Killing Floor 3 Review - Polished Sequel That Feels More Like Early Access

Killing Floor 3 offers quality cooperative shooting with improved mechanics, but suffers from lack of content. Only 6 classes, 30 weapons, 8 maps, and 3 bosses feels more like Early Access than a full game. Compared to Killing Floor 2, it lacks the depth and complexity that series veterans expect.

Where's the Rest of It? 🤔

After 25 hours of gameplay and earning all Steam achievements, I keep coming back to the same question about Killing Floor 3: where's the rest of it? I comfortably spent the last week teaming up against waves of mutant clone zombies, and mindlessly hacking and slashing through these Zeds was a lot of fun. But more than once, my teammates and I – many of whom enjoyed Killing Floor 2, myself included – found ourselves asking one another: "Is this the final release, or is it just Early Access?"

Killing Floor 3 essentially offers only one Survival mode, which is generally a good time, but it's also a much simpler, more tightly-woven shoot-em-up compared to its predecessors. The weapons and classes it does include are at least a blast to use, and its enemies are perfectly balanced; they're dangerous when you let them swarm you, but boy do they die good. But all this fast-paced action loses its luster once you've seen everything it has to offer, which doesn't take long.

Why does Killing Floor 3 feel like an unfinished game? Compared to the extensive content of Killing Floor 2, the third installment has significantly less content at launch, raising questions about the live service model strategy.

Streamlined Action with Modern Elements ⚡

Killing Floor 3's moment-to-moment action follows the same formula as the first two games, just streamlined for a snappier and more live service-oriented delivery. That includes quicker movement that feels great immediately, letting you dash from side-to-side, mantle up surfaces, and powerslide from sprint to crouch.

Basic Gameplay Loop:

• Slashing and blasting through waves of enemies
• Setting up defenses between waves
• Earning currency for upgraded weapons, armor, ammo
• Surviving five waves plus boss fight at the end

Launch content is relatively limited:

That does make this a good entry point for anyone just trying to get into the series compared to the infamously bloated Killing Floor 2, but a tougher sell to series veterans who have come to expect a higher level of complexity and tactical depth.

💡 Pro tip: The game is ideal for quick sessions with friends, but long-term playability is limited due to lack of content.

Enhanced Combat System with Limited Content ⚔️

Survival mode stays fun thanks to the off-the-wall combat system. The mode itself is pretty self-explanatory: the only goal is to survive five increasingly deadly waves of Zed and then fight one of the bosses at the end, like the Zerg-like Queen Crawler or the rhinoceros-horned Impaler.

Tactical Elements:

• Timing special abilities - like the Ninja's shocking Hebi-Ken or the Medic's Sanctum
• Headshot combos to activate Zed Time (slow-motion effect)
• Class interplay in multiplayer - for instance, Sharpshooter can freeze foes with Cryo Grenade, so Ninja can shatter them with sword

Killing Floor 3's 13 monster types are way more believable-looking and just plain fun to fight. They leave behind puddles of gore and lasting destruction to the environment, responding to your attacks in ways that look and feel more realistic thanks to the new and improved physics system.

Most Common Enemies:

• Acid-spewing Bloats - appear more often than in KF2
• Sonic boom-launching Sirens - sound-based attacks
• Scrakes with cybernetic augmentations and chainsaws
• Sub-boss type enemies show up way more frequently

❌ Common mistake: Many players expect similar content breadth as Killing Floor 2, but KF3 has significantly fewer enemy variants and situations.

Limited Map Variety 🗺️

The eight maps are decently unique in layout and aesthetic design, but there's nothing particularly different about each to set them apart. The main differences are in tactical advantages:

Notable Maps:

• Convoy - generous placement of turrets
• R&D Lab - different floors with zip lines and dangerous guardrails
• Radar Station - my personal favorite with spooky central Washington backdrop

Aside from Normal difficulty, there are two harder difficulty variants to test your reflexes and tactical understanding. Weekly Mutation option throws you into a match with randomized modifiers that work in favor of the Zed swarm.

Six Classes with Deep Specialization 👥

The six classes are distinct enough that playing each one feels like a meaningfully different experience:

Available Classes:

Commando - Versatile small arms:

• Basic assault rifle gameplay
• Good for beginners
• Balanced damage output

Firebug - Pyrotechnics obsessed:

• Specializes in flamethrowers
• Area denial tactics
• Effective against groups

Sharpshooter - Crowd-controlling:

• Sniper rifles and precision weapons
• Cryo grenades for crowd control
• Positioning-based gameplay

Ninja - Close-quarters combat focused:

• Melee weapons (Kiba, Shuriken, Katanas)
• Mobility and parrying
• High risk, high reward

Engineer - Utility and heavy-weapons savvy:

• Multi-Tool for activating turrets
• Heavy weapons like Ifrit plasma cannon
• Support role

Medic - Healing support:

• SMGs that shoot healing darts
• Syringe Bag for extra self-heals
• Team support

Progression System:

• Leveling starts at level 2 instead of 5 (like KF2)
• New options every 2 levels instead of 5
• Level cap of 30 with quick leveling
• Skill choices push your character toward specific playstyle

Class customization feels deeper than before, but it comes at the expense of Killing Floor 3's weapon progression system.

Problematic Weapon Tier System 🔫

My main gripe is that the tier system feels completely backwards. There is both persistent progression (in hub area) and mid-match progression.

Weapon Progression Issues:

• Tier system scales from grey to purple
• Basic weapons can be permanently upgraded to extremely powerful levels
• Upgraded starter weapons consistently outperformed expensive purple-tier gear
• Economy is weird - better off ignoring half the weapon selection

Upgrading basic weapons only takes a match or two to earn enough crafting resources. It creates this weird economy where you're better off ignoring half the weapon selection entirely and sticking with upgraded basics.

