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Just Cause 3

Just Cause 3 is a joy to play and is easily a candidate for game of the year. While it does come with flaws, there is not a single open world game that allows players to let loose in such a shamelessly entertaining way.
Just Cause 3 Game Cover
81%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
optimization, stability
86% User Score Based on 40,753 reviews
Critic Score 76%Based on 39 reviews

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Just Cause 3 Game Cover

About

Just Cause 3 is a single player open world shooter game. It was developed by Avalanche Studios and was released on December 1, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

The Just Cause 3 Gold Edition packs the critically acclaimed Just Cause 3 game as well as a great selection of extra missions, explosive weapons and vehicles to expand your experience in Medici. This ultimate edition of the game will please newcomers who want to jump into all of Rico's missions with a boosted arsenal and exotic new vehicles. This pack includes the following items: Air, Land …

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Just Cause 3 screenshot
Just Cause 3 screenshot
Just Cause 3 screenshot
Just Cause 3 screenshot
Just Cause 3 screenshot
Just Cause 3 screenshot
Just Cause 3 screenshot
Just Cause 3 screenshot
Just Cause 3 screenshot
Just Cause 3 screenshot
Just Cause 3 screenshot
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86%
Audience ScoreBased on 40,753 reviews
story2k positive mentions
optimization806 negative mentions
  • story
    8,419 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Just Cause 3" is often described as generic and predictable, serving primarily as a backdrop for the game's chaotic gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. While some players appreciate the light-hearted, over-the-top tone and humor, many criticize the missions for being repetitive and lacking depth, with a significant number of escort and protection tasks that can feel tedious. Overall, the game is recommended for those seeking explosive action and sandbox fun rather than a rich storytelling experience.

    • “The story is great and the characters are great, and the voice acting is amazing.”
    • “Just Cause 3 is a thrilling open-world action-adventure game that brings together a captivating story and an absolute blast of gameplay.”
    • “The narrative revolves around Rico's mission to liberate Medici from the oppressive rule of General Di Ravello.”
    • “The story of Just Cause 3 is very pedestrian and puts aside the b-movie charm of its predecessor.”
    • “The story is often cited as shallow and uninspiring, with one-dimensional characters who fail to engage the player emotionally.”
    • “The plot serves merely as a backdrop for the action and does not effectively motivate the player to progress through the game.”
  • gameplay
    3,804 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Just Cause 3" is characterized by its chaotic and explosive nature, offering players a vast open world filled with opportunities for destruction and creative experimentation. While the mechanics, such as the grappling hook and wingsuit, are praised for their fluidity and fun, many players note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, often revolving around liberating bases and completing similar missions. Despite some technical issues and a lackluster story, the overall experience is engaging and enjoyable for those who appreciate sandbox-style gameplay.

    • “The gameplay is amazing, the story is exciting and you can do practically anything you want.”
    • “The mechanics of tethering objects together with the grappling hook provide endless opportunities for inventive and explosive action, making every encounter a unique and thrilling experience.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and engaging, the graphics are beautiful and the story is pretty interesting.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive as hell, and the ending is an insult to the 50 hours I spent on this game. Even if you like explosions, this game will get boring after 10 hours.”
    • “Missions begin to feel monotonous, with similar objectives that fail to evolve the gameplay in meaningful ways.”
    • “The gameplay loop is simple (i.e. find base, destroy base, repeat), but I almost never got bored throughout my playthrough.”
  • graphics
    3,170 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Just Cause 3" have received a mixed reception from players. Many praise the game for its stunning visuals, vibrant environments, and impressive explosion effects, noting that the graphics still hold up well even years after its release. However, some users express disappointment with performance issues, particularly on AMD graphics cards, leading to stuttering and graphical glitches, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while the graphics are often highlighted as a strong point, technical optimization remains a concern for many players.

    • “The graphics are stunning, with bright colors and gorgeous vistas that make every moment of gameplay feel like a cinematic experience.”
    • “From the moment you step into the vast, breathtaking landscapes of Medici, the game captivates you with its stunning visuals and a sense of limitless possibilities.”
    • “The attention to detail, combined with vibrant graphics, creates a visually captivating playground for the chaos that ensues.”
    • “The graphics are poor; the game build is also poor.”
    • “The graphics are outdated; that's what I read about JC4, but the movement is fun and feels very fluid.”
    • “The graphics are awful by today's standards.”
  • optimization
    2,050 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of "Just Cause 3" has been widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, frame rate drops, and crashes, particularly on lower-end systems and AMD graphics cards. While some users with high-end rigs have experienced smoother gameplay, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, leading to a frustrating experience for many. Despite patches aimed at improving performance, issues persist, making it difficult for players to fully enjoy the game without encountering technical problems.

