Wasteland 3 is the latest entry in a classic post-apocalyptic RPG series that helped define modern turn-based CRPGs. Following the critically acclaimed Wasteland 2, which earned major “Game of the Year” recognition in 2014, the third game continues the franchise’s signature blend of tactical combat, darker humor, and player-driven storytelling.
The Wasteland franchise began back in 1988, created by Interplay Studios and published by EA. The original game dropped players into a grim, futuristic America shaped by the aftermath of a nuclear catastrophe. That foundation eventually returned in a big way decades later with Wasteland 2 in 2014, developed by inXile Entertainment, a studio founded by Brian Fargo, the director of the original Wasteland. Built with help from Kickstarter funding that surged far past its initial goal, Wasteland 2 became a standout success—earning industry praise, topping sales charts, and winning over fans who had been waiting years for the series to come back.
Released in 2020, Wasteland 3 (also developed by inXile Entertainment) shifts the action to the frozen, dangerous landscape of Colorado. You play as the two surviving members of the Arizona Rangers after their squad is ambushed during a mission. With limited resources and enemies on all sides, your only path forward is to work with the region’s chaotic factions and local power brokers—including a warlord whose help comes with strings attached. It’s a setup that quickly pulls you into tough decisions, unstable alliances, and consequences that follow you far beyond a single fight.
Fans of turn-based RPGs widely praised Wasteland 3 for doubling down on narrative, meaningful player choices, and branching outcomes. It’s often mentioned in the same conversations as Fallout and XCOM thanks to its worldbuilding, tactical combat, and squad-focused gameplay. Some players feel it comes up short in certain areas compared with those giants, while others argue it surpasses them in how reactive the story can feel and how much your decisions shape the world.
One of Wasteland 3’s most talked-about highlights is its soundtrack, produced by Mary Ramos, known for her work as Quentin Tarantino’s music supervisor. The game features “post-apocalyptic” reinterpretations of familiar songs, built around the clever idea that people living in this broken future would no longer fully understand the original context behind the music—only the fragments that survived.
On Steam, Wasteland 3 holds a Very Positive rating with more than 18,000 positive reviews. It has also been available at steep discounts, and there’s a Wasteland series bundle that includes the full lineup—along with the Wasteland 1 remaster and multiple downloadable content packs for Wasteland 3—making it an appealing option for anyone looking to jump into the series from the beginning.
As with any game deal, pricing and availability can change quickly depending on the retailer and timing, so anyone shopping for a discount may want to check current listings before the offer ends.
