This Is the Police

64%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,466 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
This Is the Police Game Cover
This Is The Police looks and sounds gorgeous, but becomes dull and repetitive after the first couple of hours.
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"This Is the Police" is a narrative-driven strategy game where you play as Police Chief Jack Boyd, navigating a corrupt city amidst crime and intrigue. Manage your staff, respond to emergencies, and investigate crimes, while dealing with mafia underworld and political manipulations. Your choices and approach to situations will determine your retirement outcome in a city on the brink of chaos.

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

Reviews

64%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,466 reviews
story1,597 positive mentions
grinding185 negative mentions
  • Engaging and well-written story with strong character development.
  • Unique gameplay mechanics that combine resource management with narrative elements.
  • Great soundtrack that enhances the noir atmosphere of the game.
  • Gameplay becomes repetitive and tedious, especially in the later stages.
  • Choices often feel meaningless, leading to a lack of impactful decision-making.
  • The game is too long, with many days feeling like filler without significant story progression.
  • story4,187 mentions

    The story of "This Is the Police" is widely praised for its engaging and well-written narrative, often described as a gripping noir tale filled with moral dilemmas and complex characters. However, many players note that the pacing can be slow, with long stretches of gameplay that feel repetitive and detract from the story's impact, leading to a sense of frustration as the narrative unfolds. While the choices made throughout the game give the illusion of agency, they often do not significantly alter the outcome, leaving some players feeling that the story is ultimately linear and unsatisfying despite its initial promise.

    • “The story is well-written and compelling, and it makes for an experience that is actually worth your time.”
    • “The story is gripping and keeps me on the edge of my seat; it plays out like a movie!”
    • “The moral dilemmas and the story are amazing.”
    • “Unfortunately, the story runs out of gas, with fewer events as the story nears its conclusion.”
    • “The story loses its weight towards the middle and by the end I was unengaged and skipping cut scenes.”
    • “The gameplay proved too shallow and repetitive to stay interesting for the excruciatingly long playtime required to progress the story.”
  • gameplay1,938 mentions

    The gameplay of "This Is the Police" is characterized by a unique blend of resource management and narrative-driven decision-making, where players manage a police department over a lengthy campaign. However, many reviewers note that the gameplay becomes repetitive and tedious, particularly as the game progresses, with a lack of new mechanics introduced after the initial stages. While the story and atmosphere are praised, the gameplay often feels disconnected and overly simplistic, leading to frustration for some players who find the experience drags on without sufficient engagement.

    • “The gameplay is so unique, giving you the responsibility of managing crimes, responding to them, dealing with various situations, investigating and solving crimes with detectives, working with criminals, and so much more!”
    • “The core gameplay mechanics are solid, coherent and, well, fun and rewarding.”
    • “Great story and voice acting with a low-key but engaging gameplay loop.”
    • “Starts okay but the later you get the worse it gets, the gameplay loop starts getting terribly repetitive and the story also leaves some of its promises behind.”
    • “The gameplay itself gets quite repetitive, the mechanics are slowly introduced, but the overall dispatching and managing of crime scenes gets old very quickly - which is an issue, because that makes up the bulk of the game.”
    • “In the end though, the gameplay proved too shallow and repetitive to stay interesting for the excruciatingly long playtime required to progress the story.”
  • music1,000 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the fantastic jazz and blues soundtrack that fits the noir theme perfectly. However, the manual selection process for tracks can become tedious over time, leading to frustration among players who desire an autoplay feature. Overall, while the soundtrack is a standout element, the repetitive nature of selecting music detracts from the experience for some players.

    • “Furthermore, the art style and soundtrack fit this game perfectly; it immerses you in this crime-riddled 80s city like no other game does!”
    • “The soundtrack is so good that I found myself just sitting there listening to it, forgetting that I was supposed to be fighting crime.”
    • “It's a wonderful game; the music is wonderful and always seems to match the situations during the day.”
    • “It ends in the middle of the day and you either play without music or have to pick a track again and watch the whole clip of putting the disk/cassette inside once more.”
    • “The drag became really unbearable at some point, with those obligatory newspapers, car, and music cutscenes mocking you even further.”
    • “Having to manually select a music track each day can be quite irritating and becomes more of a chore, having an option to have it play randomly and shuffle would probably be more ideal.”
  • graphics560 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist, low-poly art style that some players find charming and fitting for its narrative, while others feel it lacks detail and depth. Many reviews highlight the unique comic book aesthetic and how it enhances immersion, despite some criticism regarding its simplicity and potential hindrance to gameplay. Overall, the visuals are generally appreciated for their artistic direction, though opinions vary on their effectiveness in conveying the game's themes.

