzles on a magical quest through a dreamy fantasy world that never looked better!”
    • “The gameplay feels clunky and unresponsive.”
    • “The 3D gameplay was trash and the story was so short.”
    • “The addition of a third dimension (while adding depth to gameplay in some ways) mostly just made the controls a mess.”
  • graphics782 mentions

    The graphics in Trine 3 are widely praised for their stunning beauty and vibrant art style, continuing the series' tradition of enchanting visuals. However, the transition to a full 3D environment has led to mixed reactions, with some players appreciating the depth and detail while others find it detracts from gameplay and introduces frustrating control issues. Overall, while the visuals are a highlight, many reviews suggest that they come at the cost of gameplay quality and coherence.

    • “The graphics and artwork are beautiful, especially the book parts (don't want to spoil).”
    • “In terms of graphics, Trine 3 shines like a diamond; there are so many beautiful environments and landscapes, with vibrant colors and beautiful scenery this was excellent.”
    • “The graphics are amazing and full of vivid colors, the soundtrack is so good that it should be sold separately, and the voice actors bring life to each of the characters.”
    • “It may not have the best graphics compared to other modern games.”
    • “The change in art style is not really welcome... it feels cheaper than what Trine was before and according to the reports that the team unfortunately spent too much on tech prematurely finishing their budget for this game, it makes sense...”
    • “The graphics are worse.”
  • music297 mentions

    The music in the game continues to receive high praise, with many reviewers highlighting its enchanting quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. While the soundtrack is generally considered beautiful and fitting, some players feel it lacks the originality and impact of previous installments, noting a reliance on remixed tracks. Overall, the combination of stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack remains a hallmark of the series, contributing significantly to the game's charm.

    • “The music is charming, the graphics are more advanced than before and they are truly using the 3D environment for puzzles, secrets, and other sorts of stuff rather than just a gimmick.”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing to listen to, and never gets boring.”
    • “The music fits all the beautiful scenery and the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “The soundtrack is boring; I usually love Ahris' stuff, but this time I couldn't remember even one iconic track.”
    • “The music is too low on production value; the same goes for the whole 2D interface.”
    • “Music is a bit dull compared to previous games and has no epic tunes; even the final boss has a boring fighting theme when it's supposed to be the most epic scene in the game.”
  • stability244 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. Issues include frequent freezes, problematic physics, and unresponsive controls, particularly in multiplayer modes, leading many to describe it as a "buggy mess." While some players found humor in the glitches, the overall consensus is that the game feels unfinished and lacks the polish of its predecessors.

    • “Bug free and crash free.”
    • “This now runs great, looks fantastic, and has a decent running time.”
    • “This game is unfinished, has many bugs, glitches and bad optimization, anti-aliasing on FXAA + 4xSSAA often causes a crash.”
    • “The game is full of bugs and glitches, making it frustrating, glitchy, and in some places openly unplayable.”
    • “The camera glitches out horribly, the physics interactions go haywire in multiplayer, certain events don't trigger so we can't progress in levels, and the game crashes and locks up either computer at random.”
  • humor73 mentions

    The humor in the game is largely derived from its quirky physics and amusing glitches, which players often find more entertaining than frustrating, especially in cooperative play. While some aspects of the story and mini-missions fall flat, the characters and their interactions provide a lighthearted experience that can lead to genuine laughter. Overall, the game is described as a fun, visually stunning adventure that shines in multiplayer settings, despite its technical shortcomings.

    • “If you want to cry laughing with your friends, go play Trine 3!”
    • “Trine 3 is a wonderfully buggy mess that’s hilarious fun with friends.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and funny at the same time as you take our familiar trio through a variety of physics-based puzzles on a magical quest through a dreamy fantasy world that never looked better!”
    • “The main story is okay, but the mini-missions are a joke (and let me tell you, it's an unfunny one).”
    • “The story is like the prequels: not funny and pretty uninspired.”
  • atmosphere40 mentions

    The atmosphere in *Trine 3* is widely praised for its enchanting graphics, whimsical environments, and captivating music, which together create a magical and immersive experience. Players appreciate the game's beautiful art style and ambient level design, noting that the atmosphere enhances both the gameplay and the storytelling. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the overall aesthetic and atmospheric elements remain a highlight for fans of the series.

    • “The atmosphere is amazing; a lot of hard work was spent in creating the atmosphere, the surroundings, and the whole design of the game.”
    • “The game is one of the most beautiful, handcrafted, atmospheric games I've played, and just booting it up makes me feel all fuzzy inside :)”
    • “The music fits all the beautiful scenery and the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “So, gameplay and atmosphere have been dumbed down; Trine 3 is now kind of a good-looking jewel that you buy only for show.”
    • “The game is not a gem only because of the magical atmosphere and the well-done drawings; it also challenges you to move along the story, breaking the patterns of the classical platform game.”
    • “Audio and atmosphere are done well but nothing special.”
  • replayability35 mentions

    Overall, the replayability of the game is widely criticized, with many reviewers noting its short playtime of around 5-7 hours and a lack of challenging content or character development. While some mention the potential for co-op playthroughs or collectible hunting, the consensus is that the game offers minimal replay value compared to its predecessors, making it feel more like a cash grab than a fully realized experience.

