Police Stories: The Academy similar games & best alternatives

Police Stories: The Academy

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2022

Should you play it?

Welcome, trainee! Use tactics and special equipment to become a true cop in the free version of Police Stories: The Academy. Neutralize criminals, search for clues and find a "rat" in the police station alone or in co-op with a partner.

What works
  • Free to play demo
  • Tactical and challenging gameplay
  • Cooperative multiplayer mode
  • Realistic police scenarios
  • Accessible controls and low hardware requirements
Things to keep in mind
  • Very short with limited missions
  • Technical issues and crashes reported
  • Ai partner can be unreliable
  • Lack of polish and bugs
  • Story and dialogue are weak or poorly written

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Tank Squad

  • Prime & Load : 1776

  • Fast and Low

  • Radio General

  • Help Will Come Tomorrow

  • Somewhere in the Shadow

  • Sam & Dan: Floaty Flatmates

  • Reentry - A Space Flight Simulator

  • Door Kickers 2: Task Force North

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Prime & Load : 1776

  • Fast and Low

  • Steel Crew

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Competence

    Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector

  • Cooperation

    RoadCraft

  • Fellowship

    Chess for idiots

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

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

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • 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 (hidden on purpose).

Police Stories: The Academy: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Fellowship, Status, Cooperation. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Continuation, Competition, Fantasy.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    3

    "Players have freedom to choose weapons, strategies, and play solo or with friends, indicating control over actions."

    Capsule for Retail Royale Retail Royale

    "Players have control over tactical decisions, weapon choice, and partner commands, allowing personal freedom in approach."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "Game requires significant brain usage, tactical planning, and skillful positioning to succeed."

    Capsule for Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector

    "The game requires significant brain usage, tactical planning, and skillful execution with feedback on performance."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -2

    "Focus is mostly on personal progression and cooperative play rather than competitive ranked modes or leaderboards."

    Capsule for Onigiri Onigiri

    "Focus is mainly on personal performance and cooperative play rather than competitive ranked modes or leaderboards."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    -3

    "Short demo (~10-15 minutes) with limited content; some players replayed but overall low habitual play due to length."

    Capsule for Acan's Call: Act 1 Acan's Call: Act 1

    "Short demo with limited missions and replayability; players tend to finish quickly and may not return often."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    4

    "Strong emphasis on multiplayer co-op with players coordinating tasks and sharing progression."

    Capsule for RoadCraft RoadCraft

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

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    2

    "Players can choose mission order and tactics, but limited customization or creation."

    Capsule for Freedom Fighters Freedom Fighters

    "Players can choose different tactics and weapons, but missions and scenarios are preset with limited customization."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -3

    "Gameplay encourages shared objectives and teamwork rather than exerting control or superiority over others."

    Capsule for Fast and Low Fast and Low

    "Gameplay encourages teamwork and shared objectives rather than exerting superiority or dominance over others."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    3

    "Players use the game as a tactical simulation and distraction; immersive but grounded in realistic police scenarios."

    Capsule for Hot Brass Hot Brass

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

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment rather than obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for Sid Meier's Civilization® V Sid Meier's Civilization® V

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment rather than obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players try different tactics, character builds, and approaches to missions."

    Capsule for Partisans 1941 Partisans 1941

    "Players try different tactics, weapons, and strategies to complete missions effectively."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    -2

    "Missions are short, hand-crafted, and focused with limited new areas to discover."

    Capsule for House of the Dying Sun House of the Dying Sun

    "Missions are short and structured with limited new areas or secrets to discover."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    -1

    "Minimal character or environment customization; some visual effects tied to weapons but no avatar personalization."

    Capsule for Jet Lancer Jet Lancer

    "Some minor character and weapon choices exist but limited avatar or environment customization."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    -3

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

    Capsule for Police Simulator: Patrol Officers Police Simulator: Patrol Officers

    "Game focuses on realistic police scenarios and tactical training rather than imaginative or fictional elements."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    4

    "Strong community and social play with friends emphasized; multiplayer and shared experiences valued."

    Capsule for Chess for idiots Chess for idiots

    "Strong community and cooperative play with friends and partners emphasized."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players develop skills, upgrade weapons, and learn tactical strategies throughout the game."

    Capsule for Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden

    "Players learn tactical skills, improve strategies, and develop mastery over gameplay mechanics."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

    Capsule for DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

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

    Capsule for Police Stories Police Stories

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

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    2

    "Cooperative play fosters social interaction and bonding, though not deeply emotional or intimate."

    Capsule for Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II

    "Cooperative play fosters social interaction and bonding, though not deeply emotional or intimate."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    3

    "Players often direct AI teammates or coordinate multiplayer squads, assuming leadership roles."

    Capsule for Firefighting Simulator: Ignite Firefighting Simulator: Ignite

    "Players can lead AI partners or coordinate with human teammates, guiding tactical decisions."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    2

    "Progression through levels and unlocking harder modes; no item or upgrade accumulation."

    Capsule for APE OUT APE OUT

    "Some progression through mission ratings and unlocking levels, but limited item or upgrade accumulation."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    -1

    "While some find flow in gameplay, the game is generally challenging and tense rather than purely relaxing."

    Capsule for Star Renegades Star Renegades

    "Gameplay can be tense and challenging, requiring focus rather than purely relaxing flow."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Pixel art and retro soundtrack provide sensory enjoyment; not highly stimulating but pleasant audiovisual feedback."

    Capsule for Rogue Fable III Rogue Fable III

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

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -3

    "Little emphasis on social recognition or leaderboards; focus is on cooperative achievement."

    Capsule for IronWolf: Free Non-VR Edition IronWolf: Free Non-VR Edition

    "Little emphasis on social recognition or leaderboards; focus is on cooperative achievement."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    2

    "Contains a light narrative and characters, but story is short and not deeply immersive."

    Capsule for Skeleseller Skeleseller

    "Includes a basic narrative and mission context, but story is short and not deeply immersive."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    4

    "Strong mental challenge requiring planning, tactical decision making, and problem solving."

    Capsule for Fast and Low Fast and Low

    "Strong mental challenge with tactical planning, problem solving, and strategic execution."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Tense moments and suspenseful encounters provide excitement and adrenaline."

    Capsule for Prey Prey

    "Tense moments and suspenseful tactical encounters provide excitement and adrenaline."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Free demo with good quality content provides strong perceived value; players motivated to buy full game."

    Capsule for Unsolved Case Unsolved Case

    "Free demo with good gameplay value; players appreciate the accessible introduction to the main game."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    -1

    "Violence is present but discouraged; stealth and non-lethal approaches are rewarded."

    Capsule for GET EVEN GET EVEN

    "Violence is present but discouraged; emphasis on arresting and non-lethal tactics."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    3

    "Players must avoid detection and manage threats carefully to survive and complete missions."

    Capsule for METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES

    "Players must avoid failure and manage threats carefully to complete missions successfully."

Last update: 01/06/2026