Beat Cop

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,482 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • humor
Beat Cop Game Cover
Beat Cop is a game that still works and it works well!
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In Beat Cop, you play as a New York City police officer in the 1980s, demoted to foot patrol after being falsely accused of theft. Your mission is to solve crimes, issue tickets, and manage relationships with the local gangs and community members, all while dealing with the challenges of life in a gritty, procedurally generated city. With multiple endings and a focus on choice and consequence, Beat Cop offers a unique and engaging take on the law enforcement genre.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,482 reviews
story180 positive mentions
stability64 negative mentions
  • Engaging narrative with multiple endings that reflect player choices.
  • Charming pixel art style and a nostalgic 80s atmosphere.
  • Humorous dialogue and quirky characters that add to the overall experience.
  • Frequent game-breaking bugs that can freeze the character and require restarting the day.
  • Repetitive gameplay loop that can become tedious over time.
  • Racist and sexist humor that may be off-putting to some players.
  • story636 mentions

    The story of "Beat Cop" is a mixed bag, with some players praising its engaging narrative and humor reminiscent of 80s cop shows, while others criticize it for being shallow, repetitive, and bogged down by bugs. The game features a central plot involving a detective framed for a crime, with player choices impacting relationships and outcomes, but many found the execution lacking, leading to a sense of monotony and confusion. Overall, while the game offers a nostalgic vibe and interesting side missions, its storytelling often feels underdeveloped and overshadowed by gameplay frustrations.

    • “The game combines elements of mystery, drama, and comedy, with well-written dialogues and memorable characters that make the story captivating.”
    • “With a rich story and well-built characters, the game provides a nostalgic and fun experience that is both challenging and rewarding.”
    • “The player's decisions affect the story and relationships with local factions, creating a gameplay experience that is both strategic and narrative.”
    • “The game tries to tell the story from the main character's point of view, where he hardly has any power to solve the main plot.”
    • “Maybe it's because the story was told from the main character's point of view, but in the end, all of the mysteries don't seem to matter—nothing was resolved and the only thing that matters is what you want to do next.”
    • “The story is shallow, the characters are just walking cartoon hyperbolas.”
  • gameplay371 mentions

    The gameplay of "Beat Cop" is primarily a repetitive mix of point-and-click mechanics, where players patrol a street, issue parking tickets, and engage in various side missions. While the game features an interesting narrative and charming pixel art, many players find the core gameplay loop tedious and lacking in variety, leading to a decline in engagement over time. Despite some enjoyable moments and humor, the overall experience is marred by bugs, simplistic controls, and a lack of depth in gameplay mechanics.

    • “The gameplay requires the player to balance their daily tasks with solving mysteries and building relationships with the city's diverse characters.”
    • “Beat cop's gameplay is a mix of adventure game elements, simulation, and strategy.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is balancing the mundane tasks of a policeman with an investigation into the true culprit of the heist as well as the murder of your partner, which occurs on your first day on the beat.”
    • “While the premise might sound interesting and the pixel art looks good, gameplay itself is repetitive and gets boring after a few in-game days.”
    • “Beat Cop's gameplay is tedious, simply boring, and lacking tension, action, and attractive gameplay; I did not have fun at all as the assignments are repetitive.”
    • “The gameplay is boring, repetitive, and stressful; the controls are clunky and awkward, and the plot is intriguing but moves too slowly and gets crammed into the later stage of the game.”
  • humor246 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mix of dark, edgy, and often juvenile jokes, heavily inspired by 1980s cop shows, which some players find genuinely funny while others criticize it for relying on casual racism and sexism. Many reviews highlight the clever writing and humorous dialogue, with quirky characters and absurd situations contributing to an engaging experience, though opinions vary on whether the humor effectively critiques or simply perpetuates outdated stereotypes. Overall, the game is seen as a nostalgic homage to the era, with a blend of entertaining and cringeworthy moments.

    • “Beat Cop is a throwback to the gritty, 80s detective shows, but with a hilarious twist.”
    • “The humor is top-notch and the writing is clever, so you'll be laughing out loud the whole way through.”
    • “The game is really humorous and all the things you have to juggle each day keep the game interesting.”
    • “Tedious, clunky, and unfunny.”
    • “The NPCs walking around with random bits of dialogue are supposed to be funny and edgy, but they are just repetitive and offensive.”
    • “It's not funny, which for a game that tries so hard to be funny is incredibly tragic.”
  • graphics203 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming retro pixel art style that effectively captures the essence of 1980s urban life, with vibrant colors and detailed environments that enhance the nostalgic experience. While some players appreciate the aesthetic and find it immersive, others criticize the pixelation for making characters appear blurry and the visuals somewhat simplistic. Overall, the graphics are well-received by fans of the genre, though they may not appeal to those seeking modern graphical fidelity.

