American Fugitive

Like a spiritual successor to GTA2 American Fugitive will see you running afoul of the law with a touch of Dukes of Hazard thrown in.

70%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

story, stability

73% User Score Based on 1,180 reviews

Critic Score 73%Based on 15 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $1.12

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About

American Fugitive is a top-down sandbox action game inspired by classic GTA, developed by Fallen Tree Games. You play as Will Riley, accused of murdering your father, who breaks out of jail seeking revenge and the truth. This game features a 3D open-world set in a criminal-ridden American county, offering a single-player experience full of action and adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+11

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,195 reviews

gameplay124 positive mentions

story168 negative mentions

Nostalgic gameplay reminiscent of classic GTA titles, particularly GTA 1 and 2.
Engaging burglary mechanics that add a unique twist to the gameplay.
Fun driving mechanics with a variety of vehicles that handle differently.

Repetitive missions that often feel like fetch quests with little story progression.
Poor AI behavior, leading to inconsistent police responses and frustrating chases.
Lack of voice acting and a compelling narrative, making it hard to connect with characters.

story
1,158 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
71%
15%
The story of "American Fugitive" is generally viewed as mediocre, with many players noting its reliance on repetitive fetch quests that detract from the overall narrative experience. While the initial premise of seeking revenge for a wrongful conviction is engaging, the execution often feels shallow and predictable, with characters lacking depth and dialogue that fails to captivate. Despite some enjoyable moments and twists, the missions tend to become monotonous, leading to a lack of investment in the storyline as players progress through the game.
- “American Fugitive’s narrative is captivating, with a plot that blends elements of crime, drama, and action.”
- “The plot is full of twists and turns, and the characters are well-developed, keeping players invested in the story and Will’s fate.”
- “The characters are also quite memorable, and it's easy to keep a mental track of the main players as you progress from mission to mission.”
- “The story is the only negative I have about this game.”
- “The story is bland, and the missions you do are even blander fetch quests which are extremely forgettable.”
- “The story keeps stringing you along but there's no payout, it's just boring.”
gameplay
385 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
58%
10%
The gameplay of "American Fugitive" is a nostalgic homage to classic top-down GTA titles, featuring engaging mechanics like burglary and a dynamic police system. While many players appreciate the fun and simplicity of the core gameplay, criticisms arise regarding repetitive missions, clunky controls, and underdeveloped mechanics that can detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game offers a solid mix of action and strategy, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- “The gameplay is fun, the shooting and fighting feels very satisfactory, and the driving is rewarding, but the driving physics falls short, as it's fun to run over objects and see them fly.”
- “Developed by Fallen Tree Games Ltd, the title offers a nostalgic experience, harking back to iconic 2D action games, while featuring modern mechanics that ensure fluid and exciting gameplay.”
- “The house robbing mechanic is one of the highlights for me, a very unique touch to the usual criminal antics.”
- “Repetitive quests, boring missions, lackluster mechanics, a total cellphone game with the least of inspirations.”
- “The gameplay got repetitive, and the story didn't hook me like I hoped.”
- “The driving is my main gripe about the gameplay; none of the cars handle well, so you're always sliding around when going at speed, which doesn't give the awesome 2D GTA feel.”
graphics
213 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
49%
3%
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many players appreciating the colorful, cartoonish art style that evokes nostalgia for classic top-down titles like the original GTA. While some reviews note that the visuals are decent but not groundbreaking, others highlight the detailed pixel art and modern enhancements that make the game visually appealing. However, there are criticisms regarding occasional graphical glitches and a lack of innovation, suggesting that while the graphics are enjoyable, they may not fully elevate the overall experience.
- “The playful, almost cartoonish 2D graphics add to the fun, making the experience feel vibrant and entertaining.”
- “With detailed pixel art graphics, the game captures the essence of the classics of the past, but with a contemporary twist.”
- “The graphics of the game blend comic and realism in a way that looks very aesthetically pleasing using sharp edges, lens flares, and bright colors, with a clean, fluid UI to boot.”
- “Similarly, the game's visuals and presentation feel outdated and lackluster.”
