Max Payne 3 review

Max Payne 3 ranks fifth on value. It is the cheapest paid game here at $19.99, and the Steam version is a complete edition with every DLC pack, from Deathmatch Made In Heaven to the Classic Max Payne 1 Character. The story follows Max, no longer a New York cop and addicted to painkillers, as he takes a job protecting the family of real estate mogul Rodrigo Branco in São Paulo, and Rockstar pitches it as cinematic shooting tied to a dark story. On Steam, 85% of 25,198 English reviews are positive, and the listing shows a Metacritic score of 87. Its age is an advantage for hardware, with a minimum spec of 2 GB of RAM and 35 GB of storage. It also shows its age: it came out in 2012, Steam lists only partial controller support, and it runs on Windows only. For a single-player shooter at the lowest paid price, it is hard to beat.

Who it is for

Players on a budget who want a story-driven shooter that runs on older PCs

Price

$19.99 one-time purchase on Steam (US store).

all previously released downloadable content. $19.99 Buy on Steam
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Story of Max Payne protecting a wealthy family in São Paulo
• Complete edition with all previously released DLC
• Includes Deathmatch Made In Heaven and the Classic Max Payne 1 Character
• Single-player and multiplayer modes
• Minimum spec starts at 2 GB of RAM

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: $19.99, the cheapest paid game on this list
• Strength: All DLC included
• Strength: 85% of 25,198 English Steam reviews are positive
• Weakness: Released in 2012, the oldest game here
• Weakness: Only partial controller support on Steam
• Weakness: Windows only

Key facts

• Developer: Rockstar Studios
• Price: $19.99
• Released: May 31, 2012
• Modes: Single-player, multiplayer
• Minimum RAM: 2 GB

Where it ranks

Max Payne 3 is No. 4 in our Best Third-Person Shooters verdict.