Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III

 PC
User Score
4.6

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 499 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 164 out of 499
  2. Mixed: 70 out of 499
  3. Negative: 265 out of 499

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  1. marcinek74
    Aug 20, 2023
    0
    Every time I was trying to play this game a had a server issue and lost progress. Always connected retirement is a pathology. Game should be banned because of that.
  2. Naked_Snakee
    Apr 7, 2023
    3
    Just text (crutch) to save the game to the list. Such things. Maybe I'll do a review later.
  3. Giero
    Jan 4, 2023
    4
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  4. Chowjust
    Dec 5, 2022
    2
    Well it looks great......but does not play well. Most people will expect this game to be similar to the previous entries but it isn't. It removes all features that made the previous games good and definitely feels like a half baked moba game.
  5. RusMakh
    Jun 24, 2022
    4
    The players who wanted to get a full-fledged RTS did not get it. And the audience that likes to play the MOBA genre is not interested in a PAID game, when most games of this genre are FREE. The very spirit of the original from the previous parts is lost.
  6. La0RiX
    Aug 17, 2021
    0
    Played almost every Warhammer game but this... It's soulless money grab (40 euros for unfinished game), Unenjoyable from the very start, changed visuals (unfitting for this franchise), bugs, boring combat system and base building. Sadly I can't recommend it.
  7. Hostani
    Apr 20, 2021
    3
    The disappointment of the year and the death of one of the most beloved series of games. F
  8. Scorpion1980
    Jul 19, 2020
    4
    sigh, they ruined it, dammit, stupid rts moba combo, i truly hope if there ever is a dow4 that it is better, back to old school rts.
  9. Kotofon
    May 9, 2020
    2
    Обожаю мультяшного габрика из расы дредноутов и всё что с ним связано. Нет серьезно, игра то еще дерьмище, на которое я потратил косарь с лишним. Но местами когда на экране сталкиваются 2 огромные армии и происходит какой-то непонятный пи*@!~ из взрывов и летящих снарядова, габрика раскидывающего всех супостатов вокруг себя это даже... как-то начинает походить на старый добрый... А такОбожаю мультяшного габрика из расы дредноутов и всё что с ним связано. Нет серьезно, игра то еще дерьмище, на которое я потратил косарь с лишним. Но местами когда на экране сталкиваются 2 огромные армии и происходит какой-то непонятный пи*@!~ из взрывов и летящих снарядова, габрика раскидывающего всех супостатов вокруг себя это даже... как-то начинает походить на старый добрый... А так профукали все полимеры которые у них были. ГОВНО.… Expand
  10. Krisowski
    Aug 7, 2019
    0
    Huge dissapoinment. This game was dead really soon after premiere.
    Gameplay is boring, unbalanced, there is no tactical aproach to fights. How could they ruin this after making such a good game as CoH2?
  11. HanselTW
    Dec 2, 2018
    3
    The soundtrack is great. The game has probably the best intro trailer ever made. However, the game itself is a massive disappointment. It is inferior to original Dawn of War, and one of the few games that made feel like refund was justified.
  12. FrostormNidhegg
    Nov 16, 2018
    2
    Говно. Хотите хороший обзор на эту игру - посмотрите его на канале Spaceman, "забытый обзор Dawn of War 3" называется - там все досканально разобрано. Игра ужасна, это не ДоВ. Играйте в 1 и 2 части, они прекрасны. А это стороной обходитеГовно. Хотите хороший обзор на эту игру - посмотрите его на канале Spaceman, "забытый обзор Dawn of War 3" называется - там все досканально разобрано. Игра ужасна, это не ДоВ. Играйте в 1 и 2 части, они прекрасны. А это стороной обходите
  13. hongkong_tea
    Sep 10, 2018
    2
    I'm a DOW fan. I do like the game, but I would never crecommend anyone to buy it (do play if you have it cause there are no players online for the multiplayer).
    - It's a buggy game that crashes randomly.
    - It's a unbalanced game that will never get updates. - It's dead already. There are a phew players and most of them drop a game after 5 minutes if they don't see a clear victory. So    I'm a DOW fan. I do like the game, but I would never crecommend anyone to buy it (do play if you have it cause there are no players online for the multiplayer).
    - It's a buggy game that crashes randomly.
    - It's a unbalanced game that will never get updates.
    - It's dead already. There are a phew players and most of them drop a game after 5 minutes if they don't see a clear victory. So you wait 10 to 15 minutes for a game that lasts 10 or 15.