- “The graphics are decent, enough for this kind of game, nothing spectacular nor groundbreaking; you won't find anything that will surprise you at all.”
- “No innovation you can speak of, not refined in existing elements of this genre, just a GTA-lite with cartoonish artwork and poor presentation.”
music
143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
53%
8%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its nostalgic 80s action film vibe and enjoyable country-rock tracks that enhance the atmosphere, while others criticize it for being repetitive, generic, and occasionally jarring. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to complement gameplay, but express a desire for more variety and depth in the music selection. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, it often falls short of expectations, leading to a somewhat lackluster experience for some players.
- “Playing this game feels like stepping back into 1999 with a fresh twist—fewer glitches, improved controls, and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack of 'American Fugitive' perfectly complements the atmosphere of the game.”
- “Awesome music.”
- “Some music sounds very canned and doesn't really fit the game.”
- “The soundtrack is limited to a few catchy loops that constantly play in the background, while the overall noises like gun sounds and vehicle engines feel crisp and appealing.”
- “The music felt generic, there weren't enough tracks and those that were there weren't memorable - and it made me wonder, what could have been done to improve it?”
humor
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
7%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny due to its absurd situations and quirky AI behavior, while others criticize it for being inconsistent and overshadowed by bugs and a lackluster story. Many appreciate the moments of dark or dry humor, reminiscent of classic titles like GTA, but note that the overall execution often falls short, leading to a blend of hilarity and frustration. Despite its flaws, some players still find enjoyment in the game's comedic elements and chaotic gameplay.
- “It’s just ruthless, mindless, and at times hilarious physics and driving mechanics at work.”
- “Go get it, it's actually funny to break into people's houses and steal their stuff just to sell it to unsuspecting dealers.”
- “You’ve been framed for your father’s execution-style murder, and after a hilariously easy prison escape, you’re on the run and out to clear your name.”
- “It's a shame it's not fun; it's not funny (though it tries) and ends up being just a dull, buggy mess.”
- “The humor falls flat and feels forced, making the experience more cringeworthy than entertaining.”
- “I expected some laughs, but the jokes are stale and the delivery is awkward, leaving me more confused than amused.”
stability
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting a range of glitches and bugs, particularly during missions and vehicle interactions. While some found the bugs to be humorous and not game-breaking, others experienced significant issues that detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the game is described as playable but in need of further polishing to address its stability concerns.
- “Not very buggy, so that's a big plus for an indie game.”
- “The only downside is there is a lot of glitches and the story mode is pretty boring!!”
- “However it freezes a lot on startup and suddenly after it froze this last time.”
- “Too buggy at the moment, I would wait for some patches before buying.”
grinding
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
14%
81%
Players consistently find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many missions feeling like filler rather than meaningful content. Achievements often require excessive grinding, leading to burnout and frustration, as players are forced to engage in monotonous tasks that detract from the overall enjoyment of the game. While some elements of gameplay are enjoyable, the overwhelming number of fetch quests and lack of engaging objectives make the experience feel like a slog.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Missions are generally simple and there is little punishment for failing/dying, so the game is easy to get into and just simply have fun with ... no grinding, no permadeath.”
- “The main missions are repetitive, beyond tedious and feel like fetch quests or they just drag out the game, meanwhile the story just kinda lazily limps afterwards.”
- “Many later missions are the same as early missions but further to drive, it only makes the game tedious and boring as you get further into it.”
- “Unfortunately, they had to throw all of that into the bin by creating the most generic and predictable story, awful physics, a trashy driving system, an absurd wanted system, and worst of all grindy achievements, some of which rely on the horrendous physics of this unpolished pile of garbage.”
optimization
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
41%
41%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues such as choppy frame rates and micro-stuttering, particularly in high-speed scenarios. While it runs decently on capable hardware and features appealing atmospherics, many users report that the game is not fully optimized, leading to inconsistent performance across different setups. Overall, while some players find it playable, others struggle with bugs and performance drops that detract from the experience.
