Mods that later became full game releases have spawned some very popular franchises throughout video game history. One such example is Killing Floor, a game that started as a mod for Unreal Tournament but was eventually released as a standalone experience. This horde-style first-person shooter quickly gained popularity and eventually got a sequel that also did well enough to continue the series with Killing Floor 3. We had the chance to play Tripwire Interactive’s new third installment at Gamescom 2024.

The core tenets of the series remain the same: players can choose their character class and then dive into a series of maps where they must fend off hordes of enemies called Zeds while moving between checkpoints during downtime to replenish supplies and set up gadgets. The same classes that existed in the original game have been carried over into the sequel and will continue in the third chapter, with some additions of course. Six specialists are planned for KF3’s launch, each offering a unique gadget (powerful special ability). What is new, however, is the fact that players can use any combination of weapon and character class they want. Also new is the ability to modify weapons, allowing players to equip their weapons with a variety of attachments. While this system is well established in modern shooters, KF3 is the first time it has been used.

For our demo, we had the opportunity to play through a sci-fi level set in a kind of ruined factory. After choosing the character and basic equipment to start with, we encountered the very first wave of enemies during our quick advance. These Zeds (human creatures that bear some resemblance to enhanced zombies) approached from different directions but were quickly dispatched. The demo ran at the standard level of the three difficulty levels that will be available in the final game.

After a wave is eliminated, an indicator appears to show us where to go next, and we ran through some corridors to the next area and the resupply station. This gameplay loop will be familiar to returning fans. At the station, we got a new look at the weapon and gadget options – similar to Call of Duty, the game presents a number of randomly generated, modified weapons, and once you’ve earned enough money, you can purchase and equip them. You’ll also need to save up some money to refill ammo, as well as buy a few grenades. Another item you can purchase are traps, such as a stun gun, which can be deployed and activated by the enemies.

The next waves repeated the process, with slightly more enemies appearing, but they were dealt with. As before, the game adjusts the number of enemies depending on the number of players, with up to four possible in a match. Interestingly, though, the developers told us that despite the focus on multiplayer co-op and the marketing for the franchise, nearly half of players want to go it alone.

New enemy aspects include Zeds crawling on walls and limb injuries – we observed some enemies surviving and continuing to crawl towards us after losing their legs. There’s also a new ability to perform a finisher move on staggering enemies. While we did do this a few times, it’s not clear if this mechanic will be viable given the intensity of the action in late waves and on higher difficulties. There are also new locomotion options, such as the zipline as one of the gadgets that lets you set up an escape route if you get overwhelmed in an area. The developers also promise a better climbing/parkour and sliding system, both of which we tested in the demo and seemed fine, though again these are hardly new mechanics for the genre.

We continued to defeat enemy waves, running to the nearest weapon station and getting a few new weapons. When the boss appeared, we had a rapid-firing submachine gun with bullets that froze enemies and a railgun-type weapon. The big boss stomped around and pursued relentlessly, and we certainly had to use all the mechanics available to escape. The level featured large tanks of explosive gas that would drain his health if the explosion was timed right. We used all the grenades available and also staggered him a few times during the fight. When he was down, we focused fire on his chest and gauntlets, which glowed red and were the weak points. We managed to destroy his gauntlets before the second phase began – and that meant he had no more missile attacks available. After a few more laps around the arena and many ammo clips later, the beast was down and the level was over.

While there have been a few options for wave-based horde games in recent years, many, like Vermintide, have been focused on close-quarters combat. By using plenty of weapons and an overwhelming number of players, Killing Floor has successfully positioned itself as a viable alternative to something like Call of Duty Zombies, with less complicated mechanics and exploration and just pure bloody chaos. From our time with the game, it seems that the core gameplay will remain unchanged, but some of the additional features – like classes, balancing, and more – are still being finalized. More details should be announced closer to launch, which is expected for PC and consoles in 2025.