    • “Trine 4 & 5 takes the parts that were good, brings back the leveling up and replay value that was missing, and returns to 2D, making them objectively better versions of what Trine 3 should have been.”
    • “The game provides plenty of replay value for anyone dedicated enough to try and hunt down and collect them all.”
    • “It may be short, but there is a much larger variety of things to do, and great replay value as always.”
    • “Completing the game (with all extra levels included) takes about 5 hours and there is little to no replay value.”
    • “What I got was a lazy cash grab with no replayability, a pseudo '3D' environment where you can't even change the difficulty.”
    • “This game is unreasonably short, and has no replay value.”
  • optimization31 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant bugs, glitches, and performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems. While a few users reported smooth performance and good graphics on high-end PCs, many noted that the game feels unfinished and requires further optimization to run well across a broader range of hardware. Overall, the consensus suggests that while there are moments of good performance, the game still suffers from notable optimization shortcomings.

    • “Fantastic graphics & excellent optimization.”
    • “The optimization is really well done.”
    • “Great graphics, great performance and great fun!”
    • “This game is unfinished, has many bugs, glitches, and bad optimization; anti-aliasing on FXAA + 4xSSAA often causes a crash.”
    • “Optimization is bad; I had 40 FPS on max settings.”
    • “The game also suffers from some optimization issues as well, but overall it's on the right path.”
  • grinding27 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is largely viewed as tedious and frustrating, with players expressing dissatisfaction over the need to collect "trineangles" to progress, which leads to repetitive gameplay. While some appreciate the improved UI, many feel that the shift to a 3D environment complicates navigation and adds to the grind, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game. Overall, the grinding mechanics are seen as a significant drawback, overshadowing the game's artistic merits and puzzle-solving elements.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “This game is trash, art is really nice but the fact that you have to unlock fragments from the previous chapter to unlock the next one is really tedious.”
    • “The game mechanics also lead you to unwanted grinding since you have to gather a lot of 'trineangles' to advance the game.”
    • “A required number of pickups and grinding reduces the gratification from 'getting past that spot, so I can move on'.”
  • character development18 mentions

    The reviews consistently highlight a significant lack of character development in the game, contrasting it with the previous installments that offered gradual progression and unique abilities for each character. While the character designs are praised for their artistic quality, players express disappointment over the absence of skills, buffs, and RPG elements that were integral to earlier titles in the series. Overall, the game's simplification has led to a diminished experience in terms of character growth and engagement.

    • “The character designs look great and remain in that beautifully stylized and characteristically off-kilter storybook look that only European studios can pull off.”
    • “The first two parts gave us the possibility of gradual character development, which encouraged us to continue playing.”
    • “In Trine and Trine 2, there was a lot of character development with the three characters; Pontius - a knight, Zoya - an archer, Amadeus - a wizard, and in Trine and Trine 2 you had more abilities to use than in Trine 3.”
    • “No character development, which was a big thing in the previous ones.”
    • “There is no character development at all, and there are none of the traits from Trine 2, e.g., fire arrows, ice arrows, talents, hammers.”
    • “Other detractors are the lack of character development and loss of skills from earlier Trine games.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    Players find "Trine 3" to evoke a mix of nostalgia and emotional engagement, particularly appreciating its ability to inspire laughter and a sense of childlike wonder. However, the game's slow start and lackluster ending, described as a cliffhanger, leave some feeling unsatisfied and yearning for more, diminishing the overall emotional impact. While the visuals and fun mechanics are praised, the emotional resonance is ultimately hampered by the game's incomplete narrative.

    • “I don't write a lot of reviews, but playing this just made me feel like a child again.”
    • “The story gets a slow start, but considering this is only half a game that was planned, it's no surprise. The ending is a bit lackluster, however, it is still fitting and emotional while the end boss provides new mechanics.”
    • “The boss battle is one of the weakest I have seen in the Trine series, and the cliffhanger ending made me feel like the developers said, 'Yeah, we want to tell you the rest, but that's it for today...'”
  • monetization8 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players frustrated by forced advertisements and perceiving the game as a cash grab due to its episodic nature and lack of replayability. However, others appreciate the absence of microtransactions and express disappointment over the misleading marketing that presents the game as a full sequel rather than part of a trilogy. Overall, there is a sentiment that the developers should focus on delivering a complete experience rather than relying on monetization tactics.

    • “No microtransactions, thank you!”
    • “The DLC policy is fair and adds value to the game without being intrusive.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers optional purchases without pressuring players.”
    • “What I got was a lazy cash grab with no replayability, a pseudo '3D' environment where you can't even change the difficulty.”
    • “This one feels like a cash grab with a side of frustration.”
    • “But the mistake of the developers is advertising, really, as they advertise the game as the full game and the proper sequel to Trine 2, while in reality it is just the first part of a three-part episodic game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

63% average critic score

Buy Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power

Play time

6hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
5hMain story
7hCompletionist
5-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 57 analyzed playthroughs

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