    • “The art style is great and pretty much timeless.”
    • “Furthermore, the art style and soundtrack fit this game perfectly; it immerses you in this crime-riddled 80s city like no other game does!”
    • “The game's spare art style is fitting and beautiful, and lends itself to what the game speaks to - tough times and tough choices.”
    • “With the graphics and art being so basic, there needs to be more to do.”
    • “I'm not a fan of the visuals (or lack of), and I would much have preferred a 3D visual experience in the game.”
    • “Terribly bland, uninspired graphics.”
  • grinding195 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received significant criticism, with many players finding the gameplay to become excessively tedious and repetitive, especially in the mid to late stages. While the initial hours may be engaging, the lack of options to speed up gameplay and the monotonous daily tasks lead to a drawn-out experience that feels like a chore. Overall, while some players appreciate the narrative and atmosphere, the grind often detracts from the enjoyment, making it a long and tedious journey.

    • “The narrative is just interesting enough to make you want to complete one more day, and having to choose which cop/detective to send to which call was engaging, yet not tedious.”
    • “Grinding isn't necessary to progress.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The gameplay becomes really boring, hard, and tedious where you are up against RNG for whether or not you will have enough resources to do certain missions.”
    • “The only downside is the pacing of the game: it starts off at a quick pace and keeps you invested wanting to learn more; before slowing down to a painful and tedious crawl so that by the time you're at the climax of the story and the pace picks back up you've lost all real investment in the story.”
    • “The middle of the game is a grind where you spend endless in-game days just grinding away with next to no interesting story or character elements.”
  • atmosphere167 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its rich, immersive noir style, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and strong visual aesthetics. Reviewers highlight the effective use of music and voice acting to create a gritty, engaging environment that draws players into the narrative. However, some note that while the atmosphere is compelling, it can occasionally overshadow gameplay, leading to moments of tedium.

    • “You get a typical noir story with rich atmosphere.”
    • “The gritty atmosphere, complex characters, and tough decisions make every moment feel like I'm living out my own detective story.”
    • “An overwhelmingly grim and gritty noir atmosphere so thick you can taste the big city smog, broken up by well-placed comic relief, and supported by very good voice acting given the scope of the project.”
    • “The artwork is effective and interesting, but the atmosphere is gimmicky and lacks personality.”
    • “This is supposed to convey atmosphere, but rapidly becomes very boring.”
    • “The atmosphere is too much to bear, and the gameplay does not redeem it, only makes it worse.”
  • humor164 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and variety, blending dark and light-hearted moments that keep players engaged. Many reviews highlight the unexpected hilarity of certain scenarios and choices, with some players noting that the humor can be both absurd and relatable, enhancing the overall experience. However, a few critiques mention that the humor can become repetitive over time, and some attempts at comedy may fall flat.

    • “The voice actors give proper full-on performances, the artistic style fits the setting well, and the narrative carries this game from an average point-and-click game into a captivating story that will have you laughing at the hilarity one moment and stopping your jaw from hitting the floor the next.”
    • “I loved the way they included the humor in the small scenarios; you could make your policemen do the funniest things while chasing a criminal (and face the consequences for it).”
    • “The humor in this game is hilarious too, with a very engaging story, especially the investigation side of things, where you need to gather evidence and make your decision on how things happened or to take down a serial killer.”
    • “The jokes in the reviews are not funny at all.”
    • “The jokes in the reviews are not funny at all.”
  • replayability144 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits low to moderate replayability, with many players noting that the scripted nature of events and missions leads to a repetitive experience across playthroughs. While some users appreciate the potential for different choices and outcomes, the lack of significant variation in gameplay and endings diminishes the incentive to replay. A few players mention the existence of an endless mode or different scenarios, but these features do not significantly enhance the overall replay value.

