REVIEW – A pre-release build, an avalanche of player backlash, a delay, and ultimately a disappointing step back from the previous game. Killing Floor 3 has all the markings of a troubled sequel. While it might still appeal to the patient and die-hard fans, most players may want to skip this one. Tripwire, true to its name, seems to have stumbled over its own wiring.

Seventy years after the events of Killing Floor 2, players join the Nightfall group in a mission to eradicate the biomechanical horrors created by the Horzine Corporation.

Grab your gun (and maybe a tranquilizer)

Let’s get one thing straight: narrative has never been the heart of the Killing Floor franchise, and that remains unchanged. Missions are loosely padded with Codex entries, but the core gameplay is still about surviving up to six increasingly chaotic waves of Zeds. Players can choose from six Perks (essentially classes): Commando, Engineer, Firebug, Medic, Ninja, and Sharpshooter. Each comes with a unique secondary weapon, and the arsenal expands using cash earned by dismembering enemies. Unlike KF2, there are no distinct weapon variants; instead, players upgrade their weapons using crafted mods, each with three upgrade tiers. The problem? A single match is enough to unlock the full potential of a Perk, leaving little incentive for long-term experimentation. Sure, launching explosive rounds from a shotgun is fun, but it doesn’t make up for the lack of variety.

Even worse, you can’t switch Perks mid-match—a baffling limitation. Tripwire tries to offset this with unique gadgets and deployable traps, but the payoff is limited. The gameplay remains fast and punchy—sprinting, sliding, and blasting off limbs still feels good. Gunplay is responsive, and weapons affect enemies differently. Headshots are satisfyingly effective. But once the surface polish wears off, issues emerge: lateral movement is imprecise (especially in boss fights), sprinting occasionally defaults to a jog, and enemy animations often desync from their actual damage responses. These flaws grow more noticeable with time. KF3 also lacks the raw intensity of its predecessor. Bosses feel underwhelming, and even basic enemy types like the Fleshpound absorb bullets like sponges—this is noticeable even on normal difficulty. Glitchy hitboxes add further frustration.

Frantic rhythm, shallow depth

The Perk upgrade system is solid—gadgets can be customized, and both passive skills and throwable gear are upgradeable. Mutation rounds offer game-changing buffs and debuffs, rewarding those who take the time to master the mechanics. But the level design drags things down. Environments like sewer tunnels and sterile office blocks are simply uninspired. Interactive elements—ziplines, turrets—are underused. Once you figure out the optimal movement path, the gameplay becomes predictable, repetitive, and ultimately boring.

Difficulty settings feel all over the place: Hard mode sometimes feels easier than it should, while Normal can suddenly spike in difficulty. The Stronghold hub is mostly useless outside of one secret area. Crafting itself is well executed—you can build suppressors, scopes, and specialized ammunition to tweak weapon stats—but the system leans too heavily on a narrow set of options. The heavy metal soundtrack, however, deserves praise. The “Meat System” delivers over-the-top gore and limb destruction, but the endless gray and red visuals start to feel monotonous after a while.

Should’ve stuck with Killing Floor 2

Crafting alone isn’t enough to carry Killing Floor 3. The pricing is reasonable—€40 for standard, €60 for deluxe, and €80 for the Elite Nightfall edition—but most of Tripwire’s gameplay innovations miss the mark. As it stands, Killing Floor 3 earns a flat 6/10. It’s playable, sure, but it lacks the depth and polish needed to keep players from returning to the far superior KF2.

-V-

Developer: Tripwire Interactive
Publisher: Tripwire Interactive
Release Date: July 24, 2025
Genre: First-person shooter