Info about The Guild 3:

Official game description:
We find ourselves in middle Europe of the year 1400. The dark middle ages, once dominated through nobles and clergy, ends and a new era begins: the age of the free cities of trading and of the free mind!  
In The Guild 3 you create a family dynasty which can last for centuries. While the world around you and your dynasty rearrange itself again and again - all non-player figures make their own decisions - you have to prove your skills in handicrafts and trading, at social occasion and finally in politics and in malicious intrigues.  
The Guild 3 is a unique mixture of economic simulation, strategy game, historical life simulation and role playing game in real time 3D, with atmospheric voice recording and medieval soundtrack.  
*   Guide your avatar and his or her family to acquire wealth and influence  
*   Become an honest craftsman, trade, start romances, bribe officials or thow bombs and poison your enemies - it's up to you how you amass more and more power  
*   Acquire titles, take positions in town council offices and join a guild  
*   Ranging professions, a complex skill tree and many unlockable actions and bonuses  
*   13 unique scenario maps based on authentic historical locations in Central and Northern Europe  
*   Day and night cycle and seasons that influence game events  
*   Play against AI dynasties or friends in multiplayer matches

Release date: Jun 14, 2022

Categories: Economic Simulation, Historical Strategy, Life Simulation, Dynasty Management, Political Simulation

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 90; verdict: Broken; summary: The Steam Deck experience is heavily impacted by unreadable UI text, frequent crashes, severe performance drops (sub-10 FPS), and problematic controls. These issues collectively prevent a smooth out-of-box experience and render the game unplayable for some users.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: The reviews indicate that the current $30 price is considered too high. Several players found value only at deep discounts: one mentions $7.99 as fair for an unfinished game, while another says even $6 is too much. A non-English review states it's worth only about $2. However, some positive reviews suggest it can be worth more when on sale (e.g., 50% off). Given the mixed sentiment, the community's fair base-game price range appears to be between $5 and $15, with most agreeing that anything above $15 is overpriced for the current state.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: 3.5h
  - Session length: 4.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The only explicit completion time is 3.5 hours to 'beat' the game on medium, which is interpreted as story/campaign completion. Session length is supported by a review mentioning a 4-hour multiplayer session. Endgame hours are only vaguely referenced as 'hundreds of hours' without a specific typical value, so it is set to null. No reliable evidence for overall game completion time was found.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The Guild 3 offers entertaining early hours, but a slow onboarding and tedious late-game micro-management cause fun to drop after about 20 hours; multiplayer and automation are key to maintaining enjoyment.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Setting up automation rules
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: slow early-game pacing and incremental progress; poor tutorial and lack of clear onboarding; clunky, unintuitive UI; tedious interactions (marriage, court cases, building repairs); janky AI that handicaps rival dynasties early
  - Unlock drivers: learning systems through trial and error or skipping the tutorial; automating production and selling chains; reaching mid-game political progression (mayor/commander); playing with friends in multiplayer
  - Conditions: playing in multiplayer (especially with friends); setting up automation rules for a self-sustaining empire; focusing on political advancement alongside business; having patience for the initial learning curve
- Player Archetypes:
  - Franchise Veteran Nostalgist (no buy)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia and the desire to see the series return to its earlier depth and stability.
    - Playstyle: Plays slowly, seeks political and economic depth, cheses intricate mechanics like office nominations and dynasty building. Often stops playing once they feel the game lacks the complexity of Guild 2.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: Franchise fan; veteran player; old-school player; Guild 2 loyalist
    - Reference games: The Guild 2; The Guild 2: Renaissance
  - Multiplayer Socialite (sale)
    - Motivation: Social gameplay – competing or cooperating with friends in a shared medieval economy.
    - Playstyle: Plays in co-op or versus sessions with friends. Focuses on multiplayer stability and out-of-sync fixes. Engages in feuds, trade wars, and cooperative building.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Multiplayer enthusiast; co-op player; friend group gamer
    - Reference games: The Guild 2 (multiplayer)
  - Sandbox Economist (sale)
    - Motivation: The satisfaction of building a economic empire, optimizing production chains, and roleplaying a medieval dynasty.
    - Playstyle: Patient, methodical. Focuses on acquiring businesses, managing supply chains, climbing the nobility ranks, and amassing wealth. Treats the game as a chill sandbox with unlimited replay value.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Strategy gamer; simulation enthusiast; sandbox player; spreadsheet optimizer
    - Reference games: Patrician; Port Royale; The Guild (any)


