Jagged Alliance 3 is a turn-based tactical game in which you lead a squad of mercenaries through a political crisis in the nation of Grand Chien, with a territory-control campaign running between battles. It suits players who want deliberate squad combat with a strategic layer on top. It is sold on PC through Steam and on PlayStation and Xbox consoles.
This guide relies on the publisher’s and Steam’s own descriptions of the game. It does not report hands-on performance testing, so the mechanics below are presented as the publisher describes them. Store listings, prices and regional availability change, so confirm them on the store page before you buy.
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What the game is
The campaign opens in Grand Chien after its elected president disappears and the Legion takes control of the country. The president’s family hires a mercenary team to find him and restore order. As you play, you explore the country, meet local characters, earn money, build your team and make decisions that affect how the country’s situation develops.
Haemimont Games developed the game and THQ Nordic published it. Steam lists the release date as July 14, 2023. The Steam store page and the official game website are the two primary references for the details in this guide.
#1 Best Overall
![Jagged Alliance 3 - Standard - Steam PC [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41FOwChSd-L._SL160_.jpg)
- Engage in rich, tactical turn-based combat
- Recruit from a large cast of unique mercenaries, including many familiar fan favorites
- Loot, salvage, and customize an arsenal of weaponry and equipment
- Choose from a wide array of special perks to customize your mercs as they level up
- Experience the campaign with friends in online co-op mode
How combat works
Combat is turn-based. Each mercenary spends action points on moves such as aiming at a specific body part, switching firing modes, using overwatch or changing stance. Positioning and weapon choice carry much of the tactical weight.
The publisher also describes several systems that go beyond standard turn-based combat:
- Weapon jams that can interrupt a firefight mid-turn.
- Material penetration, where bullets can pass through certain materials rather than stopping at the first cover.
- Destructible buildings, where explosives can bring down structures.
- Persistent wounds that do not heal instantly, so a fight can leave a mercenary weakened for later missions.
Because these are publisher descriptions, the exact balance of these systems is best judged on the store page’s videos or by trying the free demo on Steam.
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The campaign layer between fights
Battles are linked by a broader territory loop. According to the official site, you explore handcrafted sectors, capture territory and outposts, intercept convoys, train local militia, command several squads at once and respond to enemy patrols.
The publisher says sector conditions can be affected by time of day, weather and your earlier decisions. That means a region you handled one way may not look the same when you return to it.
Mercenaries, equipment and progression
Recruiting and choosing your team
Mercenaries are voiced and have individual personalities and backstories. Some may refuse to work with you depending on trust or on their relationships with other squad members. Recruitment is therefore both a tactical and a narrative choice, not just a matter of who has the best stats.
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Development without fixed classes
Characters develop through a classless system and perks, so you shape each mercenary’s role rather than selecting a fixed class at recruitment.
Weapons and gear
Equipment can be looted, salvaged and customized. Weapon choice matters in combat because of the jam and penetration systems described above.
Co-op and modding
The campaign can be played in online co-op, and Steam lists both single-player and online co-op modes. Steam also lists a free demo and a digital soundtrack add-on.
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The official site states that modding support is included. The publisher’s Patch 1.5 announcement, covered in the update timeline below, is the main source for what that support looks like in practice.
Platforms and editions
| Platform | Edition listed by the publisher or store | Notes from the sources |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Steam | Single-player and online co-op; free demo and digital soundtrack add-on listed on the store page. Regional availability not stated in the store listing. |
| PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 | Console edition | February 2024 publisher announcement describes cross-generation multiplayer, so PS4 and PS5 players can team up. Regional availability not stated in the announcement. |
| Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X | Console edition | February 2024 publisher announcement describes cross-generation multiplayer, so Xbox One and Series players can play together. Regional availability not stated in the announcement. |
Official announcements are collected on the Steam announcements page. Check your own regional store before buying, since platform availability can differ by country.
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The Steam listing sets out the following requirements. Check them against your hardware before purchase.
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| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11 | Not stated |
| Processor | Intel quad-core or AMD Ryzen at 3 GHz | 4 GHz Intel quad-core or AMD Ryzen |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | DirectX 12-compatible, 2 GB VRAM; listed examples are GeForce GTX 950 or Radeon R7 370 | RTX 2070 or Radeon 6700 XT with 8 GB VRAM |
| DirectX | DirectX 12 | DirectX 12 |
| Storage | 20 GB | 20 GB |
The store listing notes that some integrated GPUs are compatible but may perform poorly. If your PC relies on integrated graphics, treat the minimum specification as a starting point rather than a performance guarantee.
Post-launch updates
The publisher’s announcements show two dated updates that changed the game after launch. Later announcements may exist, so check the announcements page for anything newer than the entries below.
| Date announced | Update | What the publisher says it added |
|---|---|---|
| December 18, 2023 | Update 1.4 (free) | The U-Bahn mid-to-late-game questline, an underground transport system, seven maps in a laboratory complex, and other interface and gameplay adjustments. |
| February 6, 2024 | Patch 1.5, titled “Larry” | Ten optional rule settings and extensive modding tools for making campaigns, quests and maps. |
The Tactical Box collector item
THQ Nordic also offered a physical collector item, the Tactical Box. Its announcement describes:
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- A tactical belt and pouch.
- An A.I.M. pin.
- 36 character cards.
The announcement states “GAME NOT INCLUDED,” so the box is merchandise to accompany a game you own, not a copy of the game. It also says the limited edition sold out within days. The official website still links to a Tactical Box page, but that link alone does not confirm that any stock is available. Treat the Tactical Box as collector context rather than a purchase you can count on.
Quick Recap
Who it suits
- Good fit: players who enjoy turn-based squad combat, care about how a team’s members relate to each other, and like a campaign that links missions through territory control.
- Check first: PC players should compare their hardware with the requirements table before buying, especially if they rely on integrated graphics.
- Platform choice: console players should confirm their regional store listing and which cross-generation multiplayer pairings they want.
- Collector interest: the Tactical Box is a separate, sold-out limited item and should not be confused with the game itself.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
