Neo Cab

Neo Cab is a chilling cyberpunk story that never loses sight of its character’s humanity.

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Neo Cab is a narrative-driven, emotional survival game set in a futuristic city with driver/passenger interactions shaping the story. As the last human driver for an app called Neo Cab, you must balance your personal life and the mysterious events around you, all while trying to find your missing friend. Your choices and conversations matter, as they impact your relationship with passengers and the overall outcome of your story.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 814 reviews

story219 positive mentions

grinding10 negative mentions

Great writing and engaging story with interesting characters.
Unique emotional mechanics that influence dialogue choices, adding depth to interactions.
Beautiful visuals and a captivating soundtrack that enhance the overall atmosphere.

Limited replayability due to the short length and inability to explore all character arcs in one playthrough.
Some dialogue options are locked based on the protagonist's emotional state, which can be frustrating.
The main plot feels rushed and underwhelming, lacking a satisfying conclusion.

story
529 mentions
41 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of "Neo Cab" is characterized by its immersive narrative and well-developed characters, exploring themes of friendship, toxic relationships, and the impact of technology on human connections. While many players appreciated the engaging side stories of the passengers, some felt the main plot was underwhelming and too linear, limiting player agency and leading to a somewhat abrupt conclusion. Overall, the game is praised for its unique storytelling approach within a vibrant cyberpunk setting, though it leaves some players wanting more depth and choice in the overarching narrative.
- “The story is really immersive and perfect to chill.”
- “I wasn't expecting much when I bought it, I thought I'd like the game's vibes and the world, but the story was surprisingly very gripping.”
- “At its core, under the cyberpunk neon tint, Neo Cab is a story of friendship and about those flaky friends who use and abuse you, and it tells its story quite well.”
- “However, the broader personal narrative for the protagonist and the limited options we have at expressing our own agency within the story left me frustrated.”
- “But the main plot of searching for your friend and uncovering what on earth she got involved in fell rather short in my opinion.”
- “The overarching plot is... okay, with a decent reveal at the end, but the various passengers are what brought me back for a second and third playthrough.”
graphics
138 mentions
59 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received largely positive feedback, with many players praising the beautiful, colorful art style that effectively captures a neo-futuristic and cyberpunk aesthetic. While some noted that the environments can feel sparse or basic, the character designs and overall visual presentation are often described as stunning and engaging, enhancing the game's atmosphere and storytelling. However, a few critiques mention that the graphics do not push technical boundaries, and the lack of voice acting may detract from immersion for some players.
- “The whole art style is very colorful, pleasing, and in great style, fitting that neo-future aesthetic the game is going for.”
- “The graphics (especially the backgrounds) are so gorgeous, colorful, and detailed.”
- “The visuals are really good, the animations - especially the facial expressions - are really well done.”
- “The graphics and music are nothing to write home about - some of the models of people just look 'off' and facial expressions often look a bit alien.”
- “While the graphics are minimal (characters are well designed, but the city itself is disappointingly never more than a blur), the real strength of the game is its writing.”
- “At some points the framerate just drops even though the game doesn't look graphically demanding.”
gameplay
137 mentions
23 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Neo Cab" is primarily dialogue-driven, blending visual novel elements with light management mechanics, such as managing finances and emotional states. While the emotional mechanics add a unique layer to interactions, they can also frustrate players by limiting choices based on the protagonist's mood. Overall, the gameplay is simple and short, with a runtime of about 4 hours, which may leave some players wanting more depth and variety.
- “So in a sense, Neo Cab is a hybrid of a visual novel story and management gameplay which involves serving customers, making enough money to get by, and making sure your star rating stays high.”
- “The gameplay is different from your common 'game-for-lunch'.”
- “The gameplay has a lot more depth than a typical visual novel.”
- “The gameplay is very barebones and the story ends before it even gets going.”
- “The stakes are low and the gameplay just isn't compelling.”
- “Unfortunately, there is no 'survival' or 'casual' gameplay for you to keep driving.”
music
132 mentions
62 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, often described as chill, ambient, and fitting for the cyberpunk aesthetic. While many reviewers appreciate the soundtrack's ability to enhance the overall experience, some note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the combination of beautiful visuals and a captivating soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's engaging narrative and emotional depth.
- “The music is chill yet melancholy in a way that suits the nighttime ambiance.”
- “The soundtrack is the highlight of this game where you drive around a city as a taxi driver, picking up all kinds of people and talking to them.”
- “The art style and the soundtrack are beautiful and made me want to just drive around and look at everything a bit longer.”
- “The drawbacks, for me, are mainly the repetitive soundtrack, and the lack of choice.”
- “Annoyances - the music tracks are all too short and the looping of it gets very repetitive.”
- “The conversations are not voiced over and there is only OST playing in the background with small environment sounds, and the last one is weak.”
emotional
115 mentions
99 % positive mentions
-2 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is a central theme, exploring complex relationships and emotional manipulation through a unique gameplay mechanic that ties the protagonist's emotional state to dialogue choices. Players appreciate the depth and realism of character interactions, though some find the limitations imposed by emotional states frustrating, as they can restrict agency and lead to feelings of cognitive dissonance. Overall, the game is praised for its heartfelt storytelling and the way it engages players in an emotional journey, despite some critiques regarding its execution and pacing.
- “It's a visual novel where you have conversations with people you give cab rides to, with light emotional mechanics that change dialogue choices.”
- “The character has a great emotional journey, the atmosphere is excellent, and there's some fun surprises.”
- “An emotional roller coaster of a game that touches on topics of emotional abuse and gaslighting in a way I haven't seen a lot of games do well!”
