Monster Outbreak
Game
Game2020
Shenmue III
Developer YS NET
Shenmue III is a 2019 action-adventure game developed by Ys Net and published by Deep Silver for the PlayStation 4 and Windows. Like the previous Shenmue games, it consists of open-world environments interspersed with brawler battles and quick time events, with a day-and-night system, variable weather effects, non-player characters with daily schedules, and various minigames. Players control the teenage martial… From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
254 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy, Mastodon) · newest Oct 26, 2026 · last updated Oct 27, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
66
Fresh
120 positive · 61 negative
95% range 59–73%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 120 | 61 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 6 | 12 | 43 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 1 | 3 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Mostly Positive
469 of 667 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
66% recommend · 124 yes, 63 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 187 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Mostly Positive (1,035 of 1,423 positive).
Many players feel the game stays true to the series' slow, atmospheric style, which some love and others find boring. [1][2][3][4] Several reviewers criticize the excessive grinding, poor combat, and outdated mechanics. [5][6][7][8] Some players recommend mods to fix issues and enhance the experience. [9][10]
Liked
Representative posts
- [5]
In the world of Shenmue, a sequel did rise, But alas, it brought tears to nostalgic eyes. Shenmue 3, oh, what went astray, The magic of old, it failed to portray. Graphics outdated, a relic in time, Controls like a riddle, a cumbersome climb. The story continued, but the spark had waned, A sequel that left fans feeling drained. Promises lofty, yet unfulfilled, In the gaming landscape, it left a chill. A dance with …
- [7]
I didn't exactly wait 18 years for this game like the people that played Shenmue 2 on the Dreamcast back in the day, but even I feel betrayed. This "game" is frustrating beyond comprehension. Let me list the reasons why I despise this game: - There's an absurd amount of grinding. Even when you're not doing side-quests or achievements, the game creates this fake longevity by forcing you to grind in almost every …
- [2]
Shenmue III isn’t a game you play. It’s a place you return to. I waited nearly 20 years for this, and somehow it understood exactly who it was made for. Many criticisms focus on the game being “slow” or “outdated”, but that completely misunderstands what Shenmue has always been. Shenmue was never about fast progression, constant rewards, or spectacle. It was about presence. About living inside a world that moves at …
- [3]
I do not understand what anyone's problem with this game is. After years of listening to people tear it apart I expected a complete disaster. But when I finally played it I was surprised to find a completely consistent and authentic Shenmue 3 experience. It feels every bit like a natural continuation of the series, the official next chapter, the sequel we never got, picking up exactly where Shenmue 2 left off and …
- [1]
I think it's pretty rad that the devs took to heart all of the criticism of the first two games being slow and clunky and made the game even slower and clunkier.
Summarised from 34 of the 254 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 12, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
66% of the 187 Steam reviewers we collected recommend Shenmue III. The complaint that keeps coming up: excessive grinding and slow pacing. Deal-breaker or nitpick?
