Desperados 3

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Desperados III is a tactical stealth game set in the Wild West, where players lead a gang of five unique characters, each with their own abilities and weapons, on a mission for redemption. A combination of stealth and strategic planning is required to take out enemies quietly and survive encounters. The game offers a variety of environments and a dramatic showdown, testing players' skills and wit.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,663 reviews

story positive mentions

grinding negative mentions

Desperados III offers engaging gameplay with a variety of characters, each with unique abilities that allow for multiple strategies to complete missions.
The game features beautiful graphics and well-designed levels that create an immersive Wild West atmosphere.
The quick save and load mechanics encourage experimentation and make the game accessible, allowing players to retry strategies without significant penalties.

The game can feel repetitive, with many missions requiring similar strategies and tactics, leading to a sense of monotony.
Some players found the story and character development lacking compared to previous titles, feeling that the narrative was predictable and not as engaging.
The AI can be inconsistent, with enemies sometimes reacting in ways that feel unfair or illogical, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.

story
1,492 mentions
32 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story in "Desperados III" is generally described as a classic revenge narrative set in the Wild West, featuring a cast of colorful characters with distinct abilities. While some players find the plot engaging and well-presented, others feel it lacks depth and originality compared to its predecessor, "Shadow Tactics." The game offers a variety of missions that encourage replayability through different approaches and challenges, though some critiques mention that the story can feel predictable and somewhat cliché. Overall, the combination of solid gameplay mechanics and character interactions enhances the storytelling experience, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- “The story is engaging, the mechanics are well made and although at times it is somewhat finicky and gets slightly frustrating, I absolutely love this game.”
- “The story, while not a masterpiece, is very well written and cleverly constructed.”
- “The story is quite compelling for this category of game and the voice acting takes it up a notch!”
- “The game's worst aspects are that the story is mediocre and that each mission has guard positions, timings, and view cones that are set up nearly perfectly, allowing for only minimal gaps, which feels same-ish and inauthentic for a wild west scenario and more like extreme military precision.”
- “There is barely any story and the whole gameplay is limited to working out vision cones.”
- “I felt that the story was a bit rushed and a little unsatisfying because some of the character conflicts were resolved really quickly or it felt that what happened came out of nowhere.”
gameplay
768 mentions
46 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Desperados III" is largely characterized by its strategic, stealth-based mechanics that closely mirror those of its predecessor, "Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun." While many players appreciate the refined controls and the introduction of new character abilities, some criticize the lack of innovation and repetitive mission structures. Overall, the game offers a satisfying blend of tactical planning and execution, enhanced by engaging level design and a compelling western aesthetic, making it a strong entry in the real-time tactics genre.
- “The gameplay is extremely tight and accessible, with a lot of visual polish for a strategy game.”
- “Combining story-driven, strategic, puzzle-like stealth gameplay with great level design and memorable characters, it offers a standout experience in the real-time tactics genre.”
- “Desperados III is a captivating journey that flawlessly blends tactical gameplay, stunning graphics, an engrossing story, impressive voice acting, and a brilliant challenge that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
- “The gameplay soon boils down to a repetitive cycle: navigating areas with 2-4 guards, using character skills to eliminate and hide enemies in bushes.”
- “The whole gameplay quickly becomes stale, because every new mission doesn't offer much new mechanics, and then you realize: 'oh, sh#%, here we go again', save and load for hours, yay.”
- “It's perplexing that the same team that crafted an exhilarating first four hours could produce such uninspired gameplay in the subsequent seven.”
graphics
325 mentions
61 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Desperados III" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and attention to detail, effectively capturing the wild west aesthetic while maintaining a vibrant and engaging art style. Many reviewers noted that the game runs smoothly even on lower-end hardware, with well-designed environments that enhance gameplay. While some comparisons were made to its predecessor, "Shadow Tactics," the overall consensus is that the graphics are a significant improvement, contributing to a captivating gaming experience.
- “The graphics are gorgeous, the story is amazing, the music is so good, the characters are interesting.”
- “Desperados 3 is a captivating journey that flawlessly blends tactical gameplay, stunning graphics, an engrossing story, impressive voice acting, and a brilliant challenge that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
- “The visuals are stunning, the level design is clearly very well thought-out, and the soundtrack is incredible.”
- “Graphics are bad, sound is bad, story is superficial and blood is removed after 5 seconds... hate it when decals are just removed to make the game work on PlayStation 5.”