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Stable and fun multiplayer (weight 0.28): Multiplayer functionality has been rebuilt and is now stable, with no out-of-sync errors. Players find it fun and enjoyable, especially with friends, and it supports cooperative play.
- Better graphics than Guild 2 (weight 0.2): Graphics are improved over The Guild 2, with stable and colorful visuals, though not at a 2022 standard. Players find them relatively good and better than the predecessor.
- Good value and enjoyment (weight 0.17): Overall, players find the game good, fun, and worth the price, especially for fans of the Guild series. It provides enjoyable gameplay and nostalgia.
- Great potential and improvement (weight 0.12): The game has huge potential and has improved significantly since early access, especially after Purple Lamp Studios took over. Players see it becoming a great game.
- High customization and variety (weight 0.11): The game offers many customization options for playthroughs, including numerous life paths and career paths. Players enjoy the variety and replayability.
- Active developer support (weight 0.1): Developers are releasing frequent patches and updates, actively listening to player feedback and fixing bugs. This has significantly improved the game over time.
- Nostalgic series experience (weight 0.07): Players enjoy the nostalgic feel of the Guild series, finding it a good addition to the franchise. The game captures the essence of previous titles.
- Improved automation and logistics (weight 0.07): Automation features allow players to focus on important tasks, and logistics and diversity are improved over The Guild 2. These enhancements streamline gameplay.
- Lively and larger cities (weight 0.04): Cities feel larger and more lively, with a vibrant atmosphere that enhances immersion. Players appreciate the improved city life.

Common complaints:
- Disappointing compared to Guild 2 (weight 0.34): Players overwhelmingly feel that the game is a watered-down, simplified version of The Guild 2, lacking its charm, content, and balance. Many consider it a poor sequel or spinoff that fails to live up to its predecessor.
- Game abandoned by developers (weight 0.32): Many players state that the game has been abandoned, with the last update in June 2023 and no further support. This has led to a perception that the game was never finished.
- Poor UI and controls (weight 0.16): The user interface and controls are described as terrible, clunky, confusing, and unintuitive, leading to frustration during gameplay.
- Full of bugs and glitches (weight 0.13): The game is criticized for having many bugs, including game-breaking ones, and performance issues like low FPS. These problems make the game nearly unplayable for some.
- Waste of money and time (weight 0.07): A handful of players feel the game is a complete waste of money and time due to its many issues and lack of fulfillment.
- Repetitive gameplay (weight 0.06): Gameplay quickly becomes boring and redundant, with limited variety to keep players engaged over time.

Gameplay feedback:
- Medieval dynasty management simulation (weight 0.23): Players highlight that the game is a medieval dynasty management simulation, blending life simulation, economic management, and political strategy across generations.
- Mix of city builder and life simulation (weight 0.1): The game combines elements of city building and life simulation, similar to The Sims and Anno, with strategy and RPG influences.
- No building interiors (weight 0.09): A notable criticism is that buildings lack interiors; workers perform activities outside, which some find disappointing.
- Start poor and rise socially (weight 0.09): Players can start as a poor family member, earn money, and climb the social ladder to become wealthy and powerful.
- Management and micromanagement (weight 0.09): Players engage in both broad management and detailed micromanagement of resources and operations.
- Multiple life paths and professions (weight 0.07): The game offers many life paths and activities, including four starting career paths: crafts, farming, rogue, and healer.
- Hold public office in dynasty (weight 0.07): Players can manage a dynasty and hold public office, influencing city politics and governance.
- Simple trade and supply-demand simulation (weight 0.07): The game includes simple trade simulation with basic supply and demand mechanics.
- Economic and life simulation sandbox (weight 0.06): Described as a macro-management economy simulator and life simulation sandbox, offering open-ended gameplay.
- Political system unfinished (weight 0.04): The game features a political system, but it is noted as being incomplete or unfinished.
- Resource leasing required (weight 0.04): Natural resources such as mines and lumberyards require leasing, adding a layer of economic management.
- Supply chain management (weight 0.04): The game includes supply chain automation and management, essential for economic progression.
- Dynasty interactions with AI (weight 0.04): The game includes dynasty interactions with AI characters, affecting relationships and gameplay.
- Manage heirs across generations (weight 0.04): Players manage heirs and their dynasty across generations, including a dynasty tree feature.
- Character customization available (weight 0.04): Players can customize characters with outfits, faces, body sizes, and family crests.
- Automation features present (weight 0.04): Automation features are available to streamline certain tasks in the game.
- Medieval Europe setting (weight 0.04): The game is set in late medieval Europe, providing historical context for the simulation.

