PAYDAY 3 Reviews
Payday 3 doesn't shake up its predecessor's formula much, but a strong batch of initial heists sets the live service shooter up for success.
It’s an easy recommend for series fans, just don’t expect it to be the lumbering behemoth that was Payday 2… yet.
While PAYDAY 3 will no doubt please series veterans and newcomers, it's still a few updates a way from being definitively better than PAYDAY 2. When everything is working seamlessly, it offers some of the highest highs in the series thus far, but frustrating omissions and questionable progression design restrain PAYDAY 3's ability to be consistent.
If you’re not a die-hard fan of the series, waiting for the server issues to be fully resolved is the best step to take right now. When that is in the past, you may dive into these initially confusing but eventually rewarding heists, knowing that the Infamy system is a stone in your shoe, but cooperating with other like-minded players is an offer you may not want to refuse…in due time.
Payday 3 is a good multiplayer game in which, although it is not essential, its fun increases considerably even more if we enjoy it in the company of a group of friends or acquaintances with whom we can communicate. A game whose story is not important, but its map designs and objectives are, which by the way are excellent and very varied and will range from something as typical as robbing a bank to more original things like robbing an armored van or robbing a museum, situations that will make each experience different and fresh. A very good option if we like online cooperative games and that we should not overlook, even if we have not played the previous ones, since, we insist, the story is not paramount but the execution of its gameplay. The duration of Payday 3 is quite random and depends quite a bit on the human factor and the chemistry between players, but estimate that there are currently 8 maps available and that each one can easily take 20-25 minutes. We must also take into account the high replayable component thanks to its four difficulty modes, of which even the simplest (normal) is very challenging, and the higher the difficulty, the greater the rewards, but remember, greed always breaks the bank. ;)
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Time will tell if Starbreeze can build upon the baseline it has built. As it stands, PAYDAY 3 is worth dipping your toes into for the curious, but almost certainly worth waiting a while longer to see if it reaches its full potential.
At this early stage, Payday 3 is good, but not great. It’s got a lot of potential and will undoubtedly grow with the fanbase over time. The eight heists on offer, provide a range of missions and objectives and, as mentioned, are highly replyable.
Beyond the new enemy types, fancy new graphics, and a handful of well-designed levels, I’d say it’s business for usual for the Payday series. With improvements over the second game and the promise of continued dev support for what could be years, I’d definitely say it’s worth upgrading to the new title if you’re a big fan of the second. However, these promises are blindsided by serious server issues and simple quality-of-life problems that need to be addressed first, so I suggest you keep Payday 2 installed for the time being. If you aren’t a die-hard Payday fan and you’re looking into an entry into the series, I’d give this one a pass and hit up Payday 2 until these problems are addressed.
Payday 3 is a great version of Payday, which in itself was a whole lot of fun. At a decent price and with frantic heist action when things go wrong there is such a lot of fun to get out of the game but we are left wondering whether we could have seen more new stuff after a decade of waiting for this follow-up. It will live or die on the loyalty of the playerbase which hopefully means it will do well.
PAYDAY 3 offers a cooperative gameplay experience with an array of heists and a progression system that has its merits. However, it's not without its share of issues. AI inconsistencies, unremarkable objectives, and underwhelming audio-visual elements tarnish the experience. While it's an imperfect addition to the series, it still offers a taste of the criminal underworld. Like any complex caper, it has its moments of brilliance, but also a few unexpected hiccups along the way.
Payday 3 takes a big step forward in what has been the sole field of heist simulators. The new stealth mechanics are motivating, the gameplay has been improved and the heists are varied. However, there are still some drawbacks in the current lack of content, the AI and the general polish. However, some things are already being worked on, so that Heist fans will soon be able to let off steam here.
Review in German | Read full review
Payday 3 does play it safe, it feels like Payday 2 with some refinements and modern elements while not greatly expanding upon the core concepts of play.
The caper fantasy experience that the series continues to provide always makes it a good time even when the messy technical aspects threaten to derail it.
PAYDAY 3 is by no means a reskin of the second game, but a true flesh-and-blood sequel, introducing a ton of new features and improvements. The game takes many steps forward while going several steps back. In terms of content, PAYDAY 3 is like a very well-made skeleton that lacks muscle, blood and skin. Empty with just the basics, but with the potential for more.
Review in Polish | Read full review