Since 1999, RTS fans have been in love with the sci-fi world of Homeworld. Originally developed by Relic Entertainment, the series brought together players from across the stars in one of the best strategy stories ever told. However, the franchise would remain dormant for years outside a remaster and prequel after the release of Homeworld 2. Now, over two decades later, Homeworld 3 has finally arrived.

Homeworld 3 has finally given players that long awaited continuation they have been waiting years to see. Once again, they are being taken on a fantastic sci-fi journey filled with everything one would expect from an RTS such as this. Even though it might not reach the level of its predecessors, it still offers an experience that many will not soon forget, and that does not just go for diehard fans either. It's also a great way for newcomers to jump into the genre.

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Homeworld 3's Story Truly Shines

Homeworld 3 picks up hundreds of years after the conclusion of Homeworld 2. Karen S'Jet, the main protagonist of the first two games, has gone missing as a mysterious scourge spreads throughout the entire galaxy. It is up to Imogen S'Jet and her fleet to discover what exactly is going on, in hopes that they can save the universe.

Players take control of Imogen S'Jet as she heads out into the galaxy to discover what is happening, hopefully finding Karen in the process. What ensues is a riveting tale involving warring factions, fanatics, intrigue, mystery, wild battlefields, and everything one would expect from the Homeworld series. Not only does a tale like this serve as a great way to continue the Homeworld saga, but since it is set so many years later, it is also a nice place for newcomers to jump into the series for the first time.

The story itself is told through some beautifully rendered cutscenes and top-notch voice acting. Everything about it just feels realistic, even when it is dealing with some of those classic sci-fi tropes the genre is known for. While some may not enjoy this story as much as the first two games, all of this does make it feel like a worthy continuation, and it will likely be remembered as one of the strongest stories that the RTS scene offers.

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Homeworld 3's Gameplay Understands the RTS Genre

The story is obviously a highlight here since that is how Homeworld has become as iconic as it is, but its gameplay is another standout. Even though it does not do things that much differently from other RTS games, it feels very solid and refined here. Players can expect to spend their time gathering resources, building massive fleets filled with a variety of ship types, researching new technology, and fighting their way through serene battlefields. If they are not careful, it can all come crashing down in a second.

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That said, there are still a few new additions for players to check out here. Homeworld 3 features a brand-new cover system, and fleet formations require some micromanaging as they can have a major impact. Luckily, players can slow down the battles, with the entire experience requiring a bit more precision. All of this helps to deliver what many Homeworld fans were hoping for, but those who may have wanted something truly revolutionary might not find that.

Outside the riveting story and exciting battles, Homeworld 3 also has a brand-new co-op Roguelike mode known as War Games. This mode lets 1-3 players battle their way through the galaxy in a whole new way. Players will get plopped down onto a random map, be given a task to complete, and will be rewarded with powerful artifacts as they do. Those artifacts will then augment their ships for the next battle, giving them powerful upgrades. This gameplay loop will continue until players meet their end, and once they do, they will be rewarded with even more stuff based on their results, which they can then take into their next run.

Game ZXC was unable to check this mode out with other players, but in singleplayer it can be a lot of fun. It takes everything players know about Homeworld and injects a bunch of new mechanics into the mix for a wild experience. One of the few major downsides is that the tasks are not super varied, so the concept may get tiresome for some after a while. However, it also serves as a nice break from the other classic RTS modes, and it will be interesting to see how it evolves with post-launch content, as that seems to be one of the primary focuses of the Year One Pass.

Homeworld 3 is Not Without Its Faults

General gameplay is where Homeworld 3's faults rears its head. The actual controls can be rather unintuitive at times, especially when it comes to navigating the battlefield. The camera is often aggravating to move around, as things can happen from literally every angle. That is nothing new for the Homeworld series, but the way the camera moves here makes the entire thing a bit more difficult. With updates, it may be fixed, but as of now, players will face an uphill battle getting used to these controls. They are also given the option to go back to the controls of previous Homeworld titles, yet even that feels very finicky.

Along with the camera, moving fleets can also be a bit cumbersome. This may just be a symptom of the type of RTS that it is, but it would have been nice if this were also a bit easier because it is not always clear just where players are sending their fleets or where they have chosen for them to activate their special abilities. It definitely takes some getting used to, and even when players think they have a handle on it, something else can come up that turns everything on its head.

Additionally, players may encounter many bugs while on Homeworld 3's battlefield. One of the most prevalent seems to mostly revolve around ships not being able to do what players want them to; specifically, things like Resource Collectors will often not be able to salvage material that is clearly labeled for salvage or ships will not attack things that they have been told to attack. While that may all get fixed in future updates, it is worth noting that sometimes battles can have a few hiccups.

Homeworld 3 is a Great Return to Form

Overall, Homeworld 3 feels like a great return to form for this iconic RTS franchise. Diehard fans will love experiencing what comes next in this turbulent galaxy, while newcomers can use this as the perfect way to jump into the series for the first time. And even though some of the controls can be unintuitive and the camera needs a bit of work, the battles seem to be as exciting as ever. It really feels like Blackbird Interactive understood just what makes Homeworld and the RTS genre tick here, so hopefully there are plenty more adventures in store for the future.