Skip to main content

We Are Chicago

We Are Chicago dares to focus on the mundane and the dramatic
We Are Chicago Game Cover
40%Game Brain Score
story, emotional
gameplay, graphics
38% User Score Based on 52 reviews
Critic Score 43%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

LinuxPCMac OSWindows
Buy Nowfrom $5.60
Buy NowGet on Steam
We Are Chicago Game Cover

About

We Are Chicago is a single player simulation game. It was developed by Culture Shock Games LLC and was released on February 9, 2017. It received neutral reviews from critics and negative reviews from players.

We Are Chicago strives to portray the harsh realities associated with growing up on the south and west side of Chicago. In this first person 3D narrative-driven adventure game you are thrown into the life of Aaron who is only a week away from his high school graduation when suddenly his best friend Robert has stopped showing up to school. Players will need to uncover what's going on, who Aaron's r…

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
We Are Chicago screenshot
We Are Chicago screenshot
We Are Chicago screenshot
We Are Chicago screenshot
We Are Chicago screenshot
We Are Chicago screenshot
We Are Chicago screenshot
We Are Chicago screenshot
We Are Chicago screenshot
We Are Chicago screenshot
We Are Chicago screenshot
+3
Skip User Reviews

38%
Audience ScoreBased on 52 reviews
story20 positive mentions
gameplay6 negative mentions
  • The game presents an emotionally jarring and captivating story that addresses important social issues, particularly regarding life in Chicago.
  • The intention behind the game is commendable, showcasing black protagonists and bringing awareness to societal challenges.
  • Despite its flaws, the game has potential and could resonate with players looking for narrative-driven experiences that tackle real-life issues.
  • The gameplay mechanics are poorly executed, with janky animations, impractical camera controls, and frequent technical issues such as crashes and low frame rates.
  • The narrative feels generic and lacks meaningful player choices, making the experience feel more like an observation than active participation.
  • Many players find the game overpriced for its short length and lack of replay value, leading to disappointment regarding its overall value.
  • story
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "We Are Chicago" is praised for its emotional depth and cultural relevance, effectively addressing serious societal issues while providing a compelling narrative. However, many reviewers feel that the execution is undermined by poor gameplay mechanics and a lack of character development, leading to a mixed reception. Despite its flaws, the game is recognized for its heartfelt intentions and ability to engage players with its contemporary themes.

    • “This was an emotionally jarring story that had me captivated from start to finish.”
    • “While the graphics might not be top-notch technology, the voice acting is stellar, the story is compelling.”
    • “Not often I'll play through a game in one sitting, which should say something about the story.”
    • “Not what it seems, small story line, same route no matter what, same things happen.”
    • “The story of the characters is a little lacking.”
    • “We Are Chicago really wants to tell a story that most games don't want to touch upon, but it completely fails at delivering that story in a satisfying manner.”
  • gameplay
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay has been criticized for its unpolished mechanics, including janky animations and poor FPS control, which detract from the overall experience. While the story is praised for its depth and emotional resonance, many players feel that the gameplay is lackluster and overly simplistic, often making them feel more like observers than active participants. Additionally, technical issues such as crashes and inadequate auto-save functionality have led to frustration, particularly given the short gameplay duration of around 1-2 hours.

    • “While the gameplay looks like 'The Walking Dead' on the surface, with conversation options that offer different, relatable points of view, these are window dressing: you are more observer than participant.”
    • “I can see how passionate the devs were with this game, but I'm a little disappointed that I paid $13.49 (on sale) for a game that only had about 2.5 hours of gameplay time.”
    • “However, I simply can't get over the technical issues and the gameplay itself.”
    • “The gameplay itself is not too exciting.”
    • “While the gameplay looks like The Walking Dead on the surface, with conversation options that offer different, relatable points of view, these are window dressing: you are more observer than participant.”
    • “This is just solely on the gameplay being unpolished and buggy to price type ratio.”
  • graphics
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they resemble those of older 3D games from 15 years ago, and some criticizing impractical camera controls. While the visuals may not meet modern high-end standards, they are considered impressive for a first-time developer, though technical glitches during character interactions detract from the overall experience. Reviewers suggest that improvements in detail and performance are needed to enhance the game's graphical quality.

