Info about Responding:

Official game description:
What is Responding?
Responding is an upcoming open-world Emergency Services simulator sandbox that offers a realistic and in-depth Police, Fire, and EMS experience that is set in a fictional version of New York State.
In the world of Responding, you, as the player, have complete freedom to engage in pursuits, traffic stops, shootouts, 4th alarm box fires, and much more. Work together with friends or intelligent AI to keep the city and upstate suburbs safe and peaceful.
Features
Realistic and progressive scene's
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Scene management plays a big role with any incident, and it's not just up to you to manage the scene, AI will take on any roles to resolve the situation, keep the scene safe or to collect evidence and witnesses statements.
Action
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Besides regular traffic stops and wellness checks Responding offers unprecedented action within emergency services simulators, with mechanics seen in your favourite tactical shooters such as tactical reloads, holding your breath, ammo management and much more.
Customization
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We like customization and we know you do, we desire to bring this to various aspects of Responding, beginning with the vehicles. From the equipment you store in your trunks to the placement of antennas on the roof. And it doesn't stop there!
Pull Over Vehicles
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Seamlessly pull over any vehicle that you've seen breaking the law, or even when none is broken at all. Question the driver for his behavior and decide if the driver deserves a ticket, warning or a pass, but do not be surprised if the vehicle or the driver suddenly attempt to evade you and the law.
Emergency Lighting
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Bringing the most in depth and realistic emergency lighting system, with customization that allows you to create unique lighting patterns by setting the on and off time for each lighting module. And it doesn't stop there, create 3 presets to switch between in real-time and set the desired text to display on your message board!
Discord
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Become part of our active community on discord, this is the place to discuss the future of Responding and to voice your opinion on the desires for the ultimate emergency simulator!

Release date: Mar 31, 2026

Categories: Open-World Exploration, Police Simulation, Sandbox Creation, Realistic Simulation, Vehicle Customization, Cooperative Multiplayer, Emergency Simulation, First-Person Perspective