    • “Its retro pixel art style was what caught my eye; I love this kind of art direction. It's beautiful, colorful, and vivid, depicting the stink of the city, the crowded spaces, the rushing hours, the smog-ridden skies, and the worst of an American city in the '80s.”
    • “The pixel graphics are really good, quite detailed with a great use of vibrant colors and scenery, with little touches here and there that make you want to stop and stare.”
    • “The pixel art style matches the theme and setting of the game, creating a nostalgic experience that resonates with fans of retro aesthetics.”
    • “The game uses pixelated visuals, with a limited pixel count without any outline to make the characters look blurry.”
    • “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
    • “While there are options to change the resolution for the game, all this does is scale up the simplistic low-quality art assets used to make the game, which makes little or no difference to the graphics quality.”
  • music129 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its authentic 80s vibe and catchy synth-based tracks that enhance the nostalgic atmosphere. However, some players noted the limited number of tracks, leading to repetitiveness during gameplay, and expressed a desire for a more diverse soundtrack. Overall, while the music is often highlighted as a strong point, its lack of variety detracts from the experience for some players.

    • “The setting is one of the game's highlights, with a vibrant recreation of the 1980s, from the soundtrack to the set design and visual aesthetics.”
    • “The game's pixel art and retro soundtrack perfectly capture the era's essence, and the dark, humorous storytelling keeps you hooked.”
    • “The music is really good with plenty of nice tracks that give this great 80s feel to it, and there are also a lot of references to classic cop shows and movies.”
    • “When it comes to music, there isn't much to say; there are a few tracks here and there, but it is mostly the background noises of the citizens and the city, the running cars, and the crowds moving from one side to the other.”
    • “The music also didn't help - it's like 2 or 3 tracks looped together, which gets really boring really quickly.”
    • “But the official soundtrack by Piotr Musiał is just 4 tracks, and that is definitely not enough for 7-8 hours of gameplay.”
  • stability64 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous players reporting persistent bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay, such as character freezing, mission failures, and the need to restart days. Despite its fun concept and aesthetic, many feel the game remains unfinished and frustratingly unplayable due to these technical issues, which have not been adequately addressed even years after release. Overall, the consensus is that while the game has potential, its stability problems detract from the overall experience.

    • “My problem is that it's still somewhat buggy years after its release and I can't even progress in the game after getting halfway through it due to just getting shot dead in the street by a hitman and I have no idea why, which means restarting the day all over again repeatedly.”
    • “Game is terribly bugged, the common one is when the character freezes and nothing can be done besides restarting the day and losing everything.”
    • “This game had so much potential and I wanted to love this game, but unfortunately it feels largely unfinished and far too buggy to truly enjoy.”
  • grinding54 mentions

    The reviews highlight a significant issue with grinding in the game, describing it as tedious and repetitive, often leading to frustration. While some players appreciate the nostalgic and narrative elements, many find the gameplay mechanics dull and the tasks overly grindy, detracting from overall enjoyment. The lack of variety and the presence of bugs further exacerbate the grind, making it a challenging experience for those seeking engaging gameplay.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Although the task of writing tickets may seem boring, it is not very tedious and quotas are not too hard to meet. What gives the story flavor is the decisions you have to make regarding factions and the scandal.”
    • “Well, despite the praise, Beat Cop is tedious, simply boring, and lacking tension, action, and attractive gameplay. I did not have fun at all as the assignments are repetitive.”
    • “Unfortunately, the gameplay becomes tedious very quickly. There are glitches that make the game stop, and the storyline itself ends up feeling like it doesn't matter.”
    • “Beat Cop has some good things going for it but becomes tedious due to the repetitive nature of tasks, a terrible tow system, a game-stopping reputation system, and bugs.”
  • replayability35 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it features multiple endings and branching narratives influenced by player choices, many players find the repetitive daily tasks and limited variety in gameplay diminish the overall replay value. Some appreciate the nostalgic charm and engaging story, suggesting that the desire to explore different outcomes can motivate additional playthroughs, but others feel that a single playthrough is often sufficient. Overall, the game offers decent replayability for those interested in uncovering all its narrative paths, though it may not appeal to everyone.

    • “Despite some repetitiveness in the daily grind, the game elicits a nostalgic charm filled with replayability, making this a standout indie title for fans of retro aesthetics and narrative-driven gameplay.”
    • “The game's characters are well-written and memorable, and the multiple endings give the story a strong sense of replayability.”
    • “There are multiple endings depending on how you play out the game, which is always fun, and along with the achievements, it creates some nice replayability.”
    • “While this leaves room for replayability, many of the more mundane day-to-day tasks will bog down those wanting to try different routes.”
    • “It seems to have serious replay value also based on how you want to play the game.”
    • “The game has adequate replay value, as you have choices throughout the game.”
  • atmosphere33 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its authentic 80s Brooklyn setting, enhanced by a fitting art style and soundtrack that evoke a nostalgic vibe reminiscent of American action cinema. While many players appreciate the rich world-building and humor, some find the excessive dialogue and forced retro elements detract from the overall experience. Despite minor gameplay issues, the game's atmosphere remains a standout feature that captivates players.

    • “Narrative and setting: Beat Cop stands out for its rich narrative and authentic 80s atmosphere.”
    • “The narrative features branching paths and distinct moral choices that keep players invested in the main storyline, while the art style and 80s-inspired soundtrack contribute to creating an amazing atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is delightful and the game itself feels like a cheesy movie in the best of ways!”
    • “Sometimes it is hard to keep up with the dialogue and the narrative; too many dialogue boxes at the same time are disorienting or too long, filled with useless information and casual conversations that add nothing to the plot. They exist only to spice things up, but in the end, you just want to skip them due to how dull they feel. It seems they want to capture the 80s atmosphere of Brooklyn like in the movies; however, you just want to be over and done with your daily routine.”
    • “Neither was believable, with the beat cop in particular being poorly written. Both characters seemed subtly sadistic toward the player/main character, and their use of absurdist humor and forced choices clashed with the atmosphere and rules the game had previously established.”
    • “[h1] Great art and good atmosphere, but horrible writing and a forgettable story turn this seemingly promising game into a dull clickfest of repetitive tasks.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its engaging story filled with mystery and moral dilemmas, alongside touching and humorous side stories that deepen character connections. Players feel a sense of nostalgia and camaraderie with the characters, likening them to old friends, although some find the overall narrative lacking in excitement.

    • “The story is pretty good; it has a nice mystery with plenty of great twists in it. There are also some interesting side stories, some of which can be touching and others that are really funny.”
    • “It is an engaging experience that will definitely question the player’s moral choices by touching upon the different dilemmas of its troubled era.”
    • “You get to know all of the characters as if they are those college friends you forgot, all the while doing a wholesome and satisfying job of keeping your beat-route safe.”
    • “It's a neat concept, but the story is boring and lacks emotional depth, making it feel like not much actually happens.”
    • “The game tries to evoke emotions, but it falls flat and feels more like a chore than an engaging experience.”
    • “While the visuals are stunning, the emotional impact is minimal, leaving players feeling disconnected from the characters.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The optimization of the game is mixed; while some users appreciate its smooth performance on low-end PCs, others report significant issues, including frequent crashes and frame rate stutters, even on capable systems. Overall, the game's performance can be inconsistent, leading to frustration for some players.

    • “Plus it runs smoothly on even the weakest of PCs, so it's a nice change from having to worry about frame rates.”
    • “It just goes on day by day with the chief making references to your pass/fail performance on various topics.”
    • “Like many Steam games, this one is a poorly optimized glitch-fest that crashes early and often.”
    • “Sometimes the frame rate stutters while moving down the street even though there is no reason for this game to have performance issues on my computer.”
    • “They are time management-focused tasks which can impact your overall end-of-day performance.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many users feeling that it is a poorly executed mobile app masquerading as a PC game. The promotional materials, including trailers, are seen as misleading, showcasing high-quality animations that do not reflect the actual gameplay experience, leading to disappointment among players. Overall, the game's approach to monetization has left a negative impression, with users feeling exploited by the developers.

    • “Beat Cop is a mobile app that's been dumped on Steam as if it was a real PC game (it's not)... it's a cash grab from greedy mobile devs. The game is a 2D retro pixel side-scrolling adventure game with a 1980's street cop theme.”
    • “All those fancy pixel animations you see in the trailers and store page, think of them as ads for mobile games; none of what’s being shown is close to what’s in the game, and it’s there just to sell you nonsense.”
    • “Now, I first heard of this game from an advertisement, and I immediately recognized a 'Papers, Please' lookalike from a mile away.”
  • character development3 mentions

    The game excels in character development, with diverse and well-designed characters that reflect the gritty urban atmosphere. Players appreciate the natural progression of character arcs, even within an episodic format, and commend the engaging dialogue that enhances the overall experience. Overall, it is highly rated for its strong character-driven storytelling.

    • “Great atmosphere, great world-building. I love that the local character development feels natural despite being written in an episodic way.”
    • “I think 'Beat Cop' deserves an 8.5 for being strong enough to captivate anyone who craves good character development and witty dialogue.”
    • “Color and lighting effects give the game a gritty urban feel, and character designs accurately reflect the diverse personalities found within the neighborhood.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
    • “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, leaving me wanting more complexity.”
    • “Despite the interesting setting, the characters don't evolve in a meaningful way throughout the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

65% average critic score

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Play time

9hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
7-13hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 9 analyzed playthroughs

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