Weapon Positives:

• All weapons across four tiers feel good to use
• Dragonbreath shotgun (Firebug) is explosive against bigger foes
• Ifrit plasma cannon (Engineer) is deadly
• Each weapon adds to class style and strategy

Stronghold Hub - Immersive World Building 🏠

The well-designed Stronghold hub area gives you a place to relax between matches. This is the central spot to:

• Mess around with class and weapon modifications
• Try different weapons in shooting range
• Play with cosmetics and Season Pass
• Pick your next mission from world map

The hub genuinely feels like you are a part of Killing Floor 3's world.

Side Missions:

• "Scan all cargo crates" at location on specific map
• "Kill 10 of X enemy type" objectives
• "Run 2,000 feet" distance challenges
• Rewards: crafting supplies, Battle Pass points, experience

The missions are all easy to complete in large batches during routine gameplay, but they don't do much more than add lore flavor and loot.

Live Service Elements and Microtransactions 💰

The hub is also where you'll encounter the usual live-service stuff:

Cross-Platform Features:

• Cross-platform multiplayer works well
• Welcome inclusion for playing with friends on different platforms

Microtransactions Store:

• Small revolving selection of cosmetics
• Similar to Diablo 4's cosmetic store at launch
• $4.99 for 500 store points for aesthetics
• Only headgear and armor skins - nothing else
• Afterthought and not essential to gameplay

Are these microtransactions burdensome? Probably not. Marginally annoying? Definitely.

Forgettable Story and Codex 📚

Killing Floor 3's story is entirely forgettable. If not for its rather hefty Codex explaining all the important details about characters, weapons, enemy types, and background stories, I probably wouldn't even consciously realize there's any semblance of a narrative at all.

But I already knew what I was getting myself into, and sometimes, as in the case with a series that's this irreverent, action-packed, and unapologetically gory, less is more.

Verdict - Solid Foundation with Content Shortage 🎯

Killing Floor 3 is a polished sequel that feels both smartly streamlined and somewhat hollow. Its co-op shooting feels great, the classes are distinct, and my teammates and I had a good time blasting through Zed hordes together while the fun lasted.

Positive Aspects:

✓ Enhanced movement mechanics and combat
✓ Distinct classes with meaningful progression
✓  Quality cooperative gameplay
✓ Improved physics and visual effects
✓ Solid foundation for future content

Negative Aspects:

❌ Only 8 maps vs 25+ in KF2
❌ 6 classes vs 10 in predecessor
❌ 30 weapons vs 70+ in KF2
❌ 13 enemy types vs 20+ varieties
❌ Problematic weapon tier system
❌ Lacks depth and complexity
❌ Feels like Early Access rather than full release

But with only eight maps, six classes, and a backwards weapon progression system that's already in need of some tweaking, this comes across more like a solid Early Access build than a full release. The foundation is there, and if Tripwire keeps adding content like it did with Killing Floor 2, this could become something special.

Right now, though, there's at least enough for a weekend's worth of fun. After 25 hours and earning all achievements, I can say the game has potential, but series veterans will be disappointed by the limited content compared to its predecessor.

Technical Performance and Platform Considerations 🔧

Performance across platforms has been generally solid during my testing:

PC Performance:

• Stable frame rates on mid-range hardware
• Quick loading times between matches
• Smooth cross-platform integration
• Minimal technical issues encountered

Console Considerations:

• Controller support feels natural and responsive
• UI scaling appropriate for TV screens
• Split-screen co-op available for local play
• Performance modes for quality vs frame rate preference

Network Stability:

• Matchmaking generally quick and reliable
• Connection stability solid during sessions
• Regional server performance adequate
• Lag compensation works well in most scenarios

Future Content Expectations and Live Service Model 📅

Tripwire Interactive has indicated continued support, but specific roadmap details remain unclear:

Expected Content Updates:

• Additional maps through seasonal updates
• New classes potentially added over time
• Weapon expansions to fill current gaps
• Quality of life improvements based on feedback

Live Service Concerns:

• Battle Pass progression feels slow
• Cosmetic pricing may deter casual spenders
• Content drip strategy unclear
• Long-term engagement dependent on regular updates

The success of Killing Floor 3's live service model will largely depend on Tripwire's commitment to regular, substantial content updates that address the current content shortage.

FAQ

Q: How many hours of content does Killing Floor 3 offer?
A: Roughly 20-30 hours to earn all achievements, but long-term playability is limited due to lack of content.

Q: Is the game better than Killing Floor 2?
A: In some aspects yes (mechanics, physics), but overall it has less content and depth than its predecessor.

Q: Is the game worth full price?
A: Not really. It feels like an Early Access project, so better to wait for a sale or more content.

Q: Does cross-platform multiplayer work?
A: Yes, cross-platform play works well across all platforms.

Q: Will more maps and classes be added?
A: Tripwire plans to continue support with additional content, but specific timelines haven't been announced.

Q: Are microtransactions necessary?
A: No, microtransactions are cosmetic only and don't affect gameplay.

Q: How does it differ from previous series entries?
A: More streamlined, faster pace, but less tactical depth and content.

Q: Is the game suitable for series newcomers?
A: Yes, the simplified design makes it more accessible for newcomers than KF2.

Q: What's the recommended team size?
A: 4-6 players seems optimal for balanced difficulty and resource management.

Q: Are there plans for single-player campaign?
A: No single-player campaign has been announced. The game focuses entirely on cooperative multiplayer.

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