Wasteland 3 is a game that many people have been waiting a very long time for. This is a fantastic strategy RPG that takes the post-apocalyptic wasteland setting to whole new levels. It follows on from the previous game and is one hell of a wild ride. It is currently available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
How to Download Wasteland 3
To download the game from GOG, Steam, PlayStation Store, or Microsoft Store, click on the Download button below this review. Check out also our review of Wasteland 2.
The Game Review
The setting of the game is very different from the previous game. This time we are in a snow-filled, frozen wasteland that is set in Colorado. While it may have not been decimated by nuclear war, Colorado is now in the midst of a nuclear winter.
Gameplay Loop, Mechanics, and Atmosphere in Wasteland 3
In this game, the story is that you play as two rangers from Arizona who have been asked to help out a leader in Colorado. The appeal of this is that if you do this, Arizona will be given some aid that they need. Of course, things are not what they seem and you end up stuck in Colorado, double-crossed and thrust into more squabbles than you could possibly imagine.
The story goes in many different directions. There is what you would call a straight narrative running through everything which is basically you still needing to get the stuff Arizona needs. However, there are so many subplots here that I do not know where to start. The story can take different directions depending on what you do and say which is cool.
Visual Style, Sound Design, and PC Optimization
The story is brought together with some fantastic visuals. Even though the game is not first-person and instead of a more isometric kind of view. You still get very invested in what is going on. A major reason for this is the incredible voice acting that each character has. There are many different kinds of people in this wasteland so I found myself wanting to talk to everyone.
Speaking of different people, the factions in this game are freaking nuts. You can decide to friend these or keep them at arm’s length, but like everything else, in the game, the choices you make here can affect things going forward. There is so much substance here that it is honestly hard to talk about it all in a quick review.
The gameplay of Wasteland 3 is so rich and deep that I found myself still discovering things many, many hours in. You have two rangers, but you can have a squad of six at any one time. The amount of variety in the way you can create a character is truly staggering. The different skills on offer here and the things those skills allow you to do is awesome.
It really makes you think about the characters you want. You can have one that is a mechanic, one that can get animals to help you, one that specializes in healing, and so on. The thing is, you have to really look into what each skill does as there is more than meets the eye with each of them.
The combat in the game is very satisfying. You make all your moves at once which is great and adds more strategy to things. It also makes it more challenging, if you make a mistake and do not move one of your characters, they can be open to a cheap shot from every opposing playing.
I found that the game was very similar to the kind of action that the most recent X-Com game offered and that is a good thing. As well as taking down the enemies, you have many other things you can do in battle. This ranges from blowing up barrels to using a massive gun to deal out big damage. You definitely want to look at the area you are fighting in for stuff you can use to your advantage.
It is worth noting that the reason you have two main rangers in the game is for multiplayer. If you have a buddy, you can play the whole game in co-op. What is neat about this is that you can make decisions separate from each other that can either help or hinder your progress so it is important to work together.
I cannot praise Wasteland 3 highly enough. It is a truly incredible game and the game of game that you will put 60 hours into and still not see all it has to offer. It is more than safe to say that if you loved the second game, you will really love this. If you did not play the second game, do not worry it is easy enough to jump in here.
For more tested utilities in this category, see our reviews of The Quest and Dead or School for Windows.
For another classic Windows release worth installing, see our detailed overview of Academia: School Simulator.
Also worth checking out on Windows PC: explore our full review and official system requirements guide for Day of the Tentacle Remastered.
If you want another standout pick to check out next, read our complete Untitled Goose Game review, rating, and official download guide.
Wasteland 3 PC System Requirements
Check the verified minimum and recommended Windows hardware specifications from the official Steam release of Wasteland 3 before installing.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 | Windows 10 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-3.3 GHz or better, or AMD Equivalent | Intel Core i7-3770 GHz or better, or AMD Equivalent |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Nvidia GTX 760 or AMD Equivalent | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB), or AMD RX 480 (8GB) |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 |
| Storage | 45 GB available space | 45 GB available space |
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I download and play Wasteland 3 on PC?
Use the green button on this page to access the official store and download page for Wasteland 3.
What are the PC system requirements for Wasteland 3?
Refer to our technical specification box and review analysis on this page for platform support, performance notes, and hardware requirements for Wasteland 3.
How is the gameplay in Wasteland 3?
Our editorial review above evaluates Wasteland 3 across gameplay mechanics, graphics, audio design, and replayability, complete with a full Pros and Cons breakdown.
Does Wasteland 3 support controllers and widescreen displays?
Modern PC releases of Wasteland 3 include configurable display settings and standard input options as detailed in the official release notes.