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 10; verdict: Fair (Base Price Only); summary: All user reviews complain about the game being overpriced for its current state, buggy, and lacking updates. There is no evidence of microtransactions, pay-to-win, gacha, or any in-game purchases. The complaints are strictly about the base purchase price and game quality, which do not constitute predatory monetization.
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works well with minor SteamOS adjustments; summary: Based on one review, the game runs on SteamOS/Linux with only minor tuning to controls and performance. The user considers the issue trivial and fixable, so no major compatibility barriers are evident.
- Steam Deck: score 85; verdict: Broken - Unplayable without major workarounds; summary: The game is fundamentally broken on Steam Deck due to the lack of controller support, frequent crashes, unpolished controls, missing tutorials, and numerous visual bugs. Players cannot achieve a functional experience without extensive tinkering or external input devices.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: The game runs poorly on most Windows hardware, with severe bugs and optimization issues on lower VRAM tiers; only high-end (16GB+ VRAM) users report mostly playable performance, though still with caveats.
  - Sample size: 94 (21% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM (negative, 37 reports): Frequent bugs, lag, stuttering, and crashes dominate reports, making the game largely unplayable for this hardware tier.
  - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (negative, 25 reports): Most players report severe optimization issues, terrain loading bugs, glitches, and lag spikes, with only isolated cases of smooth performance.
  - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (negative, 20 reports): The sole available report describes poor optimization, a small map, and frequent bugs.
  - Windows 16GB+ VRAM (positive, 9 reports): Performance is mostly playable (100 FPS reported), though optimization complaints and non-performance bugs persist.
  - Caveats: 94 of 444 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: The community consistently states the game is overpriced at its current price ($25-$35). Many suggest waiting for a significant discount (75% off, implying ~$8.75) or that a fair price would be around $10-$15 based on comparisons to other early access titles. The evidence shows even the lowest current price of $25 is considered not worth it, indicating a fair base-game price range below that threshold.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence indicates that the typical play session is very short due to game-breaking bugs. Multiple reviews report not being able to play longer than 30 minutes without a crash, and even in 15 total hours no continuous hour-long session was possible. Players often refund within minutes or abandon after 10–30 minutes. I conservatively infer a session length of about 0.5 hours (30 minutes), though many sessions are even shorter. No data supports game completion, story completion, or endgame playtime because the game is early access and unfinished.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Players find the game unenjoyable from the start due to the absence of a tutorial, unclear progression, and pervasive bugs, with no reliable moment where it becomes fun.
  - Stance: Never clicks
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: no tutorial or onboarding; unclear goals and navigation; many bugs and glitches; repetitive and unfinished calls; poor controls and key binding issues; unresponsive AI
  - Unlock drivers: bug fixes and polish; addition of a tutorial system; implementation of multiplayer; more satisfying progression
  - Conditions: if the game receives future updates and patches; if a proper tutorial system is added; if multiplayer is implemented; if bugs are fixed; if progression becomes more satisfying
- Player Archetypes:
  - Solo Dev Supporter (sale)
    - Motivation: To support a solo developer and be part of an early access project that shows promise.
    - Playstyle: Patient and forgiving; tolerates bugs and slow updates while focusing on the developer's commitment and the game's potential.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Disappointed Sim Veteran (no buy)
    - Motivation: To find a polished, complete police simulation that matches the quality of previous titles like LSPDFR.
    - Playstyle: Expects a stable, feature-rich experience; compares directly to established police sim mods and games.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: LSPDFR; EmergeNYC
  - Enthusiastic Police Sim Fan (buy)
    - Motivation: To experience a dedicated police simulation that fills a long-standing niche desire.
    - Playstyle: Immersive and forgiving; focuses on fulfilling the police roleplay fantasy despite technical issues.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- High potential and foundation (weight 0.45): The game demonstrates strong potential and a solid foundation, with players consistently acknowledging its promising vision, good base, and positive trajectory. It is seen as an entertaining experience that is likely to improve over time.
- Top police sim (weight 0.21): Praised as the best police game currently available, it surpasses competitors like Flashing Lights and Police Simulator Patrol Officers, with a strong concept for a standalone police sim. Players view it as a fulfilling and dominating entry in the genre.
- Great concept and visuals (weight 0.17): Players appreciate the game's concept, vision, and overall look, finding the idea genuinely interesting and compelling. The aesthetic and design contribute to its appeal.
- Excellent driving and physics (weight 0.16): Driving and vehicle physics are highly praised, described as smooth, fun, and reminiscent of GTA 4 LCPDFR. The car physics feel great and add to the enjoyment.
- Good early access experience (weight 0.1): Despite being in early access, the game is considered pretty good and fun to play, with players enjoying their experience so far. It shows promise for the development phase.
- Comprehensive CAD system (weight 0.06): The CAD system is highlighted as comprehensive, in-depth, interactive, and awesome, providing a detailed and engaging feature for players. This adds significant depth to the gameplay.

Common complaints:
- Too many bugs (weight 0.37): Numerous bugs, glitches, and issues are present in the game, significantly harming the experience. Players report both major and minor bugs that require fixing.
- Overpriced for state (weight 0.36): The price (e.g., $25-$35, 35 euros) is considered too high for the current state, making the game feel like a waste of money. Many suggest a lower price or waiting for a sale.
- Unfinished early access (weight 0.32): The game is described as very early alpha, raw, and unfinished, not suitable for purchase or release. Players feel it needs much more work before being sold.
- Poor controls (weight 0.16): Controls are described as bad, janky, tedious, and frustrating. Movement and handling lack fluidity, making the game difficult to play.
- No tutorial provided (weight 0.14): There is no tutorial or guidance, leaving players confused about objectives and mechanics. Menus are also non-intuitive.
- Not worth buying yet (weight 0.14): In its current state, the game is not recommended for purchase. Players advise waiting for fixes and more content before buying.
- Lacks content (weight 0.11): The game currently offers very little content, feeling barebones and lacking substantial gameplay elements. Players expect more to do.
- Poor gameplay (weight 0.08): The overall gameplay is considered poor, mediocre, or disappointing. Players express dissatisfaction with the core game experience.
- Broken traffic systems (weight 0.08): Traffic stops and vehicle behavior are buggy, with cars not responding correctly, glitching, or behaving erratically. This affects core gameplay.

