Screenrant has reviewed the RTS/RPG mix Spellforce 3 Reforced Edition:

Spellforce 3 Reforced Review: A Balanced RPG to RTS Blend

Spellforce 3 Reforced successfully manages to blend isometric RPG and RTS gameplay elements and combines them with a complex, winding fantasy story.

Historically, western RPGs have often had a strong tactical angle to them, whether through the strategic angle of the Banner Saga series or the turn-based system of the original Fallout games. However, the Spellforce games very much entwine the two from a game structure perspective, combining RTS and RPG mechanics to create something quite different. Developer Grimoire Games initially released Spellforce 3 in 2017, and now a new expanded version called Spellforce 3 Reforced is available.

[...]

Overall, Spellforce 3 Reforced is a fun RTS/RPG hybrid with a very compelling story. The individual gameplay components work well, although more narrative fluidity when focusing on RTS moments could have made Spellforce 3 Reforced a must-play. Nonetheless, fans of both RTS and RPG genres will find something to love here.

Score: 3.5/5

IGC has reviewed the RPG/RTS mix Spellforce 3 Reforced:

Spellforce 3 Reforced Review

RTSs on consoles don’t have a storied history, but they do have a relatively long one. I can remember in the 1990s seeing Westwood try and port Command & Conquer to the PSOne along with what looked like a cludgy mouse-style controller. It is fair to say that this didn’t spark a craze of porting or developing RTS’ for consoles. Despite some notable and fun RTS games like the HALO Wars series, strategy fans on consoles have had to make do with tactics games and the odd turn-based grand strategy games such as Romance of the Three Kingdoms and various ports of the Civ and Tropico franchises. Spellforce is probably the second-best attempt, after HALO Wars, of implementing RTS on console and is well worth your time.

[...]

Spellforce 3 Reforced has a terrible name, a close second to Kingdoms of Amalur Re-reckoning. And while the controls aren’t perfect, they are darn close to it. The game mechanics are a little old-fashioned but in the grand scheme of things that doesn’t matter as it is a good time for veterans of the genre and newcomers alike.

Spellforce 3 Reforced gets a new feature called Journey Mode.

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Check out the latest SpellForce 3 Reforced trailer for a look at what to expect with the Journey Mode feature of this RTS and RPG hybrid game. Journey Mode allows you to create your own hero and play with up to three friends or challenge them in PvP matches. 

SpellForce III Reforced launches on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on June 7, 2022. The game is also available now on PC.

Thanks Couchpotato!

James Bishop reviewed the strategy RPG SpellForce 3:

SpellForce III Review - An Excellent RPG Experience

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The Spellforce 3 Reforced Edition has been released today- here's a list of enhancements.

Thanks Porcozaur!

Game Space checked out the expansion Spellforce 3: Fallen Gods:

SpellForce 3: Fallen God Review – It’s Not Easy Being Troll

SpellForce 3: Fallen God is the second standalone expansion for RTS/RPG mix SpellForce 3, with the first being Soul Harvest. Following the Purity Wars and their aftermath that shook the societies of Dark Elves and Dwarves, players can return to Eo to experience what it is like to be a Troll in the world of SpellForce. 

And, straight from the beginning, it isn’t an easy thing. Trolls have it tough: the tribes are being hunted by Elves for their tusks, enslaved by Orcs and wiped out by a mysterious disease known only as “the Rot” – possibly related to or being the Bloodburn from the base game. 

In addition to the above, your clan had just lost their legendary Chieftain, the protagonist’s father. Now it falls to you to guide dwindling numbers of the Moonkin clan to safety – if you can find it, that is. 

[...]

Summary

SpellForce 3: Fallen God provides players with more SF3 goodness. The expansion loses to Soul Harvest in sheer numbers: SH featured two races to FG’s one, more specializations, abilities, etc. However, everything that is provided by Fallen God is much more unique. The story, told from an unusual perspective, shows you a gripping tale of a dwindling tribe trying to survive as opposed to previous instances of Saving The World.

Sharp tusks and thick hide!

The expansion Spellforce 3: Fallen God will be released tomorrow:

SpellForce 3: Fallen God - Story Trailer

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Spellforce 3 expansion Fallen God has a release date trailer showing November 3rd.

