Patrician III: Rise of the Hanse

 PC
Patrician III: Rise of the Hanse Image
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 58 Ratings

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  • Summary: The best selling olde-worlde real-time city-building simulation is back! Build cities, manage economies and battle pirates in the only game of its kind based in the Middle Ages. Grow your small towne into a major trading center wielding tremendous economic power. [Encore Software]
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. IGN
    91
    It's one of the few games where I've never felt my options were artificially limited by the developer within the environment, though obviously that's the case; and where every actions I took had a host of logical secondary choices attached to it. If you're into strategic trading simulations, it truly doesn't get any better than this.
  2. Worth Playing
    90
    You will find yourself wanting to come back and try different tactics for your rise to fame. There is also enough to learn that you will have an almost constant discovery of new ways to make it to the top. I should mention here that the average gamer will find this game somewhat overwhelming.
  3. Gamer's Hell
    80
    For those who are already fans of the series, you’ll find more of the same thing that you loved in Patrician II; the biggest addition probably being the online multiplayer component, but Patrician III is structured in such a way that it is very accessible to newcomers as well, so come one, come all.
  4. GameSpot
    72
    Although the game is so fundamentally similar to "Patrician II" that those who own the previous game have little reason to pick it up at full-price, the feature additions refine the open-ended gameplay by removing some of the micromanagement and by providing more significant milestones to achieve later in the game.
  5. Game Informer
    70
    If market trends and supply/demand curves don't set your blood aflame, Patrician III will have you napping in no time. [Jan 2004, p.157]
  6. PC Gamer
    70
    Veterans of previous Patrician games will no doubt feel at home, but new players may be scratching their heads at the vague objectives. [Jan 2004, p.88]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Computer Gaming World
    50
    If you've recently discovered a fetish for selling barrels of picked herring, there is no game better than Patrician III. [Feb 2004, p.89]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 8 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. apaeth
    Jul 6, 2011
    10
    Even nearly 8 years after it's debut it still stands up as one of the most addictive and elaborate economic trading sims ever made. TheEven nearly 8 years after it's debut it still stands up as one of the most addictive and elaborate economic trading sims ever made. The economy is dialed in and the trading aspect is complex enough to keep you on your toes. The graphics have aged the sea battles are beyond lame and yet it beats out modern games in this genres by miles.… Expand
  2. Ekaton
    Jul 28, 2012
    10
    I really love this game for its complexity, addictiveness and freedom it gives to the player. Even though its social part is very little (iI really love this game for its complexity, addictiveness and freedom it gives to the player. Even though its social part is very little (i like how it's made in Guild 2) it's still one of the best game of its genre!… Expand
  4. ShahrulN.
    Nov 19, 2003
    10
    A complete strategy experience.That's all I could say.
  5. SQLGamer
    Feb 2, 2020
    10
    Patrician III Is in my humble opinion, the very best trading game ever concived. It's easy to get into hard to master. It scratch my itch forPatrician III Is in my humble opinion, the very best trading game ever concived. It's easy to get into hard to master. It scratch my itch for trade. No game has yet hit those with me this game has. The trade games scene is beyond uncatered to for years. And it needs to be fed. Greatest marriage of RTS business simulation game.… Expand
  6. darsat
    Oct 7, 2013
    9
    Wow, at first it was a chore but due to the high reviews of this game I kept going. I will say after 23 hours of play the game rocks. IWow, at first it was a chore but due to the high reviews of this game I kept going. I will say after 23 hours of play the game rocks. I played Patrician IV first, and logged about 10 hours, after playing this one I can see why people cry that they dumbed Patrician IV down form III, PIII is hard. It makes you think a bit, should I start production in a new market? Should I start grain, is it too soon? Do I need to arm my ships and loose my cargo space, or should I chance the pirates? Lots to consider, even more than I have listed. Great game, too bad PIV was a shadow compared to PIII.… Expand
  7. CiceroC.
    Nov 9, 2006
    9
    The game is fantastic! You can change your goals while playing it. You start just willing to make money through trade, but when the game The game is fantastic! You can change your goals while playing it. You start just willing to make money through trade, but when the game advances, you want more power, be mayor, be alderman. Dozens of hours of fun, in every game you play.… Expand
  8. tech-noir
    Sep 4, 2011
    6
    This is a good game. Apparently, I just don't have what it takes to be good at it and advance to make it enjoyable past the point I haveThis is a good game. Apparently, I just don't have what it takes to be good at it and advance to make it enjoyable past the point I have reached. I became frustrated after 26 hours of trying and gave up for now. I only plan attempting it again when I am bored, between other games, or when the longing for it surfaces again. It is not a matter of a negatively constructed learning curve. In fact, learning how to play is not an issue at all. There are five tutorials, and they do an okay job at introducing the player to the game. The first campaign focusing on player advancement also instructs and gives hints appropriately, even though not with very much detail as to how to accomplish certain more convoluted aspects of the game. Even after consulting one extensive Wiki and three FAQ pages online, the game is still too difficult for me to succeed in. I've tried, once again, for 26 hours, every strategy and approach known to the experts, and I still would not succeed. The other AI controlled merchants in the game were light years ahead of me. All of the more in-depth reviews seen here are true and accurate. I just simply became frustrated at being mediocre or worse in the game, after 26 hours of trying. The game is difficult to be successful in. It's as simple as that. Perhaps this is a game that requires much more patience, and many more hours to be fully enjoyable. That is the sole reason why I will keep this installed and go back to it sometime in the future. If my experience changes, I will surely come back here and update this review.… Expand

See all 17 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

81
#81 Best PC Game of 2003
66
#66 Most Discussed PC Game of 2003
78
#78 Most Shared PC Game of 2003

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