- “The story felt flat and uninspired, lacking any emotional depth.”
- “I found the narrative to be dull and unengaging, which made it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “The emotional moments fell completely flat, leaving me feeling indifferent to the storyline.”
atmosphere
47 mentions
79 % positive mentions
15 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and vibrant qualities, particularly its cyberpunk aesthetic and atmospheric soundtrack, which effectively evoke a sense of place and mood. Many reviewers highlight the combination of beautiful visuals, interesting characters, and a chill ambiance that enhances the overall experience, despite some noting that the writing and storyline could be improved. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as captivating and engaging, making it a standout feature for players.
- “I liked the atmosphere, the tunes, and the challenges of being a gig worker in a future dystopia.”
- “With a cyberpunk aesthetic, atmospheric soundtrack, and deliberate social commentary, Neo Cab makes for a savored experience.”
- “The atmosphere is wonderful, with visual aesthetics and perfect music combining to very vibrantly evoke a noirish, emotional mood.”
- “The real selling point is the neon-drenched, cyberpunk atmosphere that encourages you to just sink into it (though this game doesn't do that nearly as well as VA-11 Hall-A).”
- “I, however, missed voiceover a lot; I personally think it would boost the atmosphere of this game.”
- “The animated graphics were well done; the 3D world itself is a little empty and samey, but it's basically just something nice to spice up the visual novel portion, so I wasn't that bothered.”
replayability
42 mentions
40 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game offers a solid degree of replayability, primarily due to its diverse cast of characters and branching dialogue options, allowing players to experience different interactions and outcomes across multiple playthroughs. However, some players feel that the emotional system and minor differences in choices may limit the incentive to replay, while others appreciate the opportunity to explore various passenger stories. Overall, the replay value is considered good, especially for those who enjoy character-driven narratives and achieving different endings.
- “The game has a good amount of replayability; I've played through three times just to have involved conversations with all the passengers, and the meat of it comes in how you survive on the bit of money you can make through fares.”
- “This game has a good degree of replay value as there are a lot of different passengers with their own stories that I genuinely enjoyed playing through.”
- “While there are branching dialog options, for the most part the resulting differences are too minor to provide much replay value, so you'll probably have a better experience if you can get enough out of your first playthrough to not need a second one.”
- “Limited replayability due to how the game is structured and the lack of save files.”
- “This may add replay value, but I don't really want to restart now and have to play through the plot again, just to meet more of the characters and get through more conversations.”
humor
13 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by witty and engaging dialogue that often elicits genuine laughter, with a diverse cast of characters who bring both comedic and poignant moments to the narrative. Players appreciate the clever writing that avoids clichés, offering unexpected and original interactions that reflect a range of human experiences, from the hilarious to the dark. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted yet meaningful layer to the game's exploration of a dystopian world.
- “The minute-to-minute dialogue is interesting and some of the characters are hilarious.”
- “It's a depressing world that is far too reminiscent of our real world... but there is a quirky cast of people to pick up and some of the conversations are legitimately funny enough that I laughed out loud.”
- “Clever, funny, and chill.”
grinding
10 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, particularly due to slow text interactions and the inability to fast forward through dialogue, which detracts from engagement and enjoyment. Many reviews highlight that the repetitive nature of conversations and the lack of character development lead to frustration, making the experience feel more like a chore than an enjoyable narrative. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant drawback, overshadowing any potential interesting interactions.
- “For example, the text messaging dialogue between Lina and Savy was beyond tedious as I was forced to wait for her to slowly type her responses back to you, especially when I was forced to load back at certain points and replay just to finish certain achievements.”
- “My big complaint is that there appears to be no way to fast forward through text, which makes replays more tedious than they should be.”
- “This game grew tedious quickly and by the end, I didn't give a damn about either character.”
character development
9 mentions
78 % positive mentions
-11 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Overall, the character development in the game is praised for its unique and aesthetically pleasing designs, particularly in the cyberpunk genre, which enhances the world-building experience. However, some reviewers feel that while the visuals are striking, the depth of character development may not be as strong, especially in the absence of voice acting. The combination of beautiful artwork and interesting character design is appreciated, but there are concerns about the repetitiveness of the aesthetic.
- “The world building and character development is a marvel given the constraints of the game, to include a lack of voice acting.”
- “Always a fan of good art and character development.”
- “The pros: gorgeous artwork and interesting neo-futurist character design.”
- “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 premise, the characters don't evolve in meaningful ways throughout the story.”
optimization
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is notably poor, with reports of it being a poorly executed port from mobile that struggles to run smoothly and lacks substantial gameplay. While some users appreciate its style and find it generally runs well, others experience bugs and performance issues that detract from the overall experience.
- “The main story can also end in different ways depending on your actions and your performance in an argumentative 'boss battle' toward the end.”
- “Pretty tippidy toppidy nice... I like it... has style... a bit buggy at some moments but overall runs smoothly... would be neat if there was like a 'free ride' moment where you can finish up conversations with all the people, I guess.”
- “Horribly optimized port of a mobile game (Apple Arcade) which barely works and doesn't even really have any gameplay in it at all.”
stability
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with users noting that it runs smoothly despite some minor bugs and glitches. However, there are reports of freezing issues when quitting the game, which can be frustrating.
- “There were a few glitches in the middle of the game.”
- “It freezes every time I quit the game!”
- “It is a bit buggy at some moments but overall runs smoothly.”