Orcs Must Die! 3

 PC
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Shacknews
    Aug 5, 2021
    90
    Orcs Must Die! 3 is an excellent outing from Robot Entertainment, as it delivers exciting tower defense action along with some truly challenging sequences. The two new protagonists serve to usher the story in a new direction, while adding some flavor to gameplay. Playing with a friend is best, as it allows the two stars of the game to shine the brightest. Now free from the shackles of Google Stadia exclusivity, Orcs Must Die! 3 is the best entry in the series.
  2. CD-Action
    Oct 12, 2021
    85
    The third installment of the series offers more of everything, which means you have broader possibilities and probably will enjoy it longer before you get bored with it. However, in terms of fundamentals it’s pretty much a copy of the previous games, especially OMD! 2, from which it basically borrowed everything worth borrowing. So, is this reheated dish worth giving a try? Definitely, because even if it tastes familiar, it was seasoned perfectly. [10/2021, p.58]
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  3. Ragequit.gr
    Aug 14, 2021
    83
    Orcs Must Die! 3 is a highly entertaining blend of action and tower defense. Although the formula hasn't changed substantially from the previous installments in the series, the game promises unadulterated fun, especially in co-op play, and slaying orcs in creative ways is still something we'll never get tired of.
  5. PC Gamer
    Jul 26, 2021
    81
    A conservative but confident return to form from the masters of a much-loved genre.
  6. Multiplayer.it
    Aug 3, 2021
    78
    Orcs Must Die! 3 doesn't revolutionize the series, delivering an action-style tower defense formula that is still relatively fresh and exciting today.
  7. The Games Machine
    Aug 1, 2021
    78
    Orcs Must Die! 3 does not innovate significantly – some might even call it lazy – but is an effective recollection of everything that made Robot Entertainment’s franchise so great in the past, turned up to eleven.
  8. 4P.de
    Jul 30, 2021
    78
    Solid entertainment with an appealing mix of action, tower defense and fun, played preferably in co-op-mode.
  9. Riot Pixels
    Sep 12, 2021
    72
    The return of Orcs Must Die is a bit awkward. The action is fun and entertaining, but you can clearly see that this series is all out of fresh ideas.
  10. Checkpoint Gaming
    Jul 30, 2021
    70
    Orcs Must Die! 3 is definitely a case of “another verse, same as the first”, but fortunately the formula still holds up. The changes to gameplay balance mostly work, as does the implementation of the new Scramble game mode. However, the War mode shows that throwing more orcs into a stage doesn’t necessarily make it more fun, and the level design generally doesn’t feel quite as fresh as it once did. All that said, the visceral pleasure of slicing through a group of orcs with a buzzsaw launcher is as present as ever, and ultimately the experience is still a fun time. For tower defence fans, Orcs Must Die! 3 is worth checking out, particularly if you’re planning on playing co-op.
  11. The Indie Game Website
    Jul 29, 2021
    60
    If you’re already a fan of the series then you’ll probably enjoy this, but you’ll also find yourself uncomfortably comfortable with it all, because with Orcs Must Die! 3, not much has really changed.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 24 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 24
  3. Negative: 4 out of 24
  1. Pteromyin0
    Jul 13, 2023
    8
    Loving it! It's better with friends, of course. Trap variety is decent, many possible combinations, although there is little incentive toLoving it! It's better with friends, of course. Trap variety is decent, many possible combinations, although there is little incentive to switch once you have clocked in on something. Some stages are very easy, some can be frustratingly difficult, depending on your loadout. The are a few very annoying bugs, e.g. the archers stop firing in later waves. Graphics are beautiful and I do like the sound design and music.… Full Review »
  2. AngrySir
    Jun 20, 2023
    7
    Fun game, especially when playing coop, for better or worse, they've played it safe. I'd have liked to have seen more creativity from the devsFun game, especially when playing coop, for better or worse, they've played it safe. I'd have liked to have seen more creativity from the devs in the level design and trap interactions. Endless mode is way too simplistic.… Full Review »
  3. Heraldrick
    Apr 22, 2023
    6
    Orcs Must Die! 3 is certainly better than Orcs Must Die! 2, but I don't think it does as great a job at what the series excelled at in OrcsOrcs Must Die! 3 is certainly better than Orcs Must Die! 2, but I don't think it does as great a job at what the series excelled at in Orcs Must Die! 1. It is still a great entry into the tower defense genre but it leans a bit heavy on the 3rd person shooter aspect to the detriment of the trap selection.
    For some context:

    Orcs Must Die! 1 put most of the power into the traps, the protagonist was only powerful enough to stop the earlier waves of Orcs until you got the immense satisfaction of setting up a conveyer-belt of Orc-corpse-making traps ("Kill Boxes"). Those traps ranged from just slowing them down as a mace crushed them, to flinging them off into some lava, to consumables to turn your hands into the traps.

    Orcs Must Die! 2 disempowered the traps and outside of a few exceptions made it so the best way to deal with every Orc was to just stab/shoot/burn it to death while the devs constantly send out enemies that are designed to destroy those kill-boxes (Sappers). Which is what makes it the worst entry.

    Orcs Must Die 3 added some power back into the traps and lightened up on the Sappers. But they still reduced the trap diversity in effect. Yeah, now you can deal shock/burn/bleed/chem damage but that is just 4 different ways of reducing the HP of Orcs rather than providing new or odd ways to deal with them to fit a wider variety of scenarios. It just becomes a game of "the devs nerfed the Giant Mace so now the best ceiling trap is the lasers, better spam those." And if the devs ever nerf the lasers then you move on to the next most damaging even though it doesn't do anything unique.
    I truly hope that if we get an Orcs Must Die! 4 we see some changes toward the traps. Make it so the physics-based traps are more powerful and have more pairs like a buffed-up Void Wall. And just let the player make some fun kill boxes without worrying about Sappers twice every round.    … Full Review »
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