Gameplay feedback:
- Realistic police sandbox (weight 0.29): The game is a police simulation sandbox focused on realism, allowing free-roam patrol and response to calls. It is heavily inspired by LSPDFR and aims for a standalone experience.
- Rich interaction details (weight 0.23): Gameplay includes many interactive details: branching callouts, options to warn or cite suspects, apartment interactions (knock, kick door), evidence bags, and interaction points in the car. Reports are optional.
- Dynamic callout system (weight 0.23): The game features a dispatch call system with around 5-6 call types that spawn dynamically. AI units may handle calls if the player ignores them, creating a living world.
- Weighty driving physics (weight 0.21): Driving physics are weighty and reminiscent of GTA4, with a lifelike traffic simulation. However, NPC drivers may go amok and cause frequent traffic jams.
- Detailed in-car computer (weight 0.16): An in-depth in-car computer system (MDC/CAD) allows players to run warrants, write tickets and citations, create incident reports, and fill out full reports. It is a key realistic feature.
- Ticket and citation system (weight 0.07): Writing tickets, inputting addresses, and seizing weapons are part of the police workflow, integrated with the CAD system.
- Key sequence weapon draw (weight 0.06): Weapon draw is complex (e.g., key sequence 2 then H) and includes a realistic hand rest. However, weapons are stated as not usable currently.
- Small New York map (weight 0.06): The game is set in New York City but the map is small, ending after only a few blocks. This limits exploration.
- AI behavior quirks (weight 0.06): AI behavior includes cops shooting and drivers circling, leading to chaotic traffic jams and NPC drivers going amok.
- Small old-fashioned map (weight 0.05): The map is small and old-fashioned in size, with only a few blocks available, which may limit long-term interest.
- AI handles calls proactively (weight 0.05): AI units can handle calls without the player, sometimes completing them before the player arrives, which can feel unengaging.
- Crime scene equipment (weight 0.04): Crime scene tape and evidence bags are available as items in the car trunk, adding to immersion.
- Learning curve for MDT (weight 0.04): The MDT system has a learning curve, and the onboarding process helps players understand the complex mechanics.
- Limited call variety (weight 0.04): Currently there are only 3 types of calls and about 5-6 pre-made callouts, indicating limited variety.
- Pre-alpha state (weight 0.03): The game is in pre-alpha or early access, so many features are still in development.
- Appearance customization (weight 0.02): Players can customize their cop's appearance, supporting diversity. This is a positive feature for roleplay.
- Interior building access (weight 0.02): Players can walk inside buildings, which enhances realism and exploration.
- No objective waypoint (weight 0.02): The game lacks waypoints or directional travel guides to objectives, requiring players to rely on the CAD map and street names.
- Roleplay elements like FiveM (weight 0.02): The game includes roleplay elements similar to FiveM, appealing to players who enjoy immersive roleplay.
- Pedestrian running over (weight 0.02): Running over pedestrians is possible, but it may not be a core intended gameplay mechanic.

Performance notes:
- Frequent and sudden crashes (weight 0.21): Multiple reports describe frequent crashes, often within minutes of starting the game or after specific events like a shoot out call. Crashes can require a full reboot or occur without warning.
- Persistent stuttering and lag (weight 0.2): Players experience stuttering, frame drops, lag spikes, and choppy frame rates even on high-end hardware or at low settings. The game often fails to run smoothly regardless of configuration.
- Graphics pop-in and rendering bugs (weight 0.19): Players report pop-in of buildings, vehicles, foliage, and lighting, as well as graphical glitches like the map disappearing into a void. Distant terrain often fails to load properly.
- Terrible overall optimization (weight 0.16): Optimization is widely criticized as terrible or disastrous, with rough performance and stability. Many feel the game needs significant optimization improvements.
- Mixed performance reports (weight 0.15): A minority reports that the game runs well, smoothly, and is well optimized, with high frame rates on decent hardware. Some note recent improvements in stability.
- Unplayable on low-end hardware (weight 0.11): The game lags and performs poorly on lower-end PCs, with lag persisting even at the lowest settings. Foliage specifically causes lag and cannot be turned off.
- General sluggishness and long loads (weight 0.06): Players note that processing and actions feel sluggish, loading times are long, and map/lighting loading is poorly optimized.
- Cannot stream game (weight 0.02): One reviewer reports they cannot stream the game, likely due to performance or stability issues.
- Occasional minor glitches (weight 0.02): A single report notes an occasional graphical glitch without further detail.