    Big let down from Sega and Relic. Epic fail guys.    … Expand
  14. DontBeNasty
    Jun 17, 2018
    4
    Unfortunately, DoW 3 Sacrifices story, lore and a compeling campaign for a multiplayer focused cash in on the e-sports trend. But one can't just force a game into e-sports and certainly not in the expense of the universe. DoW has always been about story campaings on the DoW universe. Let e-sports to blizzard. These are not empty words either the game floped hard and is now consideredUnfortunately, DoW 3 Sacrifices story, lore and a compeling campaign for a multiplayer focused cash in on the e-sports trend. But one can't just force a game into e-sports and certainly not in the expense of the universe. DoW has always been about story campaings on the DoW universe. Let e-sports to blizzard. These are not empty words either the game floped hard and is now considered abandoned by relic. It joins star wars the old republic and simcity, not just by trying to ride the multiplayer trend just because, but also flopping hard.… Expand
  15. HolyKeep99
    Mar 4, 2018
    0
    In 2016, Relic announced Dawn of War 3. I was very happy, because I´m a huge fan of Dawn of war franchise since I have played Soulstorm and other DoW games in my childhood. As I was counting every day until release, Relic uploaded a couple of videos, which consist alpha game-in view. The graphics looked awkward and kinda plastic, but I believed, that they will polish it and they actuallyIn 2016, Relic announced Dawn of War 3. I was very happy, because I´m a huge fan of Dawn of war franchise since I have played Soulstorm and other DoW games in my childhood. As I was counting every day until release, Relic uploaded a couple of videos, which consist alpha game-in view. The graphics looked awkward and kinda plastic, but I believed, that they will polish it and they actually did that. Final version outstands with its visual, however it is maybe the only thing, which actually works.

    So there was the day, which proudly holds date 27th of April 2017 and that day also remembers one fool, who had preordered DoW 3 two month before release and then went in local gamestore to pick up his order. He started playing the game and he actually completed it on normal difficulty.
    But he realised that:

    - game lacks any replay option since it is boring and repetetive as hell (I mean campaign)
    - has a unbalanced MP and devs are refusing to admit it
    - few buildable object in each race as well as low number of units
    - no RPG elements at all(and no, fokin doctrines are cancer and only sink the game deeper, we wanted some wargear similar to DoW 2)
    - ONLY 3 races in 40k universe at the beginning!
    - no cover system, bad optimision, no 3D camera, no key-bindings, lack of font scale
    - ugly main menu, no turrets(f*ck doctrine!)
    - teased Necrons that will never appear in the game
    - monthly ration of ugly skins, which are useless

    I could have written more, but I think, that those facts are good enough to understand, that this game is a moneygrab garbage. Yea, ok, we got some maps, new elites, deleted skull system, ladder(which should have been in the game at the very beginning) etc. But it is not enough.

    ->YOU RUINED DAWN OF WAR FRANCHISE!    … Expand
  16. xincognitox
    Feb 8, 2018
    0
    Only 3 races and no further support from the developers. Better play first or second DoW.
  17. nevercroft
    Dec 24, 2017
    2
    As a Dawn of War game? This is really bad. Tons of features cut for the sake of accessibility and streamlining of concepts to appeal to a burgeoning Esports community.

    Coming at it independent from it's predecessors? Less bad, but still not good in any shape, form, or fashion. Very simple gameplay - more reminiscent of early SC2, really. That is, if Starcraft 2 were forced to mate with    As a Dawn of War game? This is really bad. Tons of features cut for the sake of accessibility and streamlining of concepts to appeal to a burgeoning Esports community.