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SpellForce 3: Fallen God is coming November 3rd, 2020 and will be available as a stand-alone expansion for SpellForce 3 on PC.

DSOGaming reports that a new standalone expansion for Spellforce 3 has been announced called Fallen God.

Here are the new single-player features that SpellForce 3: Fallen God will sport:

• Salvaging of weapons to craft superior equipment for your tribe and your heroes
• The new character-shaping mechanic, adding true replayability value (see below)
• Multiple endings for the campaign, based on your decisions
• Character shaping throughout the single-player campaign:
  The choices you make in the campaign affect your companion’s skills and abilities. Plus they can contribute to the story through their own decisions, based on how you previously shaped their character.
• New playable faction: The Trolls. With their nomadic behavior, Trolls have a different playstyle than all other factions in SpellForce 3
• A new continent to explore: Urgath is full of mysteries and adventures for you and your heroes to discover.
• All-new soundtrack to underline the beauty and mystery of the new continent
• Full Steam Workshop integration and advanced modding tools

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TheGG reports that SpellForce 3 has some free DLC available called Oktoberfest.

Press release:
Vienna/Austria and Munich/Germany, September 26th, 2019 – Grimlore Games and THQ Nordic are today very happy to announce that the free Oktoberfest DLC is now available for “SpellForce 3” via Steam.

One crisp fall morning, General Aerev received an urgent letter from Queen Ayelith. It reads as follows:

General,

Reports have informed us of a barbaric ceremony taking place in the distant land of Bavaria: the “Oktoberfest.”

While no one knows the exact nature of the dark transgressions transpiring there, scouts report blasphemy and debauchery of unparalleled dimensions.

Intoxicated by excessive amounts of alcohol and hypnotised by unholy tunes called “Blasmusik,” the Oktoberfest is said to break even the most virtuous spirits — prompting men and women alike to break into salacious dance and mindlessly roar along to music of questionable taste.

For the sake of morality and all that’s good and holy, Your Queen commands you to foray into Bavaria, seize control of the ceremonial grounds, and put an end to this debauchery.

A specialised general from Bavaria with knowledge of native battle tactics shall aid you in your endeavours.

If possible, do return a barrel of “Wiesnbier” to Nortander upon emerging victorious. Or two. For, uhm, research.

Signed, Queen Ayelith

[...]

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A new faction trailer for Spellforce 3: Soul Harvest. This one shows the Dark Elves.

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SpellForce 3: Soul Harvest will be available May 28th!

Do I think we're superior?
What a crude question. What we are is different.

You, you're an empire of moths, each flapping off on its own, searching for the light - we're hornets, part of a hive. Yes, on our own, you might match us; three of yours against three of ours, and we'll see how the dice fall.

A swarm, General, that's what we are: our Sleepers will bleed you for our Twisted feed off your blood... all the while our harvesters reap the souls of your fallen and our emissaries reanimate their hulls as our servants.

But above all: You serve yourself. We serve something greater.

A new trailer for Spellforce 3 standalone addon 'Soul Harvest'.

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However, things aren’t as peaceful as they seem – when the Queen calls you, a disgraced General, back to your homeland, you’re plunged in a war on many fronts: While a hatemonger threatens to tear apart the Dwarven realm, an enigmatic cult of Dark Elves harvests the souls of people for reasons unknown.

Release: TBA 2019 / Windows Pc

@Bluesnews Spellforce 3 Soul Harvest has been announced for next year which expands the playable races to five.

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Three years after the Purity Wars, Nortander is on the cusp of a new era. However, things aren't as peaceful as they seem - when the Queen calls you, a disgraced General, back to your homeland, you're plunged in a war on many fronts: While a hatemonger threatens to tear apart the Dwarven realm, an enigmatic cult of Dark Elves harvests the souls of people for reasons unknown. Gather your allies and prevent a catastrophe!

