Crime Boss: Rockay City

- Cheaper than Payday 3 + includes all DLC up to June 18th for free

- Not online-only so you can play it offline, there's no time when the servers die either as you are hosting lobbys instead of a dedicated server

- Larger scale heists that actually have a level of spectacle to them

- Most heists have a large amount of Randomization to their design resulting in a lot more replayability

- Gunplay that doesn't feel like it would've been dated back in 2013

- Story cutscenes are actually mocapped and fully animated scenes rather than sliding PNGs with voice-over

- Has that rare "so bad it's good" quality to it's writing and voice acting, Devs have embraced the memes and aren't above laughing at themselves

- Devs listen to feedback closely and have shown they're capable enough to to fulfill people's requests

- Devs are pro-modding and actively assist modders alongside working on additional in-game support for modding


Yeah i'm thinkin

it's actually more of a low 7/10 but frankly with this fucking genre i'll take what i can get. Devs are actually improving it though so expect the game to get better overtime and for 16 quid i cant really argue with that value, before Steam launch i already put well over 50 hours into it, more so than what i have on PAYDAY 3.

Similar to Payday in the main premise but with quality of life features and roguelike permadeath for each run. Sort of like crime spree mode for payday you continue to do heists until you, or in this game, your boss character, dies. However, you can also "win" by taking over the city. This game makes it more fun to play as a solo player because you can guide your ai teammates to loot and move bags. You also have the ability to just switch between each of the characters present at any time. Haven't played the multiplayer but I bought this on sale and found it worth the price for singleplayer.

It's a game about pulling off heists in the hope of obtaining a large payday. The single-player mode has 2 types of gameplay: heists, and a GTA: San Andreas style turf war system. It ticks all the boxes for me, and I'm planning on playing it a lot.

When Rockay first launched I had heard it was a disasterous low budget Payday rip off, and Epic exclusivity didn't help it. Having played it now I have to assume 505 have pulled off a No Mans Sky or something. Although this game has a multiplayer mode it plays far better IMO as a single player Roguelite take on the old Payday premise, heists are smaller and faster but with no trading hostages or doc bags to refresh downs the thrill is really kept up. There are still larger heists on par with Payday's Big Bank and they really lean into the cool heist asthetic but they are comperatively rare.

The game has a lot of refreshing refines on core gameplay compared to Payday 2, gunsmithing is sadly gone and there are no huge RPG leveling systems but almost everything else is dramatically improved. Drills now encourage player to guard them by giving you the ability to speed them up, rather than random breaking and requiring lengthy interactions to repair, instead you can hold the drill to boost it for a time with a needle moving towards a green zone that will 3x the speed of the drill however the boost wears off after a few seconds so players will need to maintain their presence and if a player overshoots the green zone the drill will break and need to be restarted however this is far quicker than the old Payday 2 system. Bots are now far more useful and independent, with many missions they will dive in on the loot and bag it then run to the van on their own with little handholding from the player needed although they can be a little overly brave when doing so. You can also pick up fallen weapons from enemies now too!

Player characters, with the exception of Troy Baker the boss, are mostly generic feeling but are meant to be disposable and function on a tier system. Common low tier characters will try their best with shovels and crowbars but can be upgraded with experience and reequiped with weapons from a shop. Some characters however are even given full on stories from a Vietnam war vet going through flashbacks to a cursed Jamican drug smuggler tracking down a voodoo witch.

Stealth is also subtly reworked but for the best. You have a 3 strikes and your out system before stealth is broken and the cops are called. Eliminating guards or cameras will count as a strike, as well as trespassing in secure areas. However cameras can be disabled by finding a computer in a security room and simply shutting them off, and guards can be pacified by sneaking up on them and "intimidating" them through a sharp shoulder punch. These refinements feel a lot more rewarding and fair compared to trying to dodge guards while worrying about your 4 pager limit. Alternatively some missions have you infiltrating the territory of rival gangs which is a very different situation, gangsters do not warn you and shoot on sight but in return there are no off limit actions with them either and killing them with a silenced pistol or throwing knife is not penalized so long as the body is out of sight. This actually gives stealth gameplay two fun and different feelings to it.

It's also worth mentioning the game is down right charming: inspired by 90s action movies and proud of it with many characters just being almost perfect copies of classic actors (in many cases voiced by them even); the game knows it's cheesy and is happy to have fun with it but never jumps the shark into being annoyingly goofy. The characters laugh with each other and shoot goofy one liners but it's played like friends having fun with each other; one particular scene featuring "Gloves" (Danny Glover) giggling to each other about Gloves wearing gloves was so goofy their laughter became infectious. Gloves as your heist planner and coordinator frequently chews up the scenery and it's clear Mr. Glover had a lot of fun with his role... unfortunately Chuck Norris, voicing the main antagonist Sherriff Norris either clearly did not take a video game role seriously at all, or regretted agreeing to the project; in either case every single line from Norris is bored and monotone, as if he just read through the script once not even trying to do more than say the right words, before stepping out of the recording booth and warning the devs his contract only required him to do one take. If he got paid a turkey sandwich with just tomato for this performance it was too much. Aside from him though the voice actors all do a great job with their performances; MIchael Rooker as Touchdown, the gang's enforcer is another stand out performance.

