911 Operator

911 Operator Deluxe Edition comes packed with content. It suffers from fiddly controls, which hamper your success rate, but the audio work is good, and there is tonnes of detail to pore over.

84%Game Brain Score

gameplay, story

grinding, stability

88% User Score Based on 10,378 reviews

Critic Score 65%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

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About

"911 Operator" is a simulation game where you assume the role of an emergency dispatcher, managing teams of police, fire department, and paramedics to respond to various incidents. The game features real-world cities with accurate maps, addresses, and emergency infrastructure, allowing you to play in thousands of cities worldwide. In Career mode, you'll face unique events and challenges across six different cities.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 10,378 reviews

gameplay284 positive mentions

grinding60 negative mentions

gameplay
1,014 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
64%
8%
The gameplay of "911 Operator" is characterized by its blend of strategic decision-making and resource management, allowing players to simulate the responsibilities of emergency dispatch. While the mechanics are generally easy to grasp and the scenarios can be engaging, many players find the gameplay repetitive over time due to a limited variety of calls and incidents. Despite its immersive elements and educational insights, the game may lack depth and long-term replayability, making it more suitable for short, casual play sessions rather than extended gameplay.
- “With its blend of strategic gameplay, realistic scenarios, and educational insights, 911 Operator offers a compelling and immersive experience that simulates the intensity and responsibility of managing emergencies.”
- “The game's dynamic scenarios and escalating challenges ensure that no two emergencies are alike, keeping gameplay engaging and unpredictable.”
- “The gameplay is engaging while relaxed, definitely worth picking up during a sale.”
- “The gameplay doesn't really change as you keep playing and at some point you will have heard all the 911 calls available.”
- “The gameplay can become repetitive over time, with the same types of emergencies cropping up again and again.”
- “After about 20-25 minutes of gameplay, you'll come to realize that it's the same thing over, and over, and over again.”
story
668 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
69%
10%
The game's story aspect is generally viewed as minimal and repetitive, with many players noting that it lacks depth and variety. While some appreciate the unique emergency calls and the immersive experience of managing real-life scenarios, others find the narrative elements to be underwhelming and overly simplistic, often leading to a sense of monotony. Overall, the game is more focused on gameplay mechanics than on delivering a compelling story, making it less suitable for those seeking a rich narrative experience.
- “You never know who’s on the other side of the line - you might hear a frightening murder story, maybe you’ll have to instruct someone on performing CPR, or keep your nerves while encountering an annoying prankster.”
- “Some of the stories are very touching and help players understand the job of first responders better.”
- “The game not only gave me some compelling story and gameplay into a time management sim but made me realize that if I am ever stuck in a similar situation then I would have died or been hurt, and that is a powerful thing for a video game to be able to tell you in an engaging way.”
- “The story mode is fine but unexciting if you're familiar with the various types of emergencies.”
- “The story content lasts about an hour after which you repeat the same 12 calls. Gameplay and story mode only lasts you about ~3 hours, well under what you would expect from a standard video game.”
- “If you are looking for a game with a story, this is not the game for you.”
graphics
394 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
70%
5%
The graphics of "911 Operator" are characterized by a minimalist and functional art style that prioritizes gameplay over visual complexity. While some players appreciate the simplicity and clarity of the visuals, others find them dated and lacking in variety, which may not appeal to those seeking more visually stimulating experiences. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose well within the context of the game, though they are generally considered basic and not a focal point of the experience.
- “911 operator prioritizes functionality over visual extravagance, opting for a minimalist art style that serves its purpose well within the context of emergency management.”
- “The graphics are simple and get the job done, the audio really helps set the atmosphere, and the UI is easy to understand and works very well.”
- “The game play is very smooth, the graphics are simple but remarkable, and the aspect of controlling all the first responders (the vehicles, crew, and loadouts) is amazing.”
- “The game's graphics and overall presentation could be improved, as they feel somewhat dated and lacking in visual polish.”
- “As I said before, the game has a pretty bland art style, or at least, the models for the people seem to be traced ones, giving it a really stilted vibe.”
