Killing Floor 3 preview: Bigger, better and gorier

Tripwire Interactive has been entertaining players with its Killing Floor series for over a decade and a half now, and it’s clear it’s not planning on stopping anytime soon. You see, Killing Floor 3 is on the way next month, and having been hands-on with it I’ve been left very impressed. This is shaping up to be a bigger, better, gorier sequel, and I can’t wait to spend yet more time blasting zeds into oblivion.

If you’re new to the Killing Floor series, ‘zeds’ is the collective name of the ghastly enemies you face off against. It’s perhaps because in the original game most of the enemies were very zombie-like, but as the series has developed and grown so too has the range of adversaries it presents to players. Needless to say, Killing Floor 3 is going to throw more enemies at you than ever before, both in terms of numbers and types.

There are slow-moving zombie-like enemies here, of course, which are relatively easy to take down. But there are also hulking brutes that like to rush in and try to slice you up, monstrosities equipped with flamethrowers ready to turn up the heat, and crawling freaks that might make your skin crawl. You’ll encounter waves of these, and more, as you try to survive each match, using downtime between waves to quickly dash to a merchant and replenish or upgrade your arsenal.

For anyone that has has played a Killing Floor game before, then, Killing Floor 3 is largely business as usual. With its latest title, Tripwire Interactive isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, but rather make it deeper, more rewarding and a whole lot prettier to look at. And so, while the basic formula remains the same, there are numerous enhancements, tweaks and new features to make the experience feel fresh and, more importantly, improved.

The AI of your enemies has been on the receiving end of some attention for one, making them more engaging to face off against. You’ll find that they’re more strategic, keeping you on your toes as you do battle. They’re deadlier than ever as a result, and only get more troublesome as you increase the difficulty level, with them also getting faster and more resilient. But the good news is that you’re also better equipped to deal with them.

Six specialists are available for players to choose from, each coming equipped with a default loadout. This time around, each specialist has a unique gadget available to them, too. The new Ninja operator, for example, has access to a grappling hook-like device that allows them to quickly pull themselves to an enemy to deliver a powerful strike with their katana.

Using the same specialist throughout matches will allow them to be developed via unique skill trees, enhancing their capabilities while also shaping them to your playstyle. Killing Floor 3 allows players to craft their own weapon mods, too, giving them more control over their arsenal. And while your choice of operator is important, you don’t need to feel like your options are limited when it comes to gear; you’re free to buy pretty much whatever you like during a match. So, if you want your Ninja to be able to switch between their katana and an assault rifle, you can.

Other ways you can get the edge on your enemies in Killing Floor 3 include making use a of a limited budget to give yourself a bit of upgrade at the start of a match – you might choose to upgrade your armour, for example, giving you more damage protection. And when you’re in the heat of battle you can make use of objects within the environment your advantage. Powering up a turret when faced with an encroaching horde always pays dividends, and when facing off against a fearsome boss, might a giant fan prove to be useful in some way? That’s for you to discover.

All of this adds up to make a game where each match is very unpredictable, especially when you also add in mutators and optional missions to complete. And overall, it makes me very excited to jump into Killing Floor 3 when it launches next month. The good news is that it launches on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC on the same day and supports cross-play, so it should be easy to find a team of players to face the hordes with, as well as play with friends on different platforms. If you’re a fan of the series or simply love co-op shooters, this should be on your radar.

Killing Floor 3 launches 25th March on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.