Gujian 3 古剑奇谭三 is a Must Play Hidden Gem on Steam
I love being immersed in an entire universe and Gujian 3 (古剑奇谭三) is an amazing Steam hidden gem that delivers. If you are looking for a new action RPG to play, definitely check out Gujian 3. Gujian 3 is a xianxia Chinese game. When I say Gujian 3 is an experience, I mean, it feels as if you are playing inside a xianxia drama. Gujian 3 brings the elements of ancient Chinese history, culture, and mythology to life with stunning graphics, smooth, 3D combat, and an epic story.
In recent years I’ve become absolutely obsessed with Chinese dramas—specifically historical dramas, wuxia, xianxia, and xianhuan. And even more recently, games from those genres. With the release of both Sword and Fairy dramas and learning they were based on the video game series (Chinese Paladin and Sword and Fairy games), I had to find more. That led me to Gujian 3. The Gujian series also spawned a few dramas. And I didn’t realize the MMO I fell in love with but found too late, Swords of Legends Online aka Gujian Qi Tan, is also a part of the Gujian franchise. But Gujian 3 really leaves the players wanting more.
What is Gujian 3?
Gujian 3 is the third installment of the Gujian series, which is developed by Aurogon Info & Tech, a subsidiary of Wangyuan Shengtang. The game was released on Steam in 2018, but it was only available in Chinese until late 2019. Since then, it has gained positive reviews from players around the world who appreciate its rich cultural context and immersive gameplay.
What’s Gujian 3 About?
Gujian 3 is set in a fantasy world based on ancient China, where gods, demons, and mortals coexist. You play Beiluo, a fey swordsman who is the heir of the Shadowchasers, a powerful celestial race. However, Beiluo wants nothing to do with the Shadowchasers nor the conflict that comes with it. However, fate has other plans for the carefree and adventurous swordsman. Along the way, he meets other characters who join him on his journey, such as Cen Ying, an adorable and wicked-smart mortal girl whose ancestors are linked to his; and Yun’Wuyue, a Dreamhaunt demon who promised Beiluo’s brother that she’d take care of him.
Gods and demons have been embroiled in an ongoing battle for thousands of years. But this time, demons have been increasingly restless, attacking the Shadowchaser’s capital city, Skyelk as well as terrorizing the mortal realm. Beiluo, who had been living in the mortal realm was summoned by his twin brother, Xuange, King of the Shadowchasers, to help protect Skyelk and their people, as their system of protection, the Trigrams shield, was beginning to weaken. To fix the shields, Beiluo, accompanied by Yun’wuyue, ventures to the mortal realm to find the descendant of the mortal master who set up the Trigrams for the Shadowchasers. While in the mortal realm, demons launch an attack on the town of Yangping, putting people to sleep and preying on their dreams. Beiluo, Cen Ying, and Yun’Wuyue journey through the Mortal, Dream, and Spirit realms to find the source of the demon incursion.
Gujian 3’s Gameplay
Gujian 3 is not your typical action RPG. It has several unique features that make it stand out from other games in the genre. Here are some of them:
Full real-time combat system: Unlike some RPGs that switch to a separate combat scene, Gujian 3 lets you fight directly after entering combat without any loading or transition. You can use light and heavy attacks to perform combos, dodge, or block enemy attacks, and unleash special or morale attacks when you have enough energy or morale points. You can also switch between different weapons and characters during combat to suit different situations.
Constellation system: Each character has a constellation system that shows their skills and attributes. You can customize your constellation by placing different stars on it, which will affect your performance in combat and exploration. You can also unlock new stars by completing quests or finding hidden items.
Pact creatures: In addition to your human companions, you can also summon pact creatures to aid you in battle or travel. Pact creatures are magical beings that have formed a bond with you through contracts. They have different abilities and personalities, and you can interact with them to improve your relationship.
Dynamic weather and day-night cycle: The game world of Gujian 3 is not static. It changes according to the time of day and the weather conditions. You can see the sun rise and set, the clouds move across the sky, the rain begins and stops, and the snow covers the ground. These changes will also affect the gameplay, such as visibility, enemy behavior, and environmental interactions.
Mini-games and side activities: Gujian 3 is not all about fighting and questing. You can also enjoy various mini-games and side activities that add more fun and variety to your adventure. For example, you can play card games with different people throughout the towns, fish in different locations, cook delicious dishes, and collect rare items. You will also find puzzles throughout your travels as both mini-games and part of the main quest.
Is There Romance in Gujian 3?
While there are no romance options in Gujian 3, you do get to watch as an unspeakable romance unfolds throughout the story. You’re more of a witness than a participant in the romances of Gujian 3. This was one of the best little surprises that was an absolute pleasure to watch play out.
Taking Photos in Gujian 3
Gujian 3 is such a beautiful game, how could they not include a photo mode? There are two ways to take photos in-game. The first is through Steam by pressing F12. You can hide your HUD by pressing F5. Screenshots taken with the Steam screenshot function are saved in the default location for Steam screenshots, C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\45547900\760\remote\994280 \screenshots.
The second way to take photos is through the game’s photo mode. Access photo mode by hitting F2. Photos taken in photo mode are not saved to the same location as photos taken with Steam’s screenshot function. Gujian 3 photo mode saves pics to C:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Gujian3\photo.
Why should you play Gujian 3?
Gujian 3 has over 50 hours of mesmerizing content. The story pulls you in as the enchanting soundtrack cradles you. The beautiful art style showcases the scenery, people, and culture of ancient China. The combat system is fluid and lets you experience thrilling action and strategy, even during some cut scenes. The story has quite a few surprising twists and turns.
This game is probably one of the most beautiful games I’ve ever played. The scenery throughout the realms is breathtaking. There’s even a world in the Dream Realm from someone’s dream of a puppet show and it’s it’s just gorgeous!
Though the audio is in Mandarin, the interface and subtitles are in English. So, if you are looking for a new action RPG to play or if you are curious about ancient Chinese culture and mythology, you should give Gujian 3 a try. This hidden gem on Steam will surprise you with its captivating beauty, storytelling, and charm. Keep checking back for more reviews on Chinese language RPGs and martial arts games.