Recommendations:
- Not recommended currently (weight 0.23): The majority of players express strong disapproval and advise against purchasing the game in its current state. They cite fundamental issues with polish, content, and value.
- Wait for improvements (weight 0.21): A significant number of users advise waiting for future updates, bug fixes, or a general improvement before considering a purchase. They think the game could improve over time.
- For police sim fans (weight 0.14): A niche group of fans who love police or emergency service simulators see potential in the game despite its flaws. They recommend it specifically for dedicated genre enthusiasts.
- Buy to support devs (weight 0.13): Some reviews suggest buying solely to support the developers financially, especially for those who appreciate the genre and are patient with early access bugs. Purchase is framed as investment.
- LSPDFR is superior (weight 0.13): Multiple comparisons highlight that the more established LSPDFR mod for GTA V or Police Simulator: Patrol Officers offers a better experience. This game is seen as an inferior replacement.
- Game feels like scam (weight 0.1): Harsh critics label the game a 'rip-off' or 'scam,' pointing to a lack of updates and overall unplayability. These reviews are strongly negative and distrustful.
- Unplayable with bugs (weight 0.08): A subset of players report the game as unplayable due to bugs or claim it is not ready for early access. They advise avoiding it entirely until substantial fixes arrive.
- Would not repurchase (weight 0.06): Some users say they would not repurchase or would actively avoid buying at all given the current state and price. Their stance is firm against any current purchase.
- Keep your money (weight 0.06): A small group advises holding onto money or considering a refund if the game does not improve. They suggest being cautious rather than committing funds now.
- Consider refund (weight 0.04): Some players are seeking refunds, indicating that the game failed to meet even basic expectations. This emphasizes severe dissatisfaction beyond a simple 'not recommended'.
- Waste of time (weight 0.04): A couple of reviewers feel the game is an outright waste of time, not just money. This reflects a very low regard for the current gameplay experience.
- Promising if updates come (weight 0.04): A few optimistic early access users believe the game has great potential in the future, even if it is not worth the current price. They view it as a long-term investment.
- Will check back later (weight 0.03): Some reviewers plan to revisit their evaluation after substantial updates, leaving a positive note for the future. This indicates a hope that the game will mature.
- Only for supporter purchase (weight 0.03): A final small set of reviews reiterate that buying is only for those who want to support development, not for immediate enjoyment. They warn about the buggy state.

