Avadon 3: The Warborn

Alright. Avadon 3: The Warborn is done and dusted. That's the game and the series complete finally. This is of course a Spiderweb Software style CRPG, and as such, you should expect it to look and feel pretty old school, because it factually is exactly that. Even though this one released in 2016, the tried-and-true format used by Mr. Vogel has largely remained the same since 1995, with some QoL upgrades between then and now. Anyway, this was the conclusion to the Avadon series, so let's take a look at what it has to offer.
Now, you probably shouldn't be playing this before playing the two previous games. Even though you start over with a new character as with all Spiderweb Soft games, the overarching story builds from game to game. So, I'm going to assume you've played the previous two games here. If you haven't, you should look at those first. Can you play this on its own? Yes. Should you? No. Much of what's happening will lose all context if you do so.
With that out of the way, this is in my opinion the least compelling title in the series. The first game built the world for us. The second game expanded the lore and added a very real sense of mystery via The Corruption. In this game, you've already been to all the locations via the previous two games, have met many of the major NPCs already, and in general will be pretty familiar with everything being presented. This game struggles to introduce anything new into the equation outside of continuing the story itself.
I would say the story also is not as strong here. Definitely not as strong as Avadon 2, which was the clear best game in the series. It's good, and it keeps you moving forward, but it did feel like Jeff was feeling a bit of Avadon fatigue at the point where he wrote this one. It just lacked a certain punchiness and raw political intrigue the past two games had. Everything here is far more straightforward. Is it bad? No. Is it on par with the writing in other Spiderweb Soft games? Not the ones I've played. However, I will say that the ending I got was pretty satisfying, and so there is a bit of a payoff for seeing this through to its conclusion.
Gameplay is consistent with the previous two games. It's isometric turn-based CRPG, and you're going to already know these systems inside and out at this point. I'd also add that outside of just having a favorite character archetype you want to play as, there is really no reason to play as anything other than a Tinkermage. The game definitely favors that class heavily, and you have companions from all the classes available anyway, so why not play as the clear powerhouse?
As with the previous titles, this game can and will be very challenging at times. The toughest battle was with the Tawon god. Actually, that fight has a pretty insane difficulty spike. In contrast, the Redbeard battle was pretty anticlimactic. Where in previous games, he was hands down the most difficult battle by a wide margin, in this one, he was kind of a pushover. This is largely due to the story progression, and it makes perfect sense from that standpoint, but it still felt a bit weird considering his boss battle history.
Overall, Avadon 3 is definitely a quality game even if it doesn't necessarily live up to the lofty standard set by Spiderweb Software games in general, and it was certainly a fitting end to the Avadon series. I had a good time with it, and if you've already played the previous two games, you owe it to yourself to complete the series. Well worth a look in my estimation.
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I love these games - took a long break in between Avadon 2 and 3, but I'm glad I came back to it. The games just get better and better over each iteration and generation. Spiderweb Software is one of my absolute favorite game makers!

I love the world of this game. It's interesting and challenging and I wish there were more installments

It's fun. Probably the easiest game of the Avadon series.

It took me almost 10 years to conclude the trilogy, and I'm glad I did. It's clear this is a final entry, with many things ending including the mighty Redbeard. Maybe things are a bit hazy, but I think more than ever you have to face choices where you don't have good outcomes. Will you become a puppet to various sides, a bloodthirsty monster, a hypocrite who smiles at everyone, or maybe dare talk back and face the wrath of the most powerful Keeper on the lands.

A story ends with this chapter, although there are still all the remaining stories of Spiderweb Software waiting. It's funny how when I first started it, the Avadon games were the new fancy ones, and now that I finish it, they have become the oldest of the modern Spiderweb games.

Loving this CRPG so far!