Developed by Cookie Dev, Crime Simulator is one of those games that quietly grows on you the more time you spend with it. I’d already dipped my toes into its criminal underworld before, but revisiting it on my Xbox Series X proved to be even more enjoyable the second time around. Familiarity definitely helps here, and once you understand its systems and rhythms, the experience becomes far smoother, and far more rewarding.
Back on the Wrong Side of the Law in Crime Simulator
Crime Simulator opens with a simple but effective setup. You’ve been bailed out of prison by a mysterious investor, and as you might expect, this isn’t an act of kindness. You’re now deeply indebted to a crime lord who has no interest in seeing you repaint fences or settle into a cosy desk job. If you want to stay alive, you’ll need to return to your old ways and start pulling jobs to repay what you owe.
However, rather than pushing you along a rigid storyline, the game gives you a surprising amount of freedom in how you tackle your criminal comeback. The sense of pressure is always there with the debt looming large, but you’re free to decide how best to chip away at it. Furthermore, this open-ended structure helps the game feel less like a checklist and more like a sandbox for low-level criminal activities.
Neighborhoods, Quotas, and Planning Ahead
The game is split into different neighborhoods, each acting as its own stage with a set number of in-game fays to reach a required cash quota. Fail to hit the target and things quickly spiral out of control. This time limit adds genuine tension, forcing you to plan routes, prioritize jobs, and decide when and where to take risks.
Your hideout acts as a central hub, and access to a computer opens up most of the game’s systems. Through various dark web-esque websites, you can browse available jobs, gather intel on potential targets, purchase tools of the trade, and accept optional requests for specific items that come in sets and offer bonus rewards on completion. This little digital setup makes preparation feel grounded and believable, even when the acts themselves are anything but legal.
Tools range from simple lockpicks and glass cutters to more advanced equipment like USB hacking devices, and choosing the right kit for the job becomes increasingly important as the game progresses. However, money is always tight, especially early on, which means you can’t simply buy everything and bruteforce your way through objectives.
Stealth, Risk, and Repetition
Moment-to-moment gameplay focuses heavily on stealth. Breaking into properties, avoiding detection, and getting out cleanly is far more profitable than causing carnage and chaos. When things go wrong – and they will – the consequences can be harsh. Furthermore, the tension of sneaking through darkened rooms, listening for footsteps, and timing your movements never fails to remain engaging.
That said, repetition does rear its ugly head over time. While new neighborhoods and jobs mix things up slightly, the core loop remains unchanged. However, the steady drip-feed of better tools, higher payouts, and more complex targets helps offset this, if only a little. On Xbox Series X, performance is generally solid, with load times kept nice and short, although the game’s presentation is quite clearly functional rather than flashy.
Summary
Crime Simulator isn’t a flash blockbuster, but it never tries to be. It’s a methodical, tension-filled sandbox that rewards patience, planning, and restraint. However, its repetitive structure and dated visuals may put off players looking for more variety and high-end polish.
For those willing to look past its rough edges, though, there’s a satisfying criminal fantasy here and one that becomes even more enjoyable once you know how to play the game on its own terms.
REVIEW
OUR SCORE - 7.5
7.5
SCORE
A slow-burn stealth sandbox that rewards careful planning, even if its ambitions occasionally outpace its presentation
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