- “Ps: the graphics look like they are from 2006.”
- “The graphics look a bit blurry and simple for a game with a AAA price tag in 2020, the game easily hits 165 fps (cap for my system with RTX 2080) in 1440p with max settings.”
music
254 mentions
62 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, fitting seamlessly with the wild west theme and evoking a cinematic feel reminiscent of classic spaghetti westerns. While many players praise the soundtrack as exceptional and memorable, some note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music is considered one of the standout features, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “The music is gorgeous and fits the mood perfectly, making me feel like I'm watching a wild west movie.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic and very fitting with the western theme, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “The music complements the game and is memorable, adding a whole new level of immersion to the experience.”
- “As with other aspects, the game's soundtrack starts strong but fades into repetition.”
- “By the end of the first chapter, I found myself wanting to turn off the music.”
- “The music is the same throughout the game and the voice acting is great stuff.”
replayability
141 mentions
43 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability, with numerous challenges, multiple paths to complete missions, and various difficulty settings that encourage players to revisit levels for different experiences. Players appreciate the diverse gameplay options, including unique challenges and badges that enhance replay value, making it appealing for both casual gamers and completionists. While some feel that replayability may diminish after completing all goals, many agree that the game offers substantial content and engaging mechanics that keep players coming back.
- “The variety of possible walkthroughs of the same scenarios, challenges given via medals, the bounty hunters mode, the baron's challenges, difficulties, and DLCs make this game replayable even after beating its story mode.”
- “Dynamic and strategy is excellent; getting extra stars and trying different approaches makes the levels replayable, and for some levels, even more interesting the second or third time you pass them while chasing some achievements.”
- “The game offers a lot of replayability in the form of challenges that require several playthroughs to accomplish on each mission, as well as most missions offering more than one approach to completing the objectives.”
- “Additionally, it lacks replayability.”
- “If I have a knock on it, it's that I don't foresee much replay value. It has lots of additional challenges and you can go back and clear up the accomplishments you didn't get first go round, but I think completing the story mode was enough for me.”
- “Not much replay value, and the cutscenes tend to distort with bass-voices, so overall an 8/10.”
atmosphere
58 mentions
67 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive wild west setting, enhanced by beautifully rendered environments, fitting music, and engaging voice acting. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke nostalgia while delivering a rich, detailed experience that complements its gameplay and storytelling. Overall, the combination of graphics, sound, and thematic elements creates a captivating atmosphere that resonates with players.
- “The beautifully rendered environments, from sun-drenched towns to dusty canyons, create an immersive wild west atmosphere that pulls you deeper into the experience.”
- “The story and western cowboy shooting cattle bandits atmosphere are immersive and convincing, not to mention the beautiful soundtrack that provides a genuine feeling of the time.”
- “These guys really know how to make a beautiful game with great atmosphere, game mechanics, voice acting, and map design.”
- “- the atmosphere that the game is offering.”
- “- storytelling, atmosphere, animation, presentation, liveliness.”
- “For some reason, Shadow Tactics didn't fully click with me, but the atmosphere and intricate levels in this game have drawn me in.”
humor
40 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, engaging character interactions, and a mix of dark and light-hearted moments that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the funny dialogues and memorable one-liners, although some find certain comedic elements hit or miss. Overall, the humor adds charm and depth to the gameplay, making it a standout feature.
- “Funny dialogues, good story, diverse playable characters.”
- “Great humor and exceptional characters with some nods to the original and some remixing.”
- “The writing is great, the banter between the characters is natural and pretty funny, and you can tell that whoever was responsible for it knew the original games well.”
optimization
32 mentions
59 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is highly praised for its optimization, running smoothly on a variety of systems, including high-end machines and older laptops. Users report excellent performance with minimal bugs, though some mention occasional frame rate fluctuations. The graphics are particularly noted for their beauty and efficiency, contributing to a polished gaming experience.
- “Excellent strategy game with extremely optimized solutions possible to get badges on the hardest difficulty.”
- “The game has been optimized and polished.”
- “Graphics are greatly optimized - the game runs smoothly (and looks superb) even on a laptop with a low-end graphics card.”
- “There's countless discussions of stuttering, frame drops, and mouse and controller issues in this game.”
- “However, I cannot seem to run the game at a consistent framerate of 120 fps - it fluctuates a tad, which gives the impression of stuttering when scrolling, for instance.”
