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

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. r4f
    Apr 28, 2017
    5
    As a old Dow1 and Dow2 player and 40k sympathizer I have to say: what a huge letdown :(

    There is not too much to add to the existing user comments, except that they could at least changed the title so to not link to the Dawn Of War franchise this... standardized mediocrity.
  2. SpecH82
    May 1, 2017
    5
    The game is mediocre through and through. The voice acting isn’t particularly good nor bad. The music is nothing special. The levels, scenery and the cartoon art style arn’t spectacular in anyway or form. It’s Starcraftish. While I do enjoy Starcraft. This game is not Starcraft. It’s dawn of war, or was supposed to be. Removing the dynamic cover system and changing the art style was aThe game is mediocre through and through. The voice acting isn’t particularly good nor bad. The music is nothing special. The levels, scenery and the cartoon art style arn’t spectacular in anyway or form. It’s Starcraftish. While I do enjoy Starcraft. This game is not Starcraft. It’s dawn of war, or was supposed to be. Removing the dynamic cover system and changing the art style was a mistake, which changed the game from something unique, to a standard rts games with nothing special going for it.
    The graphics on max setting isn’t jaw dropping or even good. It’s just average. And that’s what this game really is, average. It doesn’t shine at any moment. It’s like relic didn’t know what they wanted to do with this game.
    This game is a five.    … Expand
  3. awinters86
    May 1, 2017
    7
    I am changing my review, I admit I knee-jerked a 0, and this game is not a 0. It is somewhat fun to play.

    On my complaint of the graphics, I am realizing that the graphics being mediocre does allow HUGE battles with hundreds of units, with no slowdown. I still feel like the gameplay is sloppy, but I am also realizing that the "ultimate control" I desire when playing an RTS is    I am changing my review, I admit I knee-jerked a 0, and this game is not a 0. It is somewhat fun to play.

    On my complaint of the graphics, I am realizing that the graphics being mediocre does allow HUGE battles with hundreds of units, with no slowdown.

    I still feel like the gameplay is sloppy, but I am also realizing that the "ultimate control" I desire when playing an RTS is unreasonable. I used to save scum DoW 1 and 2 if I ever lost a unit in DoW1 or had a team member go down in DoW 2. This game is more about war being brutal and units are dying rapidly on all sides.

    Fact of the matter is, I came on here and gave a 0, got a Steam refund, but just couldn't resist buying it again and I am now having fun. It isn't the game I had hoped for, but I do encourage people to avoid a knee jerk reaction and missing out on a fun game.    … Expand
  4. armchairjerk
    Apr 27, 2017
    6
    Just enough to keep you entertained, but not much beyond that. The game at its current state is very barren and lacks depth in terms of its content instead relying on flashy activation of heroes moves to liven up the skirmishes.
    Armies take minutes to build and can be demolished in seconds giving almost no sense of urgency to the combat as you are not punished to heavily for losing    Just enough to keep you entertained, but not much beyond that. The game at its current state is very barren and lacks depth in terms of its content instead relying on flashy activation of heroes moves to liven up the skirmishes.
    Armies take minutes to build and can be demolished in seconds giving almost no sense of urgency to the combat as you are not punished to heavily for losing troops.
    This game is confused on what lane it should stay in, RTS or MOBA. It falls short in both. I applaud relic for trying this formula but shake my head.    … Expand
  5. Hirdannen
    May 27, 2017
    5
    Dawn of war 2 was, and still is, one of my most loved game of all-time. I even liked Retribution (slightly less than Chaos Rising and DoW 2 Vanilla). I think the commando-type Gameplay is what hooked me, alongisde the universe. I played all campaigns in the most difficult setting possible multiple times, because I enjoyed the challenge it provided. I Played a little DoW 1 but not nearly asDawn of war 2 was, and still is, one of my most loved game of all-time. I even liked Retribution (slightly less than Chaos Rising and DoW 2 Vanilla). I think the commando-type Gameplay is what hooked me, alongisde the universe. I played all campaigns in the most difficult setting possible multiple times, because I enjoyed the challenge it provided. I Played a little DoW 1 but not nearly as much. So I had high expectations for DoW 3 but I wasn't expecting the same thing, because of this whole THQ bankrupt thing.

    DoW 3 is not to be compared to DoW 2. It is a modern RTS that is very similar to Starcraft 2, far too similar imo. When I see replays or when I play against the IA, it feels like Starcraft. So DoW 3 is closer to DoW 1 than DoW 2. You liked DoW2 ? Then you might not like DoW 3.

