Police Stories
Inspired by SWAT 4 and gritty police TV shows, Police Stories is a fresh take on top-down shooters with an emphasis on tactics that forces you to make split second decisions. Neutralize criminals, rescue civilians and defuse bombs in Single Player mode or Online Co-op. And remember – shooting first is not an option! Unforgiving and tense, each mission tells a story of two police operatives – John Rimes and Rick Jones, filled with infiltrating gang hideouts, rescuing hostages, making arrests and other life-threatening situations. The Surrender System allows you to apprehend the suspects without resorting to violence. Fire a warning shot near them or engage them in melee combat – those are just some of the ways you can make them submit. Issue commands to your fellow cop Rick Jones. Make sure to use him wisely – and who knows, he might save your life in return.
Steam User 19
Very nice game with easy to learn controls, very satisfying graphics and a pretty immersive story but the friendly AI is just plain stupid. When you put him in passive mode he does absolutely nothing to help you, he doesn't fire unless you fire first and if there is an enemy behind you and you haven't seen him but he has again he doesn't fire at him leaving you open to blind attacks. When you put him in active mode he straight up sprints towards the enemy resulting to him getting killed constantly either from the enemy or because he ran into your line of fire. I recommend this game but only if you plan on playing co op with a friend otherwise it gets annoying pretty fast.
Steam User 10
+ cute pixel game about two cool cops wow omg
played with a friend and it was fun
- toooooooooooooooooooo short
Steam User 6
Police Stories
”Tactical Top Down Shooter”
A fun tactical top down shooter that is fairly brutal to learn at the start. In the beginning you will die a lot as its very realistic in terms of being shot, you have maybe 1 or 2 shots and you're done. Great AI partner if you use him correctly.
Good little story and characters. Co-op play mode is available too.
Plenty of weapons and non lethal gadgets.
The goal is arrest rather than kill for maximum points and make sure you have a reason to shoot if you need too.
Trail-Dave
”I'll be at your place in a few – just make sure to put on your cleanest uniform and maybe take a shower. You've been staying home for days, bet you smell like garbage right now“
Steam User 5
actical, tense, and surprisingly thoughtful. A pixel-perfect love letter to slow, smart, and dangerous police work.
When I first launched Police Stories, I expected a fast-paced top-down shooter like Hotline Miami with badges. What I got instead was something much more methodical, tactical, and refreshingly grounded.
This isn't a game about running in guns blazing—it’s about clearing rooms, making split-second decisions, and constantly asking yourself: Is there another way to handle this?
🎮 Gameplay & Mechanics
The moment-to-moment gameplay in Police Stories is where it really shines. You're placed in the boots of John Rimes, a gritty but by-the-book cop, and you’re partnered with Rick Jones (AI or co-op). Your mission? Defuse dangerous situations without unnecessary bloodshed.
Each level is procedurally arranged to some degree, which keeps things tense and unpredictable. You can’t memorize enemy placements—you have to adapt. That’s the beauty of it. You breach a door, shout commands, and hope the suspect complies. But if they don't? You better react fast.
What elevates this game is how it emphasizes non-lethal tactics:
Shouting at suspects and hoping for compliance.
Using flashbangs, under-door cameras, or pepper spray.
Deciding whether to risk arresting someone with shaky hands or playing it safe and waiting.
Killing is not the goal. You’re judged harshly for reckless force. That kind of restraint is rare in this genre—and it's what gives Police Stories its identity.
👮♂️ Atmosphere & Tone
Despite the pixel art, the game manages to create a seriously intense atmosphere. There’s a tension in every hallway. Every door could be booby-trapped, every hostage could be caught in the crossfire. The soundtrack hits the perfect vibe: gritty, ambient, and low-key stressful in the best way.
The visuals are clean and expressive, and the environments feel believable—from grimy drug dens to high-stakes hostage situations. Each map feels handcrafted with intent, making every mission feel like an episode in a larger procedural drama.
🧠 AI & Partner Mechanics
Your AI partner is surprisingly capable. You can give them a decent set of commands (cover this door, restrain that suspect, flash that room), and while they’re not perfect, they’re way better than most AI companions in similar games.
That said, this game shines in co-op. Playing with a friend and coordinating room clears, stacking up on doors, and shouting warnings at suspects together is incredibly satisfying. Every successful arrest or clean sweep feels earned.
📈 Replayability & Progression
There’s a ranking system, unlockable weapons and tools, and different loadout options that let you tailor your approach. Want to go full stealth with tasers and cameras? Go for it. Prefer a flash-and-clear style with ballistic shields? That works too.
The scoring system encourages non-lethal and careful play, so perfectionists will find a lot of fun in redoing missions and aiming for that elusive “A” rank.
💬 Final Thoughts
Police Stories is one of those indie games that knows exactly what it wants to be—a grounded, challenging, tactical experience where brains beat brawn. It’s not flashy, it’s not fast, and it won’t hold your hand. But if you’re into careful planning, room-clearing, and morally nuanced gameplay, this game is a hidden gem.
Yes, there are moments of frustration. The controls can feel stiff at first. Suspects don’t always behave how you want. But that’s part of what makes it so immersive. It's not about being perfect—it’s about adapting to chaos and trying to do the right thing under pressure.
Final Verdict: 9/10 – A thoughtful, nerve-wracking tactical shooter that rewards patience, strategy, and restraint. Highly recommended for fans of SWAT, Door Kickers, or anyone who loves a challenge with purpose.
Get Goo Goo ALU
Steam User 4
Imagine if you will... Hotline miami but slightly slower and instead of a psycho you play as a police officer.
Its very fun and also includes a co-op mode if you have a buddy to play it with.
Overall its a solid 8/10
Steam User 4
If there's ever a second game, I'll definitely pick it up, but that price better change cause $25 is insane (5-10 is perfect); glad I got it on sale :)
I mainly play on my SteamDeck, and I gotta say the AI can be ridiculously quick at times; some balancing is definitely needed. On PC, I can match the AI's insane reaction time, but I think the developers did that on purpose, as suspects can be unpredictable. I think they should've gone with a different approach, where some suspects shoot on sight, and some actually have a conscience. I wasn't following it, but the story seemed cool. I loved the whole 80's vibe, but I definitely would've paid more attention if they had VAs (voice actors). I guess they were on a budget.
I know I sound like I'm complaining, but I truly enjoyed this game. I wish it was in early access so these issues could be fixed, but I'm pretty sure the devs have moved on, though I can't complain since I snagged this for $3. If there's ever a second instalment with a polished UI, AI, and gameplay, I'll definitely pick it up. I wish my brother or friends would pick this up cause I hate ordering around my AI partner, but bro is clutch sometimes.
Steam User 6
Looks like Hotline Miami but its the exact opposite. Its pretty mediocre by itself but co op is fun.
+ Graphics are great, i liked the cutscenes as well.
+ Co op is great and the main reason to play the game.
+ Gameplay is fun, using tactics and cautious approach is rewarded, going in guns blazing is not.
- Story sucks, it doesnt make much sense and is very basic.
- Game is pretty buggy, there are stuck loading screens, random bugs during gameplay that force you to restart the map.
- When alerted enemies seem to have insane reaction time on, almost like using an aimbot. This makes combat not fun.
- DLCs suck - both are half baked and seem more like mods than official content.
- 20€ is pretty steep for such a short game.
- Gets pretty repetetive 5 hours in.
Overall its worth only if you want to go play with your friend, otherwise this game doesnt have much to offer.