Arma 3

Okay, So I've tested this game for about 16,400 hours... think I should request for a refund... can I get the Arma 4 for free?

Not a review of the game, but of time gone by. I don’t hate this game. I can’t. It gave me some of the best memories I’ve had in gaming — late nights with the squad, ops that went horribly wrong (or perfectly right), laughter in comms, and that sense of brotherhood only a few games can give. But time moves on. Veterans leave. Old friends disappear. Squads break apart. Now, I log in... and the server feels quiet. Something’s missing. Not because the game changed — but because we did. If you're new, there's still something special here. A deep, tactical, unforgiving game with endless possibility. If you're like me, maybe you’re just chasing ghosts in the fog of Tanoa. 10/10 for what it was, and what it still can be.

Arma 3, developed by Bohemia Interactive, isn’t a game you play casually—it’s a simulation you commit to. Released in 2013 and still fiercely relevant thanks to its modding community and mission editor, Arma 3 remains the definitive large-scale military sandbox. If most shooters are roller coasters, Arma 3 is an entire amusement park—with a thousand moving parts and no safety rails. At first glance, Arma 3 can be overwhelming. There’s no hand-holding, no aim assist, and no forgiving hitboxes. Movement feels weighty, weapon handling is nuanced, and one well-placed bullet can end you. It’s as close to modern military combat as a commercial game dares to get. But when it works—when you're coordinating with a fireteam across rugged terrain, calling in CAS support, and flanking enemies in a synchronized assault—it’s genuinely thrilling. The attention to realism and combined arms warfare is unmatched. Infantry combat is just one layer; there are tanks, jets, drones, artillery, and complex logistics that play into the broader scope. The official campaign, The East Wind, is competent but not outstanding. It serves as a gradual introduction to the game’s systems, with a decent story and variety of missions. Later expansions like Apex and Contact offer fresh scenarios and themes—though still not the game's main draw. The real content lies in the community. Thanks to the powerful mission editor and Steam Workshop integration, you can find everything from hardcore military simulations to full-blown zombie survival experiences. Mods like Antistasi, DUWS, and RHS overhaul the game completely, often surpassing the base content in depth and quality. Even over a decade later, Arma 3 holds up surprisingly well. The lighting system, terrain detail, and sheer scale of the maps are impressive. The fictional island of Altis is massive and diverse—full of towns, hills, airfields, and forests, offering endless tactical options. Stratis, Tanoa, and other DLC maps add even more variety. That said, animations can feel dated, and performance can be spotty in complex scenarios. Large-scale battles often test even modern rigs, especially in multiplayer or heavily scripted missions. This is where Arma 3 truly shines. Public servers range from casual co-op to ultra-hardcore MILSIM units that simulate actual military protocols. Modes like King of the Hill cater to PvP fans, while dynamic campaigns like Liberation provide endless replayability. Communication, coordination, and tactics matter—making every victory feel earned. Be warned, though: multiplayer has a steep learning curve, and jumping in solo without preparation can be rough. Arma 3 arguably has one of the richest modding communities in PC gaming. Want Vietnam-era warfare? Sci-fi alien invasions? Police roleplay? Naval battles? It’s all there, often created with professional-grade detail. Bohemia's open design and robust modding tools are a large part of why the game has lasted this long. Arma 3 isn’t for everyone. It’s clunky, unforgiving, and demands time and patience. But for those willing to invest, it offers one of the most comprehensive and rewarding military simulations ever made. It’s a platform as much as a game—a battlefield limited only by your imagination and tactical acumen. If you’re looking for a tactical shooter that respects your intelligence and punishes your mistakes, Arma 3 is still the gold standard. Rating: 8/10

Honestly this game is amazing and alot of fun. It is a little annoying at first mainly cause you end up dying alot. But after awhile its just fun. If you love tactical shooters or are just picking one up arma 3 is one of the best you can get in 2025. Wish graphics were a bit better tho. But if you have enough money just buy reforger

everything requires dlc and not many servers with players? not worth the 5$ on sale

Arma 3 é simplesmente o melhor simulador militar que já joguei. O mapa é enorme e muito realista, cheio de detalhes que criam uma sensação incrível de imersão. O jogo exige estratégia, planejamento e trabalho em equipe, não dá pra sair atirando sem pensar. O editor de missões é fantástico e a comunidade cria mods que deixam o jogo praticamente infinito em conteúdo. Mesmo sendo mais antigo, os gráficos continuam ótimos, principalmente pelos cenários gigantes e pela atmosfera realista.

>pilot heli, perfectly fine >try to land, spontaneously combust true milsim experience [spoiler]will refresh the review should i have a three-digit playtime[/spoiler]

With the last update you can finally play with an fps of two digits. Download Dynamic Recon/Combat Ops and it's the closest thing we have to the first Ghost Recon, except it's extremely modular and has combined arms combat.

