Jagged Alliance 3 comes 24 years after the great second part on Steam. After some disappointments, the new “18+” strategy game is now exposed to the critical gaze of fans. German gamers have always been the biggest fans of the series – so now also with part 3. We look at the Steam reviews and player numbers after the release.
Why was Jagged Alliance 2 something special?
- Jagged Alliance 2 is one of the best role-playing and strategy games ever released for the PC: There has been nothing comparable for 24 years. The game has achieved cult status – at least in Germany, because we Germans love turn-based strategy, whereas Americans can’t get much out of it.
- In Jagged Alliance 2 and 3, you follow a typical 90s action movie: With a mercenary group, you must take down a corrupt regime in a banana republic, and all mercenaries are handcrafted with their own personalities, preferences, strengths, and weaknesses. Many are based on typical clichés from action movies: the bumbling GI, the vodka-loving Russian, the seductive assassin.
- Although Jagged Alliance 2 became such a cult game with non-linear gameplay, great storytelling, and uniqueness in its setting, it was a flop in North America and only a major commercial success in Germany.
The trailer plays with the B-movie charm of Jagged Alliance:
82% positive reviews, but the predecessor casts a long shadow
How is Jagged Alliance 3 received on Steam? Quite well. It currently has 82% positive reviews on Steam. However, Jagged Alliance 3 has the problem of being compared to its outstanding predecessor and does not fare as well in comparison.
Criticism includes:
- There are significantly fewer mercenaries than in part 1: the M.E.R.C. mercenaries are completely absent – except for Larry as a recruitable quest NPC. Some of the “quirky” AIM mercenaries have also been removed, resulting in a slightly more politically correct and less edgy tone.
- There are fewer equipment slots: shoes and glasses have been removed.
- You cannot switch to a turn-based mode outside of combat, which makes positioning before a fight more difficult.
- The difficulty level is too harsh for some users: Although there is a “forgiving mode” that is supposed to make the game easier, there are also “Iron Man” and “Extra Hard” modes for those who prefer it tougher.
Still a completely unique game
Positives include:
- The game runs stably.
- The atmosphere is strong.
- Jagged Alliance 3 is also unique: No other game provides this mix of turn-based tactics, open world, and complexity. Plus, there are characters that you care about.
What is the general assessment? As long as you don’t compare Jagged Alliance 3 directly with its 24-year-old predecessor, it is well-received. It is a worthy successor to Jagged Alliance 2.
Even positive reviews admit: Everything is a size or two smaller than with the great predecessor.
One user states: A game like Jagged Alliance 2 would commercially be a sure flop today as a “niche title”. Part 3 at least provides a good foundation that modders could work with.
What does Metacritic say? On Metacritic, the game also has a strong 82% after 21 reviews – users give it 83%.
What are the player numbers? Jagged Alliance 3 peaked with 25,332 users on Steam.
In the sales charts, it is currently at number 4.
It seems to be shaping up to be a medium or smaller-sized game and not reach the mass market.
Jagged Alliance 3 especially popular again in Germany – 9 times less relevant in the USA
How is it with the countries? According to “Google Trends”, Jagged Alliance 3 has become a “German title” again:
- The interest in Germany is 9 times higher than in the USA, where they still can’t understand round-based strategy.
- At least: Interest in Finland, Russia, and Estonia is still relatively close to the German enthusiasm.
Our colleagues from Gamestar:
A total nostalgia flash, like reuniting with old friends after 20 years
This is the assessment from MeinMMO: I am a big fan of Jagged Alliance 2, played part 3 for 13 hours over the weekend, and fully agree with the general assessment of the Steam reviews:
- It is an absolute nostalgia flash. You feel immediately sent back 20 years when you remember the characters from back then: Igor still wants to be like his uncle. MD seems – like back then – as if you had thrown JD from Scrubs into a war movie and Barry is still a brutal killing machine with grenades, who apologizes to God for blowing up half a dozen enemies again.
- It is a unique gaming experience with the combination of non-linear story, great setting, and open world.
- Yes, everything is 2, 3 levels smaller than in Jagged Alliance 2. But it still feels great to see how the out-of-place-looking mercenaries gradually evolve into killing machines that take down enemies from 200 meters with a headshot from the Dragunov.
This feeling of “getting stronger” like in a good role-playing game is also conveyed by Jagged Alliance 3, at least to us Germans.
Many games have tried over the years to latch onto the success of Jagged Alliance:
