Contraband Police

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 7,132 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Contraband Police Game Cover
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In Contraband Police, play as a border patrol officer in 1981 tasked with scrutinizing travelers' documents and preventing contraband smuggling. With the aid of intelligence reports, conduct vehicle searches using UV flashlights and specialized tools. As situations escalate, you may need to resort to using firearms. Accurate document examination and successful contraband detection are crucial to maintain border security.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 7,132 reviews
story362 positive mentions
grinding51 negative mentions
  • story1,265 mentions

    The story in "Contraband Police" is generally described as engaging but somewhat short, with a campaign lasting around 10-15 hours. Players appreciate the branching narrative that allows them to choose between supporting the government or rebels, leading to different endings, though some feel the story lacks depth and character development. While the main gameplay revolves around border inspections, the inclusion of side missions and story events adds variety, although many players express a desire for an endless mode to continue playing after completing the story.

    • “The story is also a big plus; this game is really creative in its story events, making you choose between the government and the rebels.”
    • “The campaign is actually fun and interesting, with decisions altering the end and story throughout.”
    • “The story is engaging and can turn your perspective, and I believe this is what the developers intended.”
    • “The story lacks any stakes - the protagonist is just an empty shell who exists only to work at the border post.”
    • “The story is also a big plus, this game is really creative in its story events, making you choose between the government and the rebels.”
    • “The overall story is pretty meh with little to draw you in.”
  • gameplay742 mentions

    The gameplay in "Contraband Police" is a blend of document inspection and vehicle searches, reminiscent of "Papers, Please," but expanded with driving and shooting mechanics. While the core gameplay loop is engaging and offers a variety of tasks, many players find it repetitive over time, with some mechanics feeling underdeveloped or clunky, particularly in driving and combat. Overall, the game provides a solid experience for fans of simulation and strategy genres, though it could benefit from further polish and refinement.

    • “The gameplay loop is highly addicting and you'll find hours pass as you go about your duties as a border patrol officer.”
    • “The core gameplay loop revolves around stopping vehicles, inspecting them, and searching for hidden contraband.”
    • “The gameplay is fun, interesting enough to engage and varied.”
    • “Despite the relative variety that the campaign and side missions may provide, the core part of gameplay doesn't change much.”
    • “However, the repetitive nature of the core mechanics might wear thin after extended play sessions.”
    • “The limited variety of tasks and repetitive nature of the gameplay quickly become tedious, lacking the depth and variety needed to keep players engaged.”
  • graphics267 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising them as decent or good for an indie title, while others criticize them as outdated or subpar, often likening them to early 2010s visuals. Many reviewers note that despite the graphical shortcomings, the gameplay and overall experience remain enjoyable, suggesting that graphics may not be a priority for all players. Overall, while the visuals may not impress everyone, they are often considered adequate for the game's mechanics and narrative.

    • “It has action-packed storylines with great graphics!”
    • “The graphics are amazing, the story is amazing, everything about this game is perfect.”
    • “With superb graphics, well-crafted game mechanics, and a high level of realism, this title offers a fun and captivating experience, taking police simulations to the next level.”
    • “Bad graphics even with full settings and decent PC, don't recommend for the price paid.”
    • “The graphics are outdated.”
    • “I purchased this game expecting what I saw in videos and was met with pure disappointment; the graphics are horrible, the frame rate is god awful, and everything in general is just not what it looked like.”
  • grinding97 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players noting that it can be excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time to complete tasks and achieve goals. While some players find enjoyment in the grind and appreciate the game's mechanics, others feel that the repetitive nature of certain activities, such as driving and completing inspections, detracts from the overall experience. Overall, players suggest that while the game is fun, it may require a "second life" to fully engage with its grinding elements.

    • “It's not too grindy, but I had some computer trouble with my overclocked RAM (not the game's fault) and I had to restart from a 100% save.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The limited variety of tasks and repetitive nature of the gameplay quickly become tedious, lacking the depth and variety needed to keep players engaged.”
    • “The tedious back and forth, micromanagement, driving for ages from point A, B and return every single night.”
  • humor87 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with many players finding it hilarious and engaging, particularly through its quirky interactions and satirical take on border patrol. While some reviewers note it lacks the charm of similar titles like "Papers, Please," the comedic elements, including absurd situations and witty character lines, contribute to an enjoyable experience. Overall, the game is described as funny and entertaining, especially for those familiar with Eastern European culture.

    • “This game is hilarious and fun!”
    • “The character lines are also pretty funny!”
    • “From accidentally frisking goats to chasing smugglers like it's the Olympics, you won't stop laughing.”
  • optimization69 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues, including frame rate drops and stuttering, particularly on lower-end systems. While some users report that it runs well out of the box and express hope for future optimization patches, others highlight that the game heavily utilizes system resources, leading to a less enjoyable experience. Despite its fun gameplay and potential, the consensus is that substantial improvements in optimization are needed to enhance performance across various hardware configurations.

    • “It performs great out of the box and with more planned future optimization, this game will be a must-have for every Steam Deck user.”
    • “Came back now for new game modes, lots of improvements, optimizations, bug fixes, and quality of life enhancements.”
    • “Well optimized, which surprised me (most indie games are not at launch).”
    • “Great concept but too many hitches and stuttering for my liking (12700KF, 4080, SSD), it detracted a lot from being able to enjoy it.”
    • “The frequent rendering delay of structures and objects, the inconsistency of the low-pass filter on dialogue and SFX, and the overall lack of optimization overshadow the gleam off this game, which is a shame, because there is crazy, underlying potential in this game.”
    • “This game is fun as hell and very addicting but it is so poorly optimized; they update this game very frequently so it probably will be fixed.”
  • replayability68 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits high replayability, with many players praising its engaging campaign, branching storylines, and additional modes that enhance replay value. While some reviews note limitations in content and repetitive elements, the promise of future updates and modes, such as an endless mode, suggests potential for even greater replayability. Many players find themselves drawn to multiple playthroughs to explore different choices and outcomes, making it a fun and addictive experience.

    • “Thankfully it has two additional modes aside from the story, and they add a lot of replay value due to the variety of entrants that can show up.”
    • “The branching storylines add replay value, encouraging multiple playthroughs to explore different outcomes.”
    • “This game was well worth the price, generous with replay value so far especially with plans to implement a sandbox mode.”
    • “Doesn't have the kind of replay value a game like this needs.”
    • “However, there are certain mechanics and a lack of content that make it less than replayable.”
    • “Not really replayable since there is only the story mode and nothing else as of now.”
  • stability58 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant number of bugs and glitches that can hinder gameplay, such as freezing, graphical issues, and quest-related problems. While some users report a generally enjoyable experience despite these issues, others find the bugs game-breaking and recommend waiting for further updates. Overall, the developers are acknowledged for their efforts to address these stability concerns, but the game remains notably unpolished.

    • “After the last fix update, the game runs great without any issues. Now I can enjoy this game again, thanks devs! :D”
    • “A positive review is merited simply for creating such a unique game, generally well-polished and bug-free.”
    • “Also, I can't recall the last time I played a newly released game that has been this bug-free so far.”
    • “It is a great game, but note that it is quite buggy.”
    • “Graphical issues, glitches, soft locks, events not triggering, freezes, quest issues, etc.”
    • “As of right now, I can't recommend this game due to just how much work is still needed to get rid of game-breaking bugs and glitches.”
  • music46 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the atmospheric and haunting soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience, while others note a lack of variety and repetition in the tracks. Many enjoy pairing the game with their own playlists, suggesting that the in-game music could benefit from additional songs. Overall, while the music is appreciated for its quality and mood-setting capabilities, it is often seen as limited and in need of expansion.

    • “A fun game to relax and listen to music, exciting story with many endings, decisions matter, a thrill every once in a while, fun to find smugglers and chase down runners.”
    • “The haunting soundtrack further complements the mood, creating an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty.”
    • “Great game, great story, great music.”
    • “There is no music in this game.”
    • “I had permanent ambush music blasting in my ears because it did not register I beat the ambush.”
    • “The music never reverts back to normal, so I wind up inspecting cars with this tense combat music, and it makes it a little more difficult.”
  • atmosphere43 mentions

    The game's atmosphere effectively captures the gritty tension of a cold war-era communist republic, with detailed visuals and sound design that enhance immersion. While some players appreciate the authentic setting and engaging elements, others feel the exploration of this atmosphere lacks depth and can become repetitive. Overall, the atmosphere is a strong point, providing a compelling backdrop for gameplay, though it may not fully satisfy all players' expectations.

    • “The game’s atmosphere is gritty, with a strong sense of tension as you carefully inspect documents, search vehicles, and uncover hidden contraband.”
    • “The haunting soundtrack further complements the mood, creating an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty.”
    • “The game's setting is gritty, and the overall atmosphere successfully captures the tension and paranoia of a cold war-era border outpost.”
    • “The game creates a somewhat convincing atmosphere of a communist republic but doesn't explore this setting in any depth.”
    • “I think my biggest problem with it is that the writing and atmosphere aren't even close to equals between them.”
    • “Atmosphere: I think the game would be more immersive if it felt like you were trapped in a miserable landscape instead of a stock desktop background.”
  • emotional13 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players find it evokes feelings of guilt and empathy through its storytelling and character interactions, others feel it lacks the depth and philosophical weight of similar titles like "Papers, Please." The game's mechanics, such as immediate financial penalties, detract from the emotional impact, though certain elements, like the heartfelt letters from characters, add a layer of emotional complexity. Overall, players appreciate the emotional engagement but note that it could be enhanced through better character development and narrative choices.

    • “Overall, really fun experience on and off stream and the end credits are very wholesome.”
    • “The ending is perfect, gameplay is perfect, and the letter system was so interesting and emotional.”
    • “This game has no right to be so emotional; I feel bad for the majority of the people I stop from crossing, and the sad letters sometimes sent by them about how you ruined their lives just makes it worse.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization model of the game is generally viewed positively, as players appreciate receiving a complete experience without microtransactions, justifying its price of around 20 euros. However, there are concerns regarding misleading advertising, particularly the absence of female characters in-game despite their prominent presence in promotional materials. Overall, the game is seen as offering good value for money.

    • “The advertising for this game belies its lack of content and polish.”
    • “I haven't played it that much yet, so I don't know how many hours of gameplay the game has, but for its price of about 20 euros, I do think I would recommend this game, as it actually seems to provide lots of gameplay elements that justify the price, and isn't just a cash grab.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game is largely criticized for being minimal and forgettable, with players noting a lack of engaging story elements and memorable characters. The gameplay mechanics do not enhance character growth, leaving a sense of blandness and missed potential for deeper skill development and narrative engagement.

    • “It would be fun to have character development and skills.”
    • “However, the story is kind of bland. There is no character development; you see the characters after finishing the game, but you don't really remember them.”
    • “The character development is just bog-standard, lacking depth and engagement.”
    • “The game fails to provide interesting dilemmas with consequences, which further detracts from character development.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

12hMedian play time
15hAverage play time
6-18hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 45 analyzed playthroughs

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