Info about Contraband Police:

Official game description:
The year is 1981, and as a young officer trainee, you are assigned to work at a border post in the mountainous region of Karikatka. Entry into the Acarist People's Republic is strictly regulated by the party and your every move is monitored! The situation at the border escalates when your comrade is killed during one of the interventions...
**Document control**  
Every visitor must have a set of valid documents. Even the slightest discrepancy means refusal of entry. Over time, the number of documents will increase and errors will be more difficult to detect.
**Smuggling detection**  
Our intelligence regularly provides information about suspicious drivers. Search their vehicles using a UV flashlight and then use the appropriate tools to extract the smuggled goods. No amount of contraband should cross the border!
**Shootouts**  
In some situations you will be forced to use firearms. Your station is a constant target for Oberankov's gang attacks, and every away mission carries the risk of a clash with the enemy.
**Police chases**  
Desperate smugglers may attempt to escape from the control zone. It is your duty to stop and arrest them! Buy and upgrade police cars to improve the effectiveness of your pursuit.
**Post management**  
Upgrade your police station to increase its defenses and improve subsequent inspections. However, keep in mind the rising cost of maintaining your station. Successful inspections, foiled smuggling and successful interventions are a few ways to earn cash.
**Special assignments**  
Always be ready to intervene in an emergency. Solve crime puzzles, support your comrades and thwart the Blood Fist rebels. Make decisions that will determine the future of Acaristan.

Release date: 8 Mar, 2023

Categories: Job Simulation, Deductive Reasoning Puzzle, First-Person Shooter, Driving Simulation, Base Building, Resource Management, Single-player Story, Open-World Exploration


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


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:
- Highly Fun & Addictive Gameplay (weight 0.97): Players overwhelmingly find the game to be fun, engaging, and highly addictive, offering significant replay value and a surprising amount of depth for its genre. Many highlight its ability to provide hours of entertainment and stress relief.
- Immersive 80s Eastern Bloc Atmosphere (weight 0.26): The game excels in creating an immersive and authentic 1980s Eastern Bloc atmosphere, accurately portraying the daily life and tension of a border guard. Players appreciate the detailed setting, realistic procedures, and historical context.
- Engaging Story & Moral Choices (weight 0.2): The game features a compelling and well-written story campaign with meaningful moral choices that impact the narrative and offer significant replayability through branching paths and multiple endings. Players are surprised by the depth of the plot for a simulation game.
- Papers, Please Spiritual Successor (weight 0.17): The game is frequently compared to 'Papers, Please,' with many players considering it a superior 3D evolution. It expands on the document inspection mechanics by adding more action, open-world elements, and deeper gameplay.
- Satisfying Inspection & Management (weight 0.15): The core inspection and management mechanics, particularly in 'Inspector Mode,' are highly praised for being fun, addictive, and offering deep gameplay. Players enjoy the satisfaction of thorough inspections, finding contraband, and upgrading their border post.
- Diverse Gameplay & Freedom (weight 0.12): Beyond core inspections, the game offers diverse gameplay elements including driving, shootouts, base defense, and various side missions, providing significant variety and freedom of action. This prevents monotony and keeps players engaged.
- Top-Tier Police/Border Simulator (weight 0.09): Many players consider this game to be one of the best, if not the best, police or border patrol simulators they have ever played. It offers a unique and refreshing take on the simulation genre, often exceeding expectations.
- Player Agency & Dark Humor (weight 0.08): Players enjoy the freedom to engage in morally ambiguous actions, such as taking bribes, killing fleeing suspects, or even harming innocent characters. This aspect adds a layer of dark humor and player agency.
- Effective Graphics & Performance (weight 0.06): The game's graphics are generally considered good and effective, with a fitting old-school or gritty art style that enhances the atmosphere. Performance is also noted as decent, even on lower-end systems.
- Unique & Unpredictable Experience (weight 0.04): The game stands out for its unique and unpredictable nature, offering a fresh experience compared to other titles. It constantly introduces new challenges and absurd situations, keeping gameplay dynamic and interesting.

