‘Crackdown 3’ Review: A Fever Dream that Plays like the Most Tedious Nightmare

James McMahon
Game Reviews Games
Game Reviews Games Xbox PC Gaming
2.0
of 5
Review Essentials
  • Depressingly mindless mayhem
  • Poor signposting and bizarre difficulty spikes
  • For a game with Terry Crews, it's weirdly lacking in fun
  • The driving is... OK?
  • Multiplayer mode actually shows some promise
Reviewed on Xbox One

This writer has long had a recurring dream. You wouldn’t call it a nightmare, but it’s certainly a stressful one. A quick Google search reveals that many of us suffer from the same subconscious scenario; you’re back at school or university, you have work to file but you don’t know where to, you wake up anxious, you arise with beads of sweat peppered across your brow, you remember you’re now a middle-aged games journalist and thankfully the days of trying to work out where to file your musings on a subject you never really understood in the first place are long gone… Christ, that was awful. Let’s play some video games and try to change the mood…

And so you sit down to spend some time with Crackdown 3, the long-delayed open world Xbox exclusive from publisher Xbox Game Studios and developer Sumo Digital (largely known for their work on racing titles like OutRun and Sonic All-Stars Racing Transformed, it’s perhaps no surprise that the in-car elements of Crackdown 3 are its best). It looks okay, sort of like one of those games from the seventh generation that was really riding the limits of what those machines could do.

The art style is nice. Somebody owns the Tron boxset, anyway. Not sure we really understand the plot. Hang on. There’s been a terrorist attack… Blimey… They’ve destroyed power sources around the world… That’s not ideal… An organization called The Agency – which we’re part of apparently – has tracked the attacks to a city called New Providence. WAIT, THAT’S ONLY BLOODY TERRY CREWS!

BROOKYLN WHINE WHINE

After a pretty entertaining cut-scene – it is, after all, Terry bloody Crews – it turns out that Terry Crews – Daddy Duck hereon in – is our squad leader. Sadly, we learn that Daddy Duck got largely incinerated last time The Agency attacked New Providence, so now we’re being charged with going into the aforementioned city to crush the aforementioned terrorist organization Terra Nova, avenge a singed Daddy Duck and save as many refugees as possible. And, if we’ve got time to do some stunts in the various cars we can requisition in the city, or partake in time trial type destruction mini-games… Wait, you’ve played a Just Cause game before, right? Because someone at the heart of Crackdown 3’s development almost certainly has…

And so your character – one of a handful of preset super-agents; diversity has never looked so generic – is chucked into New Providence and asked to blow stuff up. Which sounds fine. Crackdown 3’s big selling point is that you get to blow stuff up. ‘Step Up Your Boom!’ is the slogan the game’s marketing has roared at any given opportunity. And yet very quickly it transpires that nobody has told you how to do this. And so you begin to explore the city. You encounter enemies you’re far from sufficiently levelled up to be encountering. You’re dead. You go again. Nope, you’re dead. One more time. Nope, you’re dead. Step Up Your Boom? Step Out Of Your Tomb, more like. It’s quite likely that you’ll spend as much time dead in Crackdown 3 as you do in Dark Souls.

NOISE ANNOYS

And yet, there are voices attempting to guide you in your quest to blow up New Providence. Several in fact, most notable being that of the Agency’s boss – provided by anime star, Michael McConnohie. But rarely throughout documented human history have so many voices said so little. What we needed was someone telling us how to take down the enemy outpost we’ve just encroached on. What we got was someone suggesting that maybe we’d like to destroy some machinery five minutes’ drive away. It feels a little bit like driving down the motorway, in the wrong direction, with five car radios all tuned into different frequencies. When all you really want is someone to tell you where the nearest services are because you really need a wee.

We’ll probably never get to learn the exact circumstances that led to Crackdown 3’s quite unprecedented gestation period; first announced in 2014, the game was originally set to be released in 2016, then changed to November 2017 to sync with the release of the Xbox One X, then delayed to an unspecified Q2/Q3 date in 2018, then once more pushed back to this coming Friday. And yet, whatever the reason was, you can almost certainly predict that what kept the game in development for so long was an attempt to spruce it up. To get it over the line. To get it to such a place that it could finally leave the out tray. To finally get rid.

Despite all the unwanted noise and hapless advice dished out throughout Crackdown 3’s gameplay, only one voice really cuts through. And that voice says, “will this do?”

