PAYDAY 2 vs PAYDAY 3
Which one is worth buying now, with today's prices and each game's recommendation.
PAYDAY 2 wins 12 of 15 head-to-head metrics. PAYDAY 2 is $9.10 cheaper.
Metric by metric
The winner of each row gets a ✓. No row weighs more than another; the recommendation is calculated separately.
| Metric | PAYDAY 2 | PAYDAY 3 |
|---|---|---|
| GameValio scoreRecommendation: Worth It × Wait for Sale | 70 | 51 |
| Quality | 86 | 52 |
| Value | 58 | 58 |
| Popularity | 54 | 38 |
| Current Best Price (USD) | $4.29 | $13.39 |
| Steam Review Score | 89.9% positive | 46% positive |
| Average Concurrent Players (14 days) | 22.3K | 628 |
Where to buy
The 3 cheapest stores for each game
Side by side over time
PAYDAY 2PAYDAY 3
Details and requirements
| Item | PAYDAY 2 | PAYDAY 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | August 13, 2013 | September 21, 2023 |
| Developers | OVERKILL - a Starbreeze Studio., Sidetrack Games | Starbreeze Studios |
| Publishers | Starbreeze Entertainment | Starbreeze Entertainment |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| OS (minimum) | Windows 11 | Windows 11 |
| Processor (minimum) | 2.3 GHz Intel Quad Core 64-bit Processor | Intel Core i7-9700K |
| Memory (minimum) | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics (minimum) | NVIDIA & AMD (2GB VRAM) | Nvidia GTX 1080 (8GB) or AMD RX VEGA 56 |
| DirectX (minimum) | Version 11 | Version 12 |
| Storage (minimum) | 32 GB available space | 45 GB available space |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: PAYDAY 2 or PAYDAY 3?
PAYDAY 2 won the comparison against PAYDAY 3 based on the head-to-head metric breakdown. Check the metrics table above for a full side-by-side analysis.
How is the comparison calculated?
The comparison winner is determined objectively by counting which game wins more individual metrics in the head-to-head table. No weighting is applied. The GameValio Recommendation shown separately is our own suggestion for each game, based on a weighted score that combines quality (reviews), popularity (player counts), and affordability (price vs value) into a score out of 100. These are two different things: the comparison is objective, the recommendation is GameValio's opinion.
Is PAYDAY 2 worth buying over PAYDAY 3?
Based on the metrics, PAYDAY 2 won the direct comparison. However, also check the GameValio Recommendation for each game and the price comparison table to make the most informed purchase decision.
Which game has better player reviews?
Review score trends and volume over time are shown in the charts section above. The game with consistently higher positive ratios has stronger community reception.
Which game offers better value for money?
The affordability score and price comparison table above highlight the best deals. Too close to call currently scores better on value relative to its quality and price.
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Analysis updated: Oct 24, 2026, 02:02 PM UTC