Police Stories Review Summary

Fun co-op and tense top-down tactical shooting with solid graphics are undermined by a bland story, poor AI partners, and rampant co-op crashes and bugs.

Strong Co-op Experience: Many reviewers emphasize that playing in co-op, especially with a friend, is highly enjoyable and strongly recommended. The cooperative mode significantly enhances the fun and engagement of the game.

Engaging Core Gameplay: The core gameplay is frequently described as fun, addictive, and satisfying. Players appreciate the enjoyable mechanics and overall playability.

Great Overall Game: General sentiment is highly positive, with many calling it a great, fantastic, and entertaining game. The base game is considered very good and worth playing.

Tension-Building Music: The music effectively conveys tension and is considered fantastic, captivating, and not over the top. It enhances the game's atmosphere.

Solid Graphics and Atmosphere: Graphics are praised for being beautiful, stylish, and fitting the game perfectly. The visual atmosphere contributes positively to the experience.

AI partner behavior is poor: Many reviewers report that the AI partner is dumb, inconsistent, and often ruins missions. It can stand still, block shots, or act unpredictably.

Story is bland and forgettable: The story is described as average, clichéd, and unmemorable. Some find it generic and chaotically told.

Co-op is unplayable due to crashes: Co-op mode frequently crashes and is buggy, requiring lobby recreation. Online co-op is laggy and unstable.

Game is buggy: The game has many bugs, including critical ones. It is also described as slightly buggy and laggy.

Awful controls: Controls are terrible, especially with a controller. Aiming is slow and difficult without aim assist.

Co-op and solo play: The game supports both solo and cooperative play, with options for online or local co-op with a friend, or solo with an AI partner. Many players highlight the flexibility of playing alone or with another person.

Top-down tactical police shooter: The game is a top-down tactical shooter where players control police officers in tactical operations. It features a pixel art style and focuses on methodical, planning-based gameplay.

AI companion with commands: Players can command an AI partner to perform actions such as breaching doors, throwing flashbangs, and covering angles. The AI has passive and active modes, and can be directed during missions.

Tactical decision-making and planning: The game emphasizes tactical planning, proper equipment use, and split-second decisions on whether to shoot or capture suspects. It is a tactical shooter that requires thought and caution.

Police officer role-play: Players take on the role of a police officer, not a SWAT operator, and must avoid immediate violence. The game simulates police work with tactical decision-making.

General crashes reported: Numerous reports describe crashes occurring in various situations, including after missions, during matches, and at specific points. The game is generally unstable.

Co-op crashes rampant: The game crashes frequently in both local and online co-op, with reports of up to 15 crashes per match. This makes cooperative play nearly unplayable.

Various bugs and glitches: Players encounter many bugs and glitches, ranging from minor to critical, including glitching and per-level issues. These detract from the overall experience.

Frequent crashes during missions: Players report the game crashes very often during and between missions, including multiple crashes on the first mission. This is a widespread and disruptive issue.

Multiplayer performance unplayable: Multiplayer suffers from jank, lag, and frequent crashes, making the mode effectively unplayable. Connection and performance issues are common.

Best Played With Friend: Many players strongly recommend playing this game with a friend or in co-op, noting that solo play is less enjoyable. The experience is described as more fun and immersive when shared with another person.

Worth It On Sale Only: Many reviewers suggest waiting for a discount before buying, stating the game is only worth it at a reduced price. Common advice includes waiting for a sale or buying at 50% off or more.

Not Worth Buying At All: A number of players explicitly warn against purchasing the game at any price, calling it not worth the money. They recommend saving your money instead.

Generally Recommended: Many players highly recommend the game without specific caveats. It is definitely worth playing according to these positive reviews.

Worth Full Price: Some players find the game definitely worth the money, even at full price. They consider it a good purchase despite the cost.

Community fair range: $10.00 - $15.00.

Game completion: 7.0h.

Story completion: 5.0h.

Session length: 3.0h.

Endgame: 30.0h.

Police Stories is best in human co-op, but many players report a punishing, repetitive early phase before unlocking gear and mastering the tactical loop.

Friction: Steep learning curve and repeated trial-and-error failures; Early-game lack of gadgets makes encounters punishing; Incompetent AI partner in single-player; Co-op crashes, disconnects, and lobby bugs; Repetitive missions and random enemy placement; Controller aiming and local co-op without split screen.

Co-op Tactical Communicator: Slow, methodical room clearing while covering angles and planning together. Motivation: Shared tactical coordination and communication with a friend. Stance: buy.

Hardcore Tactical Shooter Veteran: Slow, methodical, restart-heavy play that emphasizes non-lethal force and score optimization. Motivation: Challenging tactical authenticity and mastering difficult missions. Stance: sale.

Solo Player Frustrated by AI Partner: Solo play, often ignoring or micromanaging the AI partner and handling objectives alone. Motivation: To enjoy tactical gameplay solo without needing a co-op partner. Stance: no buy.

Across the returned Windows 8-11GB VRAM cohort, the available evidence is limited but points to a positive experience, with the only included review recommending the game and mentioning no performance problems.

Windows 8-11GB VRAM: positive. Only one review snippet is included; it is recommended and reports no technical performance issues, though its hardware tag lists 12GB VRAM.

Steam Deck: Multiple users across languages report frequent crashes mid-match and after level completion, making the Steam Deck experience unstable. Additionally, some users cannot use the Steam Deck gamepad and require the on-screen keyboard, indicating input barriers. While a few users report the game runs well, the frequent crashes dominate and push the experience into the Broken range.

Frequent Hotline Miami comparisons: Many reviewers compare the game to Hotline Miami, often noting slower tactical pace. Common in Clusters 1, 4, 5, and 13.

Compared to Ready or Not: Reviewers compare the game to Ready or Not, often as a 2D or simplified version. See Clusters 5, 7, 14, and 25.

DLC available: The game has DLC content separate from the main game. Clusters 3 and 2 both mention DLC.

Short campaign length: Reviewers frequently mention the campaign is short, typically around 4-6 hours. See Clusters 8, 18, 19, 22, and 30.

Sequel in development: A sequel titled Police Stories 2 is in development, and a second part is anticipated. Clusters 16, 17, 21, and 31 indicate this.