SAND AND DELIVER

Games that have slipped further and further down release schedules in recent times have all suffered from a similar problem, that being that the possibilities of games have soared so exponentially in recent years, that a game that was envisioned five years ago and only released now, enters a landscape that’s quite unlike anything that might have been envisioned at the moment of conception. Even games that were released at the dawn of the eighth generation look a little tired now, and it’s this problem that Crackdown 3 can never shake. Coming at a juncture whereupon we’ve all completed Red Dead Redemption 2 – where we’ve all had hugely fulfilling adventures in a lush and diverse open world that now feel closer to real life than not – the sparse, soulless sandbox of Crackdown 3 feels positively lonely.

Which brings us back to our fevered dreams of college days; not sure of what to do, where to go, ultimately, what’s the point. Crackdown 3 is no escape from this. It is a game in which inertia reigns. A sandbox that is desperately lacking a signpost. To the direction of fun would be much appreciated, but in truth, we’d just take one that would lead us to purpose. And yet, there is the dullest of silver linings…

HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS

Though we haven’t played the multiplayer yet on a fully functioning server, Crackdown 3’s Wrecking Zone mode could potentially be a whole load of fun. For one thing, the objective is clearly spelt out on the tin; make a mess. Get points. Have a hoot. For another, it’s actually the only mode within the game that allows for full destruction of the world in which you’re thrust into. Within one game we’d already enjoyed the experience more than we had the game when shackled to any kind of story-based narrative. Within two, well it doesn’t quite play like a dream, but there’s some degree of redemption to the whole sorry mess of a game none of us asked for.

Ultimately, time will tell whether Wrecking Zone becomes Crackdown 3’s saving grace. But despite this mode offering some (much welcome) fun, its hard to see why anyone would shell out their hard-earned cash for this, rather than enjoying the free thrills of Fortnite or Apex Legends. For now though, if you’ll excuse us, we’re late for class…

