Contraband Police

The game currently has a campaign that plays out over the course of a month in-game, and the player is periodically presented with choices — do they stay loyal to glorious Acaristan, or do they cast off their shackles and choose to be an inside man for the rebellion? Developer Crazy Rocks is working on an endless mode with more paperwork and police ranks, which I’m looking forward to. The campaign can be completed in a few sittings, and it’s punctuated by some fun choices — but I’m hungry to keep checking for contraband.

It’s engaging, tense in all the right moments, and strangely absorbing once you settle into the rhythm. The rough edges in combat and driving hold it back, and the repetition eventually starts to rub, but the core loop is strong enough to earn its stripes on console.

Contraband Police has certainly surpassed my expectations. Never would I have thought that looking through documents and searching through contraband outside of my job would be fun. I am excited to experience the DLC mode Crimson Fall, which is due to come soon. I will therefore be awarding Contraband Police with the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.

Contraband Police is both too much yet not enough. Sometimes less is more-I wanted more simulator and less first-person shooter RPG, but there are still certain types of simulator comrades that will dig it, I think.

Contraband Police, also on Console, confirms the quality of the title. It is a particular game, at times surprising, which manages to bring bureaucracy and adrenaline, morality and opportunism together.

Contraband Police is a border guard simulator that really hits the mark. The game’s atmosphere is top-notch (the sound design plays a significant role in this), and one of its major strengths is its refusal to fall into gaming clichés. The story is weaker, and there are no cinematic cutscenes, but on the other hand, the setting of a communist state and the moral dilemmas are portrayed brilliantly for younger players. Some mechanics still need work, but I would personally buy the final product.

Contraband Police gives players meaningful choices, both big and small, that make the player feel like they have an impact on the world they find themselves in. Fun and interesting adventures are frequent and well paced, and the game offers a polished core gameplay loop with an action spin that greatly expands on what Papers Please started.

Take over the duties of a border guard inspector in a communist country of the 80s. Smuggling, corruption, and forgery are the order of the day here. Be vigilant and earn the respect of your superiors.

Crazy Rocks developers, under the auspices of a Polish distributor PlayWay, offer a successful probe into the life of a customs officer in a totalitarian state. It's not bad, and in particular, you can only rarely find such content in games.

It's impossible for someone who likes Papers Please not to enjoy Contraband Police. Similar mechanics, similar story, similar depth... but all in 3D! There's also open-world driving, side missions, hidden treasures and gunfights. One of the nice surprises of the year.