    I was bored during the campaigns. I found myself struggling to get the motivation to finish the campaign. The heroic units from DoW 2 have been switched by Elite units. The difference is that these units have no progression. No experience, no equipement. Just 2 "army" abilities to unlock, which have sometimes a meaningful impact on the experience. The idea ot have a lot of different elite units seemed great and If I had the opportunity to customize them like in DoW 2, it would have been awesome (Did I mention i loved this game ? I also played a lot of the Last Stand..).

    It's not a MOBA because of its heroes, because in a moba your hero progress as the battle unfolds. Even in Warcraft 3 your hero had progression. In DoW 2 too. So actually Elite units are exactly this, units. They are not heroes, they are just powerful units you have to micromanage more. I felt very disappointed by this. Except for the Titans and some classic units (terminators, I see you), I felt most of the Elite units to be, well... useful but not really enjoyable. The main Ork Big Boss seems ridiculous to me, when you compare to other Big Bosses from the Warhammer universe. Of course, you might not even see your Elite unit depending on the game, since for some of them it's incredibly hard to get them if you're losing (which I am, often).

    Actually the maps look like what you would find in a MOBA game, with lanes, turrets and power core... Maybe that's why the term has been used recently. The maps are uninteresting and very small, making for very nervous skirmishes if you're okay with that. But since objectives are fixed (Shield -> Turret -> Power core), it can be very quickly boring.

    Dawn of War 3's main impact on my life is that I reinstalled Dawn of War 2 and remade all the campaigns. And even in some of the silliest Retribution campaigns I found more fun than in the entire solo experience of DoW 3.

    I wished I could love this game... This it not a bad game, this is just not the game I wanted it to be.    … Expand
  6. MechaManekiNeko
    Aug 6, 2020
    5
    Big fan of the DoW 40k series and I have to say I enjoyed the updates both graphically and tactics wise. That being said Relic really **** up when the programmed the AI. Simple to beat (on all difficulties) if you push hard early and keep pushing. impossible to beat if you want to build up a base and dominate the map(on all difficulties). This normally would not be an issue, but as manyBig fan of the DoW 40k series and I have to say I enjoyed the updates both graphically and tactics wise. That being said Relic really **** up when the programmed the AI. Simple to beat (on all difficulties) if you push hard early and keep pushing. impossible to beat if you want to build up a base and dominate the map(on all difficulties). This normally would not be an issue, but as many have stated the community really didn't get behind it so activity is low. This makes the AI even more crucial and draws even more attention to its piss poor programming. Could be a great game if you get a large enough active community, but as it is now, its just a waste of cash.… Expand
  7. Puzzola
    May 11, 2017
    5
    Well, I played the game not too much by now, but I found it being very boring. The previous chapters made me eager to continue the campaign, this one gives me the feeling that it's only a confused flashing of lights on a battlefield. Maybe there's a reason why so much users vote it about 5 ...
    The campaign is split among the three factions. You jump from to another while I think it would    Well, I played the game not too much by now, but I found it being very boring. The previous chapters made me eager to continue the campaign, this one gives me the feeling that it's only a confused flashing of lights on a battlefield. Maybe there's a reason why so much users vote it about 5 ...
    The campaign is split among the three factions. You jump from to another while I think it would be better to follow a single faction campaign and then try the other two to get used step by step to commands, troops and upgrades. As already said by many, buildings are limited to 5 each faction, troops are quite the same, melee, shooters, support (heavies), vehicles and Heroes. Boring, so boring...
    Now, after playing it, I feel as if I lost my time.
    I'll go back to other games.    … Expand
  8. Robinjhoe
    May 9, 2017
    5
    I really want to like this game, but goddamn they do everything that i simply cannot.
    40k is a huge universe with countless awesome stories and filled with extreme badasses.
    What is the first thing i see? Gabriel Angelos doing a huge jump in a terminator armor, because you know, it is just an armor like a tank made for a person to wear. Second. I admit i am a chaos fanboy, but even    I really want to like this game, but goddamn they do everything that i simply cannot.
    40k is a huge universe with countless awesome stories and filled with extreme badasses.
    What is the first thing i see? Gabriel Angelos doing a huge jump in a terminator armor, because you know, it is just an armor like a tank made for a person to wear.

    Second. I admit i am a chaos fanboy, but even if i wouldnt be i am still offended that they until the end only made 3 races, the rest comes with dlc. Great!