James McMahon
James McMahon is a journalist from the north of England, though he currently lives in east London with his wife and Ramones records. He was formerly the editor of Kerrang! magazine for absolutely ages, and now writes for Vice, The Big Issue and The Observer. He likes Bigfoot, Xbox and crisps.
Love Weird Lil Guys? Mario Kart World Is The Game For You
Cow was the eureka moment that opened the floodgates to all kinds of unconventional Mario Kart racers, and I love them.
Copied to clipboard
Destiny 2: The Edge Of Fate Draws On Metroidvanias To Bring You Back In
After previewing The Edge of Fate for 8 hours, I am excited to continue uncovering the mysteries of Kepler.
Copied to clipboard
Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat Feels Better Than It Looks
GameChat definitely isn't a marquee game-changer for Switch 2. But it's smartly designed enough to justify its existence as a nice-to-have feature.
Copied to clipboard
Switch 2 Welcome Tour Is A Surprising STEM Showpiece (But Should Be Free)
The Switch 2 Welcome Tour could be a neat, approachable way for students to learn concepts of industrial design--but only if they see it.
Copied to clipboard
The Witcher 4: Check Out 30 New Screenshots From The State of Unreal Tech Demo
The Witcher 4 is continuing to look graphically impressive.
Copied to clipboard
PlayStation State Of Play Announced For June 4
Sony's latest State of Play presentation comes during the busy period that used to include E3.
Copied to clipboard
007: First Light Is Hitman Dev's James Bond Game, Will Be Revealed This Week
IO Interactive is gearing up to reveal more information about its new James Bond adventure.
Copied to clipboard
Elden Ring Nightreign Patch Notes Include Promised Improvements For Solo Play
Here's how Elden Ring Nightreign is improved for solo players with its newest update.
Copied to clipboard
Don't Remove Switch 2's Protective Film, Nintendo Says
Nintendo placed a protective film over Switch 2's screen, and the gaming company strongly recommends leaving it alone.
Copied to clipboard
The Madden NFL 26 Cover Star Is Exactly Who You'd Guess It Is
After the Eagles' title run and his incredible season stat totals, Saquon Barkley is your Madden 26 cover star.
Copied to clipboard
Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Week Restocks - Here's What We Know So Far
If you weren't able to secure a Switch 2 console preorder, you'll have chances both in stores and online during launch week.
Copied to clipboard
The Last of Us Season 3: Everything We Know
'We haven't seen the last of a lot of people who are currently dead in the story'
Copied to clipboard
Elden Ring Nightreign - Guides Hub
Elden Ring Nightreign is a game jam-packed with content, and we have you covered with dozens of guides to help you survive the Living Lands.
Copied to clipboard
Elden Ring Nightreign Tips You Need To Know Before You Play
Elden Ring Nightreign can be a complex experience, so we have compiled a list of beginner tips to help get you started in the Living Lands.
Copied to clipboard
The Biggest Game Releases Of June 2025
From new Nintendo hardware to the return of Sam Porter Bridges, here’s a closer look at the biggest highlights of June 2025.
Copied to clipboard
Trump's Tariffs Blocked By Court With Refunds Possible
A panel ruled that Trump has overstepped his authority.
Copied to clipboard
To A T Review - A Sweet-Natured Fable Without Much To Do
To A T is a quirky and charming story about an underexplored topic; if only the act of playing it were a little more fun.
Copied to clipboard
CFB 26 Officially Unveiled With Reveal Trailer And First Details On What's New
Here's everything new and improved for this year's College Football game from EA.
Copied to clipboard
Elden Ring Nightreign Players Warned Of PC Performance Issues In Patch Notes
Elden Ring Nightreign's day-one patch notes are here and indicate that the game may have performance issues on PC.
Copied to clipboard
Elden Ring Nightreign And Twitch Release Exclusive Launch-Event Rewards
If you're diving into Nightreign, watching or streaming the new Elden Ring title on Twitch could bag you more than just a fun time.
Copied to clipboard
EA Cancels Black Panther Game, Closes Its Developer, And Lays Off More Staff
EA is cancelling Black Panther and closing its developer, Cliffhanger.
Copied to clipboard
Elden Ring Nightreign Review - Distilled Souls
Elden Ring Nightreign successfully condenses the ER experience, cramming challenging combat, exploration, and more into a multiplayer game.
Copied to clipboard
Nintendo Switch System Update Out Now, Here Are The Patch Notes
The new 20.1.0 update makes some small tweaks to the interface to better match the upcoming Switch 2.
Copied to clipboard
The PS5 Pro Has Received Its First Discount For Days Of Play 2025
PlayStation's high-powered PS5 Pro is available for $50 off alongside deals on more hardware, accessories, and games until June 11.
Copied to clipboard
F-Zero Is Going Through A Quiet Resurgence
Between F-Zero 99's updates and a regular stream of re-releases, Nintendo's forgotten racing series is suddenly more prominent than it's been in years