Features:
- Stand-alone expansion to the RTS/RPG mix SpellForce 3
- Story mode featuring a dark and enthralling story with a playtime of around 20 hours
- Build your distinct heroes by a deep skilltree
- Lead your army to victory in a new sector-based RTS system
- Use unique mechanics of your army units to win epic battles
- Use flying units for even more advance tactics
- Play 5 distinct factions: Humans, Orcs, Elves, Dwarves and Dark Elves
- Epic fantasy soundtrack and bleeding edge top down graphics
Multiplayer Features:
- Each faction has three unique heroes that compliment individual play styles
- A modern multiplayer lobby will allow easier matchmaking and ranked play
- Play new game modes for a special challenge
- Create your own maps with the powerful modding tools.
New features compared to SpellForce 3:
- All-New Campaign: Featuring new storyline with over 20 hours of content
- All-New abilities and skilltrees for even more diverse heroes
- All-New RTS Gameplay: Sector-based system with a focus on global resource distribution and unique faction mechanic
- Unique mechanics and unique unit kits make the races feel very diverse and offer replay-value in the campaign
- Flying units allow more tactical elements
- New factions: Dwarves and Dark Elves - Overhauled UI makes the game more pleasant to look at and more readable

Spellforce 3 will have mod support.

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The critically acclaimed RTS/RPG SpellForce 3 gets a new, powerful map editor today. Players can not only create maps with the same tools as the development team, they can also use an extensive scripting tool to create their very own missions and custom maps, with unique rule-sets. You want to set up a MOBA-kind-of-map, where you only command heroes, while automated armies fight each other? Or do you prefer a Horde mode, fighting ever stronger waves of enemies? You can create them, you can make #MakeRTSGreatAgain.

This is the first step of the modding implementation for SpellForce 3. The map- and scripting editor will come with a detailed tutorial and glossary, to make the modding opportunities as accessible as possible to everyone. The modding tools are available now and can be downloaded directly via steam. Of course they are free for all owners of SpellForce 3.

Farflame spotted two reviews for Spellforce 3:

The Koalition: Score: 84%

OnlySP:

Spellforce 3 Review
[...]

Not all games are going to be winners, just as not all games will be losers. Some raise the bar for the industry while others lower it, and some do not move the bar at all. Spellforce 3 is one of those titles that does nothing to improve or diminish the standard. The gameplay is intricate in some areas and flat in others, the story is irrelevant, the audio is well-executed but not inventive, and the graphics are superb. The game is by no means a flop, but it is not a title people will be praising for years to come. In short, Spellforce 3 is worth a look, but not for the USD$50.00 price tag.

Gamespot has reviewed the RTS/RPG mix Spellforce 3:

Spellforce 3 Review

Some cross-genre games are blended like ingredients in a mixing bowl, while others let their two halves live side-by-side. SpellForce III fits into the latter category, pairing role-playing and real-time-strategy elements. Though the end result is anything but unified, such a contrasting design keeps you from falling into a consistent routine. It also broadens the outlook of the stereotypical fantasy RPG, expanding the limited worldview of a handful of adventurers into the more expansive perspective of a general controlling an army.
[...]
While both the RPG and RTS elements presented here stay true to form, the overall game is more than the sum of its parts because of how it makes such disparate concepts serve the goal of creating a militaristic role-playing epic. Incorporating base- and army-building into a traditional role-playing formula adds a scope and weight that would not be present if the game never went beyond three or four guys swinging swords and slinging spells. The end result may not be innovative, but it is an interesting and entertaining tweak of RPG conventions offering a lot to anyone looking for something offbeat and engaging.

Score: 7/10

The Good

• Merging of RPG and RTS provides two distinct game experiences in one
• Approachable for newcomers to either genre
• Deep and compelling storyline

The Bad

• Sort of a “jack of all trades, master of none” design
• Shallow systems grow wearisome by the end

Capsule Computers has reviewed the RTS/RPG mix Spellforce 3:

SpellForce 3 Review

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SpellForce 3 marks the return of the beloved RTS/RPG hybrid. Is it enough to make a new generation of gamers to fall in love?