Critics, per Wikipedia
According to the review aggregator website Metacritic, Shenmue III received "mixed or average reviews". Reviewers were divided over its similarity to the older games; some felt it was a faithful sequel, while others criticized it as outdated. According to Matthew Handrahan of GamesIndustry.biz, "Ys Net hasn't rebooted or reimagined its franchise; rather, it has made a game as if (for the most part) the intervening years never happened at all." Martin Robinson of Eurogamer described Shenmue III as "archaic and arcane ... completely ignorant of modern trends in open world gaming, or indeed trends of the last 20 years ... It looks and plays like a Dreamcast game that's as off-kilter,…
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 254 · most liked firstI think it's pretty rad that the devs took to heart all of the criticism of the first two games being slow and clunky and made the game even slower and clunkier.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →In the world of Shenmue, a sequel did rise, But alas, it brought tears to nostalgic eyes. Shenmue 3, oh, what went astray, The magic of old, it failed to portray. Graphics outdated, a relic in time, Controls like a riddle, a cumbersome climb. The story continued, but the spark had waned, A sequel that left fans feeling drained. Promises lofty, yet unfulfilled, In the gaming landscape, it left a chill. A dance with the past that stumbled and fell, Shenmue 3, a tale that didn't fare well.…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Kiwami Mod Overhaul makes this game actually worth playing and fixes some of the most annoying issues with the game https://www.nexusmods.com/shenmue3/mods/7
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The original Shenmue games polarised the audience on their release. Whilst technically ambitious, they were slow, boring and mundane. That was also part of the charm. The appeal of a realistic world set in 1980's Japan and China, before the heights of modern technology, allowed the games to set themselves apart from more contemporary peers. A world created in celebration of a time that had already passed. The original games are eccentric, but contain beautiful moments that even to this day…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Shenmue III isn’t a game you play. It’s a place you return to. I waited nearly 20 years for this, and somehow it understood exactly who it was made for. Many criticisms focus on the game being “slow” or “outdated”, but that completely misunderstands what Shenmue has always been. Shenmue was never about fast progression, constant rewards, or spectacle. It was about presence. About living inside a world that moves at human speed. For me, Shenmue isn’t nostalgia. It’s geography. I travelled to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I've been an admirer of Edge magazine ever since it launched in 1993. It's one of the most beautifully designed game magazines of all time, and has featured some terrific covers over the years. This one is fantastic - Shenmue III, originally published in April 2019.
neutral · AI labelView post →Shenmue III Enhanced announced for PS5, Xbox Series, Nintendo, and PC. Weird announcement. Are there any people who even liked shenmue 3?
neutral · AI labelView post →The story goes on .... ... in Shenmue 4 coming 2048 or NEVER ! Suzuki's ego is so big he cant even finish this story, originally he wanted to make 8 games, now he thinks he can do it in 5. Breakdown of the Mismanagement of the franchise: Sega gives Yu Suzuki 90 million dollars They start developing Shenmue on the Sega Saturn The Saturn is under powered for the 'vision' that Suzuki san has. They bin the Saturn development and make Shenmue for the pretty powerful 'Dreamcast' (better graphics…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Repost from ININ Games on Twitter: "We have prepared a quick survey with a couple questions on Shenmue III. Please consider filling it out if you're a fan of Ryo's antics or just familiar with the game. Your feedback will be invaluable to us, as always!" ecs.page.link/QG3PQ
neutral · AI labelView post →“All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.” ~Roy Batty, Blade Runner Guess, it won't be a spoiler to say that Shenmue II ended with the cliffhanger. It was, like, the worst thing about it. We went through lots and lots of boring long chores across two games, yet what we've got in the end was “to be continued”. And the worst of all? We never got the third game. That's right. Despite of its cult following, Shenmue series never had proper conclusion. It was easy to understand,…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Really bad game. Other than nostalgia for the people who have played the old ones, there's nothing to like about it. Everything about it is boring. Its mostly just running around talking to people with some bad fighting mechanics and ♥♥♥♥♥♥ cut scenes to fill the gaps.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I do not understand what anyone's problem with this game is. After years of listening to people tear it apart I expected a complete disaster. But when I finally played it I was surprised to find a completely consistent and authentic Shenmue 3 experience. It feels every bit like a natural continuation of the series, the official next chapter, the sequel we never got, picking up exactly where Shenmue 2 left off and carrying forward the narrative and game design elements of the first two games. I…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →a new real Switch 2 physical release!! Shenmue III Enhanced (Switch 2 / PS5 / Xbox) physical release is up for pre-order on Amazon: bit.ly/47OYhq2 NOT a Game-Key Card
neutral · AI labelView post →Ryo Hazuki returns in Shenmue III Enhanced for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo, and PC!
