In The Precinct, Fallen Tree Games aims to capture the cinematic grit of a corrupt 1980s American city through the lens of a rookie cop trying to walk the thin blue line. Published by Kwalee and releasing May 13, the game throws players into Averno City, a place ruled by gangs, secrets, and a touch of noir glamour. It’s pitched as a neon-noir, open-world police sandbox—complete with high-speed chases, destructible environments, and a synthwave soundtrack to match.

A promising start, abruptly interrupted by furrowed brows
And at first, it works. The Precinct begins with a slick, confident opening: retro-futuristic music hums over aerial shots of the city as voiceover narration introduces the ACPD with all the gravitas of a prime-time crime drama. It feels like a playable throwback to Miami Vice or Training Day with a comic book twist. There’s talk of honor, loyalty, the blurred lines between right and wrong. You’re introduced to protagonist Nick Cordell, a fresh-faced officer following in the footsteps of his deceased father, mentored by the grizzled soon-to-retire Officer Kelly. It’s clear from the outset: there’s a legacy at play here, and moral gray zones waiting to be uncovered.
But just when you’re ready to sink into a gripping story about power and corruption, the game slams the brakes with a jarring tonal shift: a visual novel-style cutscene crashes in, complete with stiff animations, cartoonish character portraits, and ham-fisted dialogue delivered with over-the-top “Murican” accents. These segments are not just off-putting—they actively undermine the atmosphere the game initially builds. Dialogue lands flat, pacing stalls, and you’re left staring at mostly static images while disembodied voices drone on with little nuance or energy. If the opening promised a grounded drama, these scenes feel more like something out of a mobile game.

A rookie cooked in the heat of rushed routines
The Precinct’s gameplay follows a day-in-the-life loop: each shift begins in the ACPD headquarters, where you accept new missions and assignments. Early on, these include a training exercise that escalates into a bank heist, which then ends in a shootout that—somehow—no one seems to care about afterward. Despite gunning down multiple assailants as a rookie, no one checks in, debriefs you, or even mentions the trauma. Your fellow officers barely acknowledge the event, and your commanding officer, Chief Jackson, just tosses you into the next mission—this time involving a helicopter.
This odd lack of narrative continuity becomes a pattern. While the game offers a variety of mission types—parking enforcement, street patrols, vandal chases, DUI stops, SWAT deployments—they’re disconnected, rarely building toward a larger, cohesive story. Missions feel more like isolated tasks in a to-do list than part of a living, breathing world.
Writing parking tickets? That’s here, complete with multiple-choice justifications and little else. Chasing down vandals? Sure, but be careful: you’re supposed to choose the right level of force, whether that’s a verbal warning, non-lethal takedown, or lethal force (yes, really). Arrests involve a clunky mix of quick-time events and awkward melee combat—complete with blocking, baton swings, and button-mashing to “restrain” offenders before reading them their rights.
You can call in escort teams or drive arrested suspects back to the station yourself, but either way, they remain mute. So do most citizens, bystanders, and even your fellow officers. In fact, outside of scripted cutscenes, The Precinct is eerily quiet—devoid of the kind of ambient chatter or emergent interaction that might make the world feel alive. Attempt to speak to most characters and you’ll likely be greeted with the dreaded “not my current objective.”

While others inevitably fade, some shine brightly
Not all is lost. Out in the open world—especially behind the wheel—The Precinct starts to shine. The driving feels tight and responsive, with multiple siren options, realistic handling, and a satisfying drift mechanic. Helicopter sequences where you coordinate with ground teams, deploy spike strips, or shine a spotlight on fleeing criminals are engaging in short bursts. The synthwave soundtrack kicks in here, complementing the nighttime chases with moody retro flair. It’s these moments—carving around corners in the rain, chasing down suspects through narrow alleyways, glancing at your top-down minimap—that The Precinct actually feels like it’s living up to its concept.
And while the game is missing polish in many areas, the visuals deserve some praise. The top-down view of the city is detailed and stylish, especially during storms or at night. Reflections on wet pavement, red-blue strobes illuminating dark streets—it’s atmospheric and effective. The framerate holds steady throughout, and controller support is clean and intuitive. Whether it’s sprinting limited by stamina, swapping gear from your cruiser’s trunk, or navigating the map and handbook, the UI is user-friendly and familiar.
There’s also a basic upgrade system, letting you improve your patrol gear or unlock perks like the ability to commandeer certain vehicles. But again, while the systems are present, they often feel disconnected or underdeveloped, as you can’t use them consistently—teasing more depth than they actually offer.

When the pieces never fit together, a false arrest looms
Where The Precinct really stumbles is in its inability to create meaningful consequences. Arresting criminals is just something you do—it rarely ties into anything larger. You don’t build relationships, uncover deeper stories, or face real dilemmas beyond which button to press. The game keeps throwing new assignments at you without giving you time to reflect, react, or connect.
The worst offender remains the visual novel segments, which clash harshly with the otherwise well-rendered 3D gameplay. These scenes are lifeless, often cringe-inducing, and contribute little beyond exposition dumps. Characters come and go without impact, choices rarely matter, and tonal inconsistency runs rampant. The game seems unsure whether it wants to be a grounded procedural or a campy comic book story. Unfortunately, it splits the difference and nails neither.
Final Thoughts
The Precinct is bursting with potential. It’s a love letter to cop dramas, 1980s and synthwave aesthetics, and the sandbox freedom of early GTA—but it’s let down by uneven execution, shallow systems, and a narrative delivery that actively undercuts immersion. At its best, it gives you thrilling chases through neon-lit streets and satisfying moments of law enforcement roleplay. But these moments are fleeting, drowned out by repetition, static dialogue, and a gameplay loop that rarely evolves. In the end, The Precinct feels like a prototype of a great game. The heart is there—the badge, the car, the rain-slicked streets—but the soul is missing. You’re not really patrolling a living city, you’re just moving between mission markers, watching flat scenes play out, and checking off objectives in a sandbox that never quite connects its pieces.
Additional Information
Release Date: May 13, 2025
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency.
Developer: Fallen Tree Games Ltd
Publisher: Kwalee Gaming
Official Website: https://www.theprecinctgame.com
Relevant links: The Precinct on STEAM