    • “The range of customization allows players to find their perfect balance between performance and visuals.”
    • “Despite everything going on, I never noticed any performance issues and it just has a way of making you never get tired of seeing an explosion.”
    • “Performance on Steam Deck is extremely stable, with only occasional technical jank or crashes.”
    • “One of the primary issues with 'Just Cause 3' is its performance problems.”
    • “The horrible performance on PC is the only thing that I heavily dislike; other than that, yeah, it's worth it.”
    • “Just Cause 3 is a terrific game; however, it's held back by many bugs and constant stuttering.”
  • stability
    908 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with many players reporting frequent crashes, graphical glitches, and performance issues such as frame rate drops. While some users find the bugs amusing and part of the game's charm, others describe it as a "buggy mess" that detracts significantly from the overall experience. Overall, the game appears to lack the polish expected from a modern title, leading to a frustrating experience for many players.

    • “I'm using an old GPU: NVIDIA GTX 960, which can't run most 3D games, but somehow this game runs great, with no noticeable drop in quality or frame rate!”
    • “The game runs great for me; I've never had a problem or a crash.”
    • “It runs great on my mid-tier PC; I highly recommend it.”
    • “From frequent frame rate drops to buggy AI behavior, the game feels rough around the edges and lacks the polish that players have come to expect from the series.”
    • “The game is a buggy mess and extremely boring and annoying.”
    • “Unfortunately, I cannot play it for more than about 20 minutes at a time without it crashing to desktop, sometimes in a way that causes continual visual glitches in other programs until I restart the whole computer.”
  • humor
    749 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Just Cause 3" is a standout feature, characterized by its over-the-top action, absurd physics, and comedic dialogue that often elicits genuine laughter. Players appreciate the chaotic and playful nature of the game, with many finding joy in the ridiculous scenarios that arise from the grappling hook mechanics and explosive gameplay. However, some critiques point to a lack of depth in the story and character development, suggesting that while the humor is prevalent, it can sometimes feel forced or juvenile. Overall, the game successfully blends action and comedy, making it a fun experience for those who enjoy lighthearted chaos.

    • “That bavarium powered wingsuit is so OP it's hilarious, and who wouldn't want to bimble around in an armored mech just blowing the place up!”
    • “You wouldn't believe the kinds of things that randomly just happen in this game, it never stops being hilarious.”
    • “The humor is great and the guns are loud.”
    • “The jokes are forced and unfunny.”
    • “Gameplay is fun, the progress happens via accomplishing unfunny challenges.”
    • “Big negatives for me were a terrible storyline, just so bland and not funny like they try to make it.”
  • grinding
    379 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players describing it as tedious and repetitive. Unlocking upgrades and completing challenges often feels like a chore, leading to a gameplay experience that can become monotonous, especially for completionists. While some players find enjoyment in the destruction mechanics, the overall sentiment is that the grinding detracts significantly from the fun, making it feel like a time-consuming task rather than an engaging experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “A lot of grinding.”
    • “Additionally, upgrades are locked behind completing tedious challenges across the map which are all frustrating and boring unlike the upgrades you unlock.”
    • “The collectables and missions add something to do once you've finished the rest of the game, but they can get boring after grinding at them for hours for 100% completion.”
    • “The main story is locked behind liberating a number of settlements, and with how mind-numbingly boring they are, this turns into a chore and ends up just being a time-gate of grinding for a story as shallow as a puddle.”
  • music
    317 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its ability to enhance the immersive experience of the beautiful world and exhilarating gameplay. While some players find the soundtrack calming and fitting for both exploration and combat, others criticize it for being repetitive and not particularly memorable outside of the game context. Overall, the soundtrack is often described as enjoyable, with standout moments that complement the action, though some players recommend supplementing it with their own music for a more engaging experience.

    • “The music is calming and soothing, pulling you into Medici one note at a time.”
    • “This is massively helped by the incredible soundtrack by the masterful Henry Jackman, who knows precisely how to make you melancholic when at peace, and how to get and keep you hyped when fighting the dictator's forces.”
    • “The soundtrack perfectly complements the game's exhilarating gameplay, delivering an adrenaline-pumping experience that immerses you deeper into the chaos.”
    • “I see the game has over 20 songs, but it felt like the same 3 played all the time, and it forced me to just mute the music about 30 hours in.”
    • “The soundtrack was very bland and didn't really offer too much intensity when performing regular action; the only time you got some recognizable music was when you reached max wanted level or in heavy combat.”
    • “Gets a bit repetitive after a while, especially the same music over and over.”
  • replayability
    158 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, driven by its open-world design, diverse gameplay mechanics, and the ability to reset conquered areas for further exploration and destruction. Many players appreciate the freedom to approach challenges creatively and the abundance of collectibles and side missions, although some note that the replay value diminishes after completing the main story. While opinions vary, the consensus leans towards the game offering substantial replay value, particularly for those who enjoy sandbox-style gameplay.