- “Blurry visuals: seriously, this is a mobile port designed for small screens, 720p max. visuals are a blurry mess on anything larger, and you can tell easily.”
replayability
182 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
65%
9%
The replayability of "911 Operator" is a mixed bag, with many players noting that while the game offers procedural variability and diverse gameplay mechanics, it suffers from repetitive call scenarios that can diminish long-term engagement. Some reviews highlight the game's strategic depth and the variety of city maps as factors that enhance replay value, while others express disappointment over the limited content and repetitive nature of missions. Overall, the game has decent replayability, but it may not sustain interest for extended periods without additional content or updates.
- “The campaign mode, which takes you through various US cities, and the freeplay mode, allowing you to choose any city globally, offer substantial replayability.”
- “There is a lot of replayability in the missions as even though the same ones pop up time and time again, they will play out differently: the prank call in one session can turn out to be a serious issue in the next.”
- “Superb game and high quality for an indie, I love playing this when I'm chilling instead of having to commit to a game or play it during downtime at work; the game is enjoyable and has replayability by increasing the difficulty and improving your team on all the cities that you enjoy playing.”
- “It's a fun game for a while, but it doesn't have much replayability at all.”
- “The game loses a lot of its charm after a few hours, as there really isn't much content or replayability.”
- “The major flaw of the game is that once you complete the campaign there is very little replay value as the voice over calls become repetitive rather quickly.”
humor
146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players enjoying a mix of hilarious and absurd emergency calls, such as cats dialing 911 and stoned individuals complaining about pizza. While many scenarios are comedic, some calls can be serious or even distressing, creating a balance that keeps players engaged. Overall, the game is praised for its entertaining dialogue and quirky situations, making it a fun experience despite occasional repetitiveness.
- “A hilariously chaotic game where you’ll handle everything from UFO sightings to cats dialing 911.”
- “I love this game; it's kind of funny when the potheads call you telling you that their pizza is too 'spicy'.”
- “It's also hilarious to import my little town's map and see bombings and bank robberies in a town where the cops worry about dogs with no leashes, lol.”
grinding
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
52%
46%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, with many players feeling that it requires an unrealistic time investment to progress. While some find initial enjoyment, the lack of variety in tasks and the need for repetitive actions lead to a sense of boredom over time. Overall, players recommend caution for those who dislike grinding, suggesting they wait for more content before diving in.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding isn't necessary to progress.”
- “One long, tedious grind.”
- “The only major gripe that I would make is that the game tends to get 'grindy' and repetitive the longer you play.”
- “The game tries to showcase what you could be doing as a 911 operator, and it does that well, but eventually, it gets more tedious and repetitive than continually being interesting.”
- “Given enough 'grinding' you will probably get to an 'event' which could give you a Steam achievement, but I really can't see the point of doing the same thing over and over.”
music
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
81%
7%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitiveness and loudness, which can be distracting during gameplay. While some appreciate the ambient soundscapes and thematic elements like music festivals, others find the overall soundtrack mediocre and suggest it lacks variety. Overall, the sound design is seen as a mixed bag, with some elements enhancing the experience while others detract from it.
- “Very simple & addictive game, played this first & then played 112 after, cool soundtrack & voice lines, would recommend if you need to pass an hour or so :)”
- “The sounds and music were also very well done.”
- “Sound/music and the story pulls you in.”
- “Pure shit, I would rather drill my own ears than listen to the opening music one more time.”
- “The only thing I can complain about is the repetitive background sounds/music.”
- “The 'music' playing while you are in-between levels is horrendously loud and headache-inducing.”
emotional
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, from anxiety and sadness to moments of hope and humor. The realistic scenarios and poignant calls create an engaging experience that highlights the challenges faced by 911 operators, making each successful rescue feel rewarding. While some players found certain calls to be emotionally taxing, the overall depth and impact of the game's narrative elements significantly enhance its appeal.
- “One of the most compelling aspects of 911 Operator is its emotional engagement.”