- “The controls are decent; I've been using an Xbox One controller. The UI, inventory setup, etc., are well designed. The game runs decently on a good gaming rig maxed out at 2560x1440 resolution, so it's pretty optimized as it is currently and has some nice atmospherics like animals and weather.”
- “Yeah, it's a little rough around the edges, but I've encountered nothing by way of bugs, and generally, the performance has been very smooth.”
- “The higher performance of the car you are driving makes it more unstable, and you have to drive those slippery high-performance cars; otherwise, you will not be able to outrun the police cars that come to corner you, which are some of the fastest cars in the game.”
- “I tried everything to lessen the usage that I could think of, but it still was high, and I don't think the game is optimized as I watched my task manager here and there while playing.”
- “Awful up-and-down performance (on a 2018 Alienware R13 at least) to the point of being unplayable.”
- “There's a lot of things wrong with this: lackluster mission design, poor AI, the performance is occasionally choppy regardless of what setting it's on, the game world isn't interconnected but rather split up by loading zones and it takes like six hours to get out of the first part of the map.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
31%
19%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its nostalgic feel, effectively blending elements from the late '90s and '80s with modern enhancements like improved controls and a captivating soundtrack. Reviewers highlight the well-crafted sound effects, attractive UI, and a visual style that combines comic flair with realism, all contributing to an engaging and immersive experience. While some note that the atmosphere could have been even richer, the overall sentiment is that it successfully evokes a distinct and enjoyable ambiance.
- “Playing this game feels like stepping back into 1999 with a fresh twist—fewer glitches, improved controls, and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere.”
- “The color palette and lighting create an atmosphere that evokes nostalgia while still providing a pleasing and accessible visual experience.”
- “The soundtrack of 'American Fugitive' perfectly complements the atmosphere of the game.”
- “The game set a really grim and dire atmosphere that got me really excited to play the rest of the game.”
- “The graphics, physics, and art are really nice; the music and the whole redneck American atmosphere are right on the spot.”
- “The UI is very attractive, and the overall atmosphere brings back memories from the old days, but this time it is a combination of comic flair and realism.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
Overall, "American Fugitive" has limited replayability, with many players noting that the missions become repetitive and the choices offered do not significantly alter the experience. While there are optional objectives and two endings, these elements do not enhance replay value enough to warrant multiple playthroughs. Many reviewers suggest that the game is best enjoyed on sale due to its lack of engaging replay content.
- “American Fugitive has a campaign of fairly decent length, but it also has optional objectives like finding paintings as well as finding all of the stash locations, so it is replayable.”
- “There's some replayability; there are two endings along with a handful of choices that don't really change much.”
- “Overall a good game, but would recommend getting it on sale as there is little replay value.”
- “Aside from some annoying random achievements, nice game with no replayability whatsoever.”
- “There is no replayable value in the game and there are various races/side missions you can do for money.”
- “Overall a good game, but would recommend getting on sale as there is little replay value.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players appreciate its heartfelt narrative and nostalgic charm reminiscent of classic indie games, others find the story boring and the gameplay frustrating due to poor controls and repetitive missions. The humor, characterized by silly place names and wholesome wordplay, adds a lighthearted touch, but technical issues detract from the overall experience for some players.
- “For those who appreciate indie games reminiscent of the classics, this title offers a heartfelt and engaging narrative that doesn’t take itself too seriously.”
- “It made me feel good.”
- “It made me feel nostalgic.”
- “Bad controls, weird camera movement, and a boring story made this a hard pass for me.”
- “A boring story, infrequent combat, and repetitive missions make this game tire quickly.”
- “Boring story.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is largely criticized for being minimal, with many reviewers noting a lack of depth and wasted potential in both the campaign and character design.
- “Not a lot of character development.”
- “Wasted potential, low-effort campaign and character design.”

73%Critics’ scoreBased on 15 critic reviews

Buy American Fugitive

7h Median play time

11h Average play time

5-15h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 15 analyzed playthroughs

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