Не самый идеальный, но один из лучших тактических шутеров. Однозначно рекомендую.

good game and realistic strategy

downlaod the game get vietnam mods get visual implifier mods get ptsd from the vietcong in the trees 10/10 would try again

-Installed the game -Obliterated a village with a mortar without doing a tutorial -Did the tutorial -Obliterated villages efficiently

This game is seriously complicated. Nothing is explained clearly, and even basic stuff like moving, aiming, or driving takes time to learn. But that’s kind of the point. You can’t treat it like a normal shooter this feels more like a military sim. You really have to play often just to start understanding the mechanics. It's slow, it's brutal, but it's also rewarding once you get into it. Feels like a real wars.

Was casually driving a MRAP on a road in afghanistan and when i make a turn 3 IEDs go off. Somehow survive and my MRAP is flipped. Very fun, 10/10 game

The ultimate military realism game, especially with mods. The AI is a little stupid sometimes, and it can take a really long time to complete missions, like hours long, but other than that, it's great.

Constant issues even with a beefy setup, HOTAS controls are god awful with their flight mechanics as well.

Game was good when it released has an old engine is laggy glitchty and has all sorts of issues it is not that I do not like this game but in my opinion MP is fun but SP is garbage because it is only fun for me if I add mods 90 percent of time i had issues with the mods and I raged because they ruin the full experience. This game is one hell of a game because it delivers a experience like never before, i haven't really played Reforger. I hope that Arma 4 and Reforger are less buggy than this game if not I am skipping those games purely because i cannot find myself playing a game who completely bugs out and alot of things do not work in SP vannila but also modded. Performance is mehh not really good but its quite old so I ignore that part. Is this game something for you? Yes I can understand that people like it because it has a great scenario editor which is quite cool to see because its only limit is your imagination and the amount of time you want to spend. Honestly good game but just failed a bit on the mod part for instance Antistasi Ultimate which i played had alot of bugs and I still respect the devs and their effort they put into these kind of mods but they just bug out so much while just playing it plain without any other mods its quite sad that it becomes unplayable for me because I liked it and never had a better SP sim experience until the bugs showed up. So if you like this game plain i would advise it and if you like MP. In my opinion this game can get away with this because of its old engine and the fact that it is the only game with such an experience.

Find the 420th delta server if you wanna have fun playing against ai. a list for those who are new: join server select role on some servers go to arsenal Find someone flying a heli get into the fight

I refunded this beautiful game (beautiful if you know how to resolve issues) because of some technical problems i had with it. Dont get me wrong this is a very very nice game, one of the few that feature my country, greece, but unfortunately it has too many problems that it just ruined my playtime. This is a personal opinion and I do not mean to offend anybody

This gave is divisive and I understand why. It’s joyfully repetitive- much like Animal Crossing, Stardew, and other familiar cozy games. If that’s not your jam that’s cool- but I find it interesting when people purchase games without extensive research. I bought this game after watching live gameplay and knew it was for me. It’s not a bad game simply because you don’t like this genre or style. Pros -massive world to explore -so much to collect -tons of quests. People complain this game has blockers so you don’t advance too quickly. Im an average gamer playing max 2 hours a day and I find I’m never bored. If you want to speed run, much like animal crossing, this game isn’t for you as it relies on real world time for certain advancements. -puzzles- similar imo to Zelda echos of wisdom, but not as lengthy or challenging. -unique NPC’s -killer sound track Cons -you cannot fast forward the game by manipulating the clock (I don’t personally mind this but I only ply a few hours a day max) -not a ton of story depth which pulls from the immersion -may experience motion sickness from insane camera angles Overall I really love this game. If you’re a Nintendo switch user - consider getting a steam deck. Games render so much better, and the variety of games is bigger. All that to say- if you enjoy relaxing laid back gaming- get it. I’m playing this in parallel with SunHaven and really enjoying it. Happy cozy gaming! ✨ 4/10

Probably the most fun I’ve ever had crawling through a bush for 45 minutes, getting shot by a guy I never saw. When it works, it's an immersive military sandbox dream. When it doesn't, it's a clunky mess of keybinds, desync, and accidental friendly fire. But damn if it isn’t satisfying when your squad actually communicates and you pull off something tactical. Bring friends. Bring patience. And definitely bring a map.

i can shoot lego people in a honda civic in minecraft. great game love it

being in realistic, tactical conflicts with the boys is fun :D

This game is the ultimate military sandbox. If you're looking for realistic and serious-fun operations, this game is for you. If you are looking for some people to meet and be friends with with the military shell, this game is also for you. I love all the mods and workshop items people have posted. Though this game is kind of DLC heavy so you should get those or this game if its on sale. I would recommend this game!

This game has been reborn with the latest performance improvements. Playing with mods via the workshop has been great. Coupled with Antistasi Ultimate, it's a great cooperative experience. Sensational work to the team of developers, come back, tune the engine, and get this engine purring.

Just started playing, game has its ups and downs but its pretty cool i guess

It's good fun. Tons of mods and a great community. Can be a bit janky but who cares for the kind of cheap thrills and massive scope it provides. Get it on sale and it is arguably the best value in video game history. 10/10

Amazing how this game stands out to this day, probably the best military game i ever played

Amazing game, been playing on and off for over 10 years now. The editor and mods is what makes the game still so great after all these years. Bohemia GOAT.