Performance notes:
- Game crashes and stability problems (weight 0.23): Crashes are frequently reported, occurring during server login, specific activities, or without error. Clusters 2, 7, 13, 14, 17, 18, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 50, 53, and 55 highlight various crash types.
- Positive optimization and stability reports (weight 0.2): Some reviews report good performance, smooth gameplay, and no bugs or crashes, especially on certain setups or after updates. Clusters 3, 5, 6, 23, 29, 32, 38, 42, 44, and 56 describe stable experiences.
- Poor optimization and performance issues (weight 0.17): Many reviews mention poor optimization and performance, including low FPS, lag, and stuttering on various hardware configurations. Cluster 1, 4, 10, 19, 46, 48, and 52 detail specific performance problems.
- Performance improvements over time (weight 0.11): Several reviews note that performance significantly improved after early access or specific patches, with fewer crashes and better FPS. Clusters 26, 31, 41, 44, 51, and 56 mention these enhancements.
- Multiplayer instability (weight 0.06): Multiplayer experiences are reported as not working or crashing frequently. Clusters 2 and 24 compare multiplayer stability to a predecessor, noting improvements but still problems.
- Lag and FPS drops in-game (weight 0.06): Lag and FPS drops are noted during specific events like empire expansion or map transitions. Clusters 12, 22, and 49 describe these issues.
- Crashes and freezes during exit or loading (weight 0.06): Specific crashes and freezes occur during exiting the game or on loading screens. Clusters 8, 9, and 33 describe perpetual loading screens, soft crashes, or computer freezes on exit.
- Performance on low-end systems (weight 0.06): Some reviews report smooth performance on low-end PCs or low graphics settings, suggesting optimization for weaker hardware. Clusters 6 and 23 indicate this.
- Save file corruption and bugs (weight 0.04): Save file corruption and other bugs causing crashes are mentioned. Clusters 15 and 57 note save corruption and general stability bugs.
- Visual and graphical glitches (weight 0.04): Reviews mention graphical issues like shadow flickering and outdated graphics with glitches. Clusters 27 and 45 report such visual problems.

