While the era of Grand Theft Auto clones has mostly passed, Rockstar’s iconic crime series still casts a long shadow. Many indie studios continue to draw inspiration from its open-world formula — though few dare to flip the concept on its head. That’s exactly what The Precinct attempts.
Released on May 13, The Precinct is an isometric police action game set in a stylized version of the 1980s. Developed by the team behind American Fugitive, the game lets players experience life as a cop rather than a criminal, offering a sandbox experience with a throwback vibe.
But while the concept raised eyebrows and the setting turned heads, critics agree on one thing: the game forgot to make it fun.
Critical Reception: A Mixed Verdict
The response from critics has been lukewarm, at best. On Metacritic, The Precinct currently holds a score of 65/100, while on OpenCritic, it fares slightly better with 69/100. Reviewers praised the game’s tone and original take on the GTA-style formula, but many pointed out gameplay issues that dragged the experience down.
“The Precinct is a perfect blend of simulation, sandbox, and silly humor. Just imagine being a cop in an old top-down GTA game, but with modern game design and visuals. It’s not perfect, but it does a good job of capturing the essence of its inspiration.“
— Gaming Nexus (80/100)
“The Precinct is an interesting game with a nice 80s feel. Playing as a cop in the style of early GTA is a lot of fun. However, the adventure suffers from uneven pacing, monotony, and gameplay issues, particularly with aiming.“
— Carole Quintaine (65/100)
“The creators of The Precinct have put into it everything that a good series needs, but they have forgotten the most important thing: fun.“
— Everyeye.it (65/100)
“After the trailers, I had high hopes for the game, but it turned out to be boring and weird. The cops in The Precinct are worse than the bandits they catch.“
— 4P.de (50/100)
Available Now on All Major Platforms
Despite its flaws, The Precinct offers a unique twist on the open-world action genre — one that places you behind the badge in a gritty, retro setting. Whether you’re looking for a nostalgic GTA-style experience or just curious about how police life translates to a sandbox format, it’s now available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
But if you’re expecting high-octane thrills and tightly tuned gameplay, be warned — the badge may be heavy, and the fun might be MIA.