SpellForce 3

Spellforce 3 is one of the best blends between RTS and RPG in gaming. Staying true to its roots, the game is - first and foremost - made for its fans but it is welcoming to those who are new to the series. A well fleshed out campaign, excellent writing, and satisfying combat are the hallmark of any great RPG. Spellforce 3 adds conquest, base building and RTS battles - what’s not to love.

A successful splicing of two beloved genres that thoughtfully expands on the lore of the series. [Feb 2018, p.77]

With co-op and additional skirmish modes available on top of the main campaign, SpellForce 3 is a generous -- and largely successful -- merger of two genres. While it isn't the world's deepest or most complex RPG nor gaming's most substantial RTS, it is a very effectively constructed and balanced hybrid and most important, makes a strong and compelling case that the mashup works. With over a decade between installments, it's not like the SpellForce franchise has overstayed its welcome. It's perfectly timed to delight both fans of the series and surprise new players looking for something new and different.

I’m a pretty big fan of RTS and certainly a big fan of RPG’s, I love being able to dig into a character and forge them the way I would like. Spellforce 3 does a good job of mashing those two genres together and the result is a pretty decent campaign that should have you entertained for quite some time. A little bit of this and a little bit of that, in just the right doses and you get a great game that stands above the sum of it’s parts.

SpellForce 3 is a truly enjoyable comeback, with solid mixed gameplay.

SpellForce 3 is a really good game that expands on the brand's gameplay mechanics, mixes RTS and RPG in a smooth way and enchants with some absolutely superb graphics. There is space for improvement but fans of more old-school games should be more than happy.

SpellForce 3 adds another entry on an already impressive list as the year comes to a close.

As an RPG, SF3 is a solid game with an interesting over-arching story, believable characters, a lot of lore and deep systems. As an RTS, it is a unique if at times frustrating tactical game focused on a clever use of limited number of resources and building a working infrastructure. While each one of its parts might not hold out against a “pure” game of respective genre, the mix makes the game something uniquely fulfilling.

Successful mix of RTS and RPG on the path of recovery - but still not completely without bugs.

Spellforce 3 is an ambitious game that manages to blend fun RTS segments with traditional isometric dungeon exploration in a neat RPG package.

Spellforce 3 mixes two beloved genres, RPGs and RTSs, and even though it does not excel in either gameplay branch it succeeds in delivering a solid, fresh and unique experience. Through a solid story and world building it gives the opportunity for our hero to actually take part in battles in contrast with traditional RPGs, where he is only a spectator.

Coming back after almost a decade, the Spellforce series now has an excellent modern entry that only requires a bit of sheen and a better screenwriter to become a masterpiece.

SpellForce 3 continues to mix strategy and role-playing. The result is good, but not as great as before.

SpellForce 3 draws its strength from successfully combining both RTS and RPG genres, while these lack of depth and inspiration when examined separately. Still, the game manages to deliver an interesting single player campaign and a fun multiplayer experience that is surely the right direction for the franchise.