The Precinct Reviews
The Precinct feels like a forgotten VHS tape of an old cop show that someone transferred to 4K without any remastering. It crackles and hisses, but it’s got soul. If your heart beats for retro police stories and you don’t mind a bit of bureaucracy with a gun, this is the right patrol for you.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
I’ve played plenty of games where you take on the role of a police officer, and the majority have been way below par. The Precinct has nailed the atmosphere and the feel of protecting the city and its community. It does get slightly repetitive in parts, especially when it comes to dealing with louts on the streets or issuing countless parking tickets. But I suppose, realistically looking at life in the police, that is part and parcel of being in the force. The gameplay is engaging enough to see it through, and the narration, along with a bit of backstory, helps make the playthrough a bit more personal than just being completely generic. For a game where you play the good guy, shake some potential criminals down, make arrests and get involved with some chaotic cat and mouse style police chases, it is a cracking time. If you’re looking for any multiplayer options here, then sadly, there aren’t any, but I don’t think the game would suit anything else alongside a solo experience. If you become reeled in by The Precinct, then you may want to check out American Fugitive by the same development team, which has you in a similar world on the other side of the coin as a criminal.
The Precinct doesn’t reinvent the sandbox genre—but it does turn it on its head. Playing the cop instead of the criminal is a smart twist, and for a few glorious hours, it feels like a fresh take on old-school open-world chaos. The detail in procedures, the wild chases, and the sheer charm of the 80s aesthetic make this a memorable ride. But it's not without its problems. From bugs to repetitive systems, there's a rough layer that could frustrate more detail-oriented or single-player-focused players. The game shines brightest in its first act—and if Fallen Tree Games continues patching and expanding it, there’s a real gem buried beneath the jank.
The Precinct offers solid entertainment in chasing criminals and delivering justice through action-packed pursuits. However, the majority of its content is revealed right at the beginning of the game, making it easy to experience fatigue from repetition, which is definitely not helped by an uninteresting narrative.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
While not groundbreaking in innovation or story, The Precinct shines with solid mechanics and an inspired technical design. A love letter to noir and early 2000s sandbox games, it’s sure to appeal both to genre enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Although I appreciated the mixture of action and simulation gameplay mechanics, I wasn’t completely blown away by The Precinct. The story was engaging enough (despite subpar voice acting) that it made me want to know what happened next. And the gameplay, whilst mechanically solid, became rather repetitive towards the end. Still, this is an enjoyable title that feels like a throwback to the PS1 era with a modern aesthetic. That’s by no means a bad thing, and I wish more games would take inspiration from previous generations! For these reasons, The Precinct gets a Thumb Culture Gold Award!
The Precinct is not a perfect game, nor does it pretend to be, but for fans of this type of proposals it can become a pleasant surprise. The title manages to make you feel like a real law enforcement officer, combining routine tasks with other more exciting ones. The chases are dynamic and entertaining, and although the combats are simple, they manage to be intense and satisfying. The story, although somewhat superficial, keeps you interested until the end.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The Precinct has a wonderful unused premise and utilises it very well for the most part. You really feel like a guardian of the law during the many patrols with the police manual under your arm. Sadly, the messy controls and the repetitive nature of the game don't quite do enough to help the title achieve a higher rating
Review in German | Read full review
The Precinct is an enjoyable police sandbox that is a blast to play a majority of the time. Being a policeman is a lot of fun, and I had a blast running through Aveno, stopping crimes and bringing perps in. I absolutely adored car races and the physics of driving through stores, lights, gates, and watching everything fly up around me. The story is a bit of a hit and miss, and combat can be a little clunky due to the way you aim and use cover, but it has its moments. The game is also quite playable on the Steam Deck using their specific preset. I wish we could make it better with a higher framerate or higher quality settings that don't need upscaling, but it's at least playable and enjoyable.
The Precinct is a fresh and very entertaining proposal that makes you feel like a real cop in a chaotic city full of dangers. Its patrol system, the varied crimes and the eighties atmosphere work great and hook you from the first moment. However, the missions are uninspired and repetitive. Even so, it is an original alternative to the usual sandbox.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
It’s not the most refined open-world game, but there’s enough personality and mayhem to leave an impression—especially if you miss the days of top-down GTA.
When I started playing, I was apprehensive about the bugs I would encounter, but I was surprised to find that the game's performance was solid. But as it's not all sunshine and roses, the predictable plot, repetitive gameplay, and weak secondary activities dragged the game's rating down. Still, I see the project in a positive light. If The Precinct had focused more on investigation mechanics, evidence collection, and the variety of events, it would have been a more solid product in the end. The 80s vibe and soundtrack give a taste of what The Precinct could be: a good investigative game and not just a "police GTA".
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The Precinct is a peculiar case. Its roughly ten-hour campaign doesn’t offer many thrilling moments: mostly talking heads and crazy criminals. Yet, it's surprisingly enjoyable in small doses. One would have hoped Fallen Tree Games had focused more on the story and clear objectives, rather than just a day-by-day shift cycle.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
The Precinct is an experience that deserves the attention of fans of investigative and action games. Its original idea and meticulous art direction compensate in part for the gameplay's shortcomings and the artificial intelligence's lack of depth. Despite a certain repetitiveness, the game offers a successful immersion in the daily life of a policeman, paying homage to the classics while adding a touch of modernity. I see this as a great improvement on the studio's previous game. The team seems to have found a formula that can be refined. It's not a masterpiece, but it's an honest game, sincere in its approach, and deserves the attention of fans of the genre.
Review in French | Read full review
The Precinct comes at just the right time and combines nostalgia and modern gameplay in a wonderful way. The atmosphere and the city breathe eighties and make you feel like you are in an action movie from that era. It feels refreshing to be on the right side for once, and you actually have to follow the rules. This is a game that you have to give yourself some time, but when the random chaos breaks loose, everything comes to life. I can't wait for the sequel, hopefully bigger and more ambitious in design. The wait for GTA 6 will be a lot more pleasant this way.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
There is a better, more nuanced game buried underneath the blind love for the genre. I'm just not certain The Precinct has the interest or skill to find it. As it stands, this is an acceptable if not great GTA clone that stumbles by ignoring the elephant in the room.
The Precinct is a game that is definitely worth giving a chance. It is not an outstanding title that will be forever etched in our memory. It has a lot of imperfections and even more bugs, but underneath this layer of problems is an enjoyable and addictive gameplay. I had a really good time, and I don't rule out that in the distant future, when all the bugs have been patched, and maybe we'll even see some kind of expansion, I'll be happy to return to this title.
Review in Polish | Read full review
The Precinct may not reinvent the sandbox genre, but it knows exactly what it wants to be with its rewarding crime-fighting gameplay loop. Its tight focus, dynamic encounters, and retro-cop-movie aesthetic make it a refreshing alternative to bloated open-world behemoths, and whilst it has its flaws, the thrill of unpredictability and the sheer fun of policing a chaotic city from the streets or skies ensure that it always makes for a memorable ride.
The Precinct blends action with police simulation and a solid '80s aesthetic, but underdeveloped storytelling, rough mechanics, and bugs tarnish what could have been a standout experience.
Some shortcomings and omissions regarding its overall content don't prevent The Precinct from being an excellent throwback to an older gaming era.