    Coming at it independent from it's predecessors? Less bad, but still not good in any shape, form, or fashion. Very simple gameplay - more reminiscent of early SC2, really. That is, if Starcraft 2 were forced to mate with a half-done MOBA concept. It's a poor man's Starcraft 2 DotA mode.    … Expand
  18. Psheshlov
    Nov 21, 2017
    0
    Insane failure. Just read other reviews. This game doesnt have any obvious type of gameplay. It's stupid mix of 1st game and 2nd. And yes, better try their other RTS games.
  19. azncandyman
    Oct 21, 2017
    2
    77 metacritc score? Please fix that broken rating system. Looks like people got paid to write good reviews.

    According to players this game is bad. I played it, it's pretty bad. No tactics, boring game play, clunky UI, terrible terrible story... What happened to the Relic games that i loved? How about take remake DoW 1 with the latest coolest graphics, add a lot of blood and    77 metacritc score? Please fix that broken rating system. Looks like people got paid to write good reviews.

    According to players this game is bad. I played it, it's pretty bad.

    No tactics, boring game play, clunky UI, terrible terrible story...

    What happened to the Relic games that i loved?

    How about take remake DoW 1 with the latest coolest graphics, add a lot of blood and crazy cool kill animations with all the races. BOOM, sure success. Focus on the genre's strengths, don't worry about what the other guys are doing.    … Expand
  20. robkiller10
    Oct 19, 2017
    0
    i would like to know how this game got the best pc game of 2016 e3?????????
    this game has not live up to it hype and brought the worst game play in dawn of war history and disgraced the Warhammer 40k name.
    they shouldn't show there gaming awards that they don't deserve. the graphics are not the best company of heroes 1 and 2 got better graphics and a better story line. I wish    i would like to know how this game got the best pc game of 2016 e3?????????
    this game has not live up to it hype and brought the worst game play in dawn of war history and disgraced the Warhammer 40k name.

    they shouldn't show there gaming awards that they don't deserve.

    the graphics are not the best company of heroes 1 and 2 got better graphics and a better story line.
    I wish they make this game better. I know they can do better a lot better    … Expand
  21. crackajaxx
    Sep 13, 2017
    3
    I feel like I've played this game long enough to tell you that this game is in early access. It doesn't say it is, but believe me, it is. It lacks many basic quality of life features and there is a distinct lack of content and a busted meta that obviously wasn't tested enough. I know it's only been out for a little bit but the state this game launched in was simply unacceptable

    It    I feel like I've played this game long enough to tell you that this game is in early access. It doesn't say it is, but believe me, it is. It lacks many basic quality of life features and there is a distinct lack of content and a busted meta that obviously wasn't tested enough. I know it's only been out for a little bit but the state this game launched in was simply unacceptable

    It essentially acts like an early access title without saying it is, and it was blatantly rushed out of the door. It was missing a damn fullscreen option for emperor's sake and a surrender button in multiplayer! Give me a break! It STILL has framerate issues several months after release and general performance problems abound.

    The campaign was the definition of playing it safe. It wasn't bad per say but it wasn't very good either. Most mission are basically just tutorials. The jumping between different factions was very disorienting and was overall very forgettable. I wasn't asking for much here but I somehow got even less. I'll sum up the whole story really quick: gabe, macha and gorgutz fight each other a bunch then team up to fight a demon at the end, that's it. That's literally all the happens throughout the course of the campaign (minus the teaser at the end which ironically is more memorable than the entire game).

    What the game excels at in atmosphere and sound effects it fails in gameplay and polish. Units are far, far too fragile and 1 click army wipes are very common. Comeback mechanics do exist but the overall feel of the game revolves around cheesy tactics like backdoor dreadnaughts, spamming units en masse, and hiding knight sized units in grass (yes you read that right). I can look past the hiding knights thing, I can look past Gabriel somersaulting around in terminator armor, I can look past nit picky things like that but the gameplay overall is so volatile with how punishing it is for mistakes it really doesn't even matter. I recall particular low point heroes able to basically 1 shot entire legions of units it was that unbalanced. Isn't this what that beta test was for?