    Third. The only race that got something new are the orcs with their scrap, but Eldar and SM are just generic and boring to play.

    Fourth. The campaign. They said they want to show the war from every side. But why force it. The campaign is just a huge tutorial and it feels off everytime you get torn out from one race and thrown to the next. It feels off.

    40k can save a lot. But that doesnt mean it isnt hurting.    … Expand
  9. Antioch
    Apr 29, 2017
    7
    This game is Dawn of War + Dawn of War II mashed together. It retains some qualities of both but doesn't excel in either way. Seems like a compromise to appease fans of both stlyles of games.
    It is a solid good game with an "ok" lenghty albeit heavily scripted and linear campaign.
    It adheres to the 40k lore and style and has some new mechanics that are really fitting and cool like the    This game is Dawn of War + Dawn of War II mashed together. It retains some qualities of both but doesn't excel in either way. Seems like a compromise to appease fans of both stlyles of games.
    It is a solid good game with an "ok" lenghty albeit heavily scripted and linear campaign.
    It adheres to the 40k lore and style and has some new mechanics that are really fitting and cool like the whaaaaaghh mechanic for the orks. it is also a fully fledged release with NO MICROTRANSACTIONS, who would have thought in this day and age! Huge props for that!
    All factions feel and play unique from eachother.
    I'd say that it is a solid but pretty avarage/good rts overall as to what you expect from such a title so I'm not listing the pros, I'm going to list some noteworthy cons and everything not on the con list is okay.

    Cons:
    Limited number of multiplayer maps.

    One game mode with built in rush protection. Why not let people be good at countering rushes instead of babying and on some maps potentially creating stalemates instead.

    Mechanic for doctrines and elites are based on pure chance as you don't know what your opponent is using so you can't effectively plan to counter. Also the economy for unlocking these are restrictive and you need to focus on one of the factions you play to advance them, if you want to try another you are prone to having a disadvantage unless you luck out against an opponent that also plays a faction they haven't invested in.

    No rebindable keys! I can't believe this huge oversight in this genre, I mean WTF where they thinking?!

    The game is always played in borderless window no matter what resolution or option you choose. No bordered or true fullscreen!

    The **** AA to date, not only is it a poor mans FXAA that turns the graphics to mud, it also tanks the framerate up to 50% of what you get with it off.

    Some very overpowered elite units that makes the game unbalansed, especially since you can't plan properly before a game.

    Attackmove does not differentiate between units and buildings or between defensive buildings and non defensive buildings. Some heavy microing required to get your units to hit the biggest threats on the field.

    Summary, a decent but not great RTS not without it's flaws. There is fun to be had in the base game but even more important is it has support for the steam workshop and can potentially turn into a gem thanks to the modding community. And if the devs take the criticism into consideration the expansion that is sure to follow might be a very good rts.    … Expand
  10. ShaneHido
    Jun 11, 2017
    5
    I think the game is ok, not great and not even good. Its a little different so I guess poeple are upset but really thats what relic does. We would all love Dow1 remastered or even a remake but thats not going to happen.

    There actually is a ton of stratigy in this game, Im quite surprised, however; the game completely missed the grim feel of the warhammer universe and the gameplay was    I think the game is ok, not great and not even good. Its a little different so I guess poeple are upset but really thats what relic does. We would all love Dow1 remastered or even a remake but thats not going to happen.

    There actually is a ton of stratigy in this game, Im quite surprised, however; the game completely missed the grim feel of the warhammer universe and the gameplay was sub par

    Buggest con, no death animations (angry)!!! Its 40k ffs!

    If you like rts this is your jam... period    … Expand
  11. Xanoth
    May 5, 2017
    7
    The worst thing about the game is the "fan" base.
    I don't agree with every choice the developers made and feel it was a little over simplified as far as player customisation/options are concerned (no war gear).
    At the end of the day though, it's a fun game if you don't approach it with unrealistic expectations (meaning you wanted a remake of DOW1 or DOW2 or a magical blend of the bits    The worst thing about the game is the "fan" base.
    I don't agree with every choice the developers made and feel it was a little over simplified as far as player customisation/options are concerned (no war gear).
    At the end of the day though, it's a fun game if you don't approach it with unrealistic expectations (meaning you wanted a remake of DOW1 or DOW2 or a magical blend of the bits you specifically liked from both because everyone else surely must agree with you...).
    I get the feeling those claiming it's a MOBA haven't ever played a MOBA before...    … Expand
  12. androkles
    May 21, 2017
    6
    The game is definitely different from the other DoW games and I agree that the game lacks content to justify its price. Same couple of maps you play online and only one game mode (seriously?? why??).

