Crime Simulator
Last updated: 2025-06-19
- Engaging co-op gameplay with progression.
- Roguelite crime simulator with quota system.
- Generally smooth, optimized performance.
- Numerous bugs and poor optimization.
- Unoriginal, inferior to 'Thief Simulator'.
- Restrictive time limits/quota system.
Verdict
Mixed
Summary
Positive 65% · Negative 35%. Score: 35 / 100
Positives:
- Many reviewers highlight the fun and engaging gameplay, especially when playing with friends in co-op. The game's design encourages teamwork and offers a rewarding experience whether playing solo or with a group.
- Reviewers appreciate the game's progression system, base upgrades, and unlockable abilities. These elements provide a sense of accomplishment and keep players motivated to continue playing and improving their character's skills and equipment.
- Reviewers express excitement for future updates and content. They see the game as having potential, especially considering it was developed by a single person.
- The developers are actively addressing player issues and implementing updates based on community feedback. This responsiveness is a positive sign for the game's future development.
- The game offers a range of difficulty levels, making it accessible to both casual players and those seeking a challenge. The elastic difficulty and roguelite elements add to the game's replayability.
Negatives:
- Players report numerous bugs, crashes, and optimization issues that severely impact gameplay. These technical problems range from disconnections and black screens to frame rate drops and clunky UI. The prevalence of these issues makes the game feel unfinished and frustrating to play.
- The game is frequently compared unfavorably to 'Thief Simulator,' with reviewers citing a lack of originality, depth, and features. Many feel it's a simplified or inferior version, missing key elements like NPC routines and open-world exploration. This point reflects a significant disappointment in the game's design and execution.
- The game's time limits and quota systems are widely criticized for adding unnecessary pressure and limiting player freedom. Reviewers feel rushed and unable to explore or enjoy the game at their own pace. This mechanic detracts from the fun of stealing and completing objectives.
- NPC behavior is frequently described as buggy, inconsistent, and unrealistic. Issues include NPCs spotting players through walls, exhibiting illogical reactions, and having overly sensitive detection ranges. These AI flaws detract from the immersion and challenge of the game.
- High item prices, limited inventory space, and tool durability issues create a frustrating gameplay loop. Players struggle to afford necessary items and frequently have to return to their truck due to limited inventory. The lack of tool upgrades and the cost of replacing broken items contribute to a sense of grind.
Gameplay:
- The game combines elements of a thief simulator with roguelite mechanics, tasking players with stealing items to meet quotas within a 3-day time limit. Failing to meet the quota results in a partial restart, retaining some progress. This is similar to games like Lethal Company and REPO, but without a full progress reset upon failure.
- The game features a skill system and permanent progression. Players can unlock and upgrade skills, and while dying results in the loss of items, character progress and skills are retained, providing a sense of advancement between runs.
- The game features multiple explorable areas, including cities and large town blocks, where players can freely burgle properties. These properties are populated with tenants, patrols, and security cameras, adding complexity to the heists.
- The game features specific locations with unique elements, such as a robbery mode unlocked by stealing a plan, tripwire traps in certain areas, and increased security in previously discovered houses. These details add depth and challenge to the gameplay.
- Furniture acts as a metaprogressive element, persisting between runs and providing additional attributes. These attributes include benefits like increased HP and stamina from beds, and bonus XP from bookshelves, enhancing character progression.
Performance:
- Many players report the game runs smoothly and is well-optimized, even on high settings. Some players specifically mention consistent FPS with high-end systems, while others simply state that performance is generally good. This suggests a stable and enjoyable experience for many users.
- Some players have encountered specific bugs that significantly impact gameplay, such as unintended teleportation. These types of bugs can be frustrating and detract from the overall experience.
- The game's graphics are considered average for its genre, with decent character models. This suggests the visuals are adequate but not particularly impressive or cutting-edge.
- The game includes FSR 3.1, a feature that aims to improve performance. However, some users feel the sharpness could be improved, indicating a need for further refinement of this feature.
Recommendations:
- Some reviewers directly compare the game to the Thief Simulator series, with some preferring the older titles. This comparison influences their overall assessment of the game's quality and enjoyment.
- Many reviewers find the game enjoyable, especially for co-op play and fans of the genre. Some suggest it's worth the price, while others recommend waiting for bug fixes or comparing it to similar titles like Thief Simulator. There is a lot of conflicting information, so the importance is reduced.
- Several reviewers report significant technical issues, including poor performance and bugs, with some finding the game unplayable even on high-end PCs. This severely impacts the player experience and should be addressed.
- Some reviewers are urging the community to be patient and not overly critical, expressing belief in the developer's ability to improve the game. This point shows signs of review bombing, so the importance is reduced.
- Reviewers express interest in future content updates, including new maps, vehicle theft mechanics, and themed DLC locations. This suggests a desire for expanded gameplay options and replayability.
Miscellaneous:
- The reviewer acknowledges receiving a review copy and supporting the solo developer. While transparency is good, these points don't offer specific feedback on the game itself.
- Characters frequently repeat voice lines, such as "Get the hell outta here !", "You're no match for me!", "Where are my pills?", "I need a cat", and "Stay away from me!". This can become repetitive and annoying for players.
- A friend frequently blocks the reviewer's path in the game. This suggests potential issues with player collision or level design that can hinder movement and create frustration.
- The demo only showcases the initial missions, implying that the full game contains a significant amount of additional content. This suggests that players should not base their entire opinion of the game solely on the demo experience.
- The game has some interesting ideas, but this statement is too vague to be useful. It lacks specific examples or details about what makes these ideas interesting or how they are implemented.
