The Swindle

66%
Game Brain Score Based on 813 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
The Swindle Game Cover
The Swindle is an excellent combination of platformer and stealth game, with a gorgeous steampunk aesthetic that absorbs you completely into the game.
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The Swindle is a steampunk-themed game where you play as a master burglar, tasked with pulling off a heist before Scotland Yard's advanced AI technology is activated. Each level is randomly generated, and you can upgrade your thief's skills and tools between missions. Your goal is to steal as much cash as possible while avoiding detection by the police. Can you outsmart the authorities and pull off the ultimate swindle?

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Play​station Vita
  • Wii
  • Wii U
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

66%
Audience ScoreBased on 813 reviews
gameplay79 positive mentions
stability66 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique blend of stealth and platforming mechanics, providing a challenging yet rewarding experience.
  • The art style and soundtrack are exceptional, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • The procedurally generated levels keep the gameplay fresh and encourage strategic planning for each heist.
  • The controls are often unresponsive and clunky, leading to frustrating deaths that feel unfair.
  • Random level generation can result in impossible situations, where essential loot is inaccessible or heavily guarded.
  • The steep difficulty curve and lack of tutorials can make the game feel punishing, especially for new players.
  • gameplay308 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Swindle" is characterized by a mix of engaging stealth mechanics and challenging platforming, set within a roguelike framework that encourages experimentation and risk-taking. However, many players express frustration with clunky controls, unresponsive mechanics, and unclear tutorials, which can detract from the overall experience. While the game features a compelling aesthetic and a unique concept, its execution suffers from inconsistencies that may hinder enjoyment for some players.

    • “Gameplay is simple, but keeps getting more challenging and complex.”
    • “The gameplay is satisfying and tense and the music is phenomenal.”
    • “The art style is amazing, the atmosphere and vibe is brilliantly quirky and dark and humorous and wonderful, the leveling up and upgrade mechanics is a very nice mix between challenge and reward, and the gameplay is tight, fun, challenging and always entertaining.”
    • “But gameplay-wise, the game can't deliver on its promises.”
    • “The game is incredibly sloppy and amateurish, with wonky physics, bad level design, and unclear mechanics.”
    • “I understand that losing characters and getting a new one is a major mechanic in this game, and part of the gameplay; however, constantly failing levels because the controls either aren't responsive or don't do what they usually do or seem to be meant to do is unacceptable.”
  • graphics169 mentions

    The graphics of the game are frequently praised for their unique and beautiful art style, particularly the steampunk aesthetic, which enhances the overall atmosphere and immersion. However, many players report significant bugs and control issues that detract from the visual experience, leading to frustrating gameplay moments. While the visuals are often described as stunning, they can sometimes result in unclear scenarios, impacting the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “The art style is unique and looks quite good with the randomly generated characters and buildings each run.”
    • “The graphics, the music, the whole ambiance of the game are just fantastic, and add up to the great feeling of immersion the game has.”
    • “The art style and music are unique and gorgeous, and contribute greatly to keeping you playing this title.”
    • “While this game is very well designed, from the music, environments, and enemies, to the traps, tech, and steampunk aesthetic, the experience is so buggy it borders on infuriating, and recently has gotten so much worse it's hard to think of a reason, outside of getting 100% completion, why anyone would want to sit down, relax, and turn on The Swindle, which by all accounts is an unplayable mess.”
    • “- The graphic design is very in your face, but not very good or original.”
    • “My only complaint in the graphics department is the visual arc that's represented in the animation of your melee swing.”
  • music148 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its exceptional quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers highlighting its immersive nature and how it intensifies during critical moments, such as when the player is detected. The soundtrack is described as superb and thematically fitting, contributing significantly to the game's steampunk aesthetic and atmosphere. However, some users noted issues with sound mixing and bugs that detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “The game's premise is nothing short of exhilarating, complemented by a stellar soundtrack that impeccably captures the essence of each distinct area.”
    • “Notably, the music intensifies when detection occurs, creating an immersive sense of urgency—particularly palpable in the later stages when attempting to abscond with a substantial sum and a lucrative XP multiplier.”
    • “The art style and music are unique and gorgeous, and contribute greatly to keeping you playing this title.”
    • “Soundtrack: turn it off or turn it down or you won't be getting anywhere, it has so much obnoxious percussion you can't tell the difference between the noises and music.”
    • “Static jump physics, buggy collision, and even some sound tracking issues make the game very frustrating to actually play.”
    • “Despite some issues the premise, presentation, music and gameplay all work well together, making this a steal on the Wii U - just not the great heist it could have been.”
  • story76 mentions

