Company of Heroes 3: Endure & Defy review: this Is The 'Comeback' The Game Desperately Needed

Review
Written By NLM Team

It took two years, a lot of angry Steam reviews, and probably a few office arguments at Relic, but Company of Heroes 3 finally feels like the sequel we were promised.

An intense overhead gameplay screenshot from Company of Heroes 3: Endure & Defy, showing multiple tanks and infantry engaging in combat amid explosions, rubble, and destroyed buildings.

When CoH3 launched, it was a bit like a Tiger tank running on a lawnmower engine. It looked the part, but it stalled out constantly. The community went back to CoH2 in droves, complaining about sound design, pathfinding, and a general lack of soul.

But with the release of the "Endure & Defy" DLC pack, Relic has seemingly found the missing keys.

This isn't just a content dump of generic units. It is a fundamental shift in how the game feels. Each of the four new Battlegroups introduces mechanics that are weird, experimental, and genuinely fun to play. It proves that the developers are finally willing to break their own rules to make the game interesting.

Tunnel Rats and Guerilla Warfare

The standout addition is undoubtedly the US Forces Italian Partisan Battlegroup.

For years, the US faction in Company of Heroes has been about riflemen and air support. This DLC turns them into the GLA from Command & Conquer: Generals. You can build tunnel networks that allow you to teleport infantry across the map instantly.

It fundamentally changes the flow of a match. You aren't just pushing a frontline anymore. You are popping up behind enemy lines, sabotaging a fuel cache, and vanishing back into the earth before the enemy can rotate their Panther tank. It is infuriating to play against and absolutely hilarious to use. The skill ceiling here is massive, and it finally gives the USF a playful, tricky identity.

The Navy Arrives (On Land)

My personal favorite is the DAK Kriegsmarine Battlegroup.

The idea of bringing the Navy to a desert tank fight sounds stupid, but it works. You can build "Hardpoints" on capture zones that act as defensive anchors, calling in supply drops and buffs.

But the real star is the Fritz X guided bomb. You actually get to steer this thing mid-air. There is nothing quite as satisfying as watching an enemy tank try to reverse out of danger, only for you to manually curve a massive bomb right onto its engine block. It feels oppressive and heavy, exactly how the Afrika Korps should feel.

Heavy Metal and Bunker Logic

The other two additions are less experimental but fill massive holes in the roster.

The British Polish Cavalry brings the heavy hitters. You get the Sherman Firefly (finally) and the ability to strap "Tulip" rockets onto your light vehicles. It turns the British faction from a slow, methodical defensive army into a burst-damage powerhouse. The Polish Lancers shred armor so fast it feels like a bug, but it makes the late-game fights incredibly volatile.

Then there is the Wehrmacht Last Stand. This is for the players who like to turtle. You get Propaganda Towers that debuff enemy fire rates and the ability to salvage wrecks. It promotes a grindy, attrition-based playstyle that counters the high mobility of the new USF partisans.

Is CoH3 Finally Worth It In 2025?

This DLC highlights just how far the base game has come.

If you played at launch and quit, you might be surprised. The sound design has been overhauled. Explosions actually sound like explosions now, not wet cardboard. The pathfinding is smoother, and the "blobbing" meta, while still present, is less effective than it used to be (unless you are fighting those new Partisans, which need a nerf).

The Battlegroup system finally feels superior to CoH2's Commander system. You aren't locked into a single strategy the moment the game loads. You have choices. You can pivot.

The only real negative hanging over this resurgence is the price. Relic (or Sega) is charging a premium for these Battlegroups. If you are a casual player who just wants to play the campaigns, this DLC offers you nothing. But for multiplayer fans, this is essential content.

A chaotic gameplay screenshot from Company of Heroes 3: Endure & Defy, showing a large explosion engulfing a vehicle in the foreground, while a US M10 Wolverine tank destroyer fires a rocket across the debris-strewn battlefield.

The Verdict

Endure & Defy is the moment Company of Heroes 3 stopped apologizing for its launch and started having fun.

The new mechanics are wild, the balance is chaotic in a good way, and the game finally has its own identity. It is no longer just a "worse CoH2." It is the best RTS experience you can have in 2025.

8.5/10 A fantastic expansion that injects chaos, strategy, and experimental fun into a game that was previously playing it too safe.

We at NLM received a key for this game for free, this however didn't impact our review in any way.

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NLM Team
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