Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power

62%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,308 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.
Starting at $3.88Buy now
Get on Steam

"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

62%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,308 reviews
story187 positive mentions
stability151 negative mentions
  • story1,011 mentions

    The story of "Trine 3" has been widely criticized for being incomplete and abruptly ending on a cliffhanger, leaving players feeling unsatisfied. Many reviewers noted that the game feels like only a portion of a larger narrative, with significant plot points left unresolved and a lack of character progression compared to previous installments. While some appreciated the charm and potential of the story, the consensus is that it ultimately fails to deliver a fulfilling experience, making it difficult to recommend without the promise of future content to complete the narrative.

    • “The story feels like it has no depth to it whatsoever and the length of the chapters only adds to this.”
    • “The story is engaging and enjoyable as well.”
    • “The story is fairly well put together, however, and the characters are still as charming as ever.”
    • “The story feels incomplete, the introduction of 3D is hit & miss, it is significantly shorter, and the removal of level-up upgrades makes things feel more shallow.”
    • “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).”
    • “The game is very short and the story just ends in midair without any conclusion.”
  • gameplay599 mentions

    The gameplay of Trine 3 has received mixed reviews, primarily due to its shift from 2D to 3D mechanics, which many players found clunky and difficult to navigate. While the game features beautiful graphics and some innovative mechanics, the lack of character progression and the simplified gameplay have disappointed fans of the previous titles. Overall, the game is seen as shorter and less polished, with many players feeling that it lacks the depth and charm of its predecessors.

    • “The beautiful graphics, exquisite soundtrack, and fun tag team gameplay made for great puzzle platformers that you can either enjoy solo or in 3-player co-op.”
    • “Trine 3 remains the same game at core with cleverly implemented puzzles and different ways to solve them due to the trinity of characters you can control, each with his own mechanics and style of gameplay.”
    • “The 3D gameplay was a nice change of pace and interesting to see how it translated, but we're looking forward to Trine's return to 4!”
    • “The gameplay is incredibly clunky, the 3D is frustrating and only makes you wish you were playing one of the previous titles.”
    • “The 3D gameplay was trash and the story was so short.”
    • “The gameplay is painfully uncomfortable with the camera being locked in one position.”
  • graphics571 mentions

    The graphics in "Trine 3" are widely praised for their stunning beauty and vibrant art style, continuing the series' tradition of captivating visuals. While many players appreciate the transition to 3D and the intricate level designs, some express disappointment over the gameplay mechanics and controls, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the game's graphics remain a highlight, showcasing impressive detail and creativity throughout.

    • “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.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and colorful as you'd expect from Trine.”
    • “The graphics are stunningly beautiful; can't help but pause and look at the details in the background.”
    • “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 than in the first two games.”
  • music231 mentions

    The music in the Trine series continues to receive high praise for its enchanting and atmospheric qualities, with many reviewers noting that it complements the beautiful graphics and engaging gameplay. While some feel that the soundtrack in Trine 3 lacks the originality and impact of its predecessors, it is still described as lovely and fitting for the game's whimsical setting. Overall, the music remains a standout feature, contributing significantly to the charm and immersive experience of the game.

    • “The magical soundtrack, the beautiful environments, the amazing voice acting all accompanied by a charming story.”
    • “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.”
    • “The art style and the music are top notch, they are really what made me like the first Trine.”
    • “The soundtrack is largely mediocre, lacking the charm and memorability of previous titles.”
    • “The music is a bit dull compared to previous games and has no epic tunes, even the final boss has a boring fighting theme while it's supposed to be the most epic scene in the game.”
    • “Trine 3 unfortunately manages to completely bypass any semblance of an original tracklist, and instead makes use of remixed music from both the previous titles.”
  • stability154 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay, particularly in multiplayer modes. Many reviewers noted that the game feels unfinished, with issues ranging from physics problems to unresponsive mechanics, making it frustrating and at times unplayable. While some players found humor in the glitches, the overall consensus is that the game suffers from severe stability issues that detract from the experience.

    • “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 a buggy mess! I couldn't play it anymore although I tried.”
    • “The visuals are amazing, but unfortunately the game doesn't feel finished; it's really buggy and it goes beyond glitchy when you are playing co-op with friends, important objects to pass each stage seem to not work properly and it just ruins the experience.”
  • humor45 mentions

    The humor in the game is largely derived from its quirky physics and amusing glitches, which often lead to laugh-out-loud moments, especially in cooperative play. While many players appreciate the comedic elements and funny dialogues, some find that the abundance of bugs can detract from the overall experience, making it feel frustrating at times. Overall, the game is recognized for its entertaining moments, though opinions vary on how consistently funny it remains throughout.