Common complaints:
- Major technical issues and bugs (weight 0.35): Players frequently report severe technical issues including persistent bugs, frequent crashes, and poor optimization, leading to an unplayable or frustrating experience even on high-end systems. This significantly impacts gameplay and progression.
- Repetitive and shallow content (weight 0.25): The game's content, including its story, missions, and overall gameplay loop, is often described as repetitive, bland, and lacking depth. This leads to boredom and a feeling of monotony after a short period of play.
- Poor driving mechanics (weight 0.12): Driving mechanics are consistently criticized for being clunky, unresponsive, and frustrating. This includes poor car handling, difficult steering, and issues during chases, making vehicle-based gameplay a significant drawback.
- Weak combat and AI (weight 0.09): Combat encounters are frequently described as simplistic, tedious, and unpolished, with basic enemy AI and clunky gunplay. This detracts from the action sequences and overall gameplay experience.
- Frustrating road ambushes (weight 0.07): Road ambushes and blocked paths are a source of frustration, becoming repetitive and predictable. These events often lead to crashes, softlocks, or simply waste player time without adding meaningful challenge.
- Lack of female characters (weight 0.04): The game has been criticized for its lack of female characters and the oversexualization or stereotypical portrayal of women, contributing to a less immersive and diverse world.
- Limited endgame progression (weight 0.04): The endgame of Inspector mode and overall progression suffer from a lack of meaningful activities or things to spend money on once upgrades are maxed, leading to a quick loss of motivation.
- Challenging achievement hunting (weight 0.04): Achieving 100% completion is difficult and grindy, often requiring multiple playthroughs or relying on random events, which can be frustrating for achievement hunters.
- Problematic save system (weight 0.04): The save system is a major point of frustration, with players reporting issues like lost progress, corrupted save files, and the lack of a manual save option, forcing restarts and diminishing enjoyment.
- Overpriced for content (weight 0.03): Many players feel the game is overpriced for the content and quality it offers, suggesting it is only worth purchasing at a significant discount.
- Steep learning curve (weight 0.03): New players may find the game confusing and difficult to learn due to complex rules and insufficient in-game explanations for mechanics and mistakes.

Gameplay feedback:
- Detailed Border Inspection Gameplay (weight 0.28): The core gameplay loop involves meticulous inspection of documents and vehicles at a border checkpoint. Players must identify discrepancies, contraband, and illegal items, similar to 'Papers, Please' but with added 3D elements and vehicle searches.
- Action-Oriented Police Activities (weight 0.24): Beyond inspections, the game incorporates significant action elements including car chases, FPS shootouts, and defending against attacks. Players engage in combat, pursue criminals, and participate in various police-related activities.
- Extensive Story and Game Modes (weight 0.16): The game offers a substantial story campaign, typically lasting 10-15 hours, alongside multiple other game modes like 'Inspector' (endless) and 'Challenge' mode, providing varied content and replayability.
- Base and Equipment Upgrades (weight 0.07): The game features a robust upgrade system for the border outpost, allowing players to invest in facilities, equipment, and personnel. This management aspect is crucial for progression and efficiency.
- Demanding Attention to Detail (weight 0.06): The game requires significant attention to detail, logical thinking, and patience. Its difficulty gradually increases with new mechanics, making it easy to learn but challenging to master.
- Integrated Management Mechanics (weight 0.05): Beyond inspections, the game incorporates management elements such as resource allocation, inventory handling, and base defense, adding depth to the gameplay loop.
- Challenging Smuggler Encounters (weight 0.05): A central challenge involves identifying and apprehending smugglers who attempt to bypass checkpoints or hide contraband. This often leads to chases and arrests.
- Endless Inspector Sandbox Mode (weight 0.04): The 'Inspector Mode' provides an endless, sandbox-like experience focused purely on border inspection, serving as a key replayable component after the main campaign.
- First-Person Open World (weight 0.03): The game features an open world environment, primarily used for transporting prisoners and contraband, and offers a first-person perspective.

