Dead Space 3

Dead Space 3 is a science-fiction-themed survival horror action video game. Players control lead character Isaac Clarke from a third-person perspective through a level-based narrative campaign. Players navigate a variety of environments—mostly on the ice-covered planet Tau Volantis—completing narrative-based missions, solving physics-based puzzles in the environment, and fighting monsters called Necromorphs. In addition to standard movement, Isaac can climb some ladders to reach high platforms and rappel up and down some vertical slopes with accompanying controls for sideways movements and dodging environmental threats.

During some sections, Isaac can explore outer space but has a limited supply of air. Some areas are subject to weightlessness, with Isaac using his RIG suit to explore debris and spacecraft.

Dead Space 3 is set in the 26th century. In the backstory, resource-starved humanity experimented with an alien artifact called the Black Marker, which triggered dementia and mental illness, and changed corpses into monsters called Necromorphs. During the initial outbreak, a new religion called the Church of Unitology emerged, worshipping the Marker as a divine force that would lead humanity to a unified state, dubbed "Convergence". Later experiments with copies known as Red Markers yielded the same result, prompting the Earth Government (EarthGov) to conceal the Red Markers.

The Marker incidents are revived when the mining ship USG Ishimura discovers one on the planet Aegis VII. In the present, the Markers are attacking humanity; while EarthGov tries to contain the crisis and exploit the Markers for their energy, the Church of Unitology works to spread the Markers' influence.

Following the release of Dead Space 2, the team of developers at studio Visceral Games found sales were similar to those of the first game but the production budget had increased. A 2012 report showed Dead Space 3 was almost canceled following the poor sales of Dead Space 2, which disappointed publisher Electronic Arts. The team felt the need to incorporate more mainstream elements into the series. The game's director was Ben Wanat, who had worked on the series as a designer of the Necromorphs and as a writer of the series' background lore.

David Woldman was senior producer. After the increased action focus of Dead Space 2, Wanat wanted to return to survival-horror elements with the crafting system that was originally designed to emphasize Isaac's engineering background. To broaden the third game's appeal, the developers altered the game's genre by incorporating action elements, though there was an effort to keep the horror elements the series was known for. Antony Johnston, who had written for the original game and its related media, said the decision was indicative of the team's wishes and a "necessary evil" to increase sales.

Dead Space 3 received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic. During the 2013 National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards, Dead Space 3 was nominated in the categories "Animation, Interactive"; "Direction in a Game Cinema"; "Sound Effects"; and "Use of Sound, Franchise". Upon its release, Dead Space 3 received generally positive reviews from critics, many of whom praised its gameplay, crafting system, and graphics. A common criticism was the move from survival-horror toward action, which many felt weakened the experience. Fan reaction was also mixed on the change to an action-heavy experience, both before and after release.

Tim Turi of Game Informer and Arthur Gies of Polygon were positive about the game, saying the incorporation of action benefited the series without diluting its horror and aesthetic, and praising the co-op mode as an unobtrusive addition. Shaun McInnis of GameSpot, while calling its story convoluted, praised its atmospheric presentation and gameplay additions. Nathan Ditum of PC Gamer praised the game's tone and co-op elements, though he noted pacing issues due to its size and the disjointed nature of its chapters; he also said the game is a natural evolution of the series and still carries key elements of the Dead Space series. Joystiq's Ludwig Kietzmann called Dead Space 3 "an exciting, shocking and mammoth adventure", praising its integration of action elements and co-op mode, and lauded its space sections as some of the best parts of the game. Computer and Video Games's Matthew Pellett praised the mechanics, highlighting some early co-op sections and enemy designs for their use of horror but said several elements, including changes to ammunition and a lack of variety, were detrimental, and that the game "[wasn't] Dead Space anymore".