Homeworld 3 Reviews
Homeworld 3 is everything I hoped it could be. It improves on its predecessors in every conceivable way, and adds meaningful new features including a cooperative War Games mode. I never thought it would happen again, but I'm happy to report…the mothership has cleared the scaffold...we are away once again.
Homeworld fans can take heart the latest game in the series sets new benchmarks for the franchise. The new line-of-sight gameplay mechanics make for even more challenging space combat strategies. The gameplay depth is greater, the customization is deeper, and the replayability is longer. Homeworld 3 oozes quality across all aspects.
When the dust settles, there are several multiplayer options to explore and War Games is a solid gold winner that looks like it will continue to grow over time. I had only a few gripes, but Homeworld 3 plays incredible from top to bottom, and I think whether you’re a fan of the series that’s been waiting for this or a newcomer that just likes good strategy, everyone who takes control of the Khar Kushan is in for an absolute feast of stellar strategy gameplay.
Homeworld 3 marks a successful return to a long-revered series. Bringing back the successful space strategy series, but improving the combat by a large amount with a more tactical approach, Blackbird Interactive has successfully made their mark. With exceptional tactical combat, made all the more important by the fact that everything carries over, and one bad mistake could cripple you much further down the line. The additional War Games mode only enhances this, making for a very engaging title.
It's a shame that Homeworld 3's plot seems to completely miss the point of the story in the older games, focusing too much on Imogen's hyperspace superpowers rather than on the Kushan's struggle as a people, because gameplay and presentation are otherwise top notch and prove once again Blackbird Interactive's competence and skill as a versatile RTS developer.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Homeworld 3's single-player campaign brings the series' epic space battles in for intense, close-quarters combat on visually diverse maps full of enormous obstacles to plan around. At the same time, it delivers an unexpectedly personal story that leans a little too heavily on the cliche of a new-generation protagonist seeking out the old.
Homeworld 3's multiplayer skirmish mode may be barebones, but it gives us all we need to wage visually impressive war with fleets of starships. The co-op War Games mode, on the other hand, gets an extra boost from its novel roguelite-style progression.
Overall, Homeworld 3 feels like a great return to form for this iconic RTS franchise. Diehard fans will love experiencing what comes next in this turbulent galaxy, while newcomers can use this as the perfect way to jump into the series for the first time. And even though some of the controls can be unintuitive and the camera needs a bit of work, the battles seem to be as exciting as ever. It really feels like Blackbird Interactive understood just what makes Homeworld and the RTS genre tick here, so hopefully there are plenty more adventures in store for the future.
Homeworld 3 offers the experience of handling a full fleet with aplomb through tactical gameplay options that live up to and build on the systems of its predecessors. With gorgeous atmosphere and crisp audio design, it's a game that asks big questions of its new cast of characters with some solid writing. Not every narrative decision lands, but Homeworld 3 stands on its own feet as a worthy new entry in the long-running franchise.
Homeworld 3 is a welcome return for one of strategy gaming's most revered series, although the sometimes-clunky interface can make it feel older than it is.
Homeworld 3 balances incredibly technical gameplay with streamlined mechanics that is easy to get into, but difficult to master.
While not as trailblazing as its predecessors, Homeworld 3 is still a well-made and worthwhile sci-fi real-time strategy with a solid story and exceptional production values.
Overall, Homeworld 3 takes an admirable approach to keeping what worked previously in the series and adding to it in smart and meaningful ways. The modernization of the series has yielded amazing benefits that make it feel like the definitive Homeworld experience unless you are looking to go back and experience the whole story for yourself.
The strategy itself starts off relatively easy to grasp, with the game gradually layering in new features and complexities over the brief campaign’s 13 missions (there’s plenty of multiplayer options for longevity). When the action inevitably overwhelms, players are free to use ‘tactical pause’ to gain some wiggle room. That’s also a good opportunity to safely take in the stunning vistas; it’s just a shame that the UI is a little too imperious, frequently blocking the view. Nevertheless, Homeworld 3 is a fitting return to form for this influential series.
Homeworld 3 takes some big swings, but while it's a very good RTS, it never quite comes together in the same way as its predecessors.
As a sequel to a classic RTS, Homeworld 3 retains the core experience while streamlining the series and introducing a new, highly satisfying and replayable co-op mode. However, the game's sparse content and poor network conditions hinder a smooth and enjoyable experience. All of these factors suggest that Homeworld 3 has a lot of room for improvement. Homeworld 3 still has a long way to go in order to win over gamers and become a worthy successor.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
Although Homeworld 3 certainly doesn't put the cult strategy series to shame, and space flight has its own charm, it can't be said that it's a leap or a big step forward.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Although not quite the triumphant homecoming fans hoped for, Homeworld 3 is still a sleek and at times spectacular space RTS.
Homeworld's operatic space combat is as engrossing as ever in its third outing, although a weaker story and a slightly odd cover system dim the shine of its star.
A flawed sequel, that undermines some of the original games' greatest pleasures, but this is still a uniquely enjoyable real-time strategy, with plenty of interesting new ideas.