American Fugitive

If you were a fan of GTA, particularly GTA 2 during the late '90s, and enjoyed the charming text dialogues along with the top-down 2D graphics, then you’re in for a treat here. This game may not be a high-budget blockbuster, and it might lack a plethora of options or an extensive arsenal of weapons. Some might argue that it doesn’t deliver enough intensity or that the dialogue is sparse, and while those points are valid, they don’t tell the whole story.
For those who appreciate indie games reminiscent of the classics, this title offers a heartfelt and engaging narrative that doesn’t take itself too seriously. If you’re looking to unleash some chaos, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to drive over obstacles, trigger explosions, and leave tire marks everywhere. The playful, almost cartoonish 2D graphics add to the fun, making the experience feel vibrant and entertaining.
Playing this game feels like stepping back into 1999 with a fresh twist—fewer glitches, improved controls, and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere. The characters may not have much to say, but their emotions shine through, making the gameplay enjoyable. With a lengthy storyline that keeps you engaged, I’ve completed over 15 missions in just four hours and am still exploring the first area. This game is quickly becoming a cult classic, sure to be remembered alongside GTA. I wholeheartedly recommend it with a solid 9/10!

You play as a dude falsely accused of murder, so naturally the only logical response is to steal every car in the county and punch a man over a sandwich. The police? Olympic-level psychic bloodhounds who can find you in a cornfield because you bumped into a mailbox 20 minutes ago.
It’s like someone took the chaos of early GTA, mixed it with Smokey and the Bandit, and said “What if crime... but sad?”
I didn’t kill my dad, but I did rob 12 houses and a donut shop.
7.5/10

The game feels like a throwback to the PS1 GTA top dowen era. Plays a lot like GTA, pretty noticeable from the mission design and its storytelling. Also it’s a short but awesome experience that you can wrap up in about 8-10 hours!
The house robbing mechanic is one of the highlights for me, a very unique touch to the usual criminal antics. But unfortunately, some of the other tasks start feeling like a chore after a while, dragging down the pacing. That being said, the physics and soundtrack are top-notch, and the open world is an absolute blast to mess around in.
Overall, it’s a fun game with some great ideas, but don't expect it to keep you hooked for the long haul. Worth picking up (when it's on sale) for a quick crime spree!

If you like GTA2, then you have to play this game.
The game is almost like GTA2 but set in the Midwest and with an emphasis on burglary, theft, and petty crime. The characters that give you the missions are comparable to the persons you meet in a GTA game. There is plenty of side stuff to do when roaming in between missions. I liked the home invasion looting system where you can either sneak in without notifying the police or you have a certain amount of time before the police arrive. The races in the game are nice.
All in all, a decent game if you pick it up on discount.

a solid game if you know what you're getting, the trailer makes it look like WILD AND CRAZY GTA, IN AMERICA THIS TIME but really it's kind of a cozy small town GTA / burglary game. There's a plot, and it sure does have an ending. For all I'd complain about the writing, I gotta agree that the writing is significantly better than the original 2d GTA's. The whole game, ultimately, is not that hard, and seems like a fun game to play if you don't feel like going MAXIMUM EFFORT on a GTA game.
Playtime 20 hours.

Looking for a low-budget GTA-like with the top-down view of the first 2 and the missions more like the rest of that franchise ? This will likely tickle that fancy.
Story isn't great, but overall presentation is pretty good, and there's enough to keep you entertained for about 20 hours.

As others have said, American Fugitive is like an homage to the early top-down GTA games but with an emphasis on burglary, which means you can enter just about any building. It's got a certain charm being set in a small town, and it's pretty fun to go on rampages. But I have a few issues with the game, namely the repetitiveness. The missions start to follow more or less the same premise at a certain point, so there's not much for me to look forward to in the late game. Also it's annoyingly difficult to end any police chase, and I've spent the better part of many missions just driving around the map and losing the cops because I accidentally bumped into another car on the way. Overall, this is still an enjoyable and worthwhile game, especially if you get it at a reduced price.