    The UI is sloppy. Nobody likes interfaces that fade in and fade out. It feels sluggish and unresponsive that way, this is basic design and they inexplicably chose to have the menus work this way. It's not cool! Nobody likes an unresponsive UI! The in-game UI is all over the place. I do like seeing my heroes on the side ala Warcraft 3 and it is customizable like you can have your map on either side and your command card on either side which is good. I know there are a lot of units to deal with. The battles get huge in this game, but the little cards that pop up at the bottom for each individual unit sucks. Not saying I know of a better way but there has to be a more user friendly way to view your selected units than having them all clustered up at the bottom like that.

    There's a currency system. You collect skulls to unlock hero units and doctrines for multiplayer. The problem is that it's unfair to newcomers who don't have access to these units and doctrines until they either get stomped a bunch of times by players who DO have these things, or slog through that boring singleplayer. The other problem is there really isn't anything to buy with these skulls, after you unlock all the hero units and some choice doctrines you like there isn't anything to buy. You just keep accumulating them for no reason. It's almost as if they wanted to implement a cash shop of some kind but didn't have time to do it or something!

    This game isn't bad because its a MOBA, it's bad because it's just plain unfinished and overall not very fun. What is there is high quality stuff don't get me wrong, but there's not nearly enough of it and there's just so many bugs and untested things it generally feels very bare bones and experimental and certainly not worth 60 dollars or hell, not even 30, not in its launch state and certainly not now. I simply can't recommend this game. It breaks my heart to do it but I can't recommend it. It's just not very good.

    And that's surprising, baffling even, that Relic would release Dawn of War III in this state after their previous titles had so much polish and were great! Why would they waste their time if they weren't going to put any effort into it? What the heck happened? Player numbers are very low (like 600 max) and that's because the game isn't very well thought out or polished. You can't tell me after how much polish their previous titles had, and after a trailer like that the game would come out in this state?

    There isn't much hope for this game, it needed about another year of development but at this point I would say Relic really blew it with this title. Bottom line: don't rush your damn games out before their finished. Go early access if you have to but don't release it barely working and certainly don't charge 60 dollars for an incomplete mes    … Expand
  22. tornanx
    Sep 7, 2017
    0
    I didn't enjoy playing ,It was like working without salary.Worst sequel to one of best series I have played.I hope next game will also be called Dawn of War III so that we can live peacefully believing this thing never happened.
  23. Wanasko
    Aug 28, 2017
    1
    I'm all shocked this is a bastard false offspring not a true blood from the franchise. I'd rather play dow 1 and enjoy it rather than wasting my time. dawn of war chaos rising was ten timesbetter than this, really miss the spirit of the game
  24. InquisitorCyrin
    Aug 23, 2017
    0
    First ever refund.

    It should be noted that I, and pretty much anyone else that had DoW in their library, received a 50% off coupon. I used mine and gave this a try and refunded after playing each faction and being the most disappointed I have ever been in a franchise. All I can say... multi-laser cannons... I have played some really trash RTS games, but I could still find them    First ever refund.

    It should be noted that I, and pretty much anyone else that had DoW in their library, received a 50% off coupon. I used mine and gave this a try and refunded after playing each faction and being the most disappointed I have ever been in a franchise.

    All I can say... multi-laser cannons...

    I have played some really trash RTS games, but I could still find them fun.
    The art and sound teams did an extraordinary job and I really wish I could give them a rating independent of the game; the game is so godawful I can only liken it to Final Fantasy XIII. Just with worse voice acting. No matter how pretty you make this look, you can't disguise the fact that this is a Fukushima level dumpster fire.

    Lore:
    -BIG ORK follow ....little Ork?
    WHAT?

    -Shootas being able to kill a squad of space marines.... no.
    This violates even the table top's rules, let alone any form of cannon in any book series.

    -The Eldar are incredibly poorly portrayed with almost zero loyalty to how they should act regarding source material.

    Unfortunately, if I took the time to pidgeonhole every lore discrepancy, this would be a small novel. These are just some of the most glaring transgressions.

    -Overview and context:

    What happens when you try to turn a beautiful, flushed-out, respected, and revered RTS legacy into Dota 2.

    DoW was everything an RTS could hope to be and more.

