Police Stories

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Linux • 2019

2019

Quick resume

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 Co-op. And remember - shooting first is not an option!

Global score

85/100

Genres

Action, Indie, Simulator, Strategy, Shooter, Arcade, Tactical

Similar games

Pros

Challenging tactical gameplay
Fun and rewarding co-op experience
Varied equipment and tactical options
Randomized enemy placements for replayability
Engaging retro audiovisual style

Cons

Short campaign length
Ai partner can be unreliable
Some bugs and glitches reported
Story is predictable and secondary
Limited character and environment customization

Motivations

Autonomy

Game with the same Autonomy vibe

4

"Players have significant control over tactical decisions, loadouts, commands, and approach to missions, allowing freedom in gameplay style."

Ready or Not
"Players can choose loadouts, tactics, and approach each mission with different strategies, including non-lethal or lethal options, showing high player control."
Competence

Game with the same Competence vibe

4

"The game is challenging with a steep learning curve, requiring skillful combat, strategic planning, and mastery of character abilities."

Ravenswatch
"The game is challenging with a steep learning curve, requiring skillful tactics, quick reactions, and mastery of equipment to succeed."
Competition

Game with the same Competition vibe

1

"Some leaderboard and ranking features exist but the focus is more on personal improvement and enjoyment rather than intense competition."

UNBEATABLE [white label]
"There is some leaderboard and ranking system encouraging better performance, but the focus is mostly on personal improvement rather than direct competition."
Continuation

Game with the same Continuation vibe

2

"Players report replaying missions, survival modes, and achievement hunting, indicating moderate habitual engagement."

Dead Effect
"Players report replaying missions multiple times to improve scores and unlock equipment, showing moderate habitual engagement."
Cooperation

Game with the same Cooperation vibe

4

"Strong emphasis on cooperative gameplay with partner commands and multiplayer co-op mode."

Police Stories: The Academy
"Strong emphasis on cooperative play with a friend, coordinating tactics and commands; AI partner available but less effective."
Creativity

Game with the same Creativity vibe

3

"Players customize loadouts with various weapons and gadgets; experimentation with different combinations and tactics encouraged."

Nitro Express
"Players can customize loadouts and choose different tactical approaches, including equipment use and non-lethal methods."
Domination

Game with the same Domination vibe

-3

"Gameplay encourages restraint and following rules of engagement rather than exerting superiority or aggressive dominance."

Hot Brass
"Gameplay encourages restraint and non-lethal tactics rather than exerting superiority or aggressive dominance over others."
Escapism

Game with the same Escapism vibe

3

"Players use the game as a tactical police simulation and stress relief, escaping into immersive scenarios."

Police Stories: The Academy
"Players use the game as a tactical challenge and distraction, with some mentioning stress relief and immersion in the police roleplay."
Expectation

Game with the same Expectation vibe

-4

"Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment; no evidence of obligation or pressure to play."

B100X - Auto Dungeon RPG
"Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment; no evidence of obligation or pressure to play."
Experimenting

Game with the same Experimenting vibe

3

"Players experiment with unit positioning, tactics, and strategies to overcome challenging missions."

Starship Troopers: Terran Command
"Players experiment with different equipment, tactics, and approaches to missions, encouraged by random enemy placements."
Exploration

Game with the same Exploration vibe

1

"Maps offer strategic variety but are fixed; some players learn map layouts and positions, limited new area discovery."

World of Tanks
"Maps have fixed layouts but enemy and item placements vary, offering some novelty but limited new area discovery."
Expression

Game with the same Expression vibe

1

"Limited character customization but some weapon and loadout personalization available."

Sniper Elite: Resistance
"Some customization of loadouts and tactical style, but limited character or environment personalization."
Fantasy

Game with the same Fantasy vibe

-3

"Game focuses on realistic police work and law enforcement rather than fictional or exaggerated scenarios."

