Dead Rising 3

Game review by Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media
Dead Rising 3 Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 18+

Extremely violent and gory zombie game for mature players.

Xbox One 2013
Rate game

Parents say

age 14+

Based on 12 reviews

Kids say

age 14+

Based on 15 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this game.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Dead Rising 3 is a very graphic action game with horror elements (zombies jumping out at you), lots of gore (including disembowelment and decapitation), and plenty of blood. There are sexual references and innuendoes, alcohol consumption, and strong profanity. It is an M-rated game that earns its designation.

Community Reviews

dinim
dinim Adult
March 27, 2019
age 11+

THIS GAME BEST!

This Best Zombi Game LIke Them

This title has:

Great role models
Too much violence
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Alex B.
Alex B. Adult
January 19, 2018
age 15+

Fun and Brutal Adventure

Dead Rising 3 is a very fun game, that is for sure. But what guardians should know is that it is also very violent. Zombies are dismembered and gored on the regular and human enemies (while not being gored up) are killed quite a bit too. Yes, the main character does kill non-zombie humans, but he does so in self defense and/or the defense of others, and feels deep remorse. There is also a fair amount of sexual content and drinking in this game, as well as more than a few things that a child who is 15 may be too young for. The drinking is not that bad if they do not already think it is cool- Dead Rising 3 won't change their mind either way. The real offenders here are scenes with disturbing sexual aspects and/or sexual violence, but the main character is always saving victims and you do not see anything happen. There is also no upper nudity, and only part of the butt of a male. Some humans/zombies wear strongly revealing outfits.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Easy to play/use
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 12 parent reviews

What’s It About?

Developed exclusively by Capcom Vancouver for Xbox One, DEAD RISING 3 is similar to its best-selling predecessors: you’re tasked with staying alive during a deadly zombie outbreak by using anything and everything you find in the environment as a weapon. This includes familiar standbys such as guns, katanas, and chainsaws -- but also golf clubs, cinder blocks, and exploding teddy bears. You'll find blueprints that allow you to craft all-new weapons, such as the combination of a vacuum cleaner and saw blades to suck in zombies and then chop them to pieces. Yes, you read that correctly.
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Is It Any Good?

Like a good B-movie, this third-person adventure never takes itself too seriously. Despite some technical issues, it's quite fun -- but for mature players only. For one, vehicles have been added to this sequel, allowing you to get around and use them to mow down a few hundred zombies in your path. You also can make weaponized vehicles by combining them with deadly objects. Flamethrowers on the front of a truck? Why not? A motorcycle with a steamroller? Sure. Blades taped to a forklift? Go for it. Also, more so than in past Dead Rising games you have the freedom to go anywhere in this huge world. This is where vehicles come in handy, as you make your way across bridges, tunnels, and sprawling freeways to other parts of the city. You can follow your on-screen marker that shows where your next goal is or build up experience points by fighting, exploring new areas, and finding blueprints, safe houses, weapons, food, wearable items, and other collectible goodies.
Although it's fun and has various solo and multiplayer game modes, it would be remiss not to mention the assorted glitches, ranging from inconsistent frame rates and a less-than-stellar camera to some sloppy controls, be it some lag when you jump or having to stand exactly on top of an object to pick it up. It doesn't detract from the fun too much, but there still should be a downloadable update (a patch) to fix some of these issues. Gory and silly at the same time, Dead Rising 3 is a ridiculously fun sandbox game that's not for the faint of heart.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Is this game strong enough for a launch title? Does it showcase Xbox One's technical abilities?

  • Since this is an M-rated game, parents can suggest these less-violent zombie-related apps for phones and tablets.

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