Killing Floor 3

After several months of delays, Tripwire Interactive's Killing Floor 3 has finally been released on PC and console. This co-op horror shooter faces tough competition in a crowded market, not to mention the shadow of its popular and content-rich predecessor.

It is the year 2091, 70 years after the events of Killing Floor 2. The megacorporation Horzine has created the ultimate army: a horde of obedient, bio-engineered monsters known as Zeds. The only thing standing between these infernal creations and humanity's future is a rebel group called Nightfall. Players take on the role of a Nightfall specialist and team up with up to five other players to battle through a dystopian future against waves of Zeds.

Like its predecessors, Killing Floor 3 is a horror shooter that can be played cooperatively or solo, in which players battle hordes of Zeds using a variety of weapons and tools. Each round consists of five waves, followed by a boss fight. After each wave, players can replenish their ammunition and health, as well as upgrade their weapons. The game features easy-to-learn shooter mechanics and relies on crowd control and targeting opponents' weak spots. However, the battles can get pretty bloody, partly due to the new M.E.A.T. gore system which produces brutal dismemberment effects.

There are six different character classes, known as 'specialists', each with unique abilities and gadgets. Players unlock perks throughout the game that enhance their playstyle and combat efficiency. Each specialist has its own skill system comprising 30 levels and differs noticeably from the others. New skills can be unlocked more quickly than in the previous game. The weapon arsenal, which includes flamethrowers, shotguns and katanas, can be fully customised with mods, gadgets and skills. However, there could be a greater variety of weapons, particularly since many of them often feel or sound too weak despite decent gunplay. The weapon progression system is also underdeveloped to an extent, as weapons earned through gameplay are sometimes less effective than upgraded standard weapons.

In addition to the standard survival mode with waves of zombies, there are optional story missions which are rather short. The long-term motivation comes from levelling up characters, trying out new strategies in multiplayer and tackling different difficulty levels. However, because the content on offer is too limited, it becomes repetitive.

"Launch is just the beginning for Killing Floor 3. Tripwire has a deep history of building upon our games after release with impactful updates and content, and the team remains immensely dedicated to crafting an experience that expands on the Killing Floor franchise. Players can expect new maps, new perks, new specialists, new weapons, and new enemies in the coming months following launch. We are incredibly excited to share what we have been working on with all of our fans. We look forward to fighting through the hordes of zeds alongside you. Make sure to stick together and fight to the very last bullet, we will see you on the battlefield!" - Bryan Wynia, Creative Director at Tripwire Interactive

Originally scheduled for release on 25 March 2025, Killing Floor 3 has been postponed to 24 July 2025 in order to take community feedback into account and make further improvements to the game before its release.

"We know fans have been eagerly waiting for Killing Floor 3, and we appreciate everyone's patience during the delay. That extra time allowed us to make meaningful improvements across the board, ensuring the game lives up to its full potential. Killing Floor is a cornerstone of our studio, and as the most ambitious entry in the series yet, Killing Floor 3 builds on that foundation, delivering brutal co-op action like never before." - Matthew LoPilato, CEO of Tripwire Interactive

The game will be updated regularly with additional content, as it currently only offers eight maps. The separation of perks from specialists, which has been requested by many players since the beta, will also be implemented at a later date. Initial live game support plans have been outlined in a four-season roadmap. This will include new maps, specialists, weapons, mods, enemies and assignments, as well as general improvements to the core. The game is currently experiencing technical difficulties in terms of performance and crashes, and in terms of its limited content, Killing Floor 3 is almost comparable to Payday 3. The latter also faced similar difficulties and had comparatively little content compared to its highly regarded predecessor, and both games are operating in a very competitive market.

Developer and publisher Tripwire Interactive has released Killing Floor 3 in collaboration with Deep Silver (Plaion) on PC via the Steam and Epic Games stores, as well as on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The Standard Edition is available to download for €39.99, the Deluxe Edition for €59.99, and the Elite Nightfall Edition for €79.99. The Standard Edition is also available physically on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S from select retailers, with an MSRP of €39.99.

Conclusion

With its intense battles, Tripwire Interactive has laid a solid foundation with Killing Floor 3, but there is room for improvement and expansion. Perhaps an Early Access launch would have been more appropriate.

Features

• Intense, cooperative horror action
• Motivating specialist progression
• Teamwork is encouraged