REVIEW – In The Precinct, rookie cop Nick Cordell Jr. takes to the streets of crime-ridden Averno City, trying to uphold justice while living in the shadow of his police-officer father. Gathering evidence is key, but don’t expect a GTA-style crime spree. The isometric view and procedural gameplay flip the script on the genre in surprising ways.

There’s a clear GTA influence here, but instead of chaos and crime, you’re enforcing the law — making it a kind of inverted sandbox experience.

 Welcome to Hell, Officer

Players can cause havoc or go undercover in illegal street racing gangs. Each shift includes patrolling districts, writing tickets, and responding to spontaneous crimes via radio calls. You earn XP for your policing performance, with bonuses for following proper procedures — like ID checks before searching suspects. Missteps, such as issuing wrongful fines, reduce your score — unless you offload the work onto your partner. At shift’s end, collected evidence helps build cases that eventually target gang leaders.

These missions introduce more intense action and firefights, nudging the narrative forward. Unfortunately, gameplay quickly becomes repetitive, dragging down the experience. The interface doesn’t help either — it’s clunky and unintuitive. The combat system, while boasting unique aiming mechanics, feels unsatisfying in execution. Still, the freedom to approach objectives as you see fit gives it some life. As you rise through the ranks, you unlock better gear. But chases lack the thrill of World’s Scariest Police Chases on PS1 — that game, at least, nailed the adrenaline. Here, writing a parking ticket might be the peak of excitement.

 Donuts Stay Put, Cars Don’t

No, donuts don’t fly out the window, but your car might. The driving model is overly loose — hitting a curb can send you spinning. Worse, ramming suspects doesn’t always register, which gets old fast. Your partner AI doesn’t help much either. If you’re juggling multiple suspects, your partner often stands around uselessly, costing you precious XP. Random crimes during arrests — sometimes involving the person you’re arresting — are immersion-breaking and frustrating. On the bright side, the visuals have a decent aesthetic, but 30 FPS on consoles feels underwhelming given the average graphics.

The vehicle camera angle — above and behind — is awkward and takes getting used to. Expect a playthrough to last around 8.5 hours. Without co-op or multiplayer, replay value is limited. The story leans hard on clichés, and the game’s subway system may as well be crime-proof. Post-launch content has been promised, though developers previously claimed the opposite. After five or six years in development, it’s odd they didn’t polish things further.

 Order in Chaos?

The Precinct earns a 6.5/10 for its decent early-game potential that quickly wanes. The repetitive gameplay, clunky driving, and uninspired story hold it back. Visually and sonically, it’s middle-of-the-road. The noir-style presentation is nice, but not enough to carry the title. At €30, it’s not worth it — wait for a sale and watch a few gameplay videos first. The neon aesthetic may be cool, but style can’t compensate for lackluster substance.

-V-

Developer: Fallen Tree Games Ltd
Publisher: Kwalee
Genre: Police Simulator
Release Date: May 13, 2025

-V- (2025)