If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to live out your cop movie fantasy with a city full of crooks to collar, then The Precinct might just have your number. A sandbox police game set in the streets of Averno City, it combines methodical police work with arcade-style action. But while there’s plenty of heart behind the badge, not every mechanic fires on all cylinders.

Hot on the case

In The Precinct, you step into the shoes of Officer Nick Cordell Jr., a rookie cop trying to prove himself in Averno. This is your typical city plagued by corruption, gang violence, and civic unrest. The narrative kicks off with Nick’s father, a decorated officer, being recently killed in the line of duty under suspicious circumstances. Casting a long shadow over Nick’s career, the precinct quickly uncovers more about what really happened.

The game presents itself as a love letter to the VHS-era cop dramas of the ’80s and early ’90s. Think Lethal Weapon, Miami Vice, and Beverly Hills Cop, blended with the open-world events of Grand Theft Auto. The characters and dialogue are drenched in genre tropes, tough-talking detectives, gruff police chiefs, and mysterious criminals abound.

The tone walks a fine line between parody and homage. There’s a campy, almost satirical edge to the voice acting, which is deliberately cliché and mostly lands as endearing. When it works, it’s charming and self-aware, playing off the absurdity of some missions and character interactions. But there are moments where the delivery feels mismatched with the situation, especially due to technical hiccups like crackling audio, inconsistent volume levels, and strange pauses between lines. These issues can break the narrative’s otherwise pulpy appeal.

For example, early in the game, you head out on your first patrol, learning the ropes by booking illegally parked cars. It’s not exactly thrilling, but it adds to the simulator side of the experience and helps ease you into the routine. The next day kicks off with a dramatic helicopter flyover of the city, paired with chasing down a suspect in a high-speed chase. There’s a little bit of a disconnect, but at the end of the day, it’s harmless fun.

It’s worth acknowledging the inherent sensitivity in a game around police work, given the real-world issues of systemic injustice, abuse of power, and the complex role law enforcement plays. However, The Precinct clearly leans hard into satire and stylised drama. It’s not aiming for realism, glorification, or political commentary. Instead, it is more concerned with absurd helicopter chases and one-liner showdowns than with moral grey areas or real-world policing. While that won’t absolve it from all scrutiny, the game’s clear intent is entertainment over ideology, parody over propaganda. In that sense, it settles comfortably into campy escapism.

License to patrol

The Precinct sits between classic arcade action and a lightweight simulation. You take on daily patrols in the crime-infested city, alternating between walking the beat, cruising the streets in your police car, or taking to the skies in a chopper. Whether you’re chasing down burglars or interrupting an illegal arms deal, the game throws a steady stream of dynamic events your way, but they help you earn XP and upgrade your gear.

Patrol shifts form the backbone of the gameplay. Each shift gives you a set of objectives, usually involving a mix of reactive policing (responding to random crimes) and story missions that slowly unravel the mystery behind Averno’s gang networks. There’s a solid sense of routine here: you’ll pull over suspicious vehicles, run license plates through your cruiser’s database, pat down suspects, and radio for escorts or backup. It’s initially enjoyable and immersive, especially when you’re juggling multiple events on the fly, but these encounters can start to feel like box-ticking after a while.

Shots fired

While The Precinct doesn’t always hit the mark with its action, it delivers enough to keep things engaging. You’ll find yourself sliding over your cruiser’s hood, charging into shootouts, piloting helicopters in search of suspects, and even going undercover in a Fast and the Furious–style illegal street racing ring. These over-the-top sequences embrace the game’s self-aware, cop-movie energy and are among its most entertaining set-pieces.

Vehicle handling is surprisingly slick, and navigation is key. With a minimap constantly pinging nearby incidents, you’re almost always chasing the next burst of action. High-speed pursuits are regular, ramming suspects, deploying spike strips, and weaving through traffic in tense arcade chases. It’s ridiculous but fun.

Rough around the edges

Averno City looks great at a glance. The changing weather and day-night cycle give it personality, neon signs glow in puddles, and fog rolls through the streets to add atmosphere. One moment stood out when I was chasing a suspect at night, the streetlights above and the grungy China Town area really nailed the gritty cop show vibe.

But the art doesn’t hold up as well. In dialogue, illustrated portraits of characters will pop up on the screen like a visual novel. Officer Cordell’s badge sometimes floats off his shirt, and Eugene’s shoulder patch doesn’t sit right. While the artwork looks okay, a closer look shows a lack of attention. ID photos often don’t match the character models, which feels lazy for a game where checking IDs is a core mechanic. Animations are stiff, too. Especially when running or chasing suspects, it can look awkward, and the breaks between animations are clear.

Audio is a mixed bag. The soundtrack fits the tone perfectly, with retro beats from Gavin Harrison and Sleepless Nights (Jonny Adams). It’s very strong on the dreamy guitars, ambient synths, and soothing sax. Even a Wilhelm scream sneaks its way in that adds some cheeky fun. Again, voice acting is mostly fine but leans heavily into tough-cop clichés, so if that’s not for you, look away.

Unfortunately, there was an odd technical issue. Voice lines sometimes have crackling or static, especially early on with Chief Jackson. I tested it on different audio setups and had the same issue, which feels like something that should’ve been caught. Besides that, the game performs very well on PC with no major optimisation or functional concerns.