Hunting Simulator 3 Review — Shot in the Dark?

Given that I’m not a big fan of hunting or animal shooting, I thought Hunting Simulator 3 would be the kind of game I wouldn’t enjoy. However, it turned out that it’s the exact reason that I did like it. There’s no denying that the idea of loading up, planning your hunt, tracking animals, and finally finding the prey prior to pulling the trigger is an exhilarating experience, and I’ve always wanted to do that. But knowing that you’re taking down a virtual bear instead of a real one allows you to indulge in the experience without the moral dilemmas.

From the get-go, it’s obvious that developer Nacon wanted to emphasise that you’re in a living, breathing, and organic wild environment. You’ll see animals attacking each other, random encounters, and a rapidly changing ecosystem as you move through the maps.

And that’s exactly what Hunting Simulator 3 gets so right. The whole experience of hunting leading up to the trigger-pulling moment is so well fleshed out in the game that it really gives an insight into the in-depth nature of what’s required for each hunt.

With the gameplay being extremely accessible, allowing you to follow cues and hints to get closer to your target, the real enjoyment of the gameplay comes from the patience and slow-burn nature of going on a hunt. Heading to regions where sightings of animals have taken place allows you to then narrow down leading clues to get closer and closer to the target. Whether it’s spotting broken branches or food remains, each ‘spot’ gets you edging closer to where the target is.

The tracking part of the gameplay is arguably the most fun, requiring you to rely on your vision and audio cues to eventually track your target down. This is especially challenging when it comes to the smaller woodland creatures, who sometimes require an eagle-eye and a lot of patience to pick up from a distance. Using your binoculars or scope to spot them in a bush after a long tracking portion is always a rewarding moment. Of course, you can also drop the difficulty level, which then sees the game provide more clues and markers for you to follow, but what’s the fun in that!?

Another aid to use is your trusty canine companion, who (on top of wearing a very adorable vest) is able to seek out animals, find tracks or traces, and can even return the kills to you. This is a gameplay element returning from the previous title, but the AI of your four-legged buddy has improved dramatically, allowing them to look and behave a lot more organically.

Of course, when it comes to the shooting itself, this is almost another whole game unto itself. Selecting the right weapon for the job, as well as hitting the animal in the correct and most ‘ethical’ spot, is important. Just headshotting everything is not always the solution; so you’ll need to refer to your hunting guide and ensure that vital organs or disabling weak points are targeted, which can require reorienting yourself, moving around for a better angle, or waiting for the right moment, making it a fun and rewarding game of patience, precision, and timing.

Whereas previous Hunting Simulator games felt a little ‘basic’, HS3 feels a lot bigger with more things to do. The lodge is your home base that can be customised and altered with trophies, displays, and other awards, while also being your loadout zone where you’ll pick your weapons, distractions, and lures for each hunt.

On top of that, there’s a butcher who you can find and use to get contracts, giving you tasks that’ll earn you money. Some of the hunts can be dangerous or tricky, with bigger payouts on the cards, so you’ll have to prepare and select carefully.

Hunting Simulator 3 does a lot right to make the game feel more like a fully-fledged experience rather than a simplified version of the real thing. The larger environments, more realistic AI, and toys and tricks at your disposal give fans and newcomers a lot more to tinker with. If you’re a longtime fan of the franchise, you’ll be happy with the upgrades, and for those newcomers, it’s worth trying if you’re looking for something a little slower-paced and more discerning.

Hunting Simulator 3 is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.