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

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

73% User Score Based on 1,241 reviews

Critic Score 73%Based on 15 reviews

Platforms

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About

American Fugitive is a single player open world shooter game. It was developed by Fallen Tree Games Ltd and was released on May 21, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

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

+14

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73%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,241 reviews

story174 positive mentions

grinding32 negative mentions

American Fugitive captures the nostalgic essence of classic top-down GTA games while introducing modern gameplay mechanics.
The game features a satisfying driving experience with a variety of vehicles, each with distinct handling characteristics.
The burglary and robbery mechanics add an interesting layer of strategy, allowing players to case houses and choose how to approach each heist.

The story is predictable and lacks depth, with many missions feeling like repetitive fetch quests that do not contribute to character development.
The police AI is inconsistent, often leading to frustrating chases where players can easily escape or be overwhelmed by excessive police presence.
Driving mechanics can feel clunky and unresponsive, making it difficult to navigate the game world effectively.

story
1,201 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
The story of "American Fugitive" revolves around a man framed for his father's murder, leading to a quest for justice amidst a backdrop of crime and chaos. While the premise offers potential for intrigue, many players find the narrative lacking depth, with repetitive fetch quests and underdeveloped characters that detract from engagement. The missions often feel monotonous, reducing the overall impact of the story, which, despite some entertaining moments, fails to deliver a compelling or memorable experience.
- “The plot is full of twists and turns, and the characters are well-developed, keeping players invested in the story and Will's fate.”
- “American Fugitive's narrative is captivating, with a plot that blends elements of crime, drama, and action.”
- “The story is engaging and keeps you invested as you progress.”
- “Narratively, the game provides just enough intrigue to motivate progress, but its story never fully escapes the shadow of its inspirations.”
- “The tonal balance between earnest crime drama and lighthearted chaos occasionally clashes, making the story feel secondary to the open-world antics.”
- “The world is open but mostly empty, with little reason to explore, driving feels like controlling a shopping cart with one busted wheel and the story tries to sell you on a gritty revenge tale, but the characters are flatter than the camera angle and the missions blur together into the same fetch, smash, repeat cycle.”
gameplay
401 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
58%
10%
The gameplay of "American Fugitive" is a nostalgic homage to classic top-down GTA titles, featuring enjoyable mechanics such as driving, shooting, and a unique burglary system. While the moment-to-moment gameplay is engaging and offers a variety of activities, many players find the missions repetitive and the overall mechanics somewhat clunky or underdeveloped. Despite its charm and potential, the game suffers from bugs and a lack of depth in certain features, leading to mixed reviews on its overall execution.
- “The driving mechanics are particularly well-done: vehicles have weight, traction, and a sense of chaos that feels right at home in a world built for quick getaways.”
- “The house robbing mechanic is one of the highlights for me, a very unique touch to the usual criminal antics.”
- “Gameplay is where American Fugitive truly shines.”
- “Buggy campaign missions and uninspired writing make this a chore to play on top of an already simple gameplay loop.”
- “The gameplay itself kind of reminds me of Chinatown Wars on the DS, but the story makes very little sense.”
- “The gameplay is not satisfying.”
graphics
220 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
3%
The graphics of "American Fugitive" are generally well-received, featuring a bright, cel-shaded art style that evokes nostalgia for classic top-down games like the original GTA titles. While the visuals are colorful and detailed, some players note that they can feel outdated or reminiscent of mobile games, with occasional technical hiccups on various platforms. Overall, the graphics are considered decent to good for an indie title, enhancing the game's playful and chaotic atmosphere despite some criticisms regarding immersion and repetitiveness.
- “The top-down perspective—paired with bright, cel-shaded graphics—gives the chaos a playful edge.”
- “The cel-shaded art style helps mask budget limitations and gives the world a distinct, stylized charm.”
- “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.”
- “The artwork (if you can call it artwork) and mini games play like those mobile game ads or games my mother in her mid-60s loves to play.”
- “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, so don't expect much.”
- “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
149 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
52%
8%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it fits the rural Americana vibe and enhances the atmosphere, it often lacks memorability and variety. Some tracks are described as catchy and enjoyable, but others feel repetitive and generic, leading to a sense of monotony during gameplay. Overall, while the soundtrack complements the game's setting, it could benefit from a broader selection and more distinctive compositions.
- “The music fits perfectly, adding a nostalgic, slightly cinematic touch that captures the mood of a desperate outlaw on the run.”
- “With a combination of original music that evokes the feeling of 80s action films, the soundtrack increases immersion and excitement during missions.”
- “The soundtrack of 'American Fugitive' perfectly complements the atmosphere of the game.”
- “Great game, do yourself a favor, turn down the music volume setting; the music is brutal.”
- “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?”
grinding