Copied to clipboard
CoD Season 4 Battle Pass Adds Stitch And Two New Guns In BO6 And Warzone
New weapons, operators, and cosmetics arrive with the Season 4 battle pass.
Copied to clipboard
Switch 2 Consoles Seem To Already Be In People's Hands
Check out an early unboxing video for the Switch 2.
Copied to clipboard
PlayStation's DualSense Edge PS5 Controller Is On Sale For Its Best Price Yet
PlayStation's Days of Play 2025 sale includes $30 discounts on the pro-style PS5 controller and $20 off all regular DualSense controller colors.
Copied to clipboard
The Handmaid's Tale Series Ending Explained
All the farewells, reunions, and major moments from Hulu's Emmy winner
Copied to clipboard
Sirens Boss Reveals Where She Thinks Devon, Simone, and Michaela End Up
Netflix's miniseries ends with a twist and many question marks
Copied to clipboard
More PlayStation Plus Premium/Extra Games Revealed And Coming Very Soon
PS Plus subscribers can look forward to a diverse selection of games this month.
Copied to clipboard
The Last Of Us Showrunners Tease Season 3's New Direction
Following the Season 2 finale, The Last of Us Season 3 is shifting perspectives turning back the clock.
Copied to clipboard
Pokemon Go Delightful Days Starts June 3, Adds More New Gen 8 And 9 Pokemon
Several new Pokemon from the Galar, Paldea, and Hisui regions are making their debut during Pokemon Go's summer season.
Copied to clipboard
Fortnite Is Giving Away A Free Skin To Celebrate Return To US App Store
You can get this free skin through Fortnite Mobile for a limited time.
Copied to clipboard
Challenge Accepted | ‘Game of Thrones: Kingsroad’
Johnny Chiodini and Luke Westaway battle for the throne in 'Game of Thrones: Kingsroad'
Copied to clipboard
Squid Game and More New Netflix Shows and Movies Coming in June 2025
The light is turning green one last time in Squid Game Season 3
Copied to clipboard
CoD Season 4: Start Date, Ana De Armas Operator, Return Of Zombies Grief Mode
Here's everything we know and what we've heard so far about Black Ops 6's Season 4 update.
Copied to clipboard
Game Pass Now Has A Retro Games App, Including A PS1 Game
The new Retro Classics app on Xbox will let you access dozens of classic games from a variety of platforms.
Copied to clipboard
Catch These Five Games Before They Leave Game Pass At The End Of May
Remnant 2 is among the games leaving Game Pass on May 31, but there's still time to play them or keep them.
Copied to clipboard
Mario Kart World - 14 New Details Nintendo Just Revealed
Nintendo has revealed a boatload of new information about Mario Kart World.
Copied to clipboard
More New Game Pass Titles For May 2025 Include 2024's Best And Day-One Releases
Metaphor ReFantazio, Stalker 2, and To a T lead the second wave of titles coming to Game Pass this month.
Copied to clipboard
You Could Be Playing Battlefield 6 Playtests Very Soon, Here's How
As DICE announces an invite-only pre-alpha playtest for the new Battlefield game, here's how to access it.
Copied to clipboard
2025's Best-Selling Games So Far In The US
Here are the best-selling games of 2025 so far.
Copied to clipboard
Fortnite Is Finally Back On iOS In The US; Here's How To Download It
The legal drama might continue in one way or another, but Fortnite is out now on iOS after nearly five years away.
Copied to clipboard
One Chicago Showrunners Preview All Three Emotional, Game-Changing Finales
Car accidents, pregnancy news, a wedding, and more hit the Windy City
Copied to clipboard
Murderbot: Alexander Skarsgård on Crafting an Android With Neurodivergent Traits
'The core idea of the show is you shouldn't reduce personhood.'
Copied to clipboard
The Overwatch 2 X Street Fighter Collaboration Is "A Match Made In Heaven"
Two of Overwatch's key art directors discuss bringing Capcom's fighter to Blizzard's hero shooter.
Copied to clipboard
Some $80 Games Are A "Steal" Based On What They Offer, Former Sony Exec Says 
"As long as people choose carefully how they spend their money, I don't think they should be complaining."
Copied to clipboard
New Xbox Update Makes A Key Improvement
Microsoft is delivering an improvement that fans have been asking for.
Copied to clipboard
The Last Of Us Season 2 Finale's Intense Trailer Sets Up A Dramatic Conclusion
Season 2 wraps up this Sunday with what looks like a powerful episode.
Copied to clipboard
Red Dead Redemption At 15: There Will Never Be Another Spaghetti Western Like It
Even in its own trilogy, there's nothing quite like Red Dead Redemption.
Copied to clipboard
15 Games Like Call Of Duty To Play With Your Friends In 2025
Here's our full list of the best games like Call of Duty to play right now if you need a new multiplayer shooter to dive into.
Copied to clipboard
Magic: The Gathering - Final Fantasy Through The Ages: Every Bonus Sheet Card
Here are all 64 cards from the special subset included within the MTG Final Fantasy expansion.
Copied to clipboard
Fortnite Now Lets You Speak To Darth Vader With AI Voice Of James Earl Jones
The late actor now lives on in Fortnite, with his family's consent.
Copied to clipboard
Switch 2's Bravely Default Remaster Rings In 3DS Nostalgia Era With A Great RPG
