The precinct – where neon-soaked streets meet badge-carrying justice: a thrilling revival of 80s cop drama.
Released on May 13th, 2025, The Precinct marks a bold departure from traditional open-world action games by placing players on the side of law enforcement. It’s common for sandbox games to let you wreck virtual towns, but this neon-filled police simulator flips that idea on its head by asking players to keep the peace in an almost lawless world. As the player, you are thrown into the vast city of Averno City, which is both your playground and your duty.
Fallen Tree Games Limited has created something that blends elements of noir storytelling, open-world exploration, and dynamic real-time action into a package that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly modern. Their approach to city design shows an evident love for 80s crime dramas while incorporating contemporary gaming sensibilities that make Averno City feel like more than just a backdrop – it’s a character in its own right.
In The Precinct, you play Nick Cordell Jr., a new police officer who has just graduated from the school and is afraid of what his father did. In the line of duty, your dad was a respected cop who died in strange circumstances. Now you’re on the same beat, determined to find the truth while managing the complicated web of crime that runs through Averno’s foundation.
The narrative unfolds across a series of well-crafted missions that balance personal drama with larger city-wide conspiracies. As you progress, you’ll meet a cast of characters ranging from your fellow officers (some trustworthy, others less so) to criminal kingpins operating from the shadows. The story delivers compelling twists and turns that kept me invested throughout my 18–20-hour journey through the primary campaign.
The story goes beyond standard police procedural tropes because the choices you make affect both the story and the city itself. The game doesn’t shy away from giving you moral decisions, like whether to follow the rules to the letter or break them to catch the bad guys. These choices have effects on both the main plot and your regular night shift as a patrol officer.
There is a nice mix of action and strategy in The Precinct, and the way you play changes as you move up in your job. Your job includes boring things like writing parking tickets and dealing with noise complaints, as well as exciting things like shootouts with bank robbers and dramatic fights on rooftops with crime bosses.
Movement and fighting feel smooth and responsive, which allows you to have interesting fights in all of Averno’s different settings. The gunplay is a good mix of easy playground fun and deep tactical detail. You can’t just run and gun your way through things because the game supports proper police procedure. Taking cover, identifying threats, and issuing warnings before resorting to deadly force all factor into your performance evaluations.
The procedurally generated crime system ensures that no two patrols feel identical. You might start your shift dealing with graffiti artists in back alleys, then suddenly find yourself responding to an armed robbery or domestic disturbance. These sudden changes in the game keep things interesting, but they can also show how rigid the game is when it comes to law enforcement.
One of the more innovative mechanics is the detailed police handbook system that outlines proper procedures for various situations. Not following the rules, like forgetting to read suspects’ rights or using too much force, can lead to punishments or even worse. This adds a level of simulation that goes beyond what you’d typically find in an action game, though some players have complained about how inconsistently these rules are applied.
Where The Precinct truly excels is in its vehicle mechanics and chase sequences. It is really exciting to chase suspects through Averno’s busy streets, and the physics system makes it feel real without being too realistic. Driving in different parts of the city can be tricky in various ways. For example, the downtown center has narrow alleys, while the affluent neighborhoods have wide boulevards.
The destructible environments add another layer of chaos to these sequences. When you’re on a chase, it’s satisfying to see a suspect crash through a shop after a well-executed PIT move or when your backup arrives and blocks an escape route. The changing weather in the game makes these moments even better. Chasing crooks through streets soaked in rain during a storm creates memorable scenes that feel like they belong in old-school cop movies.
The different cars make these routines more fun to play again and again. Each type of vehicle, from regular police cars to spy cars and even high-powered interceptors that you unlock later in the game, handles and performs better in specific ways. The car chases never seem to get old, especially when combined with the robust support system that lets you call in helicopter assistance, request roadblocks, or deploy spike strips to end pursuits.
The combat system in The Precinct balances tension with tactical decision-making. As Officer Cordell, you have access to standard police equipment – your sidearm, nightstick, taser, and eventually heavier weapons for special situations. Each tool has specific uses, and the game rewards proper equipment selection for different scenarios.
Firefights feel appropriately dangerous – you’re not a bullet sponge, and taking cover while planning your approach is essential. The enemy AI is surprisingly competent, with criminals using flanking maneuvers, taking hostages, or barricading themselves in defensible positions. These encounters require thought rather than just quick reflexes, especially at higher difficulty levels.
Progression comes through a reputation system that tracks your performance as an officer. By following the rules and handling problems successfully, you can get praise and access to new tools, cars, and help choices. This method makes players more likely to be careful in-game instead of treating it like a normal shooter. However, being able to choose whether to play as a strict cop or a free-spending criminal gives players different ways to progress.
The Precinct looks great thanks to its stylized take on 1980s style. There are different areas in Averno City, and each one has its own feel and personality. The environmental storytelling makes the whole world feel authentic and lived-in, from the busy center with its tall buildings to the seedier neighborhoods where crime lords run their businesses from high rooms.
The lighting system is imposing—neon signs shine brightly on wet streets, and when it gets dark, the city is totally different. People go about their daily lives during the day, giving the town a sense of calm. At night, however, Averno becomes darker and more dangerous. This day-night cycle affects not just the visuals but the types of crimes you’ll encounter and how citizens interact with you.
The character models and animations are similarly well-crafted, with expressive faces during dialogue sequences and realistic movements during gameplay. The retro futuristic aesthetic blends 80s fashion and technology with subtle sci-fi elements that give Averno its distinct personality without going too far into fantasy territory.
Performance is good on all systems, and the game runs smoothly even when things get crazy. Frame rates stay the same for players with mid-range PCs, so you can enjoy this game no matter what gear you have. Fallen Tree Games Limited has tweaked the engine so that its styled graphics can be delivered without needing cutting-edge tech.
The Precinct‘s sound design matches the movie’s look. Synthesized music pulses in the background. It gets louder when things get tense and less intense when the watch is on. The music from each district mixes in with the background noise as you move through the city, giving each place a unique sound without getting annoying or repetitive.
Voice acting is generally strong, bringing characters to life with convincing performances that sell both the noir-inspired dialogue and the more emotional story beats. Your fellow officers, criminal suspects, and civilian witnesses all feel distinct and authentic, adding depth to your interactions throughout the city.
The sounds of the environment, like faraway sirens and traffic, the crackling of police radios, and the rewarding thud of handcuffs on a suspect’s wrists, make the experience even more real. These sound effects bring Averno to life and make it react to what you do. Weapon sounds, vehicle engines, and weather effects are all carefully made, making the soundscape just as beautiful as the visual one.
After spending more than 20 hours patrolling the streets of Averno City, The Precinct leaves a lasting impression as a unique entry in the open-world genre. Its focus on law enforcement provides a fresh perspective that few games have explored with this level of detail and polish. While not without flaws – some minor bugs, occasional AI pathing issues, and a somewhat simplistic view of law enforcement that doesn’t fully engage with more nuanced real-world discussions – the game succeeds in creating an engaging experience from a perspective rarely explored in gaming.
There are a lot of different things you can do in Fallen Tree Games Limited’s world, whether you want to follow the main story or deal with the constant crime in the city. Since the creators work hard to fix bugs and hear what players have to say, the game should get better over time.
Overall, The Precinct does a good job of capturing the feel of 1980s police shows while also adding enough current gameplay elements to make it feel new and not just retro. It stands out in a busy market because it wants to make a living city full of interesting things to do and stories that make you want to read more. Put on your badge, draw your gun, and hit the streets of Averno City if you’re going to play a game that mixes action, strategy, and story in a setting that is all its own. There will be justice, and this is a case that should be solved.