Recommendations:
- Strong do-not-buy advice (weight 0.31): Many reviews strongly advise against purchasing the game, often expressing anger or frustration, and suggest it is a waste of time or money.
- Prefer older Guild games (weight 0.3): A significant number of reviews recommend playing The Guild 1 or 2 instead of this title, often citing the older games as superior or less buggy.
- Not recommended overall (weight 0.19): A large number of reviews explicitly state that the game is not recommended, with some suggesting refunds or indicating they will not play again.
- Possible for Guild 2 fans (weight 0.15): A subset of reviews recommend the game to players who have enjoyed The Guild 2, especially those familiar with the series or seeking a successor.
- Game is unfinished (weight 0.14): Several reviews note that the game is far from finished or in an unplayable state, advising potential buyers to wait until it is more complete and has good reviews.
- Positive recommendation exists (weight 0.11): A few reviews positively recommend the game, praising its uniqueness, fun factor, or value for money, but these are less common.
- Niche game appeal (weight 0.07): Some reviews note that the game is niche and may only appeal to fans of specific genres like life sims or dynasty builders.
- Wait for discount (weight 0.04): Some reviews suggest buying the game only when it is on a significant sale, implying the full price is not justified.
- Not for newcomers (weight 0.04): Some reviews explicitly state that the game is not suitable for newcomers to the Guild series, suggesting it is aimed at existing fans.
- Low expectations advised (weight 0.04): A few reviews recommend setting low expectations to avoid disappointment, implying the game may not meet typical standards.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.27): Players are frustrated because the game is full of bugs, crashes, and poor optimization, even years after launch. Many core mechanics are broken or missing, such as multiplayer not working, bad AI, and tedious controls. The developer abandoned the game to work on a sequel, leaving many promised features unfinished.
- Disappointment (weight 0.27): Players feel disappointment because The Guild 3 is inferior to its predecessor, The Guild 2, with simplified mechanics, missing features, and a lack of depth. The game was abandoned by developers before being finished, resulting in a shallow, repetitive experience that fails to capture the charm of earlier titles.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.09): Players express satisfaction with the game's quality of life improvements, stable multiplayer, and the rewarding progression from small business to high position. The game runs well on low-spec PCs, and developers have added features like interiors based on feedback, making it a worthy successor over time.
- Anger (weight 0.06): Anger arises from the game being the worst in the series, with lazy developers, false promises, and a cash-grab early access. Players are furious about broken multiplayer, missing features, and the game being abandoned, feeling cheated by the high price and poor quality.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.05): Players enjoy the engaging dynasty management, business, and political gameplay, especially in multiplayer. The game offers a fun mix of genres, deep mechanics, and a satisfying rise from nothing, providing hours of immersive play despite some repetitiveness.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): Nostalgia stems from memories of The Guild 2, with players buying the game out of fondness for earlier titles. They compare experiences, missing the polished atmosphere, interiors, and memorable moments from past games, evoking a sense of youth and comfort.
- Excitement (weight 0.02): Excitement is driven by the game's complex economic simulation, challenging early and mid-game rivalries, and wild multiplayer feuds. Players are thrilled by the deep gameplay systems and the anticipation of emergent stories, finding it a rewarding experience.
- Hope (weight 0.02): Hope comes from the potential seen in the game after updates by Purple Lamp Studios, with players believing it can become great with further development. They look forward to future patches and improvements, expecting the game to become a polished and fulfilling experience.
- Sadness (weight 0.02): Players feel sadness because the game was abandoned, with broken online play and no updates in 2025. They lament the waste of a beloved series, expressing regret for not refunding the game and sorrow for its buggy, charmless state.
- Positive (weight 0.02): Positive feedback highlights the game as a good management simulation reminiscent of Sims and Banished, with fun combat and enjoyable gameplay once learned. Reviewers recommend it to fans of the genre and look forward to future installments.
- Regret (weight 0.01): Regret is felt by players who bought the game out of nostalgia but found it nothing like its predecessor, with broken promises and limited time to enjoy it. They wish they had refunded it sooner, feeling their money was wasted on a disappointing product.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom occurs when the game becomes too easy after the early stages, with a passive, unengaging gameplay loop. The lack of challenge, dull AI, and repetitive late-game content make it feel like watching puppets, leading to disinterest.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance stems from tedious worker recruitment, aggressive AI, and bugs like invisible carriages and non-functional UI links. Family management is a chore, and lack of notifications for key events adds to the irritation.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Appreciation is shown for the authentic medieval difficulty, automatic production, and village mechanics. Players value the depth and freedom of the systems, considering the game a top-quality economic simulation despite its flaws.
- Love (weight 0.01): Love for the game comes from its great RPG and political systems, with players appreciating the developer's responsiveness and overall improvement. Nostalgia for the franchise also drives affection, despite some issues.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement arises from hilarious multiplayer moments and the absurdity of murder having no consequences. Players find joy in quirky mechanics like having children beg, adding levity to the gameplay.
- Happiness (weight 0.01): Happiness is derived from playing with friends in long scenarios and seeing the game run smoothly. Players are pleased that it now reflects the Guild franchise, providing a stable and enjoyable experience.
- Relief (weight 0.01): Relief comes from the game being a stress-free alternative to competitive games like CS:GO, with no crashes or bugs encountered. Players appreciate the smooth, relaxing gameplay that avoids technical issues.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Anticipation is focused on the next game, Europe 1410, and hopes for expansions to add more depth. Players look forward to future content that will enhance the game's replayability and complexity.
- Desire (weight 0.01): Desire is expressed for more content, such as unlimited buildings, larger family trees, and a fantasy style. Players want a sequel or update to expand the game's options and fulfill their creative vision.}