Parents' Guide to

Max Payne 3

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Gritty action game overflows with gore, sex, and profanity.

Game PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360 2012
Max Payne 3 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • Max Payne 3 Game: Screenshot #1
  • Max Payne 3 Game: Screenshot #2
  • Max Payne 3 Game: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 12 parent reviews

AdzoWilson
AdzoWilson Adult
July 7, 2020
age 13+

Suitability of Max Payne 3 (2012)

Max Payne 3 is indisputably one of my son's favorite games. He talks about it constantly and in a positive manner. I bought the game for him when he was 13 and I watched him play through the game in its entirety, much to his irritation. The game itself features quite realistic and, at times, brutal violence, but if your teen and yourself as a parent are okay with violence, this isn't too much of an issue. Sexual content is featured in this title, however, no full nudity is presented to the player, and a large number of the encounters in cut-scenes have the option to be skipped. For example, when the main protagonist, Max, meets a friend at a brothel, and sexual acts are present in the background. My son is, in my opinion mature for his age and handles these topics well. It really depends on how your child will react to this game, but anywhere from 13 above is suitable.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Mike_kelly
Mike_kelly Adult
June 9, 2019
age 17+
A mature teen would have a very good time playing this. Since there is nudity and lots of cussing, it is not appropriate for younger audiences.

This title has:

Easy to play/use
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 12 parent reviews

What’s It About?

Rockstar Games' gritty MAX PAYNE 3 picks up eight years after the events in Max Payne 2. For the uninitiated, Max is a former NYPD detective whose wife and daughter were murdered in connection with a case, so he infiltrated the mob and killed off criminals outside of the law. In Max Payne 3, Max has left New York City for São Paulo, where Payne is working in the private security sector for a wealthy local family. But when his client's wife gets kidnapped, Max makes his way into the seedy underbelly of the metropolis and finds himself in the middle of deadly gang wars. As with past games, this is a third-person shooter with plenty of weapons and high-quality cinematics -- including slow-motion "bullet time" for dramatic moves and kills. The game also includes a multiplayer option for the first time, and other modes.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (12):
Kids say (19):

Yes, the game is good -- but Max Payne 3 is not recommended for players under 17 years of age for its mature themes and graphic imagery and language. The lengthy single-player campaign -- penned by Dan Houser of Grand Theft Auto fame -- is very well written, has memorable characters and locations, and intense action that requires you to shoot, take cover, and think your way out of situations, too. Max Payne 3 also offers a thrilling multiplayer experience for all three versions of the game, as well as additional modes (like Score Attack and New York Minute) that extend the gameplay further. There is also downloadable content coming soon, too. While not for kids, tweens, or teens, this gritty "film noir"-like game is highly entertaining, beautifully designed, and delivers a lot of bang for the buck.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether this game would be just as much fun without all the mature themes, imagery, and dialogue. Could the game be dialed back to, say, a "Teen" rating instead of "Mature" and be just as entertaining?

  • Families can also talk about the impact of media violence.

Game Details

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