Hello everyone and welcome back to another blog post. If you’ve ever wanted to step into the shoes of a hard-boiled 1980s cop—minus the questionable fashion choices and excessive caffeine addiction—The Precinct might just be your next obsession. This indie gem from Fallen Tree Games blends top-down action, procedural crime-solving, and a synth-heavy soundtrack that’ll make you want to grow a mustache and call everyone “kid.”
But is The Precinct worth your time, or is it just another flashy siren with no substance? Let’s break it down.
What Is The Precinct?
The Precinct is a retro-styled, open-world police simulator where you play as Officer Nick Cordell Jr., a rookie cop navigating the mean streets of Averno City. The game mixes Grand Theft Auto-style driving, Hotline Miami-esque combat, and Police Quest-inspired detective work.
Your duties include:
- Patrolling the city (and trying not to crash your squad car).
- Responding to crimes in progress (because apparently, criminals don’t take coffee breaks).
- Solving cases with actual police work (fingerprints, interrogations, and the occasional dramatic chase).
It’s Brooklyn 99 meets Blade Runner—if both were made in 1987 on a budget of loose change and sheer determination.
Why The Precinct Stands Out
1. A Love Letter to 80s Cop Tropes
If you’ve ever watched Miami Vice and thought, “I could do that, but with more donuts,” this game gets you. The neon-drenched streets, the cheesy one-liners, the morally ambiguous justice system—it’s all here, wrapped in a pixelated bow.
2. More Than Just Shootouts
Unlike other cop games where “police work” means “shoot first, ask questions never,” The Precinct forces you to think. Gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and piecing together cases actually matter. Who knew being a detective involved more than just yelling “FREEZE, DIRTBAG!”?
3. Dynamic Crime System
Crimes happen in real-time, meaning you’ll have to prioritize calls. Do you stop a robbery in progress, or let it slide because you’re busy chasing a speeding motorcycle? (Spoiler: Your boss will yell at you either way.)
4. Killer Soundtrack
The synthwave beats are so good, you’ll half-expect a montage of you dramatically putting on sunglasses every time you get in your car.
Is The Precinct Perfect?
Well, no. The controls can feel a little clunky at times, and the AI occasionally forgets it’s supposed to be, you know, intelligent. But for an indie title, it’s impressively ambitious—like a rookie cop trying to take down a drug cartel on their first day.
Final Verdict: Should You Play It?
If you love:
✔ 80s nostalgia
✔ Open-world chaos
✔ Games that reward actual thinking
Then The Precinct is a must-play. It’s not Grand Theft Auto 6, but it doesn’t need to be. Sometimes, you just want to bust perps in a pixelated city while pretending you’re the star of a canceled cop show. If you want to learn more about the game, check out the dev’s website here.