Other player notes:
- Game is very early alpha (weight 0.46): The overwhelming majority of feedback states the game is in very early access or pre-alpha, with an unfinished and buggy state that does not meet expectations for a released title. Reviewers acknowledge the early development status but note significant missing content and polish.
- Compared unfavorably to similar games (weight 0.32): Frequent comparisons to other police simulation games (Police Simulator: Patrol Officers, Flashing Lights, LSPDFR mod for GTA V, FiveM RP) and the LCPDFR mod for GTA IV, often unfavorably towards this game's current polish and content. Many consider the free LSPDFR mod a better or more complete experience.
- Price too high for current state (weight 0.17): The price (around $24-$35, or a collector's edition at nearly $100) is considered too high for the current unfinished and buggy state. Some note the price was reduced after release, but it remains a common complaint.
- Developer communicates actively and fixes bugs (weight 0.16): Reviewers frequently mention active developer communication through Discord, with responsive bug fixing and community feedback processing. This positive engagement is a noted strength despite current game shortcomings.
- Made by solo developer (weight 0.1): Multiple reviewers note that the game is developed by a single person, which is used to explain the limited content and bugs. This is seen as both a constraint and a reason for cautious hope.
- Players requested refunds early (weight 0.09): Some players refunded the game within the first hour, while others requested refunds after short play sessions, indicating dissatisfaction with the state of the game at purchase.
- Has good potential for future (weight 0.07): Despite current issues, many reviewers see good potential and are excited for future development, indicating a base of hopeful players willing to wait for improvements.
- Needs more content and polish (weight 0.07): The game requires more content, bug fixes, and overall polish. Reviewers stress that updates and patches are urgently needed to bring the game to an acceptable state.
- Game released prematurely (weight 0.07): Multiple reviewers feel the game was released prematurely, possibly due to community pressure or financial reasons, before it was ready for public access.
- Considered abandoned or unplayable (weight 0.04): A few reviewers label the game an abandoned early access title or consider it unplayable, suggesting a lack of confidence in future development.
- No tutorial or manual available (weight 0.04): The game lacks a tutorial or manual, making it difficult for players to learn the basics without external help.
- Incomplete Chinese localization (weight 0.04): Chinese localization is incomplete, with only the main menu translated, which can deter players from that region.
- Multiplayer planned but not ready (weight 0.04): Multiplayer mode is planned but not yet implemented, with some reviewers expressing hopes for this feature.
- Store videos misrepresent gameplay (weight 0.04): Promotional videos on the store page and YouTube do not match the actual gameplay, leading to misleading expectations.
- Resembles abandoned EmergeNYC (weight 0.04): The game's assets and design closely resemble the abandoned game EmergeNYC (2024), raising concerns about originality or continuity.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.29): Players are overwhelmingly frustrated by a game that is riddled with bugs, glitches, and technical issues, making it largely unplayable. Common complaints include being stuck in the environment, crashes, poor controls and keybindings, broken AI, missing features like a tutorial, and a high price for an unfinished product.
- Disappointment (weight 0.19): Players feel a deep sense of disappointment because the game was released in an unfinished, buggy state despite showing great promise and potential. The lack of content, poor optimization, high price point for the current quality, and failure to meet expectations after a long development period are frequently cited reasons for this disappointment.
- Hope (weight 0.12): Despite its flaws, players express hope for the game's future, believing it has strong potential to become an excellent police simulator. This optimism is rooted in the game's unique concept, its detailed features, and the hope that continued developer support and updates will fix the many issues and fulfill its promise.
- Excitement (weight 0.07): Players are excited by the game's realistic driving physics, immersive details like a CAD system and evidence bags, and the potential for a comprehensive emergency services simulator. The core concepts and the anticipation of future features and modding community drive this excitement.
- Anger (weight 0.04): Players express anger at the game's unplayable buggy state, deceptive marketing, and high price point, which feels like a scam. The developer's perceived ignoring of feedback and the sense of being misled about the game's readiness for early access are major sources of this anger.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.03): Some players are satisfied with the game's realistic graphics, smooth core gameplay, and the developer's active communication and listening to the community. The interactive CAD system, good driving physics, and the game's potential for learning police procedures contribute to this satisfaction, especially for early supporters at a reasonable price.
- Optimism (weight 0.03): Players feel optimistic due to the developer's active efforts in fixing bugs and the game's strong core concepts and potential. The belief that it will improve significantly with updates and become a top simulation game fuels this cautious optimism.
- Hopeful (weight 0.03): A hopeful outlook is shared by players who acknowledge the current bugs but trust in the developer's ability to improve the game. They see great potential and believe that constant updates and feedback incorporation will lead to an immersive and polished simulation.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.02): Players find enjoyment in the game's unique open-world police experience, including fun driving mechanics, writing tickets, and the immersive use of the CAD system. The ability to have fun despite bugs and the active development direction also contribute to a positive experience.
- Anticipation (weight 0.02): Players look forward to future updates, particularly the addition of other roles like EMS and FD, and a finished product. The game is seen as promising but in need of more content and polish, leading to a state of patient waiting.
- Love (weight 0.02): Players love the game for its authentic NYPD gameplay, detailed computer system, natural controls, and immersive police experience. Despite bugs, the core concept and execution of a realistic police simulator resonate strongly with enthusiasts.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the developers' hard work, especially their quick response to bug reports and late-night fixes. The game's beautiful graphics and impressive vehicle physics are also recognized, along with the team's listening to community feedback.
- Concern (weight 0.01): Concern arises from the high price compared to the current content and stability, the fear that negative reviews might kill the game, and worries about long development pauses without updates. Specific gameplay issues like dangerous keybindings also fuel this concern.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Players are annoyed by specific technical issues like non-functioning hotkeys, incomplete language translations, screen brightness problems, and stuttering frame drops. These minor but persistent issues hinder the experience.
- Curiosity (weight 0.01): Players express curiosity about the game's future progression and where the development will lead. They are interested in seeing how the game evolves and if it will receive the community support and updates it needs to thrive.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom sets in due to the limited number of pre-made callouts and repetitive radio chatter. Many glitches and non-working features also make the game feel shallow and unengaging quickly.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Players find amusement in the game's bizarre glitches, such as cars flying through the sky, characters falling through the map, and disappearing heads. These unintentionally funny moments provide some entertainment despite the bugs.
- Outrage (weight 0.01): Outrage is expressed at the game's unfinished state and high price, which is considered disproportionate to what is offered. The feeling of being misled by promotional material contributes to this strong negative reaction.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): The lack of a tutorial and unclear objectives leave players confused about the game's mechanics and what to do. Without proper guidance, the game feels inaccessible and difficult to play.
- Betrayal (weight 0.01): Players feel betrayed by the price drop shortly after purchase and by being banned from the official Discord despite paying for premium perks like the Deluxe edition. This leads to a strong sense of having been exploited.}