It took quite a while for me to get around to Orcs Must Die! 3. Having enjoyed the second game quite a lot, as well as the short lived Unchained, the third entry had seemed paltry for a full priced entry. A year or so later, finally having played it, it isn’t any worse the wear with time. It has kept most of the core elements of the second game and designed an experience that is quite a bit more compelling than I could have expected. It is just a good time, made significantly better in co-op. Putting together a successful run is rewarding, especially on the maps which actually force players to think. Admittedly most maps have a great answer to the central problem--barricade a narrow path and lay down a death funnel. Regardless, coming to develop on that answer, especially when it doesn’t solve the problem (i.e., flying enemies, multiple routes, expense).

On the one hand it can be far too easy to rout the enemies and feel very little threat, on the other a good run can be thrown quickly into chaos. One map's quick solution can begin to feel impractical with further use. Some traps inherent limitations just don’t work on all maps. This is particularly true of the scramble mode which serves up buffs and debuffs that can absolutely break your go-to strategy. Honestly it is when those plans break, when chaos takes hold, that the game is at its best. Even having played it quite a bit I am continually willing to jump back in with the different scrambles. Suffice to say, Robot Entertainment have made four of these games and this is another confident entry into the series. Whenever Orcs! 4 comes around I will absolutely jump in again to see how they continue to build on the same great foundation.