    • “This freedom encourages creativity and replayability, making each playthrough as exciting as the first.”
    • “The open world provides tons of replay value with its collectibles and over a hundred settlements to liberate.”
    • “Hours and hours worth of story, and once you finish the story, you've got even more time you can spend blowing up bases and the addition of the 're-oppress' feature gives it infinite replayability.”
    • “The one downside is that there is not much replay value, and not much to do once you liberate every province.”
    • “After the main story you have a variety of challenges to do, as well as searching for collectibles, but beyond that there is mostly nothing to do, and the game has no replayability, as I was able to complete the entire game in less than 30 hours.”
    • “Although initially it is quite fun going around and blowing things up, after you complete the story mode and conquered all the bases, it becomes boring as hell and the replayability is almost zero.”
  • emotional
    104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized for its shallow narrative and one-dimensional characters, leading to a lack of player engagement and emotional investment. While some players find moments of fun and excitement in the gameplay, many express disappointment in the story's inability to evoke genuine feelings, often describing it as boring or predictable. Overall, the game is seen more as a chaotic action experience rather than a deeply emotional journey.

    • “The story is interesting and heart-wrenching, and I absolutely love it.”
    • “I found myself getting emotionally involved with many of the characters.”
    • “It made me cry :(”
    • “The issue with this game is that it has a pretty boring story.”
    • “I'm not giving a bad review for the fact that it has a boring story, repetitive missions or a plain background (although it has all of it), I'm giving a bad review because it's the worst optimized game I have ever played.”
    • “Can't dive-roll anymore, can't precision-aim anymore, driving physics and handling suck, can't duck anymore, camera is in weird position by default and moves wonky, anything that explodes also eats framerates, boring story and all-around rushed feeling to it... I personally think Just Cause 2 was still better, even if this game is bigger, brighter, and has more explosions... when your entire game revolves around gameplay, the controls and physics actually do matter... none of this would be such a big deal to me if the story was actually interesting, or the jokes were actually funny... but I have to recommend waiting until almost every aspect of this game is patched, fixed, or modded... or just grab it when it goes on sale, later!”
  • atmosphere
    41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals and immersive environments, particularly the Mediterranean setting that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the contrast between the chaotic gameplay and the serene, beautiful landscapes, which contribute to a relaxing yet engaging atmosphere. While some critiques mention a lack of depth in certain areas, the overall consensus highlights the game's ability to create a captivating and enjoyable atmosphere.

    • “Especially in areas you've liberated, the peaceful atmosphere provides a stark, but wonderful contrast to the insanity of war.”
    • “This dev team definitely knows how to deliver on the looks and atmosphere of a tropical paradise.”
    • “The atmosphere is just relaxing and beautiful.”
    • “Once those two aspects are introduced, my interest in the game significantly dropped, with over half the play area still unconquered, and the introduction of Eden in general sort of ruined the atmosphere the game already set out.”
    • “Story: better than JC2 and much easier to actually proceed to the next one, I didn't like having to spend 10 hours trying to blow up enough stuff to go to a jungle, but it lacks atmosphere; it took 5 seconds for Dimah to die, never mind the lack of any type of music during any of the dramatic moments.”
    • “My biggest problem is the atmosphere.”
  • monetization
    39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has received significant criticism, with many players labeling it as a cash grab, particularly in the later installments. Users express frustration over the introduction of microtransactions and the need to unlock basic gameplay features, which detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, downloadable content (DLC) is often viewed as overpriced and lacking in value, further fueling dissatisfaction with the game's monetization strategy.

    • “☐ free, but has microtransactions and/or donations”
    • “There isn't any microtransactions or grinding for loot.”
    • “Still, on the bright side, at least it doesn't have microtransactions and loot boxes.”
    • “Right after being bought by a mega corp, microtransactions appear.”
    • “Non-story DLC that's extra cars, weapons, and a mech that really should have been in the land DLC but wasn't are obvious cash grabs. I honestly forgot that was how they tried to milk money out of people when this game was rolling out content.”
    • “This was obviously a blatant cash grab on the hype of this game and the players were screwed over because of it.”
  • character development
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in "Just Cause 3" is largely criticized for being shallow and linear, with many reviewers noting a lack of depth in the narrative and character arcs. While some praise the voice acting and occasional moments of character growth, the overall consensus is that the game prioritizes chaotic gameplay over meaningful storytelling, making it less appealing for those seeking a rich narrative experience. Ultimately, players are advised to enjoy the game for its explosive fun rather than its character development or plot.

    • “This attention to detail in character development is especially commendable, given the historical challenges of representing diverse characters in video games in a way that is both respectful and engaging.”
    • “Furthermore, the voice acting and character development are commendable, adding depth to the world and creating a sense of attachment to the cast of characters Rico encounters throughout his adventure.”
    • “Many hours of fun, well-written story, and great character development with a bit of humor stuck in.”
    • “The narrative and character development in 'Just Cause 3' are also weak points.”
    • “Don't count on really deep story or character development.”
    • “Just Cause 3 has no meaningful story or character development.”
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76%Critics’ scoreBased on 39 critic reviews
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25h Median play time
72h Average play time
8-56h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 298 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Just Cause 3 is a open world shooter game.

Just Cause 3 is available on PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox Game Pass, Cloud and others.

On average players spend around 72 hours playing Just Cause 3.

Just Cause 3 was released on December 1, 2015.

Just Cause 3 was developed by Avalanche Studios.

Just Cause 3 has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Just Cause 3 is a single player game.

Similar games include Just Cause 2, Just Cause 4 Reloaded, Watch Dogs, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands, Watch Dogs 2 and others.