Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Avernum 3 delivers a richly detailed role-playing experience that thrives on player freedom and deep systems. From the moment you assemble your party of one to four characters, you’re thrust into a vast underground realm filled with quests, secrets, and moral quandaries. Character creation allows for a variety of classes and skills, from sword-wielding warriors to arcane spellcasters, giving you the tools to tackle challenges in multiple ways.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

The combat is turn-based and tactical, encouraging thoughtful positioning and resource management. You’ll learn to balance melee attacks, ranged assaults, and spellcasting, while keeping an eye on hit points and fatigue. Special skills like stealth, trap detection, and diplomatic persuasion open alternative paths through dungeons and storylines, rewarding creativity over brute force.

Exploration is at the heart of Avernum 3. The game world is non-linear, with countless sidequests and hidden areas waiting to be discovered. You can choose to follow the main storyline—striving to cleanse the surface of its unnatural blight—or strike out on your own, setting up shop in cave cities as merchants or treasure hunters. This open-ended structure ensures that no two playthroughs feel the same.

Graphics

Visually, Avernum 3 embraces a classic, sprite-based art style that recalls the golden age of PC role-playing games. While the graphics may not boast cutting-edge 3D models, the hand-crafted environments are rich with atmospheric detail—from the flickering caves lit by bioluminescent fungi to the crumbling ruins of ancient fortresses.

Character and monster sprites are distinct and colorful, making it easy to identify foes and party members at a glance. Each new region introduces a fresh palette of textures and terrain types, keeping exploration visually interesting. Even small touches—like animated water features or dynamic weather effects—help to enliven the subterranean world.

The user interface is straightforward and functional, featuring tabbed menus for inventory, skills, and party stats. Though it leans toward a more utilitarian design, it responds quickly and provides the information you need without unnecessary clutter. For fans of retro RPGs, the combination of pixel-perfect art and clean menus will feel comfortably familiar.

Story

The narrative thrust of Avernum 3 begins as your party emerges from the prison caves of Avernum, expecting a triumphant return to a restored surface world. Instead, you find the land corrupted by a mysterious sickness and overrun by monstrous creatures. This stark contrast sets the tone for a story that is equal parts dark fantasy and hopeful redemption.

Quests are woven together in a tapestry of adventure, political intrigue, and moral choice. You can ally with underground resistance movements, confront tyrannical governors, or broker uneasy peace among warring factions. The outcomes of these decisions ripple across the game world, influencing everything from available merchants to key alliances in the late game.

Avernum 3’s dialogue and lore are surprisingly deep for an RPG of its era. NPCs have distinct personalities and backgrounds, and many sidequests reveal poignant stories of loss, betrayal, or perseverance. Whether you’re negotiating peace between rival clans or researching ancient texts to cure the plague, the writing consistently rewards players who engage with its richly imagined world.

Overall Experience

Avernum 3 is a testament to the enduring appeal of old-school RPG design done right. Its sprawling world and non-linear structure offer remarkable replay value, as each playthrough can emphasize different skills, story arcs, or moral decisions. You can spend dozens of hours simply exploring side dungeons or mastering every trade skill.

The pacing strikes a satisfying balance between epic questlines and smaller, character-driven stories. You’ll often find yourself torn between urgent missions to save the surface and intriguing diversions that flesh out Avernum’s underground cities. This blend of scope and detail keeps the journey feeling fresh from start to finish.

For fans of classic role-playing games, Avernum 3 represents a compelling blend of nostalgia and depth. Its blend of open-ended exploration, tactical combat, and nuanced storytelling makes it a standout title for those seeking a substantial, player-driven adventure. Whether you’re a veteran of the series or new to the world of Avernum, this game offers an engrossing experience that will keep you delving into its cavernous depths for hours on end.

Retro Replay Score

null/10