Police Simulator: Patrol Officers
"Game simulates realistic police scenarios with grounded mechanics and story, avoiding improbable or fantastical elements."
Fellowship

Game with the same Fellowship vibe

3

"Community and co-op play foster social connection and shared achievements, though solo play is also supported."

Incursion Red River
"Community and co-op play foster social connection and shared achievements, though solo play is also supported."
Growth

Game with the same Growth vibe

3

"Players develop skills, unlock weapons and abilities, and improve tactical proficiency."

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon® Wildlands
"Players develop tactical skills, learn enemy behavior, and improve performance through repeated play and equipment unlocks."
Health

Game with the same Health vibe

-5

"No physical activity or health-related features; sedentary gameplay."

Heartworm
"No physical activity or health-related mechanics; sedentary gameplay."
Idle

Game with the same Idle vibe

-3

"Requires focused attention and tactical decision-making; not suited for casual or background play."

Police Stories: The Academy
"Requires focused attention and tactical decision-making; not suited for casual or background play."
Intimacy

Game with the same Intimacy vibe

1

"Some social interaction through co-op play, but limited evidence of deep emotional or close relationship formation."

Bounty of One
"Some social interaction through co-op play, but limited evidence of close emotional relationships forming."
Leadership

Game with the same Leadership vibe

2

"Players can command AI partners and coordinate actions, indicating some leadership elements in gameplay."

SAMURAI WARRIORS 4-II
"Players give commands to AI partners or coordinate with human partners, showing some leadership elements."
Progression

Game with the same Progression vibe

3

"Unlocking weapons, completing missions, and customizing teams provide a sense of advancement and accumulation."

Worms Armageddon
"Unlocking new equipment and improving mission ranks provides a sense of advancement and accumulation."
Relaxation

Game with the same Relaxation vibe

-1

"Gameplay can be tense and challenging, with moments of flow but also frustration and pressure."

Ancestors Legacy
"Gameplay is tense and challenging, with moments of flow but also frustration and high alertness."
Sensation

Game with the same Sensation vibe

2

"Enjoyable audiovisual style with retro pixel art and music, providing moderate sensory stimulation."

Police Stories: The Academy
"Enjoyable audiovisual style with retro soundtrack and satisfying sound effects enhance sensory engagement."
Status

Game with the same Status vibe

1

"Leaderboards and rankings offer some recognition but social status is not a major focus."

eSail Sailing Simulator
"Leaderboards and mission rankings provide some recognition, but social status is not a major focus."
Story

Game with the same Story vibe

2

"The game includes a narrative with cutscenes, though some find it confusing or out of place; story adds depth beyond gameplay."

Varenje
"The game features a narrative with cutscenes and plot, though some find it predictable and secondary to gameplay."
Strategy

Game with the same Strategy vibe

5

"Core gameplay revolves around tactical planning, positioning, and problem solving."

Valkyria Chronicles 4 Complete Edition
"Core gameplay revolves around tactical planning, problem solving, and strategic use of equipment and positioning."
Thrill

Game with the same Thrill vibe

3

"High tension from relentless enemies and instant death hazards creates suspenseful moments."

SHOWTIME 2073
"High tension and suspense from unpredictable enemy behavior and one-shot lethality create thrilling moments."
Value

Game with the same Value vibe

1

"Generally considered good value especially on sale, though some feel the price is high for game length."

TurnOn
"Generally considered worth the price especially on sale, with good gameplay length and replayability."
Violence

Game with the same Violence vibe

-2

"Game encourages non-lethal approaches and hacking over direct violence; combat exists but is not glorified."

Watch_Dogs® 2
"Game encourages non-lethal tactics and arrests over killing, penalizing unnecessary violence."
Survival

Game with the same Survival vibe

4

"Players must avoid death and manage resources carefully to survive missions."

ARMA: Cold War Assault
"Players must avoid death and manage resources carefully to complete missions successfully."

Analysis

Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Fellowship, Domination, Status. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Fantasy, Violence, Domination.

How to use the graph

Similar games map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

Where to buy

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Last update: 30/04/2026

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