    I personally really like the MOBA elements combined with RTS. It makes some interesting games where both macro and micro management becomes crucial for succes. Campaign is pretty    The game is definitely different from the other DoW games and I agree that the game lacks content to justify its price. Same couple of maps you play online and only one game mode (seriously?? why??).

    I personally really like the MOBA elements combined with RTS. It makes some interesting games where both macro and micro management becomes crucial for succes.

    Campaign is pretty standard from what you have seen forever in RTS games. Nothing special really.

    The multiplayer games are what makes this game somewhat worth the money. They can be really intense, fun and rewarding. Seems like there are always a couple of games open to jump in to (for now).

    This game had so much potential, but the severe lack of content and lack of polish makes this pretty mediocre.

    I pray for some major updates or content additions.    … Expand
  13. Skyware
    Feb 11, 2020
    5
    Down of war 3 была надеждой на воскрешение жанра RTS,в глазах массовой аудитории.Как вы поняли ключевое слово здесь "была",ибо третий ДоВ с треском провалился.Игра постоянно пыталась найти идеальный жанр,и казалось бы второй ДоВ,вот оно!Всё же нормально!Просто берите и улучшайте,но нет,они выбрали другой жанр.Что и сказалось на качестве игры.
    Бонусом в русской локализации перевод делали    Down of war 3 была надеждой на воскрешение жанра RTS,в глазах массовой аудитории.Как вы поняли ключевое слово здесь "была",ибо третий ДоВ с треском провалился.Игра постоянно пыталась найти идеальный жанр,и казалось бы второй ДоВ,вот оно!Всё же нормально!Просто берите и улучшайте,но нет,они выбрали другой жанр.Что и сказалось на качестве игры.
    Бонусом в русской локализации перевод делали не иначе как под тяжёлыми веществами,с такими чудными примерами как "Тигры серебро","Карсотка морконавт" и "Страж воронов"...
    А ведь были надежды...    … Expand
  14. ComandanteCobra
    Apr 4, 2019
    5
    Plain, it's a step back from the great "Dark crusade" (that has lots of strategy and re playability) or Dawn of war 2 simpler fun.
    CONS: I find: actual combat boring, base building slow and dated, only 3 races. There are too many units to micro-manage at once. ....so you'll easily forget about units unique skills to just send hordes of troops to destroy the opposition, great intro movie    Plain, it's a step back from the great "Dark crusade" (that has lots of strategy and re playability) or Dawn of war 2 simpler fun.
    CONS: I find: actual combat boring, base building slow and dated, only 3 races. There are too many units to micro-manage at once. ....so you'll easily forget about units unique skills to just send hordes of troops to destroy the opposition, great intro movie but almost no other fmv.
    PROS: Great voice dubbing faithful to past DOW games, Gorgutz!!!! , Second half of game...where missions (from about mission 10 to 17) are better where we have elite characters engaging in special missions with different objectives (like escape form a zone, escort, exploration and so on).
    I didn't agree with "it's a Moba not an rts" debate because i didn't find those change annoying..but    … Expand
  15. vonfidde
    Sep 8, 2023
    6
    Downgrade from Warhammer 2, not sure whats going on at CA. The increase in DLCprices won't help.
  16. Nexon22
    Aug 27, 2023
    7
    Игра не заслужила хей1та который обрушился на нее. Хоть 3 часть не такая же крутая как 1 и 2, но она довольна не плохая. Одним не нравится что она довольно яркая. Другим прыгающий Ангелос в термоарморе. Хоть я не оправдываю Relic по этим критериям. Но как игра она нормальная. И атмосферу Warhammer я почувствовал. Уклон в героев мне лично не понравился, да и цвета немного потемнееИгра не заслужила хей1та который обрушился на нее. Хоть 3 часть не такая же крутая как 1 и 2, но она довольна не плохая. Одним не нравится что она довольно яркая. Другим прыгающий Ангелос в термоарморе. Хоть я не оправдываю Relic по этим критериям. Но как игра она нормальная. И атмосферу Warhammer я почувствовал. Уклон в героев мне лично не понравился, да и цвета немного потемнее желательно. Но главная проблема игры что Relic перестали ее поддерживать. И это довольно печально… Expand

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 »