Screenshots & trailers
What players say
Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 357 sampled Steam reviews (230 positive / 127 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.
What positive reviews talk about
- Story & writing17% mention it
- Bugs & crashes10% mention it
- World & exploration7% mention it
- Visuals & art6% mention it
- Performance4% mention it
What negative reviews complain about
- Bugs & crashes48% mention it
- Story & writing10% mention it
Satisfaction by hours played
Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.
Under 5h
37%
81 reviews
5-15h
55%
85 reviews
15-40h
78%
143 reviews
40-100h
87%
39 reviews
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (Metacritic) | – | 88 | 6 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 88% | 82 | 1125 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 88 | 39 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 75% | 71 | 465 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 300 reviews sampled · 1329 total reviews in window · weighted 192.9 up / 46.6 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (40)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 90
“Far Cry 3 is one of the most interesting games of the year. The single-player mode is a great mix of a big sandbox and an atmospheric story with interesting characters. There are some mistakes here and there, but all in all everyone should be satisfied - sandbox lovers and fans of good storylines alike. What's more, the multiplayer isn't something added just because it needs to be - it's a great, big, rightful mode focused on cooperation (an additional co-op mini-campaign that borrows character progress from the standard multiplayer is a welcome bonus). Far Cry 3 is a package full of pleasant surprises. An insanely good game.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Despite a few technical quirks (seriously Ubisoft, patch the save system), a slight shortage of non-cutscene NPC interactions and the occasional lack of constant threat Far Cry 3 is a triumph that stands out from every other shooter released this year.”
read full review ↗ - 94
“All of it is entertaining, and it gives you a sense that the island is little more than your plaything- a feeling that's only emphasized as your skills increase and you become a badass cross between Turok and Rambo. It's for that reason that Far Cry 3 comes across as a fresh experience and ranks up there as one of the best shooters of 2012.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Far Cry 3's single player story may have its ups and downs, but it's still an incredibly in-depth action experience. It's combat and open-ended gameplay is engaging and well-designed, and there are plenty of incentives to explore the game world to see what you can find. The multiplayer modes, while not as detailed, are a nice extra feature that's just as enjoyable as the single player campaign.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“As always, it will not be perfect for everyone, but it is highly recommended for anyone who likes games and an obligatory choice for fans of the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Far Cry 3 is an excellent game, marred mainly by some irritating design elements and an inconsistent story that often defaults to generic "tribal" cliches to make an impact.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Burn through the plot so you can unleash yourself upon Far Cry 3's open world for a worthy FPS experience. [Jan 2013, p.66]”
- 89
“You've got a huge island to explore, ridiculously effective tools for scouting every hostile situation, and so many clever intersecting systems to inspire creative ways to conquer them. It's a better stealth game than Far Cry 1, set in an open world that feels richer than Far Cry 2's. That's an amazing thing to play.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“A haunting experience, in a very good way. It's a damn shame the main campaign didn't live up to the potential of what was teased and the sporadic appearance of sloppy anti-Far Cry linear levels jarred with what the game achieves when at its emergent best. Faults aside, Far Cry 3 is an open-world shooter that's not to be missed, and a dish that's beautifully served on PC.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Basically, I suggest ignoring the multiplayer and concentrating exclusively on the excellent sandbox of the single-player game. When Far Cry 3 invites you to come stay with it for a long vacation, take it up on its offer. This is a great example of how to do an open-world shooter right, and for me it's been one of the nicest surprises this year.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“It's a game about man's tenuous dominion over nature. It's about thinking for yourself, about adapting or dying and about having fun doing it. It's a reminder of all the bad things people say about Australian wildlife, and you get to see it without getting sand in your boxers. So where the bloody hell are you?”
read full review ↗ - 80
“If you prefer to be your own boss you should definitely visit this extraordinary island for some fun. Far Cry 3 is an amazing method for relaxation. [Christmas 2012]”
GRYOnline.pl
GameWatcher
Worth Playing
The Escapist
Eurogamer
GameSpot
PC Gamer
AusGamers…and 28 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Bug fixJun 6, 2023