Wasteland 3

Q: Do you need to play the earlier Wasteland games first?

No. Wasteland 3 explains its setting, factions, and main conflict well enough to follow on its own. You will miss some returning references, but the core story and choices still make sense for a new player.

Q: Can you play Wasteland 3 in co-op?

Yes, the full campaign supports online co-op for two players. Each player controls part of the squad, and story choices can lead to disagreements, which fits the game’s decision-heavy structure well. There is no local split-screen co-op.

Q: How punishing is the difficulty if you mainly want the story and choices?

It is approachable if you lower the difficulty and use assists like easier combat settings. You still need to think about positioning, healing, and gear, but the game does not require perfect tactics on lower modes. If you want to focus more on roleplaying than optimization, that is a viable way to play.

Q: What kind of progression matters outside of combat?

Skills tied to lockpicking, mechanics, explosives, leadership, and conversation checks have a big impact throughout the campaign. A well-rounded squad opens extra paths, better rewards, and alternative ways to solve problems. This makes party building feel important even when you are not fighting.

Q: Is the DLC worth getting with the base game?

The base game feels complete on its own, so you do not need DLC to get a satisfying run. The expansions are better if you already know you want more missions, combat encounters, and late-game content. If you are unsure, starting with the base version is the safer choice.

Overall Rating: 4.06 • 305 reviews

The Narrative Seeker The Investment Gamer

Wasteland 3 trades dusty wandering for a tighter, colder campaign in frozen Colorado, where squad combat is cleaner, co-op actually fits the structure, and radio chatter keeps choices moving between fights. It still gives you messy faction politics and build freedom, but with snappier pacing and clearer momentum than this genre usually manages.

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Details

Some of the particulars and information about Wasteland 3.

Developer: InXile Entertainment

Release Date: August 28, 2020

How Long to Beat: 50 hrs

Great for:

The Narrative Seeker The Investment Gamer

Ratings

Some of the ratings and scores for Wasteland 3.

83 Metacritic

8 IGN

-- Our Score

Genres

Role-Playing Game

Turn-Based

Systems

Here's where you can find Wasteland 3 and play.

ESRB: Teen

Blood and Gore

Intense Violence

Sexual Content

Strong Language

Use of Drugs

Users Interact

Overview

Why Play?

How Much Time?

Overview

Squad-based tactical battles, skill checks in reactive dialogue, and Ranger HQ upgrades shape Wasteland 3 into a mission-driven RPG with lasting party consequences

Tactical Fights With Momentum

Wasteland 3 keeps its turn-based combat focused on positioning, cover, and target priority, but it moves faster than many squad RPGs. Encounters are usually compact and purposeful, so you can make meaningful progress in one mission without spending an hour clearing filler fights.

Each ranger build changes how battles unfold, from precision shots and heavy weapons to support skills and crowd control. The system rewards planning, but it is readable enough that you can adapt on the fly when an ambush, explosive barrel, or bad opening move changes the field.

Choices That Keep Moving

Dialogue is not a break from gameplay here. Skill checks, party composition, and past decisions regularly shape how missions open up, what information you get, and which factions become problems later. Radio chatter and mid-mission updates help choices feel active instead of locked to long cutscene stretches.

The Colorado setting also gives the campaign a stronger sense of direction than the usual open-ended sprawl. You still get messy politics and hard tradeoffs, but missions tend to have clear stakes, quick setup, and consequences that carry forward into later areas and relationships.

HQ Growth And Party Investment

Between operations, Ranger HQ gives you a steady management loop that ties the whole campaign together. Recruits, upgrades, vendor access, and utility improvements make your base feel like more than a menu, while giving you practical reasons to care about what each mission earns.

That same long-term pull extends to your squad. Building a team with complementary skills matters both in combat and in conversations, so progression feels useful every time you return to the map. Co-op fits naturally too, since the game is already structured around managing a shared crew and making decisions with lasting impact.

Trailer

A Quick Look at Wasteland 3

Curious what Wasteland 3 is all about? The trailer gives you a great first look at the world, the vibe, and the kind of story you're stepping into.

Videos

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Screenshots

Screenshots of Wasteland 3

Want to see what Wasteland 3 actually looks like in-game? These screenshots will hopefully give you a feel for what the world of Wasteland 3 is like.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have Questions About Wasteland 3?

Do you need to play the earlier Wasteland games first?

Can you play Wasteland 3 in co-op?

How punishing is the difficulty if you mainly want the story and choices?

What kind of progression matters outside of combat?

Is the DLC worth getting with the base game?

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