Wccftech has reviewed the RTS/RPG mix Spellforce 3:

SpellForce 3 Review – Living in the Past

“It’s like [Game #1] meets [Game #2]”. We’ve all heard that line before. It tends to be the easiest way to describe a game that’s difficult to place in a traditional genre. Spellforce 3, even the Spellforce series as a whole has always eschewed sticking to a genre’s style. So how to best describe SpellForce? It’s Dragon Age meets Company of Heroes. It’s a mash-up of RPG and RTS. Something that has become more commonplace since the original SpellForce’s release in 2003.
SpellForce 3 in particular moves more towards RPG aspects, or at least that’s the perception I got when playing the game. Under new developers and publishers, and set half a millennium before the first game, SpellForce 3 looks to be resetting the series. Why this change? The original developers, Phenomic, were bought and eventually disbanded by EA. The publisher, JoWood, went into administration and were bought by Nordic games, who then bought the THQ trademark.
[...]
SpellForce 3 isn't a bad game, it can even be pretty good at parts. A vast world is left for you to explore with far reaching problems to solve. The game merges RPG and RTS in a great way, never leaving one side the worse for it. However, it can often fall foul of leaving you with little to do outside of RTS, with areas impressive to look at, but boring to walk through. There certainly is something interesting to find out with the story as well, but the delivery leaves a lot to want with too much exposition and terrible voice acting. You can certainly have fun with SpellForce, particularly the fast paced strategy side of things, but it can feel like a slog at times.

Pros

• The quick pace of the RTS is entertaining and keeps the game moving along
• Stunning visual design, particularly of huge imposing structures and varied terrain
• Great audio design with an excellent soundtrack and ambiance

Cons

• Extremely poor voice acting
• Story that is force fed and ultimately poorly delivered
• Poor level design when doing the RPG thing, maps being too large and sparsely occupied
• Basic AI that shows no tactical nuance
• A few bugs here and there which can cause irritation

Score: 6.5/10

PC Gamer has reviewed Spellforce 3:

SpellForce 3 review

SpellForce 3 presents a mishmash of small-party roleplaying games in the vein of Baldur's Gate and real-time strategy games in the style of Age of Empires, which initially made me wonder: If I can have an army at my back at any time, why wouldn't I use it? There's a band of trolls? By all means, send in the infantry. The fate of the world depends on defeating an evil wizard? Screw the personal heroics, send in the reserves.

[...]

For all its idiosyncrasies, SpellForce 3 is an RPG above all else. It's a smart move, as the RTS portions grant a sense of the stakes involved, while the RPG section keeps the story personal and full of emotional impact. The RPG part, in fact, contains SpellForce's more rewarding (if predictable) systems, whether it's the multiple talent trees that help you steer your companions into the roles you want them to play or the loot system that drops gear that's more interesting than what you'd expect from a hybrid RTS. Early on, when I found a helmet that spawns a goblin to fight for me, I was reluctant to give it up for objectively better digs.

All this makes SpellForce 3 is one of the finest hybrids of RPGs and real-time strategy games out there, but it achieves that distinction mainly by being one of the few. Neither of its two halves hold up particularly well compared to purer iosmetric RPGs or RTS games, but together they deliver a enjoyable experience that manages to feel unique even with its constant callbacks.

Score: 74/100

SpellForce 3 competently blends RPG and RTS games into a generally enjoyable package, but there’s not enough creative force to create a lasting spell.

Thanks henriquejr!

GRS has reviewed the Strategy/RPG mix Spellforce 3:

 

Spellforce 3 Review

When it comes to the medieval fantasy genre, there are two game types that spring to mind: the hero (or band of heroes) driven RPG (think Dungeon Siege or the recent Divinity: Original Sin II); and the resource-gathering, army-building RTS (think Warcraft III or this year’s Northgard). Spellforce is a game that aims to combine the two, offering a band of heroes looking to explore mythical lands in pursuit of an all-powerful enemy while also gathering resources, expanding settlements, and recruiting armies for battle. Does it manage to strike a balance between the two genres, offering the best of both worlds? Or does it satisfy neither RPG nor RTS cravings? These were the questions I had in mind as I played.
[...]

Summary
Spellforce 3, just like its predecessors, takes two popular genres and combines them into an interesting game. It may not have the in-depth character development of an RPG or the detailed strategy of an RTS game, but the crossover works. Confusing default controls affect navigation and movement of units to an extent but well-designed and easy access options in close combat can be a virtual lifesaver. Fans of both game types will enjoy the game though hardcore devotees of either genre may prefer to stick to their favourites.

