The Big Con

97%
Game Brain Score Based on 259 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
The Big Con Game Cover
The Big Con is a welcome nod to one of the coolest decades of all time, featuring some great writing, beautiful visuals, and fun gameplay.
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In "The Big Con," players step into the shoes of Ali, a teenage con artist out to save her family's video store. With a variety of disguises and cons at your disposal, you'll need to outsmart employees and security guards to pull off heists in 1990s America. It's a lighthearted, story-driven adventure that combines humor and charm with a unique con artistry gameplay mechanic.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • Cloud
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

97%
Audience ScoreBased on 259 reviews
story39 positive mentions
stability5 negative mentions
  • The game features a charming 90's aesthetic with vibrant art style and engaging characters, making it a nostalgic delight.
  • The writing is humorous and heartfelt, with a fun story that keeps players entertained throughout the short playtime.
  • Gameplay is simple yet enjoyable, with a unique pickpocketing mechanic and plenty of side quests and collectibles to discover.
  • The game can feel repetitive, as it relies heavily on a single pickpocketing mini-game and lacks variety in gameplay mechanics.
  • Some players experienced bugs and glitches that affected their gameplay experience, including issues with NPC interactions and quest progression.
  • The story, while charming, may feel predictable and lacks depth, leaving some players wanting more substantial content.
  • story113 mentions

    The game's story is generally described as charming, fun, and engaging, with a nostalgic 90s aesthetic that enhances the experience. While some reviewers noted its simplicity and predictability, many appreciated the well-written humor, interesting characters, and the emotional undertones of the narrative. Overall, it offers a light-hearted adventure that keeps players entertained through its exploration and character interactions, making it a worthwhile experience for those who enjoy story-driven games.

    • “The story is rich with amazing characters, a lot of well-written humor, and an amazing comic style.”
    • “I love that they had an unexpected ending that isn't the typical 'and everyone died!'; the game manages to take the story to an 'unplanned' place while still having a satisfying ending.”
    • “Genuinely a very emotionally affecting coming-of-age story, but also a silly, fun adventure game with lots of charming characters and a surprisingly engaging gameplay loop.”
    • “The story is brief and easy to get, the art is amazing, the OST is perfect, and the humor is the best part!”
    • “With so little gameplay mechanics, the story needed to carry the weight, which it clearly does not.”
    • “There are no story-altering choices, which is kind of disappointing because the overall plot and characters were charming.”
  • gameplay68 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and charm, featuring light stealth and puzzle elements, particularly through a fun pickpocketing mechanic. While many players appreciate the engaging story and art style, some note that the gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth, with calls for more mechanics or challenging elements. Overall, it offers an enjoyable experience that prioritizes narrative and humor over complex gameplay.

    • “A really fun story plus the satisfying gameplay make for an awesome experience.”
    • “There's multiple ways to complete a number of quests, which is always appreciated in this type of light stealth/puzzle gameplay.”
    • “Genuinely a very emotionally affecting coming-of-age story, but also a silly, fun adventure game with lots of charming characters and a surprisingly engaging gameplay loop.”
    • “The gameplay loop is simple, and does start to feel repetitive towards the end.”
    • “I really wanted to like this game but there just wasn't much to the gameplay and the tone just felt inauthentic.”
    • “The gameplay itself is pretty mundane, so don't pick up this game for that reason.”
  • graphics66 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and nostalgic 90s aesthetic, which effectively captures the charm of the era through colorful character designs and backgrounds. Many players appreciate the unique art style, describing it as fun and engaging, with a strong connection to classic cartoons and sitcoms. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, enhancing the game's appeal and contributing significantly to the overall experience.

    • “The art style is incredible and breathes life into the entire world.”
    • “I love the art style of the game; it's very colorful and sets the vibe of the 1990s really well!”
    • “The aesthetic is a major highlight of the game, as it looks and feels very '90s cartoon', down to the geometric patterns in the out-of-bounds borders.”
    • “The visuals are pretty 50/50.”
    • “Really eh, the same pickpocketing mini-game gets pretty boring (and it's not really that hard in the first place). The game is almost entirely carried by its art style.”
    • “I won't berate the game by saying it is 'made for children' or anything, but the art style and the casual approach to gameplay definitely can bring in a younger audience, and that can be problematic in my opinion.”
  • music45 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its catchy themes and nostalgic 90s vibe, effectively complementing the art style and gameplay. While some players find the soundtrack repetitive or lacking in variety, many highlight standout tracks, particularly the main menu theme, as memorable and enjoyable. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's charm and atmosphere, making it a notable aspect for players.