It's definitely a full simulator and I am a dumb idiot who is unable to understand it. But man do I wish I did understand it.

its good but may crash your PC, so you have to take measurable steps in order to prevent it, it reminds me of call of duty

This game is a military simulation game. However, it would be a mistake to evaluate it as a typical "FPS" title; it should rather be seen as a military training tool or a professional simulation platform. On the game's massive maps, planning, navigation, coordination, and communication skills are of utmost importance. Missions are often carried out not with preset strategies, but through tactical decisions made on the spot. This means the game demands not just reflexes from the player, but also leadership, teamwork, and operational thinking skills. Arma 3 is definitely not a game to be played solo; it reveals its true potential when played within organized communities, under specific rules and defined roles. Personally, I tried the game solo for about two hours, and during that time I couldn’t establish any real coordination or take advantage of the depth the game offers. That’s because ARMA 3 requires well-thought-out operational planning and solid teamwork. Experiencing this in randomly joined public servers is nearly impossible. The learning curve is quite steep. The controls are complex, and the interface is unconventional. Getting used to this structure takes time—but this difficulty is one of the key elements that reinforces the game’s realism and professionalism. In conclusion, Arma 3 offers a serious military simulation experience that requires patience, discipline, and strategic thinking. It’s a unique platform for those who enjoy planning and execution more than casual fun.

I dont know why i'm writing this review because i had this game for 1 hour before i refunded it. I only refunded it to buy arma reforger because it supports controller. Overall great game tho just barely any controller support.

>Start a mission >Walk stealthy for 30 mins >Get near to the objective >Scout the region >Start moving >Get shot once >Die Overall 8/10

i LOVE walking 20 minutes just to get sniped, this game is literally a job so unless u want to larp being a 20 year old private then dont

Game is really cool, very realistic, and has a big library of mods. 2.80€ is a steal for a game like this. Definitly give it a try!!

i left this game in my library untouched and now im hopelessly addicted to this game i love it

Had a lot of fun online! It took some time to figure out how the communications and other features worked. I recommend having a guide for that so it doesn’t take an hour to learn the basics.

this game is definitely worth picking up because of its exciting multiplayer the mods and a great community the SIM mode is really fun where you can save up your money get a job via police officer or rebel or a taxi driver there's so much the risk game that it has to offer and it's worth getting the DLC to the support the developers really love this game plan on putting a lot more hours into it

its a really good military sim once you know what your doing. I personally just make missions myself and just play by myself cause I don't know how to make missions to play with friends. with out the workshop I probably wouldn't have so many hours on the game.

The fictional names given to weapons, vehicles, ect.. really ruins the whole "army simulator" feel. Sometimes little things like that can play a huge role with immersion. Its a good game besides that.

Graphics are way out of date but not bad for $3. It takes a real "love" of military life to fully get into this game it would appear. You can't just be insubordinate and do what you want, like jump into any vehicle or run off in the opposite direction like in the early games. That was fun, figuring out ways to win differently in ARMA: Cold war assault.

$3? absolutely just buy it if u like anything milsim or even extraction shooter. if u miss the sale theres always reforger, this ones a little outdated but for arma entry players this is a bargain

This isn’t just a game. It’s a combat simulation masterpiece. I’ve been playing Arma 3 for years, and I still discover new things almost every time I launch it. No other title captures the gritty, tactical realism of modern warfare like Arma 3 does.

Mods like ACE, RHS and Antistasi make this a gem with the friends. You can also jump in as a ”gamemaster” and spice up the action for your poor clueless friends. Also works as a great way to let of some steam. Just spawn a MQ-9 and release the despoiler of thousand worlds.

Unexpectedly good story. After years of collecting virtual dust in my Steam library, I thought: maybe my PC can run it now. I bought the game back when online mods like DayZ were popular. Back then, it didn't run that well on my PC. But now, after all this time and with a new PC, I decided to fire it up. So, I never really played it and to get started I got in to story mode. At first I was confused by the controls, but after I got used to it, I was completely sucked into the story. It was exciting and immersive, I really wanted to finish it out of curiosity for what would happen next. Some bits even stuck so well that it triggered a thrill reaction when I heard certain sounds in real life. At some points I was a little confused what to do since most games treat the player like a toddler, here, they just leave it up to you to be creative and figure out how to solve certain problems (which I very much like). I would definitely recommend it if you like immersion and good storytelling.

even over a decade later, one of the greatest games ever made, just needs a longer, or multiple inter connected campaign

Best game ever made. Especially with the modding community. If you play any subgenre of shooters you will love this game. Sell your soul to play it. Give your kids to El Salvador. Whatever you got to do but you must play this game

At this point in time, this is the best military simulator out there. However, it is a game that's best played with a group of people, so find an Arma unit to play with. Modding support is excellent, and all sorts of tools to customize the experience exist.

Love being shot from other side of the map in wasteland if you want to experience this for yourself get this game :D