    DoW II took everything DoW did and expanded into a different genre while retaining enough of DoW's RTS strengths and built a very personal world. It combined elements of the table top, and some minor rpg elements; this truly made it about 'YOUR GUYS.' It was Chaos Gate made manifest with better plot and an awesome community. Was it completely an RTS? No. It was more, it was DoW II. There wasn't a term for it, but it was at it's very core Warhammer 40k. It was about your guys.

    There is no legitimate cover mechanic. No more epic showdowns while being pinned down behind a tank. The map is literally divided into lanes. All mechanics from both the table top and former DoW games forsaken. No true unit customization or specialization with three types of armor.

    Greatest betrayal and heresy present:
    The game and every single encounter boils down to split second skill activation... there is no real form of strategy present. Just rush in and use your skills fast. This is an enormous betrayal to both RTS and the DoW legacy. There is no strategy, just mindless bum rushing and ... multi-laser cannons.

    DoW III is a disaster in every sense of the word, it is Relic's death knell.

    By the Grace of the Golden Throne, I declare Exterminatus upon Dawn of War III.
    I hereby sign the death warrant of an entire title and consign the whole of the work to oblivion.

    May Imperial Justice account in all balance; the Emperor protects.    … Expand
  25. Styke
    Aug 3, 2017
    0
    There's not a single redeemable factor in the game, and this is from one of the biggest fans of Relic and all of their games - I have signed copies of Homeworld and Company of Heroes. DOW3 is simply a cash-grab at the pre-teen market and shameless in it's simplicity.
  26. ciaociao
    Aug 2, 2017
    0
    Triumph of marketing over game design. This hybrid MOBA/RTS fails hard in both aspects, fake reviews here and on Steam from the same two PR people won't save this pile of SH*T. Campaign is trash, with the most useless and horrible dialogues ever made, written by an ape. Game design fails in almost every aspect except for race characterization, everything tries to push you to multiplayerTriumph of marketing over game design. This hybrid MOBA/RTS fails hard in both aspects, fake reviews here and on Steam from the same two PR people won't save this pile of SH*T. Campaign is trash, with the most useless and horrible dialogues ever made, written by an ape. Game design fails in almost every aspect except for race characterization, everything tries to push you to multiplayer badly and races aren't even balanced so it's pointless, this game should be canceled from history because it's Relic's ME:Andromeda. Stop making mediocre games to appeal the stupid kid masses, you are killing the industry, change field and quit your job designers and brand managers.… Expand
  27. Pavel1874
    Aug 1, 2017
    0
    Do not purchase.
    1) Boring gameplay, no story
    2) Really, this is NOT WH40K setting, it is a funny cartoon for 4+ children! 3) Poor graphics (like 10 years old), worse than DOW I 4) Poor tactics possibilities for multiplay 5) This is not RTS, but a cheap simplified MOBA Just admit, that 80% of positive opinions is only from release date! This is marketing or people have no gameplay    Do not purchase.
    1) Boring gameplay, no story
    2) Really, this is NOT WH40K setting, it is a funny cartoon for 4+ children!
    3) Poor graphics (like 10 years old), worse than DOW I
    4) Poor tactics possibilities for multiplay
    5) This is not RTS, but a cheap simplified MOBA

    Just admit, that 80% of positive opinions is only from release date! This is marketing or people have no gameplay experience    … Expand
  28. Imnuktam
    Jul 26, 2017
    0
    Played this about 30 hours at a buddies house, then bought it just so I could actually tell this review without having it deleted by the toxic moderator on that forum.

    I personally was hoping for something that had the gameplay and basebuilding of DOW1 combined with the Garisonable buildings, cover system, Leader choices and wargear of DOW2, with new and great graphics and ragdoll    Played this about 30 hours at a buddies house, then bought it just so I could actually tell this review without having it deleted by the toxic moderator on that forum.

    I personally was hoping for something that had the gameplay and basebuilding of DOW1 combined with the Garisonable buildings, cover system, Leader choices and wargear of DOW2, with new and great graphics and ragdoll physics.

    What we got was none of that, instead..

