Company of Heroes 3: Stealth & Stronghold Review Summary

Battlegroups are fun and DLC content shines, especially the standout Australian battlegroup, but the once-free DLC is now overpriced and not worth it, drawing criticism of game and DLC quality.

Battlegroups are fun: Both new battlegroups are described as super fun, unique, and enjoyable to play. They offer distinct play styles and strategies that keep gameplay fresh.

DLC content is excellent: Players consistently praise the DLC as fun, worth the money, and a positive addition to the game. The new content is seen as a win and adds welcome variation to factions.

Australian battlegroup is standout: The Australian Defense battlegroup is highlighted as a favorite, offering strong mainlines, a great tank destroyer, and defensive positions. It is enjoyable in both 1v1 and team games.

Defensive play is enjoyable: Players find defending against attacks genuinely fun, especially with the new defensive structures and emplacements. Building MG nests, Bofors, and 17-pounders allows players to defeat AI and human opponents.

Espionage battlegroup is unique: The Espionage battlegroup offers cloaking mechanics, Goliath units, and other unique abilities that provide an active and challenging playstyle. It is considered interesting and entertaining for multiplayer.

Free DLC became paid: Multiple clusters report that previously free DLC, especially battlegroups, was turned into paid content for new players, with no warning. This change is seen as unfair and greedy.

DLC overpriced and not worth: Many reviews state that DLCs are overpriced, with content not justifying the cost. Specific complaints include high prices for battlegroups and a general sense of being a money-grab.

Game and DLC quality criticized: Several reviews call the game and DLC bad, with poor gameplay, graphics, and UI. The game is seen as a lazy or scammy product, especially compared to previous titles.

Developer greed and anti-consumer practices: Complaints focus on the developer's greed, paywalling content, and splitting existing content into DLC. This is seen as anti-consumer and damaging to the game's reputation.

Unbalanced new units and commanders: New commanders and units are described as either overpowered or barely noticeable, fitting poorly into existing gameplay. This affects game balance and player experience.

DLC adds battlegroups for factions: The DLC introduces battlegroups for the British and DAK factions, including the Australian Defense and Espionage groups. These are primarily for multiplayer and skirmish modes.

Australian battlegroup focuses on defense: The Australian battlegroup emphasizes defensive emplacements, economy, and logistic options, with the Archer tank destroyer as a standout unit. It is described as extremely defensive, similar to the turtle battalion from CoH2.

Espionage battlegroup uses stealth tactics: The Espionage battlegroup focuses on cloaking and ambush tactics, allowing vehicles and infantry to become invisible. It encourages active repositioning and is considered the bread and butter of tactics.

DAK doctrine includes unique units: The DAK doctrine features the Goliath unit, a half-track that gives a damage bonus, and allows infantry to become invisible through camouflage. It is described as high-risk, high-reward.

DLC includes defensive emplacements: The DLC includes defensive emplacements and tank buildup mechanics, focusing on stealth and defense. This is a key feature of the Australian battlegroup.

Not worth full price: Multiple reviewers state the DLC is not worth its full price, with some saying the content is not worth it at all. They recommend waiting for a sale or skipping it entirely.

Recommended for specific factions: The DLC is recommended for players who enjoy the UKF or DAK factions, as well as those interested in Brits and DAK. It is particularly suggested for starting players and those who play Skirmish vs. AI or PvP modes.

Buy only on sale: Several reviewers advise purchasing the DLC only when it is discounted, with one suggesting a deep sale of around 60% off. They note the content is not worth the full price but can be a good deal on sale.

Worth it for some: A few reviewers find the DLC worth the money, especially for those who enjoy emplacements and stealth or are interested in competitive viability. One rates it 8/10 and another says it was worth it at full price.

Only for faction players: The DLC is recommended only for players who like to play with the factions in the bundle, and for those who want access to all units, staying with the CoH2 all units mod is suggested. This limits its appeal to a specific audience.

Community fair range: $20.00 - $30.00.

Session length: 1.5h.

The DLC provides immediate fun through strong early game battlegroup abilities and maintains value with late game utilities, making it enjoyable from the start.

Competitive Multiplayer Enthusiast: Prioritizes multiplayer and skirmish modes, favoring strategic decision-making and faction balance over micro-heavy tactics. Motivation: To engage in deep, competitive multiplayer battles and see the franchise invest in its esports ecosystem. Stance: buy.

Defensive Tactician: Focuses on defensive strategies, setting up Bofors and 17-pounder positions, and leveraging the Archer for early-mid game anti-armor duty. Motivation: To enjoy the satisfaction of building impenetrable defenses and using specialized anti-tank units effectively. Stance: buy.

Value-Conscious Veteran: Likely plays multiplayer or skirmish but is selective about purchases, often waiting for sales or relying on free content from older titles. Motivation: To get fair value for money and avoid being exploited by overpriced or misleading DLC. Stance: sale.

Monetization: The reviews for Company of Heroes 3 reveal strong community backlash against its monetization practices. The most prominent issue is the paywalling of battlegroups that were previously free, now sold as overpriced DLC with no in-game earning alternative. Additionally, an in-game store with overpriced skins and potential pay-to-win elements (locking units behind DLC) further aggravate players. Deluxe edition buyers also feel shortchanged by not receiving these DLCs. Overall, the monetization is seen as aggressive and greedy, with a clear shift from free content to paid content.

DLC was previously free: Many reviewers note that the battlegroups in this DLC were previously free, either as a thank-you gift, compensation for launch issues, or earnable through in-game merits. The shift to a paid model without clear warning has caused significant backlash.

Earning DLC removed: Players are upset that the ability to earn the DLC for free through in-game challenges or merits was removed without prior notice. This change feels unfair to those who were working towards unlocking the content.

DLC sold as bundle: The battlegroups are sold as a forced bundle, requiring players to pay for both even if they only want one. This bundling is seen as a way to inflate the price and reduce consumer choice.

Comparison to Company of Heroes 2: Several reviewers compare this game unfavorably to Company of Heroes 2, which they consider a masterpiece. They feel the sequel has not lived up to its predecessor's quality, especially in terms of content and value.

Developer support appreciated: Some reviewers acknowledge that the developers are actively supporting the game with updates and are sticking to their vision after splitting from Sega. This positive sentiment is overshadowed by the DLC pricing controversy.