    • “If you want to cry laughing with your friends, go play Trine 3!”
    • “Playing this with my friend led to me laughing until I got an intense headache.”
    • “It's visually stunning, funny, and the puzzles are satisfying.”
    • “The main story is okay, but the mini-missions are a joke (and let me tell you, it's an unfunny one).”
    • “The attempts at humor fall flat and often feel forced.”
    • “I expected some laughs, but the jokes are stale and predictable.”
  • atmosphere28 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its breathtaking graphics, enchanting music, and immersive environments, which collectively create a magical and fairy-tale-like experience. Many players feel deeply invested in the journey due to the well-crafted ambiance and level design, although some note a slight decline in challenge compared to previous installments. Overall, the game's aesthetic and atmospheric elements are considered a significant highlight, enhancing both gameplay and storytelling.

    • “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 :)”
    • “While they're not particularly challenging, the puzzles are still fun to figure out, and the beauty of the world will stop you in your tracks and compel you to go at a slower pace in order to enjoy the fairy tale atmosphere.”
    • “So, gameplay and atmosphere have been dumbed down; Trine 3 is now kind of a good-looking jewel that you buy only for show.”
    • “Audio and atmosphere are done well but nothing special.”
    • “The game drips with style and atmosphere!”
  • replayability27 mentions

    Overall, the replayability of Trine 4 and 5 is mixed, with many players noting a lack of substantial content and challenge that diminishes the incentive to replay. While some appreciate the return of leveling and collectibles, others criticize the short length and easy combat, leading to a consensus that these titles do not offer significant replay value compared to earlier entries in the series. Players suggest that co-op play may provide some additional enjoyment, but many recommend sticking to the first two games for a more fulfilling 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.”
    • “I finished the game completely after 6 hours without any effort and I see no replay value in this.”
    • “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.”
  • optimization20 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant bugs, glitches, and performance issues, particularly on higher settings. While a few users reported smooth performance and good frame rates on specific hardware configurations, many others noted that the game feels unfinished and poorly optimized, leading to crashes and low frame rates. Overall, while there are instances of good optimization, the consensus leans towards the need for further improvements and polish.

    • “Fantastic graphics & excellent optimization.”
    • “The optimization is really well done.”
    • “I play games on GNU/Linux exclusively and the performance for this game on my OS is great.”
    • “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.”
    • “Don't buy this game; it still isn't optimized, has too many bugs, and lags on both macOS and Windows.”
  • grinding19 mentions

    Reviews indicate that "grinding" in Trine 3 is a significant drawback, with players finding the need to collect "trineangles" tedious and repetitive, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game. The shift to a 3D environment has led to frustrating gameplay experiences, including poorly designed puzzles and a lack of depth perception, which contribute to a sense of unnecessary grinding. Overall, the game is criticized for prioritizing complexity and grinding over engaging gameplay and meaningful progression.

    • “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'.”
    • “Gone are the carefully upgradable skill trees so beautifully crafted onto each character creating sublime puzzles and a genuine sense of progression, in favor of what is essentially an overly physics-based assault course - with more emphasis on grinding than puzzle solving.”
  • character development11 mentions

    Overall, reviews indicate a significant decline in character development compared to previous installments, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of progression and skills for the characters. While the character designs are praised for their unique and stylized aesthetic, the absence of meaningful character growth detracts from the overall experience, making the game feel shorter and less engaging.

    • “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 that in Trine 3.”
    • “No character development, which was a big thing in the previous ones.”
    • “The first thing that is missing in this game is the lack of possibility of character development.”
    • “Other detractors are the lack of character development and loss of skills from earlier Trine games.”
  • emotional9 mentions

    Players find "Trine 3" to evoke a mix of emotions, from laughter and enjoyment to disappointment and frustration. While the game offers wholesome fun and stunning visuals, its slow story progression and lackluster ending leave many feeling unsatisfied, particularly due to the cliffhanger that suggests an incomplete narrative. Overall, it seems to resonate more positively with those familiar with the series, while newcomers may feel lost or underwhelmed.

    • “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, yet 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...'.”
    • “I'm not even sure I'll recommend this on sale simply because the ending left me wanting so much more and made me feel it was coming after a loading screen.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with some players frustrated by forced advertisements and labeling it a cash grab, while others appreciate the absence of microtransactions. Critics argue that the game misrepresents itself as a full sequel rather than an episodic installment, leading to disappointment regarding its length and replayability. Overall, the monetization approach has sparked significant debate among users.

    • “No microtransactions, thank you!”
    • “The DLC policy is fair and adds value to the game without being intrusive.”
    • “I appreciate that the game doesn't rely on microtransactions to enhance the experience.”
    • “How dare they promote this game with forced ads in Trine 1 and 2?”
    • “What I got was a lazy cash grab with no replayability, a pseudo '3D' environment where you can't even change the difficulty.”
    • “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
4-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 45 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News