Good

• Interesting blend of RPG and RTS genres
• Well-designed real time close combat controls
• Immersive visual world and lore
• Proactive developers making regular patches and hot fixes

Bad

• Awkward default controls for selecting units and navigating the map
• Large scale battles usually come down to numbers over strategy
• Loading screens...

Score: 7/10 - Good

Gamingbolt has reviewed Spellforce 3:

Spellforce 3 Review – The Magic Of Mixture

Better than the sum of its parts, Spellforce 3 is a captivating mix.

The glorious “PC Master Race” enjoys some pretty layered games on the regular, with experiences like Starcraft, Elite Dangerous and Diablo that ask far more of the player and their input device than most consoles will dare. We don’t see many Diablo-like dungeon crawler RPGs or RTS games on console because of how complex either genre can be on its own. Spellforce 3 then, is a curious experiment. Taking the mechanics of both a hero driven RPG in the vein of a Diablo and layering in a Real Time Strategy system to create something that when separated out aren’t anything too special, but somewhat click when together.
[...]

THE GOOD

• Great quest design, RTS and RPG gameplay fit great together, the gameplay can flit between personal RPG battles to massive RTS skirmishes with relative ease, and the world you do it in has a massive sense of scale and great colours.

THE BAD

• Some clunky control systems such as camera, setting isn't nearly as fresh as the system's level mechanics to the point of some minor distraction.

Final Verdict
Two great game genres that play great together, Spellforce 3 isn't anything special in any one area but the combination of the elements adds enough that it should keep players coming back for a long time.

Score: 7/10

Eurogamer recommends Spellforce 3:

SpellForce 3 review

Definitive, maybe.

Describing a game as a mash-up of two other well-known titles is lazy, but you know what? It's fun and sometimes useful, as in the case of SpellForce. 'Baldur's Gate meets Age of Mythology' is the sell, and third time out for this particular series I'm committed to updating the labels of the imaginary Venn diagram for the benefit of those unfamiliar with the game's role-playing strategy formula. And while it's tempting to stick with Baldur's Gate and Age of Mythology, especially as they remain in loyal service thanks to their respective enhanced/extended editions, after a number of unremarkable expandalones and dutiful anthologies, SpellForce 3 feels like the first in the series eager to break free of binary influences.

[...]

While the script and delivery is out of whack in a few places and genuine asymmetry between the playable races would be warmly received, there's really very little about SpellForce 3 that warrants getting upset about. Perhaps there isn't a wide open world to explore and the routes to victory seem more focused on which heroes you recruit along the way, but there's enough more freedom in pace and plenty to enjoy just exploring the maps. Then there are the the multiplayer options - a main campaign can be played in tandem and an unspectacular but fully-featured skirmish mode. There's certainly far more to enjoy than there is to endure and for fans of RPGs or RTS games who might only have a passing interest in half of what SpellForce 3 has to offer, I can assure you that you won't be disappointed.

I'd even go so far as to say that SpellForce 3 is the best Baldur's Gate meets Age of Mythology ever.

The old school RTS continues to gather strength, with help from some friends in high level places - Recommended

Mammoth Gamers has reviewed the Strategy/RPG mix Spellforce 3:

SpellForce 3 Review: A Beautiful Combination

SpellForce is a long running series that was first released  in 2003.  It melds both RTS and RPG into one game creating a hybrid that interestingly works quite well.  With the release of SpellForce 3 it continues to build on those ideals and advance an already impressive series with multiple additions.  During my playthrough it reminded me of my time with Baldur’s Gate or Divinity while also including elements of Warcraft; keeping me interested until the bitter end.

SpellForce 3 takes place around 500 years before the Convocation in Eo (the world of SpellForce).  This event was caused by the Circle Mages that consisted of 13 power hungry wizards and sorcerers.  The game itself is a prequel to SpellForce: The Order of the Dawn and plops you into the daughter/son of a rebel mage named Isamo Tahar, a charismatic man who turns against Queen Ayelith to gain overwhelming power. Through General Sentenza Noria’s command the character you control is saved from execution.  You then join the Royal Army in hopes to atone for your fathers sins.  The story thus far has been entertaining throughout my playthrough, but the characters you encounter are less than interesting and typically bland. 
[...]

