There was a certain nostalgic element in the games published in early to mid 2000s. Internet was not that so widespread, digital downloads were not common and instead of DLCs you would get "Expansion Packs". Microtransactions were never heard of and one could only hope of getting an Early Acces chance with a demo CD which some PC mags distributed. Those were the days when you needed to patch up a game, you would have to go the developer/publisher website and download each patch in correct sequence. Since the games were distributed on discs and it was much more difficult to contact and demand a refund from developers, they did care about completing their product and players would not usually dump a game after they played for 20 mins, and tried to fix it themselves to make it work.

Keeping in mind these factors, that is why in my opinion, the best simulation games are also from this time period, and Silent Hunter 3 is one of them (Along with IL2 Sturmovik 1946 series) These games were made with the mindset with the aforementioned factors, where users would spend time on it and became classics. They were authentic, their difficulty levels were customisable according to your play style and their replay value was increased by offering users more than 1 vehicles to use. Otherwise both IL2 and SH3 would not have an active modding and support community more than 10 years after their release.

For these reasons, Silent Hunter 3 is the best sub sim available, even after 15 years of its release.

The game allows you to command a historic variety of subs in the service of Kriegsmarine from 1939 to 1944. There are no scripted missions in the campaign and even though the command gives you a certain patrol area, you are free to sail any section of the seas you please, given that you have enough fuel and crew endurance. Game gives player the freedom of choice and has a random probability of encounters, depending on how close to the historic shipping lanes you are. You unlock relevant tech upgrades and new sub types depending on the time frame of the campaign as well. Or if you like a quick action, you can always play historic or semi-historical quick missions to jump right into a battle in single missions menu.

Difficulty-wise, game is also customasible, to the point that you can try to sink enemy shipping, constantly pausing the game to make the necessary torpedo angle calculations on paper or on a calculator to determine a ship's speed, by calculating its mast height, and the compass degrees they traverse in while you keep the time on a chronometer, without any outside view or event camera while your periscope is being washed by the waves. Hoping that it is not a dud(pretty common in early war period) Or if you are lazy, or just want some eye-candy, just put manual targeting off, lock on to a ship and watch your torpedoes slipping beneath the waves for the spectacular explosion which will cut the enemy merchant in two. And as your weapons and submarine improve during the time frame of the campaign, so will the enemies capabilities to hunt you down! An easy patrol in 1939 could as well be suicidal in 1944.

While the base-game can be a little bit rough around the edges, and certainly have some bugs and glitches with wide screen, it only takes a couple of text lines in the config. file and a visit to modding community to enhance the game. I strongly suggest visiting subsim.com and getting the GWX 3 mega mod pack for multiple integrated campaigns, official and unofficial patches and more content.

While there are other games that have been published in the Silent Hunter franchise, even with improved graphics, the newer games do not have the same game play and the authentic feel of Silent Hunter 3. Silent Hunter 4 is also a decent subsim on its own right with an improved engine, but set in the Pacific theater.

Still in my book, or capt'n's log, this is the best submarine simulator ever made, regardless of its age.