Performance notes:
- Object rendering and pop-in issues (weight 0.02): Several players noted issues with object rendering, where cars and other environmental elements appear abruptly or are blurry, especially at high speeds. This can be jarring and detract from the visual experience.
- Mixed Steam Deck performance (weight 0.02): Player experiences with the game on Steam Deck are varied. Some report flawless operation, while others encounter crashes or poor performance, indicating potential inconsistencies or specific setup requirements for optimal play.
- Average game file size (weight 0.01): The game's file size is generally considered average or workable by players, with one comparison noting it's similar to Skyrim Legendary Edition with all DLC.
- Graphics are acceptable, not outstanding (weight 0.01): Players generally find the game's graphics to be acceptable but not outstanding, suggesting a functional rather than visually impressive aesthetic.
- Minor environmental interaction bugs (weight 0.01): Specific minor bugs include vehicles getting stuck in gates and gate controls failing to open, indicating small environmental interaction glitches.
- Effective sound and music design (weight 0.01): The game's musical accompaniment and sound effects are praised for effectively enhancing the tense atmosphere, contributing positively to immersion.
- Potential conflict with Medal software (weight 0): One specific technical issue reported is a black screen with background sound when the Medal software is installed, suggesting a potential software conflict.
- NPC arm twisting bug (weight 0): A specific bug involving NPCs with twisted arms is noted, which reportedly resolves itself once documents are returned to them.

Recommendations:
- Highly Recommended & Worth Price (weight 0.35): The game is overwhelmingly recommended by players, often cited as worth its price, especially when on sale. Many reviewers express high satisfaction, giving it strong ratings and considering it a must-buy.
- Ideal for Simulation & Inspection Fans (weight 0.13): The game is highly recommended for fans of simulation games, particularly those interested in border control, customs officer roles, or 'Papers, Please' style gameplay with added action and investigation elements. It appeals to players who enjoy detailed inspections and strategic elements.
- Not for All Players (weight 0.05): While generally positive, some feedback indicates the game might not appeal to everyone, especially those who dislike repetitive tasks or reading subtitles. It's noted that the game might not offer a deep narrative or long-term engagement for all players.
- Try Demo Before Buying (weight 0.01): Players are advised to try the free prologue or demo to determine if the gameplay loop and theme suit their preferences before purchasing the full game.
- Engage Deeply, Pay Attention (weight 0.01): Players are encouraged to engage deeply with the game, paying close attention to details, as it promises to be an impactful experience.
- Complete the Campaign Mode (weight 0.01): Players are specifically advised to complete the campaign mode, suggesting it's a core and rewarding part of the game experience.
- Must-Try, High-End PC Recommended (weight 0.01): The game is considered a must-try title, with a specific recommendation for players with high-end PCs, implying potential performance demands or enhanced experience on better hardware.
- Desire for Continued Updates (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the ongoing updates and hope for continued developer support, indicating a desire for the game to evolve and improve over time.
- Sequel Interest: Inspections & Multiplayer (weight 0.01): There is interest in a potential sequel that would build upon the successful inspection mechanics and possibly introduce multiplayer functionality.

Other player notes:
- Demand for new content and features (weight 0.21): Players frequently request new content, particularly multiplayer/co-op modes, and express high anticipation for upcoming DLC. There's also a desire for more varied gameplay mechanics, character customization, and expanded narrative elements, including human trafficking scenarios and diverse settings.
- Compared to 'Papers, Please' (weight 0.05): Many players compare the game to 'Papers, Please,' often describing it as a 3D or more expansive version. This comparison highlights the game's core mechanics while also noting its unique additions.
- Engaging and streamer-popular (weight 0.04): The game is seen as a good time-killer and has gained popularity through streamers like CaseOh. Players report long play sessions, indicating its engaging nature.
- Budget production, varied pricing (weight 0.04): Players acknowledge the game is not a AAA title and has a budget production feel. Opinions on its price vary, with some finding it standard for its level and others considering it overpriced. Graphics are generally seen as functional rather than impressive, requiring a decent PC for medium settings.
- Good audio, average story (weight 0.03): The game features good voice acting, well-translated dialogue, and atmospheric music. While the story is generally considered decent, some find it a bit bland or average.
- Suitable for broad age range (weight 0.02): The game is considered suitable for a wide age range, from teens to adults, due to its lack of excessive gore and its requirement for patience and analytical thinking.
- Average game size and length (weight 0.02): The game's size and length are considered practical and average, with a typical playthrough lasting 15-30 hours. The map is not overly large.
- Charming jank and indie appeal (weight 0.02): Some players find the game's 'jank' or minor bugs to be intentional and charming, contributing to its unique appeal. It's seen as a creative indie title that can compete with AAA games.
- Relatable for security backgrounds (weight 0.01): Some players, particularly those with backgrounds in military or security roles, find the game more enjoyable due to its realistic simulation aspects. The game has even inspired some career interests.