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
15%
78%
The grinding aspect of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many players finding the repetitive missions and tedious tasks to be a significant drawback. Achievements often require extensive grinding, which can feel like filler rather than meaningful gameplay, leading to a sense of burnout. Overall, while some players appreciate the core mechanics, the grindy nature of the game detracts from the overall experience, making it feel tedious and unpolished.
- “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.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “The only downside is a bit of grinding with tank crushes and kills if you’re aiming for 100% completion.”
- “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.”
- “The game is incredibly tedious in the sense of its all fetch quests or go there talk to X quests; very little is actually interesting crime-related objectives.”
stability
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
95%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as issues with vehicle handling, mission progress, and character movement. While some users noted that these glitches were often humorous or minor, others found them frustrating and detrimental to the overall experience. Overall, the game is described as playable but in need of further polish to address its stability issues.
- “Not very buggy, so that's a big plus for an indie game.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any major issues.”
- “I haven't encountered any crashes or significant glitches.”
- “Bugs and glitches throughout; luckily nothing game-breaking, but plenty to slow you down, stop the controls from working, halt mission progress, kill you outright, delete cars, and many more.”
- “The only downside is there are 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.”
humor
41 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 physics, quirky AI, and humorous dialogue, while others criticize it for lacking depth and relying on bugs for laughs. Many appreciate the game's potential for comedic moments, especially in chaotic scenarios, but some feel it falls short of delivering a consistently engaging or clever comedic experience. Overall, the humor can be hit-or-miss, often depending on the player's tolerance for absurdity and technical flaws.
- “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 tries to be funny, but ultimately it's just a dull, buggy mess.”
- “The humor falls flat and feels forced, making the experience more frustrating than entertaining.”
- “I expected some laughs, but the jokes are stale and the delivery is awkward.”
atmosphere
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
35%
18%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant and immersive qualities, effectively blending nostalgia with modern enhancements. Players appreciate the well-crafted sound effects, engaging soundtrack, and visually appealing design that evoke a sense of a lively, retro-inspired world. Overall, the game successfully captures a unique ambiance reminiscent of classic titles while maintaining a fresh and enjoyable experience.
- “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 atmosphere feels alive — from the sound of sirens echoing in the distance to the dust kicking up as you drift around corners.”
optimization
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
43%
38%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews. While some players report decent performance on high settings with smooth gameplay, others experience significant issues such as choppy performance, micro-stuttering, and high resource usage, even on capable hardware. Additionally, the lack of ultrawide support and the presence of loading zones detract from the overall 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.”
- “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.”
- “The higher performance of the car you are driving, the more unstable it is.”
- “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.”
replayability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The reviews indicate a mixed perception of replayability, with some players appreciating the game's short length and optional objectives that enhance replay value, while others criticize the repetitive nature of missions and lack of significant choices, leading to a consensus that overall replayability is limited. Many suggest that the game is enjoyable but may not warrant full price due to its low replay value.
- “Very great game, short but good replayability.”
- “It’s a well-made throwback that delivers exactly what it promises: low-budget crime with high replay value and a ton of heart.”
- “There's some replayability; there are two endings, along with a handful of choices, that don't really change much.”
- “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
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
30%
The emotional responses to the game are mixed; while some players appreciate its heartfelt narrative and nostalgic elements reminiscent of classic indie games, others criticize it for a boring story and frustrating mechanics that detract from the overall experience. The humor and whimsical aspects are noted positively, but technical issues and repetitive gameplay lead to a lack of engagement for many.
- “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 in the game 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.”

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73%Critics’ scoreBased on 15 critic reviews

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8h Median play time

11h Average play time

5-13h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs

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American Fugitive is a open world shooter game.

American Fugitive is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 11 hours playing American Fugitive.

American Fugitive was released on May 21, 2019.

American Fugitive was developed by Fallen Tree Games Ltd.

American Fugitive has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

American Fugitive is a single player game.

Similar games include The Precinct, Mafia II, Maniac, Shakedown: Hawaii, 12 is Better Than 6 and others.

American Fugitive

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