    Sync Kills got removed
    Garisonable buildings removed
    Intelligent cover removed. Replaced by a mindless bubble shields.
    Cartoony graphics replaced grimdark of old.
    No ability to rotate camera.
    No risk style campaign like we loved in DOW1
    No game speed setting like in DOW1
    No Co-op style campaign i loved from DOW2
    No last stand mode like we loved in DOW2
    Only 3 races
    Only 9 maps
    A Gabriel angelos doing frontflips in terminator armor.

    Watch this video and around 8 min in you will see the interviewer throw out a bait statement saying "warhammer lore is stupid and over the top" Phils response was to laugh, nod and agree repeatedly.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_QBkq1uMs4

    Its no wonder it missed on so many levels when that is the lead designer and how he responds to someone criticizing the game. Even his response to Gabriel Angelos flipping in term armor was made up by players on development forums and just regurgitated in mass by phil to say "yeah he can jump". Which proves he heard everyones complaints/suggestions during development and just ignored them since he didnt care.

    Another reason game ended up in this state is the moderation. During development me and many of my friends spent time in the official forums critiquing losing the things stated above and the direction of the game. All we got in response was argued with by the mod of all people. Each and every thing listed above the mod would show up and just argue with you til you felt you were wasting your time and we all eventually left and quit wasting our time.

    Once the game released, they let the same mod police the steam forums. Now to go along with arguing with the users, he bans them left and right and then sanitizes the forums to make it look like everyone is happy. Over and over anyone who spoke out about the game found themselves banned and their posts deleted, while people who attacked those that criticized the game were given free reign to say as they pleased, mod would just show up and sanitize their ignorant remarks or remove them IF any action was taken.

    Here is a link to where steam users talk about that issue.

    http://steamcommunity.com/groups/acpreport/discussions/0/2119355556483626427/

    They even went so far as to plant people who spend all day every day arguing with people who say anything negative about game, I have even seen these people slip up and instead of mention things like "they are releasing" they slip into first person and say we are releasing showing that they work for or are affiliated with the company and are hiding that fact.

    Dont get this game, you will regret it. There is very good reason it is mostly negative status last 30 days and has such a poor population. Look at it compared to COH or even Dow1, less than soulstorm made a decade ago and less by far than all DOW1 games added together. This is after less than 3 monts, and since no effort was put into singleplayer, multiplayer is all you will be left with after doing a campaign that even the people who defend this game didnt like, since you will be forced to constantly switch between all three races.

    Multi and ghostown populations is all you will have left for your money, sitting in ques til you log off. Just buy DOW 1 and DL the free titanium mod! You will end up with 50 or so unique units to use with each army, which is about as many as all 3 factions in dow 3 combined.

    http://steamcharts.com/search/?q=Dawn+of+war    … Expand
  29. DarkFire
    Jul 22, 2017
    2
    The graphics are reasonable, the sound is OK, but that's as far as this game goes. All the wonderful aspects of DoW1 and DoW2 that made them enjoyable, albeit very different games, have been removed. As a hard core DoW and 40K fan, this game simply doesn't cut it. In the Emperor's name, this heresy of a game must not survive!
  30. Kamamura
    Jul 21, 2017
    1
    Pitiful shade of the former glory of its two predecessors. What's worse, the developer is not above using their moderator henchmen to suppress valid criticism of this mediocre product in Steam forums. Well, obviously, I don't need your forums to discuss your games to survive, however you need my money to sustain your revenue stream to survive - money you will now never get. Refunded, moving on.
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Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Most Discussed PC Game of 2017
29
#29 Most Shared PC Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 76 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 55 out of 76
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 76
  3. Negative: 0 out of 76
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jul 5, 2017
    60
    The new Warhammer is a classic strategy in core, but simplified to MOBA elements. It combines the gameplay of the first Dawn of War with the latter, and it certainly works nice. [Issue#275]
  2. GameOver.gr
    Jun 30, 2017
    65
    DOW 3 is trying very hard to satisfy many target groups -RTS players, online competitors, mobs fans- but in the end it fails to deliver something memorable.
    Read full review
  3. games(TM)
    Jun 23, 2017
    80
    The games that play out as intended - courtesy of the twists that Relic has brought into the franchise this time around - well, those will stay in your mind as some of the most intense RTS games you'll ever have. [Issue#188, p.74]
See all critic reviews »