The Verdict
SpellForce 3 houses some interesting ideas and executes some of them quite well.  However, the characters didn’t quite catch my attention and I was more than a little frustrated with some of the bugs.  Nevertheless, my journey through Eo was an enjoyable one.   

Score: 8 - Great

The Good

• Beautiful Landscapes
• Complex Combat
• Fascinating Combination of RPG/RTS
• Loads of Skill Customization

The Bad

• Less Than Fantastic Voice Acting
• Multiple Bugs
• Uninteresting Characters

Game Watcher has reviewed Spellforce 3:

SpellForce 3 Review

A unique mix of strategy and RPG mechanics that miraculously loses very few of either

Everything can be made better with magic, and games are no exception. Even Age of Empires – arguably the archetypal real time strategy title – could be improved with the addition of otherworldly elements, as exemplified in the outstanding Age of Mythology. Luckily for us strategy and sorcery lovers, the folks at Grimlore Games took one look at Microsoft’s classic and said “wouldn’t that be much better with magic”?

Turns out it is. SpellForce 3, published by THQ Nordic, is a strategy title with a healthy dose of RPG on top (or an RPG with a healthy dose of RTS, depending how you look at it). The third entry in the SpellForce series is the most complex to date, presenting numerous options in terms of units, buildings and powers, all of which come to play at some point in the campaign.
[...]
In the end, SpellForce 3 is a unique mix of strategy and RPG mechanics that miraculously loses very few of either. It asks no knowledge of the previous titles, and features co-op and PvP multiplayer modes in addition to the rather long single-player campaign. Ironically, in an age of MOBAs and strategy-less strategy games, this years-old staple of game design feels surprisingly refreshing.

+ Beautiful and often responsive combat
+ Amazing Soundtrack
+ Good graphics
+ Significant base-building aspects
+ Interesting lore and dialogue

- Bit too focused on micromanagement
- Units are quite hard to select or precisely control in battle
- Character development is rather shallow

Score: 7/10

Thanks Farflame!

The Strategy RPG Spellforce 3 will be released tomorrow - the first reviews are out:

Hardcore Gamer - Score: 4/5

Game Space - Score: 8/10

Farflame spotted the Spellforce 3 trailer for the Orc faction:

SpellForce 3 - Gameplay Trailer: Orc Faction

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Spellforce 3 shows off its Elves faction.

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SpellForce 3 will blend RTS and RPG perfectly together - one of the strong pillars of it's gameplay are the different factions. In today's gameplay trailer, the Elves are in the spotlight. Beautiful, proud and warm at first glance, the look behind the majestic buildings and smiling faces gives another image. A racist, remorseless aristocracy hunting down those of different minds. But a spark of rebellion gives hope...

In this new video, the elvish capital of Finon Mir is shown and a band of renegades, fighting Orcs, Men and Elves alike in their search for the truth.

Farflame spotted two Spellforce 3 videos:

Spellforce 3 Beta Gameplay - The Next Fantasy RTS is Here!

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SpellForce 3 - Gameplay Trailer: Human Faction

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The free Spellforce 3 beta version is now available:

Play SpellForce 3 Beta

Welcome to the Free Preview version of SpellForce 3. This Beta will give you a first look and option to play on upcoming SpellForce 3.

Next up in our series of Gamescom articles is the soon to be released prequel to the Spellforce series, Spellforce 3.

Spellforce 3 is, like its predecessors, a mix of RTS and RPG.  It is also a prequel to Spellforce 1 and takes place 500 years earlier, which means the world is not shattered yet. The story in Spellforce 3 will reveal what the reasons were for that to happen. However, knowing the previous parts is not a requirement for understanding what happens in Spellforce 3 better. If you have played the previous games, you will get to visit some known places and have a chance to see what the word looked like some 500 years earlier.

The game is divided in sectors and you can move from sector to sector by unlocking the current sector. After that you can travel to any of the connected areas from where you are now. The game will not limit you in any way with respect to what area you will visit next. Also the game will not scale opponents to your level. So you could end up in an area with way to powerful opponents.

Dubl day posted an interview with Spellforce 3 executive producer Reinhard Pollicem:

Spellforce 3 - Gamescom 2017 (Gameplay - interview)

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A new cinematic trailer for Spellforce 3 is now available. Together with that news there is also information about the collectors edition.