- “Some of the 911 calls are surprisingly poignant, touching on themes of tragedy, hope, and human resilience.”
- “This game made me feel like I was actually a 911 operator, and made me feel like I had actually sent out emergency services to people's aid.”
stability
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
2%
86%
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and glitches that hinder gameplay. While some players have experienced minimal issues, the overall consensus is that the game feels unfinished and requires substantial fixes to improve its reliability. Despite its potential, the persistent technical problems have led to mixed feelings about its value, especially at full price.
- “This game, however, runs great on low-tier devices.”
- “Only encountered one bug so far but otherwise everything runs great and I'm having a blast.”
- “And it's pretty much bug free.”
- “I tried multiple troubleshooting techniques and nothing has fixed it.”
- “A great concept overall, but the issue here is that this game is so buggy that it's hard to play any amount of time without getting repeated crashes.”
- “This game has great potential but there are so many glitches that need to be fixed.”
monetization
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism from users, primarily due to the presence of forced advertisements for the developer's other titles at both the start and exit of the game, which many feel undermines the premium purchase experience. Players express frustration over the intrusive nature of these ads, likening the experience to a subscription service rather than a one-time purchase, and some have indicated that this has negatively impacted their willingness to support the developer's future projects. Additionally, the inclusion of microtransactions further complicates the monetization landscape, leading to a perception of exploitation rather than genuine engagement.
- “It's also silly for a game to advertise its other games when you open it; I bought a game, not a Hulu with ads subscription.”
- “But considering I paid more than the game is worth, you'd think the devs could not force-feed me ads for their other games. I know you can turn the ones off when you open the game, but there's still the same exact ad when you exit. Even if I was interested, I'll refrain from purchasing the devs' other titles and reconsider this stance when/if the devs ever patch these annoying ads out.”
- “Youtube Red charges you less to not see ads; why am I seeing ads in a full game I paid for?”
optimization
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
61%
22%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some players noting significant performance issues, such as cursor misalignment and poor resource management, particularly on high-end devices like the MacBook Pro M1 Max. While some users report smooth gameplay on lower-end systems, others highlight numerous interface glitches and a lack of responsiveness in certain features, indicating that the game struggles to meet its performance promises. Overall, the optimization appears to be a major drawback, detracting from the overall experience despite some positive aspects.
- “This game is fantastic as it is unique and very well developed to a point where the game runs smoothly, even on a low-end computer.”
- “There are no detectable bugs, the game runs smoothly, just a few minor grammatical errors.”
- “Its a resource optimization game.”
- “I could spend all day talking about my favorite features, spend forever arguing about how the repetitive nature of the calls and emergency RNG are actually good things, but at the end of the day it doesn't matter because the game is poorly optimized and doesn't run well enough to deliver on its promises.”
- “I tried to play this game on my brand new MacBook Pro M1 Max... the performance is fine, etc... however, the game is near unplayable, as the cursor position is registering about a centimeter or more below the actual rendered cursor.”
- “Lots of tiny little interface glitches and the team setup screen isn't really optimized for use.”
atmosphere
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
50%
10%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive and tense environment, effectively enhanced by realistic audio cues such as sirens and voice acting from 911 calls. Players find the sound design crucial in conveying the urgency of crisis situations, while the simple yet polished graphics complement the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as captivating and engaging, making it particularly appealing for fans of emergency management gameplay.
- “Very polished game, atmosphere is well done.”
- “The sound design effectively conveys the realism of calls and the atmosphere of crisis situations.”
- “It does set the proper atmosphere; the 911 calls are very well done and the voice acting is quite good for a low-budget title.”
- “The atmosphere it creates and its ability to immerse you is unbelievable, even more so because it is still under development.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews indicate a focus on character design rather than character development, suggesting that while the visual aspects of the characters are noteworthy, there may be a lack of depth or growth in their narratives.