neutral · AI labelView post →Compared to Shenmue 2: twice the grind, half the story. pick it up if you want to know what happens next (which is not much). The story ends on a cliffhanger less natural than the previous ones.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Shenmue II was published in Japan in 2001 for the Dreamcast and an enhanced edition was published on the North American and European XBOX in 2002. Quite a coup for Microsoft and no doubt facilitated credibility for the fledgling new console. Clive Barker, author of the infamous Books of Blood 1-6 and the horror short story contained within; The Midnight Meat Train (highly recommended) once said many years after publishing his masterwork (paraphrasing); "I could never write such a brutal piece…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →We're not allowed to play Shenmue 1 and 2 in Japan, so this is the best we get and it's AMAZING! It's easily as good as the first and miles ahead of the second. We really need more. I'm so happy to be a backer of this and to see it continue, especially when it's this good.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I tried. I tried and tried again and it's just so painful. I never make it past the first village, I've tried over and over with an open mind.. I had to uninstall again, I'll try again in 2028.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I didn't exactly wait 18 years for this game like the people that played Shenmue 2 on the Dreamcast back in the day, but even I feel betrayed. This "game" is frustrating beyond comprehension. Let me list the reasons why I despise this game: - There's an absurd amount of grinding. Even when you're not doing side-quests or achievements, the game creates this fake longevity by forcing you to grind in almost every single activity in order for the story to progress. - The pacing of the story is so…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game is very good. Don't listen to the haters. It exceeded my expectations in many aspects. The third part is a very special moment in the story where Ryu trains with different masters in Guilin. Unique breathtaking locations that you will never forget. The game continues to be this special journey down the path of martial arts and refinement. There are a few minor flaws and it feels a bit rushed at the end, but overall it's a unique experience. Let's get Shenmue 4 and let's continue this…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Experienced on the Meta Quest 3 You can view my VR mod gameplay here: https://youtu.be/J5wgabGQq1w Yes, you can play Shenmue III in VR using the UEVR Mod by Praydog. Even better, you can play Shenmue 3 in First Person with motion controller support using the community profile from Tensai37. Tensai37's profile includes motion controlled gestures (block and punch using motion controlled gestures!) Game looks absolutely beautiful in VR. I know the game is from 2019 but the art-work just truly…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →"The grind never sleeps", I say to myself, lying in bed half awake, barely ready to start the day. I summon the strength to get up. Nobody prepares you for the monotony of adult life. Wake up, eat, work, come home, eat, sleep. If you let it, the days can blend together like so much morning coffee. That's why I utter this mantra, "the grind never sleeps", almost as a reassurance for myself. There's joy to be found in this repetition. As I drive back home, I think, how will I unwind today? Maybe…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I recommend Downloading forklift loader and the no stamina loss mod. It is two simple files you drop in a folder and it changes the game. It is everything I could have hoped for in a Shenmue game. It is addictive and IMO combines the original with modern take. Sure, it can;t ever be as good as 1 and 2 and I didn't expect it to be. It is a great continuation of the story and well worth the price. I am shocked to see that it wasn't as well received as it deserved.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Beeen waiting for this game since Dreamcast
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I love the Shenmue series, and finally playing this broke my heart to pieces.... The gamePLAY is overall terrible and nothing like 1 and 2. It makes it hard for me to enjoy the story that I want to keep attached with. It has become a ridiculously stamina-based game like Genshin Impact. All of the move inputs are so different, and the training QTE's don't work too well. The moment I press the first button for a move in preparation to continue the combo'ed sequence, it fails or says too slow,…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →As a longtime fan of the original Shenmue games, this was not the sequel I had hoped for. The most glaring issue lies in the combat system, which has been fundamentally gutted. The original titles drew from Virtua Fighter, offering a high-skill combat experience where practice, timing, and strategic thinking were richly rewarded. In contrast, Shenmue III replaces this depth with a shallow, stat-based system. Rather than improving through mastery, you're now forced to grind through dull…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →"So people are what matters to you?" Just like in every other Shenmue you will get to know a wonderful cast of characters. That has always been one of the series strongest points. One of my favorite things in the game is going home at night and having long talks with Shenhua. You get to know her so well and it feels so cozy during those moments. Don't listen to all the hate. I've been playing Shenmue since the first game released on Dreamcast and I had just as much fun with this one as…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Me: “I am never preordering a game AGAIN LMFAO I WILL WAIT FOR A SALE HA HA HA” Me two seconds later: *preorders - Halo Xbox - Halo Playstation - Gears - Fable - Onimusha - Control Resonant - Shenmue III Enhanced - Godzilla Destroy All Monsters! Melee Remaster* 😭😭😭
positive · AI labelView post →A new trailer for the Shenmue III Enhanced game has revealed the game will launch for Switch 2 in addition to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
neutral · AI labelView post →Shenmue III Enhanced TBA on Steam.