    • “I've only beaten it once, but I'd say it's replayable; I already want to go back and try different endings.”
    • “It also has a lot of replayability, since there are many different ways to complete the main objective of the game.”
    • “There is a ton of replayability, because you get multiple choices that have a direct impact on the lives you are dealing with.”
    • “0 replay value for me, which I was not expecting at all. I was playing through assuming I would be able to work towards very different outcomes with a different playthrough, but that is not the case at all.”
    • “What’s worse is that the part of the game that’s supposed to feel fresh, exciting, and supposed to keep you on your toes seems incredibly scripted and not at all based on randomness, completely sabotaging much replayability once you’ve finished your first playthrough.”
    • “The story gives the illusion of choice; the ending is the same no matter who you choose to support or keep alive, resulting in no replay value.”
  • emotional48 mentions

    The game is praised for its deeply emotional narrative, which evokes strong feelings and moral dilemmas through its choices and character interactions. Players report being profoundly affected by the storyline, with moments of heartbreak and reflection on the consequences of their decisions, making it a standout experience in emotional engagement. Despite some frustrations, the game's ability to elicit genuine emotional responses is highlighted as one of its greatest strengths.

    • “Without spoiling it, it has a very emotional story.”
    • “The story for me is the game’s biggest strength, in that it made me want to play until the end and made me feel like my choices made a difference.”
    • “This game really is emotional and creative, honestly.”
  • optimization34 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many users noting that it runs smoothly and is accessible even on older systems. However, some players experienced performance issues during specific game events, such as the pre-election phase, which detracted from the experience. Despite these hiccups, the developers are actively updating the game to improve settings and graphics, indicating a commitment to ongoing optimization.

    • “The minigames, struggles, and even investigations are absolutely amazing. I remember how irreplaceable the people are; I remember sending one officer to an assault and losing them. I couldn't find a person like him; he looked cool and was probably my best officer. The cutscenes the game gives are very rewarding and really worth the effort. The voice acting was great, and the people felt alive with emotions and feelings. The game is definitely a grab for 15 bucks, and I like that the game is still being updated with game modes, setting optimizations, and graphics improvements. The devs really care about this game, and I can see it easily through the updates.”
    • “Nice-but-simple graphics, runs well/optimized, mellow soundtrack, and effective voice acting round out an exceptionally polished presentation.”
    • “[tr][td][i]Performance[/i][/td][td]10/10[/td][td][i]No crashes or lags, has a DX9 mode for older systems.[/i][/td][/tr]”
    • “The frustrations of bureaucratic incompetence will bear down on you as the tools at your disposal are stripped away from you because of poor performance, in turn worsening your ability to perform.”
    • “In terms of graphics and performance, I'm pretty sure my toaster can run this game.”
    • “One thing I really don’t like is that with the start of the pre-election in Freeburg, the performance of the game becomes really bad.”
  • character development26 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and emotional resonance, particularly with key characters like Jack Boyd, though some players noted inconsistencies, such as characters reverting to previous traits in later acts. While the dialogue and voice acting enhance the experience, some critiques highlight that certain characters lack significant growth, leading to a perception of shallow development in parts. Overall, the game is recommended for those who appreciate strong narratives and character arcs, despite some missed opportunities for deeper exploration.

    • “I do highly recommend a playthrough to anyone who enjoys a deep immersive story, strong character development, and management games.”
    • “Phenomenal plot, fantastic character development and a compelling balance between corruption and justice.”
    • “As I said, the character development is generally great, especially with Jack Boyd, as you really start to feel for him and his struggles.”
    • “You achieve some character development in Act 2, but revert to your old self for Act 3.”
    • “There was a chance for real character development among your officers here - as it was, they just look like a bunch of whiners.”
    • “The gameplay only mimics RPG elements and character development is extremely shallow.”
  • stability16 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent bugs and freezes that disrupt gameplay, particularly during critical decision-making moments. While some players experienced minimal issues, many found the game unplayable on certain systems, leading to frustration and a recommendation against purchasing it. Overall, the stability issues significantly detract from the enjoyment of the investigative puzzle-solving elements.

    • “The game itself was pretty much bug-free, providing a stable experience overall.”
    • “Despite a minor issue with Steam not recognizing the game, the gameplay remained stable and enjoyable.”
    • “Overall, the game delivered a stable performance with minimal bugs.”
    • “Buggy as hell, do not buy.”
    • “Can't play properly since it freezes when using Linux and Intel HD 520.”
    • “As soon as I choose which cop to hire or fire, it automatically freezes and I have to exit the game and restart that day.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is perceived as fair, aligning with the overall narrative and promotional efforts. Players feel that the pricing and in-game purchases are reasonable and do not detract from the gaming experience.

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

Critic Reviews

54% average critic score

Buy This Is the Police

Play time

6hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
20hMain story
32hCompletionist
3-18hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 64 analyzed playthroughs

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