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Puzzle Quest, a name that evokes nostalgia for mobile gamers from the early 2010s. The original games offered a deep fantasy RPG experience with engaging gameplay, diverse spells, equipment, and a world filled with challenges and adversaries. Puzzle Quest 2, in particular, epitomized the best of mobile gaming, blending strategic depth with accessible mechanics and offering a seemingly endless adventure. Twelve years later, after a slew of hollow spin-offs, Puzzle Quest 3 has finally arrived. Does it live up to the legacy of its predecessors? Sadly, the answer is a resounding no.

Puzzle Quest 3 Gameplay

A Fall From Grace

While Puzzle Quest 3 retains the core match-3 gameplay, matching three or more gems of the same color, its execution falls short. Instead of the classic Bejeweled-style gameplay, Puzzle Quest 3 introduces a timer, limiting moves within a short timeframe while allowing multiple matches per turn. This change, while seemingly innovative, results in a jarring experience. While it creates moments of exciting combos, these are interspersed with frustrating periods of inactivity.

Matching simple three-gem combinations leads to a noticeable delay, followed by another wait to observe the enemy’s attack. This creates a faster pace than previous games, yet feels sluggish and clumsy due to the constant interruptions.

Puzzle Quest 3 Battle

The strategic depth of previous titles is replaced by an emphasis on raw power. Progressing through levels depends heavily on character power levels rather than clever tactics. Grinding becomes the primary means of increasing power, requiring repetitive playthroughs of levels instead of engaging with side quests or exploring the game world.

Occasional challenges require strategic thinking and class utilization, but the focus remains on power levels, not meaningful equipment combinations or stat management.

Monetization Over Gameplay

Puzzle Quest 3’s flaws extend to its monetization system. Rewards and chests are locked behind “keys,” incentivizing in-app purchases. Unopened chests expire after 12 hours, further pressuring players to spend money. The prices for in-game items and currency are exorbitant, with arbitrary limitations imposed on free-to-play players, such as restrictions on the number of chests held and gems collected.

Puzzle Quest 3 In-Game Currency

This aggressive monetization strategy reveals Puzzle Quest 3’s true nature: a soulless, greedy mobile game reminiscent of forgettable cash-grabs like Marvel Puzzle Quest and Magic: The Gathering – Puzzle Quest.

A Lost Legacy

The original Puzzle Quest games, despite their simple narratives, boasted a vibrant world rooted in the Warlords RPG franchise. This connection provided a rich backdrop of lore, characters, and locations for players to explore. Puzzle Quest 3 abandons this heritage, resembling countless other generic fantasy mobile games.

Gone are the engaging dialogues, diverse characters, and interactive environments that fueled exploration. The simple yet charming character portraits are replaced with bland, unattractive models with exaggerated expressions and dizzying animations.

Puzzle Quest 3 Rewards

Puzzle Quest 3 Shop

Puzzle Quest 3 Character

Conclusion

Puzzle Quest 3 fails to capture the magic of its predecessors. Its flawed gameplay, aggressive monetization, and generic presentation make it a disappointing entry in the series. Fans hoping for a worthy successor will be left wanting, while newcomers are better served exploring the older, more rewarding entries in the Puzzle Quest franchise.