neutral · AI labelView post →I completed the game today and would like to give my honest review while everything is still fresh in my mind. I started playing Shenmue this year at Christmas, beginning with Shenmue I on Dreamcast, followed by Shenmue II. I loved both games, even though I preferred the first one. I still really enjoyed the second. After finishing the second game, I started Shenmue III, and if I had to sum it up, I really enjoyed it. In fact—and this might be controversial—I preferred it to Shenmue II in…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It’s definitely a Shenmue game and it’s just as good as the first two. Don’t think of these as action games, they are detective games at heart with a culture enriched experience that you can get lost in. Bonus it runs great on SteamDeck at High settings 30/40 lock.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I played Shemnue in the 90's when it came out but never fniished it as I was too young to understand it. Bought it when it was re-released on xbox, and beat 2 as well. If you have never played shemnue, you will be bored. I personally thing it was a good game. 7/10 for shemnue fans. 5/10 for non
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I waited over 20 years to finally play this game and I have not been disappointed so far! I just wish there was a better possibility of a fourth installment of the game coming out.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Heartwarming: Shenmue III actually comes on a proper game card
positive · AI labelView post →“Unique design, nostalgia, atmosphere, and humanism that cannot be found in any other game.” — White Owls CEO Hidetaka Suehiro aka Swery65 about #Shenmue III.
neutral · AI labelView post →The Game Award nominees are out with contentious rule changes, like including DLC for "Game of the Year." Plus, Shenmue III finds a new home and Riviera is coming to Switch!
neutral · AI labelView post →After waiting 10+ years for this game, i am beyond disappointed. no that word doesn't do it justice. i grew up playing shenmue 1-2 and they we're some of the best games i had ever played and we so unique. and playing this besmirches the first 2 games. it should not exist. i would rather not have a conclusion and watch Lan Di get away then see my boy ryo done dirty like this. what a mess
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I loved Shenmue 1 and 2. Those games felt like they were genuinely trying to capture the atmosphere of Japan and China. The environments were grounded and as realistic to their real world counterparts as the graphics of the time allowed. It felt like you were exploring a slice of Japan and China, from the architecture to the culture. Shenmue 3, on the other hand, feels completely like a fantasy. Everything is bathed in day-glow colors and is excessively vibrant. It doesn't feel like you're…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →sunk money into this during the kickstarter, when it eventually launched i played and was pretty gutted. Shenmue 1 and 2 were such a big part of my childhood and this felt half baked and clunky. I came back to it years later and finally finished it last night. I have to say i really enjoyed my time playing it, sure its got its issues, its a bit rushed and lacking in MSQ but still worth a go. Now to replay 1 and 2 for the 100th time
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I wanted to like it, but the English translation and voice acting are awful, controls are stiff, fighting system has no block button??, and the pace of everything is tediously slow. At least the world was pretty.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦, 𝘐 𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘮𝘶𝘦 1 𝘢𝘯𝘥 2, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘔𝘺 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘮𝘶𝘦 3 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘮𝘶𝘦 4 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺. 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘮𝘶𝘦 3 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘰 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Shenmue III Enhanced confirmed for Switch 2, physical release includes full game on Game Card http://gonintendo.com/contents/59005-shenmue-iii-enhanced-confirmed-for-switch-2-physical-release-includes-full-game-on #eshop #nintendoswitch