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.36): Players felt satisfied by the game's overall high quality, including detailed graphics, engaging gameplay mechanics, and an immersive story. The absence of bugs, good optimization, and perceived value for money also contributed significantly to this positive emotion, making the experience enjoyable and often addictive.
- Frustration (weight 0.11): Frustration primarily stemmed from persistent and game-breaking bugs, poor optimization leading to crashes and low FPS, especially on Steam Deck, and clunky driving mechanics. Unfair game mechanics, repetitive missions, and issues with AI also contributed to a negative player experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.09): Enjoyment was driven by the game's fun and interactive gameplay, engaging story, and immersive atmosphere. Players found pleasure in the variety of activities, the core mechanics like inspections and shootouts, and the overall entertainment value provided by the game.
- Excitement (weight 0.08): Excitement was generated by the game's unpredictability, unique setting, and engaging plot twists. The anticipation for new features, DLC, and the overall addictiveness of the gameplay, particularly intense moments and combat, fueled this emotion.
- Disappointment (weight 0.07): Disappointment arose from the game's unfulfilled potential, often due to repetitive gameplay, a short or bland story, and persistent performance issues. High price relative to content, lack of desired features like multiplayer, and poor optimization also contributed to players feeling let down.
- Joy (weight 0.05): Joy was experienced through the game's fun and addictive nature, often leading players to lose track of time. The overall high quality, engaging story, and the simple pleasure of core gameplay mechanics contributed to a very positive and happy feeling.
- Amusement (weight 0.04): Amusement was frequently caused by the game's dark humor, the absurdity of in-game scenarios, and the freedom to make morally ambiguous or 'bad cop' choices. Unexpected gameplay outcomes and humorous NPC behaviors also contributed to this feeling.
- Engagement (weight 0.03): Players felt engaged due to the game's addictive nature, immersive atmosphere, and varied gameplay mechanics that required critical thinking and decision-making. The compelling story, moral dilemmas, and the feeling of hours passing quickly while playing highlighted this deep involvement.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Surprise often came from the game exceeding initial expectations, revealing unexpected depth, quality, or addictiveness. Discovering new features, narrative twists, or simply realizing how much time had passed while playing contributed to this pleasant astonishment.
- Desire (weight 0.01): Desire was expressed for future improvements and content, such as better AI, world expansion, and particularly, multiplayer or co-op modes. Players also wished for more character models, additional upgrade options, and the game's availability on more platforms.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Appreciation was felt for the game's refinement, attention to detail, and the developers' perceived effort and passion. Players valued the realistic scenarios, unique take on the genre, and the added replayability from features like Inspector mode.
- Love (weight 0.01): Love for the game stemmed from its overall quality, fun factor, and engaging gameplay elements like inspections, upgrades, and missions. Players expressed deep affection for the entire game experience and its core systems.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Hope was primarily focused on future improvements, including optimization, bug fixes, and the addition of new content or features like co-op and more language options. Players expressed optimism for the game's continued development and potential.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion arose from various issues, including graphics problems, unclear game logic or objectives, and difficulty with initial learning curves. Specific bugs, such as persistent dizziness or unclear changes in car physics, also contributed to this feeling.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Admiration was directed towards the game's high quality, especially for an indie title, its attention to detail, and realistic world-building. Players praised the compelling story, graphics, and the game's ability to build upon and improve existing concepts like 'Papers, Please'.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom was a result of repetitive gameplay, particularly in the late game or endless mode, and a perceived lack of progression or variety after a few hours. The mechanical daily work and routine inspection loop could lead to monotony.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger was triggered by severe game failures, such as persistent game-breaking bugs, unplayable missions, and save file corruption. Perceived unfair difficulty, misleading store descriptions, and developer claims of 'excellent support' that didn't match reality also caused significant frustration.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Anticipation was driven by the upcoming DLC, new updates, and the prospect of engaging campaign or inspector modes. Players looked forward to future content and potential improvements, indicating a strong desire for more from the game.
- Relaxation (weight 0.01): Relaxation was experienced through the game's calm atmosphere and chill gameplay, making it suitable for de-stressing and casual play. The overall enjoyable and laid-back nature of the game contributed to a soothing experience.
- Immersion (weight 0.01): Immersion was achieved through the game's atmosphere and the feeling of truly embodying the role of a border guard, particularly in a totalitarian setting. The detailed gameplay loop and realistic portrayal of duties contributed to players feeling deeply integrated into the game world.}