The retro-throwback RPG looks beautiful in some ways, and charmingly rudimentary in others.
Copied to clipboard
Murderbot Review: Alexander Skarsgård Is Hilariously Awkward in Sci-Fi Dramedy
Skarsgård plays a rogue cyborg in Apple TV+'s somewhat shallow but appropriately snarky adaptation
Copied to clipboard
The Handmaid's Tale Cast and Crew React to the Show's Own Red Wedding Episode
'People are going to have their minds blown by what happens.'
Copied to clipboard
All The PlayStation Plus May 2025 Games For Premium And Extra Subscribers
PS Plus subscribers can look forward to a diverse selection of games this month.
Copied to clipboard
Duster Review: Thank You, J.J. Abrams, for Another Josh Holloway Show
The new crime thriller from Abrams and LaToya Morgan is a messy delight
Copied to clipboard
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 Review - Completing The Set
Capcom delivers another great fighting game collection--even with varying quality in the selections this time around.
Copied to clipboard
Control Spin-Off FBC: Firebreak Is A Defiant, Punk-Rock Take On Co-Op Shooters
Remedy's three-player FPS combines a DIY spirit with Left 4 Dead-like chaos.
Copied to clipboard
The Bear Season 4 Has a Tasty Premiere Date
We'll be back in the kitchen imminently
Copied to clipboard
FX Just Dropped a Ton of Alien: Earth Info, Including a Premiere Date
Noah Hawley's take on the sci-fi franchise is set somewhere Alien has never been
Copied to clipboard
Tracker Boss Unpacks That Season 2 Finale and What's Coming in Season 3
Elwood Reid says Justin Hartley evokes a certain classic tough guy
Copied to clipboard
Marvel Rivals Battle Pass Season 0 - All Skins, Emotes, And Other Rewards
The free-to-play hero shooter Marvel Rivals has arrived, launching with a short Season 0 battle pass.
Copied to clipboard
Marvel 1943: Rise Of Hydra Delayed
The new Marvel game won't make it out on time.
Copied to clipboard
The Best And Wildest Grand Theft Auto 6 Theories We've Seen So Far
Even with limited footage and screens, the GTA community has some big ideas for the next game.
Copied to clipboard
WoW Legion Is Getting The Remix Treatment, Blizzard Confirms
Legion Remix has been officially announced at PAX East.
Copied to clipboard
Fallout Renewed For A Third Season, But Heading To New Vegas First
Prime Video has greenlit Fallout Season 3 while we're still waiting for Season 2 to premiere later this year.
Copied to clipboard
Boba Fett, Final Fantasy 7's Aerith, And The Best Cosplay From PAX East 2025
Halo, Helldivers, Fallout, and much more were on display by fans at PAX.
Copied to clipboard
GTA 4 Remaster May Be In The Works
We might get GTA 4 a second time before GTA 6.
Copied to clipboard
Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Collab Led To Spirited Discussions Over Cuts
"I had to say 'Daniel, if they don't make it in, I will be very upset, because someone will get very upset with me if they don't make it in."
Copied to clipboard
Nintendo Reveals A Switch 2 Setting That Prevents Its Battery From Deteriorating
Make sure you turn on this Nintendo Switch 2 setting if you don't want your battery to deteriorate as fast.
Copied to clipboard
Magic: The Gathering – Final Fantasy PAX East Panel: See The Revealed Cards Now
The mad dash to June 13 has begun, as the PAX East panel revealed over 20 cards from the upcoming set.
Copied to clipboard
Borderlands 4 Will Feature Substantial Changes For Co-Op Players
From improved lobbies to the ability to fast-travel directly to your friends, Borderlands 4 looks like it'll be a blast of fun for fans of co-op games
Copied to clipboard
Andor's Kyle Soller: Syril's 'Finally Understanding That He's Been the Patsy'
'He's in such a primal state of transition, it's like he's leaving a cult'
Copied to clipboard
The Hilarious Peacemaker Season 2 Trailer Features Some DC Cameos
Check out the Superman connection in the first Season 2 trailer
Copied to clipboard
Revenge Of The Savage Planet Review - A Goo(d) Time
A bigger and better sequel, stretching out its joyful mix of platforming, exploration, and puzzle-solving across four diverse and lively planets.
Copied to clipboard
Doom: The Dark Ages Review - The Old One
Doom: The Dark Ages reinvents and reins in with equal measure, taking the series in a bold new direction without straying from its captivating roots.
Copied to clipboard
Europa Universalis 5 Is Unabashedly Hardcore, And I Love It
Europa Universalis 5 features all of the thorough mechanical depth Paradox Interactive’s grand strategy series is known for.
Copied to clipboard
How To Survive Fortnite's Painfully Slow Star Wars Meta
Zero Build players should never leave home without shield bubbles.
Copied to clipboard
8 Horror Subclasses Join Unearthed Arcana For Dungeons And Dragons 2024
New D&D horror subclasses announced with the latest Unearthed Arcana.
Copied to clipboard
Squid Game's Season 3 Trailer Teases a New Deadly Game
Let's talk about that gumball machine in the new trailer
Copied to clipboard
The Best Anime TV Shows on Netflix
The biggest streamer has a ton of Japanese imports and exclusive originals worth watching
Copied to clipboard