    The game's story revolves around a unique premise where players have 100 days to gather enough money to complete a final mission before Scotland Yard activates a powerful AI, "the devil's basilisk." While the narrative adds tension, many players find the execution frustrating due to clunky mechanics, poorly designed levels, and a steep learning curve that hampers enjoyment. Despite these challenges, some players appreciate the rewarding experience that comes from overcoming the game's difficulties and strategizing for the final mission.

    • “The stakes have never been higher than the final mission, fittingly titled 'The Swindle,' and may never be as high again.”
    • “Story: in 100 days, Scotland Yard will activate their breakthrough artificial intelligence technology, codenamed 'The Devil's Basilisk.'”
    • “If you can get over that hump -- the ever-looming knowledge that you may have to start completely from scratch even after completing/failing 100 missions -- there's an extremely rewarding experience here.”
    • “The game lacks some basic tutorials. I'm not saying it needs to explain what the bots can do, but for example: I tried 8 times in the last mission, I died 7 times and in the last I hacked all security stations, nice, then I got into my ship and left, then I thought I completed the game and tried another heist in the banks and some cutscene played: 'the devil's basilisk is complete, game over.' I mean, what the heck?”
    • “The game will tell you 'you have 100 levels to gather enough resources for the final mission', then feed you a steady stream of levels where all the resources are locked in sealed, inaccessible rooms, above jumps requiring upgrades you couldn't possibly have bought yet, and rooms so filled with enemies that you literally can't enter without being detected.”
    • “The restrictions on the final mission are similarly harsh: if you fail, you have to raise the exorbitant starting fee ($400,000) all over again with your remaining days.”
  • stability66 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of frustrating bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. Players frequently encounter issues such as character clipping, unresponsive controls, and game-breaking teleportation glitches, leading to a consensus that the game is often unplayable. While some users note that the Nintendo Switch version may be less buggy, the overall experience is marred by these persistent technical problems.

    • “While this game is very well designed, from the music, environments, and enemies, to the traps, tech, and steampunk aesthetic, the experience is so buggy it borders on infuriating, and recently has gotten so much worse it's hard to think of a reason, outside of getting 100% completion, why anyone would want to sit down, relax, and turn on The Swindle, which by all accounts is an unplayable mess.”
    • “If I were failing every level due to my own mistakes, that would be a good challenge, but most of my failures in this game are stemming from it being a buggy mess with no consistency as to how your character will react to the environment.”
    • “When it plays well and how it's supposed to, it's really enjoyable, but when you die several times from glitches and terrain weirdness beyond your control, the gameplay feels cheap and unsatisfying.”
  • grinding35 mentions

    The reviews consistently highlight the excessive grinding in the game, describing it as frustrating, repetitive, and tedious, particularly in the early stages where players must complete numerous heists to unlock basic skills and upgrades. Many users express burnout from the grind-heavy mechanics, poor controls, and the lack of engaging gameplay, suggesting that the game may only be worth playing on sale or not at all. Overall, the grinding aspect detracts significantly from the enjoyment and potential of the game.

    • “I quickly got burned out by how frustrating, repetitive, and grindy the game was.”
    • “The amount of grinding time before you unlock enough abilities to make the game fun is agonizing, especially because you will have to do it over and over again (since it's a roguelike).”
    • “But it's just a tedious grinder, with flawed controls and mechanics (inaccessible rooms etc.) - so don't get it, unless it's on sale (and even then, there are better games out there like Spelunky, Risk of Rain, Rogue Legacy ...)”
  • humor23 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by its quirky art style and darkly comedic atmosphere, which keeps players laughing through both hilarious and frustrating gameplay moments. Players enjoy the absurdity of the mechanics, such as guiding a crew of thieves to their comical deaths, and the game's achievements add to the overall humor. Despite some technical flaws, the chaotic and clever design ensures that players find joy in their misadventures, making it a memorable experience.