Overall for 20 dollars I thought this was a great game and I'm happy to find myself coming back to it.

It covers my Payday itch when it comes to singleplayer, the bots actually grab the loot by themselves and follow your orders for taking down guards. Bots can also be switched to and controlled by the player.
Average, but good enough for a fun time

A co op heisting game that doesn't chug balls for < $20 with all DLC included for free? Snag this deal while you can.

Crime Boss: Rockay City - B-Movie Heist Review
Crime Boss: Rockay City, a title launched in 2023 with a mixed reception, has grown in popularity thanks to a string of significant updates and fixes released with the Steam version. We revisit the game to see if these updates addressed the core issues and transformed it into the gangster simulator it aspired to be.
The core gameplay of first-person shooter action remains. You'll mow down waves of rival thugs and security forces, but the updates have refined the experience. Weapon handling feels tighter, with improved recoil patterns and responsiveness. Stealth mechanics have also been overhauled, making viable alternative approaches to loud, explosive entries. The addition of gadgets like lockpicks and throwable distractions opens doors (literally and figuratively) for strategic planning before a heist. While not the deepest stealth system, it adds a welcome layer of choice and replayability.
From Chaotic Fun to Strategic Planning:
Characters have perks and weapons that can be tailored for a mission. For example, "The Peak" comes with a sniper rifle that can make assassination missions simpler, while Runaway is hard to detect and she has a silencer pistol that can save a run after a guard grabs you by surprise. Your mercenaries also get permanently killed should they die in missions, making you value them as assets that can bring you fortunes if you use them adequately.
Details can be crucial in certain missions, for example, you might need to hack a computer to access a hidden vault, and if you access the wrong one you can get locked out of it failing. Due to how punishing it can be to miss a detail, the difficulty of the game can be brutal during the most important heists, and some enemies can take you out in seconds even in the normal difficulty. Careful planning is not necessary at the start but is mandatory as you progress through the campaign.
Building Your Criminal Empire – Turf Wars:
Rockay City, your criminal HQ, has also seen significant improvements. Areas provide bonuses and passive income that can be used to upgrade your army, an arsenal of weapons, and collections that grant experience. Likewise, the turfs that can be obtained by force (or by smarts) can be used to deter enemy factions by surrounding them or weakening them in missions. In the battle for Rockay City, knowing where to make truces and when to expand is a mind game that keeps you invested during your whole planning.
Turf wars feature a minigame of sorts, where you and an enemy try to kill several soldiers and sometimes bosses before your army gets wiped out. While these battles start simple and a bit boring, they quickly ramp up to become ordeals as each side gets upgraded and geared up to decimate the opposition.
Cheesy Dialogue and Escalating Heat:
The voice acting by Danny Trejo and Chuck Norris remains a quirky highlight. Their B-movie charm is undeniable, and the cheesy dialogue can be a source of amusement (or groans, depending on your taste). The main antagonist played by Chuck Norris Sheriff Norris is obsessed with getting Baker caught red-handed.
As you progress through the game, you can constantly feel his presence as the investigation meters fill up, threatening to end your run. The police start simple like the turf wars, but eventually escalate to using robots with firearms, turrets in banks and even setting up heists that are traps. You can go on a mission, open a van full of money, and find not a single dime but a massive force of cops. It keeps the stakes high and keeps you thinking about which heist to tackle near the endgame.
Repetitive Missions Still Linger, But There's More to Explore:
While the core gameplay loop is more enjoyable now, the issue of repetitive mission design persists to some extent. You'll still find yourself infiltrating buildings, eliminating targets, and escaping with loot, albeit with more strategic options at your disposal. However, the 2024 updates have introduced new features that help alleviate this.
The "Shuffle Mode" randomizes the objectives and layouts of existing missions, offering some variety on subsequent playthroughs. Additionally, the introduction of "Urban Legends" – short, narrative-driven missions with unique objectives – provides a refreshing change of pace and delves deeper into the lore of the Rockay City underworld.
The Verdict: A Reborn Gangster Experience (With Room for Improvement):
Thanks to the updates, crime Boss: Rockay City has transformed from a rough diamond into a more polished experience. The core gameplay loop of chaotic action and strategic planning is now more engaging, and the improvements to city management and crew mechanics add depth to your criminal mastermind aspirations. While repetitive missions remain a minor concern, introducing "Shuffle Mode" and "Urban Legends" helps alleviate this.
Multiplayer is an enjoyable experience, featuring missions and goals to accomplish with friends or random players. Don't expect to customize your character easily, however, as most skins require you to beat the main campaign multiple times, which ends up being a questionable design choice when you find yourself beating it eleven times for a single skin.
Is it a perfect gangster simulator? Not quite.
But for a co-op heist game with a budget price tag and a B-movie flair, Crime Boss: Rockay City offers a significantly improved experience compared to its initial launch. If you're looking for a chaotic good time with friends and can appreciate the cheesy charm, Crime Boss might be worth a second look. However, if you crave a deep and strategic criminal empire simulation, you might still want to look elsewhere.
Score: 7/10, A Solid Choice for B-Movie Fans
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