neutral · AI labelView post →I am a huge fan of Shenmue 1 and 2, but 3 is a great example how a brand name and a single lead developer do not make a game. Aside from Yu Suzuki not a single dev from the original Shenmue 1 & 2 team is here and it shows. This game is a mess of amateurish game design mistakes from the weird combat system where input lag was built in to replace the old responsive virtua fighter system (Seems like someone thought dial-a-move button inputs that wait to see if you're pressing more buttons was more…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Having just finished the game, after multiple attempts (some at EGS due to the Deep Silver rugpull underneath Kickstarter backers), thus game time not reflecting actual time, I can only sum it up as a disappointing experience. If you are a fan of the series, I can still recommend this game, for it has a few moments that will genuinely make you smile and feel happy for the love that has gone into this game, and the details that have gone into some throwbacks to Shenmue 1. However, to anyone…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This Game is not PC friendly. all the buttons are not well set up. the dub is really disappointing.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Give us SHENMUE 4!!! It's not as good as the previous 2 games, the fight is lacking on the throw moves but i still get the mundane vibes and the slow pace that i loved on 1 and 2. To me, it's a must have, And i'm glad i was a kickstarter member, would do it again!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Alert spoilers I’ve waited almost 20 dam years for this game just to be totally disappointed. This game without a doubt has the most horrible ending I’ve ever seen. And coming from Shenmue 1 and 2 that says alot. To not have a final boss fight at end is insane. This was a huge fumble. So now what ? I have to wait another 20 years to play part 4 in my 60s just to have another to be continued. FML Can’t believe this was the epic game we had to wait 20 years to play. You owe us day one…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Yang Wenliang ( @caseymongillo.bsky.social ) Video Game: Shenmue III Year: 2019 Also in the English version of Shenmue III, Casey Mongillo did the voice for Wong and Shi Youwen. #ShenmueIII
neutral · AI labelView post →First of all I was a big fan of Shenmue 1 and 2 when they originally released. I backed the kick started for Shenmue 3 only to pull out of the kick starter right before the end due to it being a Epic exclusive and some other reasons I cant even remember now. A friend gifted me a copy of Shenmue 3. After having it shelved for years I got around to finally trying it. Happy to say it feels right in spirit of the original 2 games. I am pleasantly surprised after the kick starter left a bad…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →After playing Shenmue 1 and Shenmue 2.... This Shenmue 3 doesn't even feel like Shenmue at all.... the game was so bad in my opinion I couldn't even play it for that long. The graphics are beautiful don't get me wrong but the playstyle is not Shenmue and just how the entire game looks and feels is not Shenmue either and to not have a proper ending even though you don't plan on making a Shenmue 4 is a real slap in the face to all of us fans!!
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Wishlisting Shenmue III Enhanced is the best thing you can do for visibility on Steam to get this game in front of more people. Wishlist and Follow here: tinyurl.com/letsgetshen4
neutral · AI labelView post →DON'T BUY THIS GAME, if.. you are looking for great experience adventure, good story, and intense fight. you wont find that in this game. but if you are Shenmue fans, or just want to nostalgia with old school gameplay, go on. buy this game. -the story of this game is basic, continuing the previous story telling Ryo's journey to avenge his father's death; -the gameplay (including NPC) is also very basic like common game from 90s / 2000s; -the visual and world building is beautiful (especially…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →great game, I played it in ps4. I purchased this in PC, if it release in xbox i would buy it too, full support to shenmue series. I am shenmue fan since dreamcast days. . yu suzuki is master of great games, we are waiting for the shenmue 4
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →starts slow but gets great , without straying too far from the originals, geat game imo
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I enjoyed it, hope there is eventually a fourth!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Underrated masterpiece needs a few mods to give more life to the gameworld like more npcs and busier areas etc... hopefully someday... Game looks beautiful and has some incredible music. It's so cheap to buy now everyone who passed it over should give it another try. Yu San plz give us shenmue 4
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Shenmue III Enhanced confirmed for Switch 2, physical release includes full game on Game Card: https://gonintendo.com/contents/59005-shenmue-iii-enhanced-confirmed-for-switch-2-physical-release-includes-full-game-on How about a game of Lucky Hit? #switch #switch2
neutral · AI labelView post →Do you know where sailors hang out?
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Shenmue III publisher gauges interest in Switch port http://gonintendo.com/contents/43568-shenmue-iii-publisher-gauges-interest-in-switch-port #nintendoswitch
neutral · AI labelView post →
Posts are quoted from public profiles with links to the original. Want yours removed? Contact us.
