In the game, the player assumes the role of series protagonist Rico Rodríguez who arrives in the fictional nation of Solís to take down The Black Hand, the world's biggest private military.

[4] The game takes place in the fictional nation of Solís, a large open world consisting of different biomes including snowy mountains and deserts.

Rico can travel the game's world using his wingsuit and grappling hook, whose functions are expanded to include the ability to attach hot air balloons and rocket boosters on objects.

The game includes a frontline system in which the rebel forces fight against the Black Hand army at the borders of their territories.

[8] The game is set in a fictional South American country called Solís, which is home to extreme weather conditions.

[4] Rico Rodríguez takes on the Black Hand, the world's most powerful private army run by Gabriela Morales, a newly introduced character.

After a failed attempt at deposing Espinosa and a run-in with his private army, the Black Hand, which is led by Mira's cousin Gabriela Morales, Rico forms an army of his own with Mira, named the 'Army of Chaos', aimed at taking down Project Illapa and ending Espinosa's regime.

As Rico sets out to destroy the four prototype weather cores being tested in Solís, he also meets up with Lanza Morales, Mira's uncle and a scientist who worked on Project Illapa; César Pedrone, a former pilot turned conspiracy theorist; and Tom Sheldon, Rico's old handler at the Agency.

[13] The second DLC, Los Demonios, which sees Rico defending Solís against an invading demonic force, was released on 3 July 2019.

[21][22][23] While the open-world gameplay, controls, graphics and soundtrack were praised, its story, mission design, cutscenes and voice acting were criticized.

[28][29] Square Enix president Yosuke Matsuda also cited the slow sales of Just Cause 4 as a significant reason for the company's low operating income in 2018.