Fantasy RTS/RPG gets new cinematic trailer and collector's edition

Munich/Vienna, August 17th: Today THQ Nordic released an all-new CGI trailer for SpellForce 3, the real-time-strategy meets role-playing fantasy game launching this winter on PC. The trailer offers a recap of the events, narrated by voice actor Doug Cockle, leading up to the newest iteration in the franchise, while providing a glimpse of the battles to come. You can watch it here:

THQ Nordic also announced a limited collector's edition for the game. Starting today, the SpellForce 3 Collector's Edition can be pre-ordered for $129.99 in North America and €129,99 in Europe. The package will include the game, an exclusive artbook, the game's official soundtrack, a Godstone amulet and an 8-inch figurine of Sentenza Noria, a seasoned commander and spymaster of the Royal Army that acts as the mentor for the player. The Collector's Editon can be preordered now here.

THQ Nordic let us now that Spellforce 3 will be available, exclusively on PC, December 7th 2017.

THQ Nordic delayed the release of Spellforce 3 to Q3 2017. But they will present a playable demo at PAX East. Gamebanshee published a PvP teaser:

SpellForce 3 PvP Teaser Video

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GamePressure previews Spellforce 3 and asks if the mix of RTS and RPG will work in this incarnation of the series.

In the upcoming installment of the SpellForce series, the players will revisit the land of Eo, this time uncovering its past. If you had played the previous parts, you will remember that after the tragic ritual of convocation, Eo was divided into small islands, which came out untouched only thanks to the power of the main god of the land. He created great columns, in his honor called the stones of Aonir, thanks to which the chunks of land surrounding these shrines made it through the catastrophe. In SpellForce 3, we will visit Eo before this cataclysm and learn more about the events that led to it.

We know where the action takes place, and we also know who the antagonist is going to be. In the third SpellForce, the players' nemesis will be the mysterious faction of Arcane. But these are about the only things we know about the story. That, plus the fact that finishing the whole thing will take around 30 hours. However, the developers emphasized that this is only counting the time required for finishing the main storyline - additionally, the game will offer, among others, combat against AI or other players online. It's hard to tell what the end result will be - the developers spoke of co-op dungeon raids and complex social mechanics modeled on Battle.net, but their words seem to suggest that they exaggerated a bit announcing this mode with such a flair.

Heads up, Spellforce fans!  New details and screenshots of our favorite vaguely campy RPG/RTS hybrid have emerged.

After a long period of silence, Nordic Games cranked out a fistful of details and a smattering of screenshots for Grimlore Games' SpellForce 3 earlier today. The imagery can be found on our profile page, while the core details on gameplay and other mechanics can be found below:

Heroes and Quests
Similar to its successful predecessors, players create their hero from scratch and can then develop the hero’s skills during the campaign, complete quests, explore the game world and join forces with up to three characters to form a group of heroes.

Organic Growth
The map in SpellForce 3 is divided into different sectors. The player’s base will always grow organically, not arbitrarily. This means that the player can only conquer sectors, which are connected to the base or other, already conquered, sectors. This is important, because there is no “Global Economy”, but the distribution of resources will happen mechanically (resources are being transported via carts). The player can decide which raw materials they want to collect, distribute and export in each sector and must therefore carefully plan where to build the sectors.

Sector Management
If, for example, the player defeats all the enemies in a particular sector and the bandit camp is captured, they can establish an outpost in this area. The player can then construct buildings in the sectors, exploit raw materials (wood, stone, food, etc.), transport goods and produce resources to then recruit new fighting units. Each outpost has a set number of workers who can be hired, so a core element of the game is to balance the economy and manage the sector to ensure the most efficient deployment of the available workers.

Hybrid gameplay
We don’t want to ignore the RPG component and want players to have the best gaming experience possible with SpellForce 3, so the micro management is not as hectic and fast-paced as in many other RTS games. Players can therefore enjoy both gameplay genres (RTS and RPG) in equal measure.