- “Compared to its predecessors, ST and D3 have optimized a more streamlined control scheme for the modern era with character abilities accessible with ASDFG/QWERT keys (customizable in options), as opposed to Commando’s insistence on using the entire alphabet list.”
grinding
30 mentions
0 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
87 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time for missions that can feel repetitive and lacking in purpose. While some enjoy the challenge and diversity of mission goals, many express frustration with the lengthy and monotonous nature of grinding, particularly on higher difficulty levels. A few players appreciate the absence of traditional RPG mechanics like skill trees, but the consensus leans towards grinding being a major drawback that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I'm a big fan of Commandos series and Deus Ex, but this one just feels purposeless and tedious.”
- “I was imagining something like 30 minutes to 1 hour for a mission, but it's more like 1-3 hours, which can get pretty tedious if you have other things to do.”
- “If you do the extra badge challenges, then it's not exactly hard, it's just incredibly tedious, e.g. things like a 20+ minute mission with many points where someone might spot you and then the badge says 'don't save for the duration of the mission'.”
stability
23 mentions
35 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
65 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting a generally stable experience with minor glitches, while others have encountered significant bugs and crashes that hinder gameplay. Many users noted that the game runs well on various platforms, including Linux and lower-end machines, but frustrations with buggy AI and detection systems persist. Overall, while some players found the game enjoyable despite its issues, others deemed it a "buggy mess" that detracted from the overall experience.
- “Runs great on Linux.”
- “+ Very stable and well-optimized; runs great even on Mac Mini M1 using Rosetta 2.”
- “I am on a regular laptop and it runs great.”
- “But all the glitches and lack of polish in Desperados III put an ugly, dirty stain on the otherwise pleasant experience.”
- “The second game in the series was a sore disappointment riddled with bugs and glitches and was a poor attempt at transforming the series into a 3D third-person setting that just didn't work out too well for the format.”
- “I can't say if it was good or bad but it was so buggy I couldn't play it (gave up after first 100 crashes).”
character development
14 mentions
43 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted as a mixed aspect; while some characters exhibit distinct personalities and memorable traits, many players feel that the depth of development is lacking, particularly in comparison to traditional RPGs. Relationships, such as that between Cooper and Kate, progress quickly, and while the game features quality character design and voice acting, it often misses opportunities for deeper emotional engagement and significant narrative twists. Overall, the game excels in its artistic presentation but leaves players wanting more in terms of character growth and interaction.
- “Desperados has that continuity and more character development; all of them are memorable.”
- “While this is missing the classic character development of RPGs, given there are no character build or party build choices to be made, the narrative that they pack into the game is satisfying and each character in your party has a distinct persona.”
- “Nothing we haven't seen before, yes, but the character designs, their unique attributes and motivations are surprisingly well done.”
- “While this is missing the classic character development of RPGs, given there are no character build or party build choices to be made, the narrative that they pack into the game is satisfying and each character in your party has a distinct persona.”
- “Don't expect any huge reveals, massive betrayals, or significant character development, after all, you're not in this game for the story, are you?”
- “I just wish there would be more character development, interaction, and, hell, even cinematics.”
emotional
14 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while the story and character development evoke strong feelings, particularly through effective voice acting and engaging twists, the reliance on isometric views limits immersion. Players appreciate the emotional journey and replayability offered by the badge system, but some feel that deeper character development and cinematic storytelling could enhance the overall emotional impact. Overall, the game succeeds in eliciting a range of emotions, from happiness to anxiety, but leaves room for improvement in its narrative delivery.
- “Very good made me cry; the story is excellent. I recommend it if you're a masochist because you're going to take over 35 hours for a first-time playthrough.”
- “The game made me feel happy, anxious, and even surprised as the story unveils major twists along the misadventures and unfortunate events that we witness.”
- “Voice acting has great direction; every character - including enemies - sounds emotional and believable.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate concerns that the game's monetization strategy prioritizes marketing over quality development, leading to perceptions of it being a cash grab rather than a genuine sequel. Players express disappointment, fearing it may simply be a reskinned version of a previous title rather than an innovative new entry in the franchise.
- “I bet they spent more money on their advertisement and promotion campaign than on the actual development of the game.”
- “I loved Shadow Tactics, but after viewing the release trailer for this, I was very worried that this was just going to be another Shadow Tactics game with a reskin, just using the Desperados IP as a name-only cash grab.”