Killing Floor 3 Review - PS5: An Old Veteran’s Return

XPN Network
Aug 11
4 min read

Killing Floor 3, the latest entry in Tripwire Interactive's long-running horde-shooter series, finally shambled onto PS5 on July 24, 2025, after a few delays that had fans sharpening their virtual knives in anticipation. Set in a dystopian 2091 where you're part of the rebel group Nightfall battling megacorp Horzine's army of bioengineered "Zeds," it's a co-op focused FPS that promises waves of gory chaos with up to five friends (or solo if you're feeling masochistic). If you're a fan of the series or games like Left 4 Dead, it's worth a look, but newcomers might find it repetitive and undercooked at launch.

Returning to the Killing Floor franchise on PlayStation 5 feels like revisiting an old battleground with fresh eyes. As someone who cut my teeth on the original PC release but skipped its sequel, this third instalment blends familiar survival tactics with brand-new layers of depth and polish.

Waves of grotesque Zeds still pour in like clockwork, urging you to barricade chokepoints and manage resources between bouts of unrelenting carnage. The core rhythm of five escalating waves capped by a boss fight remains intact, but KF3’s mission selection hub replaces clunky loading screens. It delivers mission briefings, weapon shops, and quick team matchmaking in one sleek space, sharpening the pacing without diluting that addictive loop.

Dashing, sliding, and climbing injected into your toolkit transform firefights from static standoffs into frantic dance routines. Each weapon now carries real heft, bolstered by satisfying recoil, booming audio cues, and on-the-fly attachments that swap ammo types or fire modes mid-match. Adapting to armour-piercing, incendiary, or corrosive rounds on demand becomes vital as enemy varieties morph from wave to wave.

Instead of the open-ended perk trees of its predecessor, KF3 introduces six distinct specialists: Commando, Sharpshooter, Firebug, Medic, Engineer, and the sleek Ninja. Each class wields a signature weapon and a unique gadget, ranging from deployable healing nodes to grappling hooks that defines its battlefield role. While you won’t find dozens of skill branches at launch, the streamlined progression lets you master one kit quickly and experiment with weapon mods without being overwhelmed.

Eight launch maps may read as modest compared to previous entries, but thoughtful design keeps encounters unpredictable. Hidden objectives and light puzzles scattered across levels force you to peel away from obvious defensive perches. Vertical traversal features zip lines, balconies, and scaffolding open up flanking opportunities that reward exploration and coordination in full six-player squads.

A pulsing industrial metal score sets your heartbeat racing as you weave through pools of gore. Soundtrack tracks by Rocky Gray and zYnthetic thump with urgency, punctuating every headshot and grenade blast. Speaking of blasts, the dismemberment effects remain gloriously brutal ragdoll physics and cascading gore fountains never fail to scratch that visceral itch.

Attempting missions solo tests your endurance more than your skill. Zeds spawn in relentless packs, forcing you to juggle healing, crowd control, and damage output simultaneously. By contrast, coordinated teams who mesh gadgets like freezing darts from the Sharpshooter or electric turrets from the Engineer turn each wave into a tactical ballet where synergies shine brightest.

On a base PS5, frame rates generally hover around a smooth 60 FPS, though spikes of enemy mass can introduce stutters mid-engagement.

Pros

Retains the addictive five-wave plus boss loop that defined the original experience
Movement overhaul (dash, slide, mantle) turns firefights into dynamic encounters
On-the-fly weapon mods and punchy recoil/audio feedback deepen customization
Six distinct specialists with unique gadgets promote clear team roles

Cons

Launch content feels lean with only eight maps and a modest weapons roster
Occasional frame-rate stutters during heavy Zed swarms on base PS5
UI quirks—nested menus and unclear Supply Pass costs—can disrupt flow
Solo runs can be overwhelmingly brutal without teammate synergies
No graphics or performance mode toggles

Killing Floor 3 introduces the Nightfall Supply Pass as its seasonal content system, delivering a steady flow of cosmetic gear and in-game currency. Structured around 20 themed pages, each pass invites players to earn rewards by levelling up through combat missions and weekly objectives. The free tier provides a respectable haul, including up to 500 Creds, while those who opt for the premium pass unlock a trove of exclusive cosmetics and a further 500 Creds totalling 1,000 across both tracks. Whether you're after weapon skins, outfits, or flair for your name card, the mix of grind and gratification is well-balanced.

Notably, each Nightfall pass is permanent once acquired, letting players tackle it at their own pace without the anxiety of timed FOMO. With a new pass dropping every few months, there’s a rhythm to the seasonal grind that feels natural rather than forced. Bundled passes in deluxe and elite editions add value for committed players, and with Tripwire’s reputation for post-launch support, this system feels like a smart scaffold for future updates. Instead of just throwing cosmetics at you, it subtly reinforces the game's loop: suit up, squad up, and dive back into the bloodbath looking better than ever.

Killing Floor 3 on PS5 manages to revitalize the franchise’s blood-soaked identity while offering new depth for veterans returning from the original game. Its intense wave-based combat is as thrilling as ever, amplified by agile movement mechanics, brutal weapon effects, and a soundtrack that underscores the chaos with ferocious energy. The introduction of clearly defined classes and mid-match weapon modding adds modern tactical complexity, making squad play more rewarding and layered. Though the map count and weapon selection feel modest at launch, what’s here is crafted with intention and encourages experimentation.

That said, KF3 still stumbles in areas like UI clarity, solo difficulty balancing, and occasional performance hiccups—especially on base PS5 hardware. These shortcomings don’t cripple the experience, but they do temper its early momentum. Thankfully, Tripwire’s history of long-term updates hints at a steady flow of content and polish to come. For long-time fans who skipped the second instalment, this is more than just a graphical upgrade, it’s a feral return to roots, reimagined with enough new tricks to feel both nostalgic and fresh.

XPN Rating: 3 out of 5 (SILVER)