Just Cause 3 is best suited to players who prize open-world freedom, traversal and elaborate destruction over a tightly focused story or consistently varied missions. Critics were generally positive but not unanimous: Metacritic lists a 74/100 critic score, while player ratings on Metacritic and Steam tell separate, time-sensitive stories.
What kind of game is Just Cause 3?
Just Cause 3 is a single-player open-world action game developed by Avalanche Studios and published by Square Enix. It launched on November 30, 2015, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, according to Metacritic. Its defining draw is the freedom to move around a large sandbox and improvise with destructive tools rather than follow only a narrowly scripted action sequence.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Just Cause 3 (PS4) | $42.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Just Cause 3 with Guide to Medici (Exclusive to Amazon.co.uk)(PS4) | $18.55 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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PS4 JUST CAUSE 3: GOLD EDITION (EURO) | $32.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![Third Party - Just Cause 3 - édition gold Occasion [ PS4 ] - 5021290078161](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61fUF4I7EkL._SL160_.jpg)
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Third Party - Just Cause 3 - édition gold Occasion [ PS4 ] - 5021290078161 | $37.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Just Cause 4 (Steelbook) (PS4) | $39.95 | Buy on Amazon |
The review excerpts on Metacritic capture that emphasis. Gamer.nl’s December 2, 2015 review says, “Just Cause 3 stands for freedom and fun,” describing gameplay that lets players decide what they want to do. A GameWatcher excerpt from December 8, 2015, points to the satisfaction of bringing complex structures down and says the tether mechanics help keep destruction engaging.
What do the reviews say?
Metacritic lists a critic Metascore of 74 from 50 reviews: 66% positive, 34% mixed and 0% negative. Its user score is 6.3 from 1,286 ratings. These are the page’s displayed totals, accessed in 2026, and can change over time; critic and user scores are different measures, not competing versions of the same review pool.
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#1 Best Overall
- Explore a Mediterranean island paradise with complete vertical freedom - skydive, BASE jump and free dive in an open world with virtually zero limits
- Glide through the air and swoop across mountains with your Wingsuit giving a new way to rain death from above
- Use your Grapple and Parachute to scale buildings, hijack vehicles, move quickly or tether objects together for creative new ways to cause Chaos
- Cause massive chains of destruction in military bases, harbours, prisons, police stations and communications facilities to bring down a dictator
- Arm yourself with a wide range of explosive weaponry from shotguns and missile launchers to tank-busters and air-strikes
Steam’s English-language review snapshot is more favorable: 86% positive from 45,784 reviews, with recent reviews at 90% positive from 297 reviews when accessed in 2026. Steam review totals and sentiment are also time-sensitive. Differences between platforms may reflect their audiences, rating methods and collection periods, so neither aggregate should be treated as a universal verdict.
What players are likely to enjoy—and what may wear thin
Freedom and destruction
The strongest fit is for players who enjoy experimentation: moving through the world, trying improvised approaches and turning the environment into spectacle. The critic excerpts emphasize the freedom to choose activities and the pleasure of destruction. If that sandbox loop is what you want, the game’s central appeal is clear.
Rank #2
- The Amazon Exclusive Edition includes: a DLC code for a weaponised vehicle pack (3x exclusive vehicles primed for action) and an exclusive, indispensable guide to Medici.
- Cause massive chains of destruction in military bases, harbours, prisons, police stations and communications facilities to bring down a dictator
- Arm yourself with a wide range of explosive weaponry from shotguns and missile launchers to tank-busters and air-strikes
- Choose from a huge variety of different vehicles to drive including speedboats, jets, helicopters, turbo-fuelled sports cars and super bikes
- Get adventurous with dozens of challenge missions and collectibles to discover
Story and objective variety
Some surfaced player reviews complain about repetitive objectives and a weak story. Those are anecdotal user opinions, not a representative measure of mission variety or narrative quality, but they identify sensible questions for prospective players: do you need a strong narrative, and do you tire quickly of repeated open-world tasks? If those matter more to you than experimentation and spectacle, approach with lower expectations.
Driving and crashes
Negative player comments also mention driving and crashes. They do not establish how often those problems occur or prove a universal technical defect. No independent gameplay test or performance benchmark is available here, so treat such reports as individual concerns rather than a quantified reliability finding.
Rank #3
- Just Cause 3 Gold Edition includes 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.
- Includes Air, Land and Sea Expansion Pass
- Includes Weaponised Vehicle Pack
- Includes Explosive Weapon Pack
- Includes Reaper Missile Mech, Kousava Rifle
Does it suit your platform and PC?
Metacritic lists PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, while Steam’s listing identifies the PC game as single-player and also presents an XXL Edition bundle. Platform, bundle and current availability are separate purchase details: confirm that a listing is for the platform you own and check exactly which edition or content it includes. The available source information does not establish current prices, exact XXL bundle contents, or live console-disc availability.
For PC, Steam Support lists these specifications. They are the requirements shown on its support page, not a guarantee of a particular frame rate or performance on every system.
Rank #4
- Genre : Jeux d'action
- Editeur : Square Enix
- Classification PEGI : unknown
- Plate-forme : PlayStation 4
| Specification | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i5-2500k or AMD Phenom II X6 1075T | Intel Core i7-3770 or AMD FX-8350 |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 (2 GB) or AMD Radeon HD 7870 (2 GB) | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 (3 GB) or AMD R9 290 (4 GB) |
| Storage | 54 GB | 54 GB |
Steam Support’s legacy operating-system list should not be read in isolation: the page separately notes that the Steam Client has supported Windows 10 and later since January 1, 2024. Check current operating-system and game compatibility before installing, particularly if you rely on an older version of Windows. See the full Steam Support requirements and technical-issue page.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Bring the Thunder: Soar through the skies with your wingsuit - Skydive, Base Jump and Free Dive with no limits
- Rico's Ultimate Mission: Spearhead the rebellion and defeat the Black Hand, a hi-tech private military organisation. Huge South American World: Explore the remote South American country of Solis, home of conflict, secrets, and danger.
- Creative Destruction at its best: Customise your new grapple hook with evolved and brand-new capabilities, allowing you to create your own personal stunts, destructive methods and overall play style
How to decide whether to play it
- Consider it if: you want a single-player sandbox built around freedom of movement, improvisation and large-scale destruction.
- Think carefully if: a compelling story, tightly varied missions or consistently polished driving are central to your enjoyment; player complaints raise those concerns but do not quantify them.
- Before buying: verify platform, edition, format and availability, and compare your PC against the listed requirements if applicable. Steam’s Just Cause 3 listing shows the PC product and an XXL Edition bundle; check the live page for current details.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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