Few open-world games dare to put you on the right side of the law, but The Precinct from Fallen Tree Games-creators of the cult hit American Fugitive-throws you straight into the blue uniform of rookie officer Nick Cordell Jr. in the bustling city of Averno. The premise is classic: a young cop haunted by his father’s murder, determined to clean up the streets and root out the city’s criminal underbelly. But does this GTA-inspired police sim deliver on the thrill of the badge, or does it end up stuck in procedural paperwork?
Let’s cruise through Averno City’s mean streets, break down what The Precinct gets right, and where it misses its mark.
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If you’ve played top-down or isometric open-world crime games—think old-school Grand Theft Auto or Fallen Tree’s own American Fugitive—The Precinct will feel instantly familiar. But here, you’re enforcing the law, not breaking it. As Nick Cordell Jr., your primary goal is to unravel the mystery behind your father’s murder, all while steadily dismantling two rival gangs plaguing Averno’s streets. Sounds promising, right?
Unfortunately, the setup outpaces the delivery. The main storyline—taking down gang lieutenants to reach their bosses—is disappointingly thin, stretched over just six key missions. There’s little in the way of dramatic cutscenes or meaningful character development. A more intriguing serial killer subplot runs in parallel and offers some of the game’s best investigative moments, but you’ll likely wish the narrative were more ambitious overall.
The Precinct’s core loop revolves around daily “shifts.” Each day, you select a patrol type—car, foot, helicopter, or parking enforcement—then hit the streets to tackle a variety of random crimes. As you respond to calls and investigate suspects, you’ll collect evidence that gradually lets you target key gang members. Once enough is amassed, you can trigger gang takedown missions the next day.
This structure is both The Precinct’s greatest strength and its main Achilles’ heel. On one hand, the game’s dynamic, procedurally generated crimes—everything from minor parking violations to full-on armed assaults—keep each patrol fresh. You never quite know if your next stop will end with a stern warning or a high-speed car chase. On the other, the evidence grind can quickly become formulaic: respond, frisk, check vehicles, hope for a clue, repeat. It’s a clever simulation of repetitive real-world police work, but as a gameplay hook, it can drag without more compelling narrative beats.
The variety of crimes you’ll encounter adds flavor to patrols. You might issue a ticket for littering, break up a fistfight, chase down a purse snatcher, or confront an armed gang member. Each situation calls for a different response: de-escalate peacefully, pursue on foot or in your squad car, or—if things get hairy—draw your weapon. Notably, the game penalizes excessive force, nudging you to think like a real cop rather than a shoot-first vigilante.
Arrests are procedural in a satisfying way: read suspects their rights, frisk for contraband, run a breathalyzer, assign charges, and decide whether to book, fine, or release. Nailing all the right charges nets you bonus experience, incentivizing careful police work.
Each completed shift and arrest earns you experience, which unlocks new weapons, vehicles, and skill points for your talent tree. The upgrade system skews simple—health, arsenal, pursuit tools, and vehicles—but progression is steady and meaningfully impacts your playstyle. Mix and match your loadout, pick your favorite patrol route, and upgrade your ride for more effective law enforcement.
Outside the main story, The Precinct features a slew of collectibles (rare cars, lost museum pieces), street races, time trials, and endless patrols to keep you occupied. While the city of Averno is compact, there’s enough to do for completionists aiming for 100%—though most activities boil down to variations of the core patrol loop.
For a game from a small studio, The Precinct looks great—especially at night. The city buzzes with traffic, pedestrians, flashing sirens, and rain-slicked roads that reflect neon lights. The day-night cycle and dynamic weather add immersion, and there’s real atmosphere as you patrol dark alleys or race through rain-soaked streets.
However, technical hiccups can break the spell. Vehicle physics are inconsistent; cars sometimes handle like bars of soap, and collisions can result in unpredictable outcomes—from dead stops to wild flips, or even falling through the map. Expect occasional screen tearing and translation bugs, though the developers promise patches are incoming. Gunplay, meanwhile, is functional if unspectacular—sticking to genre conventions of taking cover, waiting for reloads, and picking your shots. Helicopter patrols are available, but these sections lack the excitement and control of foot or car gameplay.
The Precinct carves out a unique space in the open-world genre. Unlike GTA’s criminal sandbox or L.A. Noire’s narrative-rich investigations, The Precinct puts you in the procedural grind of everyday law enforcement. In many ways, it’s a spiritual successor to American Fugitive, but with deeper simulation and a stronger sense of place. Its dynamic crime system outshines many indie open-world titles, but its lackluster story and repetitive patrol work mean it doesn’t reach the heights of its inspirations.
If you’re a fan of old-school GTA or top-down open-world games and always wanted to police the sandbox rather than tear it apart, The Precinct is for you. Simulation fans who appreciate procedural systems, steady progression, and the fantasy of everyday police work will find plenty to enjoy. If a gripping story or highly-polished mechanics are your main drivers, however, you may find the game’s repetitive structure and technical quirks frustrating.
The Precinct is a love letter to procedural police work, wrapped in a lively, visually striking city. Its dynamic crime system and progression provide a compelling gameplay loop, while its limited story and repetitive routines keep it from greatness. Fallen Tree Games have crafted an impressive simulation on a modest budget, and with a few patches, Averno City could become the beat of choice for would-be virtual officers—just don’t expect a cinematic crime epic.
The Precinct delivers a fresh take on open-world police sims with dynamic procedural crimes and satisfying progression, but repetition and sparse storytelling limit its impact. Fans of procedural gameplay and atmospheric cityscapes will enjoy their time on the beat—even if the experience sometimes feels more like doing paperwork than starring in a cop drama.
Source: publisher