    • “Graphics were quite impressive for a developer's first attempt.”
    • “While the graphics might not be top-notch technology, the voice acting is stellar, and the story is compelling.”
    • “Maybe the graphics aren't as high-end as 2016/2017 games, but they still have their charm.”
    • “Like many reviewers say: the graphics look like 3D games I played 15 years ago, and the camera controls are impractical.”
    • “I can usually go with low FPS and simple graphics, but this game constantly glitches while the characters are having interactions with one another.”
    • “I suggest the game developer fix the technical issues and put more details into the graphics and character interactions, as well as increase the game pace a little bit.”
  • music
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players describing it as annoying and generic, particularly criticizing the repetitive string compositions that lead to a sense of relief when they finally stop.

    • “One other thing that I like to bring up is the music.”
    • “My god, the music!”
    • “Why pick the most annoying generic string music!”
    • “It got so annoying that when the song was ending I was so relieved to hear silence until that song looped again.”
  • stability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has been criticized for being unpolished and plagued by frequent bugs, including freezing and glitches during character interactions. Users express frustration over these issues, particularly in relation to the game's price, indicating that the performance does not meet expectations.

    • “This is just solely on the gameplay being unpolished and buggy in relation to the price.”
    • “I dislike the game because it has been freezing since I got it, and I can't reach anyone for support.”
    • “I can usually tolerate low FPS and simple graphics, but this game constantly glitches during character interactions.”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, often likening it to mundane tasks such as going to bed or counting change at work, which detracts from the overall experience.

    • “It's essentially a walking simulation, combined with a lot of grinding, like going to bed or counting out change at your workplace.”
    • “The game feels more like a chore with all the grinding involved, making it tedious to progress.”
    • “Grinding in this game is so repetitive that it takes away from the overall enjoyment and immersion.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features an emotionally jarring narrative that captivates players from beginning to end, leaving a lasting impact.

    • “This was an emotionally jarring story that had me captivated from start to finish.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is criticized for lacking replayability, with multiple users noting that it offers little incentive to play again after the initial experience.

    • “It has no replay value.”
    • “It has no replay value.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received criticism, with multiple users noting that performance issues are prevalent and require improvement.

    • “Performance could use some work.”
    • “Performance could use some work.”
Skip Critic Reviews

43%Critics’ scoreBased on 3 critic reviews
Skip Game Offers

Buy We Are Chicago

5h Median play time
4h Average play time
3-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs
Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like We Are Chicago

Games Like We Are Chicago

Summerland Image
92%1.4kreviews

Summerland

2020Simulation
PCWindows
Games like Summerland
Life is Strange 2 Image
82%16.5kreviews

Life is Strange 2

2018Action Adventure
Nintendo SwitchPlaystation 4Xbox+12
Games like Life is Strange 2
Actual Sunlight Image
74%381reviews

Actual Sunlight

2014Action
Nintendo SwitchPCTablet+9
Games like Actual Sunlight
Sea of Solitude Image
76%1kreviews

Sea of Solitude

2020Shooter
Xbox Series X|SPCXbox Game Pass+7
Games like Sea of Solitude
Heading Out Image
74%501reviews

Heading Out

2024Racing
Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPC+7
Games like Heading Out
More games like We Are Chicago
Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

We Are Chicago is a simulation game.

We Are Chicago is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

On average players spend around 4 hours playing We Are Chicago.

We Are Chicago was released on February 9, 2017.

We Are Chicago was developed by Culture Shock Games LLC.

We Are Chicago has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

We Are Chicago is a single player game.

Similar games include Summerland, Life is Strange 2, Actual Sunlight, Sea of Solitude, Heading Out and others.