    • “The music is awesome, the story is fun to follow, and there are tons of interesting characters.”
    • “The story is brief and easy to get, the art is amazing, the OST is perfect and the humor is the best part!”
    • “The music is fantastic throughout.”
    • “To mention some of my criticisms, I think the music is a bit too samey and doesn't quite manage to evoke the feeling of nostalgia that it could have achieved.”
    • “Wish it was fully voice acted, as the music is pretty bad and I just end up turning down the volume because of the minimal voicework.”
    • “The art style is super cute and the music is a bit simple and repetitive but fits perfectly with the game.”
  • humor36 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, memorable characters, and a blend of quirky and dry comedy that resonates well with players. While some reviews note that the humor can be hit-or-miss and the story may be generic, the overall charm and comedic moments contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a delightful experience. Players appreciate the balance of humor with heartfelt moments, creating a fun and engaging atmosphere throughout the gameplay.

    • “Great and funny writing with smooth gameplay to go along with.”
    • “The story is brief and easy to get, the art is amazing, the OST is perfect, and the humor is the best part!”
    • “Seriously though, it’s a marvelous adventure full of hilarious and heartwarming moments.”
  • emotional12 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt storytelling and nostalgic themes, evoking warmth and a sense of longing for simpler times. Players appreciate the blend of humor and wholesome moments, with memorable characters and a charming narrative that creates a genuinely affecting experience despite its unconventional premise. Overall, the game successfully combines fun and emotional depth, making it a delightful adventure.

    • “There are some legitimately heartfelt moments, mixed with tinges of nostalgia and a longing for what we thought were simpler times as kids.”
    • “Genuinely a very emotionally affecting coming-of-age story, but also a silly, fun adventure game with lots of charming characters and a surprisingly engaging gameplay loop.”
    • “Seriously though, it’s a marvellous adventure full of hilarious and heartwarming moments.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game's stability is generally acceptable, with some users noting minor glitches that are easily overlooked. However, several players reported more significant bugs that affected their experience, including audio and animation issues, as well as NPC behavior problems. While these glitches detracted from the overall enjoyment for some, others found the game still enjoyable despite these flaws.

    • “I refunded this game, not because it's a bad game, it's a good one, but it's just been really buggy. Most of it was spoiled for me, and after a while, it starts to feel like a feedback loop of the same process.”
    • “Some of the issues I had with this game were the reused character models, and I would have liked a montage of [spoiler] Ali returning the money [/spoiler]. Secondly, there are a few audio and animation character glitches.”
    • “There are some weird glitches here and there, such as NPCs going somewhere they're not supposed to and becoming big when talking to characters.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some appreciate features that allow them to skip tedious minigames, others criticize the slow walking speed and large areas that contribute to a sense of tedium. However, the comedic side missions provide a refreshing break from the grind, making the overall gameplay feel less monotonous.

    • “The gameplay was simplistic but not tedious, featuring side missions that are extremely comedic in nature.”
    • “Grinding in this game feels rewarding, as each level up brings a sense of accomplishment.”
    • “The variety of tasks available during grinding keeps the experience fresh and engaging.”
    • “Pairing that with a slow walking speed and unnecessarily large areas to navigate makes playing this game a bit tedious.”
    • “And yeah, it was almost as tedious as they were in AC.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable to revisit due to its engaging story and characters, others feel it lacks significant replay value. The presence of different choices offers some incentive to replay, but the experience may not be compelling enough for everyone.

    • “Good story, fun characters, replayable without getting bored if you miss things on your first play.”
    • “Low replayability.”
    • “I appreciate that there are some different options one can take, which adds some replay value.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The game's monetization strategy relies heavily on YouTube ads, which some users feel is essential for its discovery, suggesting that it may be underrated and deserving of more attention.

  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is generally described as pleasant and enjoyable, contributing positively to the overall experience.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

71% average critic score

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