    • “Oh gods, I suck so bad at this game... and yet I cannot stop laughing...”
    • “The Swindle is a steampunk accidental death simulator in which you guide a motley crew of thieves to their inevitable demise, and each death is more hilarious or frustrating than the last.”
    • “I thought my 16-year-old nephew would think it was rubbish as he's been brought up with 3D and doesn't want to play much else other than FIFA, F1 (sorry mate) - but he loved it and we had a great afternoon playing it, laughing at each other's pathetic attempts and greedy misfortunes.”
  • replayability22 mentions

    Overall, the game offers significant replayability through its procedurally generated levels and open-ended upgrade system, allowing players to experience varied challenges and customize their gameplay. While some users noted occasional unfairness in level design, the unpredictability and the satisfaction of completing levels contribute to a strong sense of replay value. However, a few reviewers felt that it may not reach the extreme replayability of similar titles like Spelunky.

    • “There's a lot of replayability here, especially with the 100 day limit (that you can bypass in the late game, just fyi) but this means you can end up in a situation where you can't clear a three-pane high window, and the interior of the level doesn't lead to the side of the level you can exit on.”
    • “It's a really fun game and it's got a lot of replay value, especially from choosing different upgrades and priorities as you upgrade your thieves' skills.”
    • “The only weak point of the game is replayability.”
    • “I'm probably just spoiled by the extreme replayability of Spelunky, the game's obvious inspiration.”
    • “The randomly generated levels can create some unfair or too easy heists, but mostly the unpredictability ensures a lot of replay value.”
  • atmosphere10 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive details, such as the changing sound of footsteps and the subtle effects of rain, which enhance the overall experience. The distinctive art style, described as quirky and darkly humorous, complements the music and contributes to a captivating steampunk London setting. Players appreciate the balance of challenge and reward in gameplay, further enriching the atmospheric experience.

    • “The atmosphere is great - footsteps change as you go from rooftop to floor, and the rain pattering on rooftops dulls as you go inside.”
    • “Lastly, the art and atmosphere are really pretty, with each area having a distinctive style. Not to mention all the little touches like the grime and moisture effects on the screen (that thankfully don't go too far and obstruct your vision).”
    • “The game's art looks great; artist Michael Firman has done a fantastic job creating a sense of atmosphere that really complements the music, making for a wonderful take on a steampunk London.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    Overall, the game's performance is generally commendable, with only infrequent issues reported. However, some users have experienced poor performance and unpleasant controls, even on capable hardware configurations.

    • “However, these instances are infrequent, and the game's overall performance remains commendable.”
    • “The performance: I have an i7 6700, 32GB of RAM, and a GTX 970.”
    • “The game looks very interesting, but the controls are just unpleasant, and the performance is bad.”
    • “The performance: I have an i7 6700, 32GB of RAM and a GTX 970.”
    • “The performance is inconsistent, leading to a frustrating experience despite the game's potential.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    The game evokes strong emotions, making players feel a mix of risk and greed, while also delivering a heartbreaking yet poetic experience. However, some users express that technical issues and control flaws detract from its emotional impact, leaving them hesitant to revisit it.

    • “It's heartbreaking yet beautifully poetic.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is marked by a wide variance in character designs, which can be both impressive and disappointing due to their random generation. While the art style and character design are praised, the inconsistency in aesthetics can lead to frustration among players. Overall, the unique approach to character creation adds an interesting layer to the gameplay experience.

    • “The character designs range from amazing to frustratingly ugly—understandable, as they're randomly generated.”
    • “Pros: neat art style, cool character design, quality music, 'hacking' process.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Reviewers generally feel that the monetization model offers good value for money, providing substantial content for the price, particularly for those interested in the advertised features.

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

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

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Play time

40hMedian play time
80hAverage play time
12-188hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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