SpellForce 3 Features

- RTS/RPG Mix: Unique gameplay combining RTS and Top-Down RPG genres
- RTS: the RTS part focuses on macromanagement (overall strategy, building a base/economy, conquering of zones, managing large groups of units)
- RPG: the RPG part puts emphasis on micromanaging the party of heroes (skills of ALL heroes of the party have assigned keyboard bindings) in battles
- Create & Customize: assemble your party of heroes and choose between numerous combinations of different skill builds
- Strengthen and command your army: Prepare your troops and f ight the mother of all battles. Moreover, players can utilize a wide array of strategic choices (like e.g. terrain, troop formations, visibility, scouting etc.) that would make Sun Tzu proud
- Epic Storyline: Unravel a deep and sophisticated story, eventually leading up to the events that cause the world-changing convocation ritual
- Rich Universe & :Lore: Explore the world Eo and discover intrigues, secrets and a lot of loot for your hero
- Extensive Single-Player Campaign: 30+ hours, even more when you manage to discover all the things Grimlore put in the world
- Multiplayer: Strong multiplayer component with various modes - Play cooperatively or in versus battles

More.

New screenshots at the Steam page - spotted by Eye!

About the Game

SpellForce 3 - The perfect blend between RTS and RPG!

SpellForce 3 goes back to the roots of the SpellForce saga. The story takes place before the acclaimed SpellForce: The Order of Dawn and the players becomes a part of a rich high fantasy world named Eo.

Features:

• RTS/RPG Mix: Unique gameplay combining RTS and Top Down RPG genres
• Create & Customize: Create your own hero and develop his skillset as you prefer!
• Build to Fight: Build your own army and fight epic mass battles with it.
• Epic Storyline: Unravel a deep and epic story in the SpellForce universe that doesnt require having played any of the former SpellForce games. Fans will still find a lot of interesting connections.
• Rich universe & lore: Explore the world Eo and discover intrigues, secrets and a lot of loot for your hero.
• Apply some tactics: Use advance tactics with your RTS army to defeat your enemies
• Play on your own: Long Single Player Campaign of 30+ hours
• Multiplayer: Strong multiplayer component with various modes - Play cooperatively or compete against each other

At Gamescom I was introduced to the prequel to Spellforce 1, named Spellforce 3. There were no videos to show, only a few screenshots and a bunch of artwork, but from what I was told the game looks interesting, blending RPG, strategy and economy aspects. Read all about it!

Their main reference for Spellforce 3 is Spellforce 1 and not the second installment of the series, which I think is a good thing to do. The game is a prequel to Spellforce 1 and takes place some 500 years before the events of that game. This allows them to tell more about the lore of the Spellforce universe for which there were already references in the two previous Spellforce games.
This also means that some elements available in Spellforce 1 are not yet invented and obviously, the continent is still in one piece.

They are aiming to bring as much details to the world as possible, which is something Spellforce 2 had less of than Spellforce 1. The Spellforce series have always been a combination of RPG and strategy with a bit of economy added to it. To this, two parts are changed, the strategy and economy parts as these have become too easy in Spellforce 2, which is why they want to increase the depth of these two systems.

Nordic Games has opened a new studio in Munich to work on Spellforce 3 as we learn from  this press release.

Nordic Games re-ignites the SpellForce series with the third installment SpellForce 3.

From its Munich base, Grimlore Games boasts a team of experienced developers who will focus on Spellforce 3. Founded by Nordic Games, Grimlore Games comprises of experienced developers, graphic artists and designers who have worked on titles including The Settlers 2, Knights and Merchants, Cultures and - of course - SpellForce 2.

The rich talent pool in Munich was a key factor in deciding the new studio’s location. Many young and highly skilled developers gather in Munich who, in the coming months and years, will complement the core team at Grimlore Games. The studio will focus on PC games for core gamers, specifically the role-playing and real-time strategy genres.

Team members from Grimlore Games already presented the scope, its quality and ambition in the form of an early prototype to industry press at Gamescom in August 2014.

The team is also looking for talented developers keen to join and share their exciting future, details of which can be found on the website http://www.grimloregames.com.

For Nordic Games, establishing an in-house studio in Europe is a significant step, one which demonstrates its ambition to continue further expansion of its content-creation and portfolio handling activities. Grimlore Games joins the family of Nordic Games’ studios and provides the development resources needed to support the Group’s diverse catalogue of gaming IP.

Thanks JohnnyBravo.