This Is the Police similar games & best alternatives

This Is the Police

Mac, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Android, iOS • 2016

Should you play it?

This Is the Police is a strategy/adventure game set in a city spiraling the drain. Taking the role of gritty Police Chief Jack Boyd, you'll dive into a deep story of crime and intrigue. Will Jack reach his retirement with a nice stack of bills, or will he end up broken ... or worse?

What works
  • Engaging noir story and characters
  • Unique art style and excellent voice acting
  • Deep moral and strategic decision making
  • Immersive jazz soundtrack
  • Challenging management gameplay
Things to keep in mind
  • Repetitive and slow mid-to-late gameplay
  • Limited replayability due to scripted events
  • Only two similar endings regardless of choices
  • Some randomness can frustrate players
  • Lack of detailed individual officer personality

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • This Is the Police 2

  • Unity of Command II

  • Ultimate General: Civil War

  • Ultimate Admiral: Age of Sail

  • Battlestations: Midway

  • Afghanistan '11

  • 60 Seconds!

  • Hegemony III: Clash of the Ancients

  • Classified: France '44
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Afghanistan '11

  • Second Front

  • Cuban Missile Crisis
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Story

    Shenmue I & II
  • Autonomy

    This Is the Police 2
  • Escapism

    Chicken Police - Paint it RED!

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).

This Is the Police: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Status. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Leadership. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Fantasy, Exploration.

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

    4

    "Players have significant control over decisions, managing officers with unique traits and choosing tactical approaches."

    Capsule for This Is the Police 2 This Is the Police 2

    "Players make many decisions managing police staff, choosing how to respond to calls, and balancing political and criminal pressures, showing high player control."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Game involves strategic planning, managing agents with different skills, and overcoming challenges, though some randomness affects outcomes."

    Capsule for Sigma Theory: Global Cold War Sigma Theory: Global Cold War

    "Game involves strategic management and problem solving with skill progression of officers, though some randomness affects outcomes."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on personal management and progression without explicit player-vs-player competition or leaderboards."

    Capsule for Mall Simulator Mall Simulator

    "Focus is on personal management and story progression without direct player-vs-player competition or leaderboards."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    2

    "Players are engaged to complete the story in one or a few sessions, though some find the gameplay occasionally frustrating, which may reduce prolonged play."

    Capsule for No Case Should Remain Unsolved No Case Should Remain Unsolved

    "Players often engage for long sessions to complete the 180-day story, though some find mid-to-late game repetitive and disengaging."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -3

    "Gameplay centers on individual command and control; limited evidence of cooperative multiplayer or teamwork."

    Capsule for Command: Modern Operations Command: Modern Operations

    "Gameplay centers on individual management of police force; limited multiplayer or team-based cooperation."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    2

    "Players can choose different approaches and moral stances, but game world and tasks are predefined with limited creation."

    Capsule for Beat Cop Beat Cop

    "Players can choose how to manage staff and make moral decisions, but gameplay follows structured scenarios with limited creative building."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -4

    "Interactions are balanced with factions and choices; no evidence of exerting superiority over other players."

    Capsule for Geneforge 1 Geneforge 1

    "Interactions with factions are balanced and political; no evidence of exerting superiority or dominance over other players."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Strong immersion in a fictional noir world with engaging story and atmosphere providing escape from reality."

    Capsule for Chicken Police - Paint it RED! Chicken Police - Paint it RED!

    "Strong narrative and atmospheric immersion provide escape from real life into a noir crime story."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily driven by interest in story and management, not obligation."

    Capsule for This Is the Police 2 This Is the Police 2

    "Players engage voluntarily driven by interest in story and management, not external obligation or pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    2

    "Some exploration of different strategies and difficulties, but core gameplay loop is repetitive."

    Capsule for Unpossess: Exorcism Simulator Unpossess: Exorcism Simulator

    "Players try different strategies and moral choices, but core gameplay loop is repetitive with limited novelty exploration."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    -3

    "Gameplay occurs on known maps and historical scenarios; limited open-world or discovery elements."

    Capsule for Atlantic Fleet Atlantic Fleet

    "Gameplay occurs in a fixed city map with scripted events; limited discovery or open-world exploration."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    1

    "Some character customization and skill choices allow limited self-expression, but visual customization is minimal."

    Capsule for Insurmountable Insurmountable

    "Some customization of music and minor choices allow self-expression, but visual customization is minimal."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    -4

    "Game is grounded in realistic police interrogation and political themes rather than imaginative or mythical fiction."

    Capsule for Interrogation: You will be deceived Interrogation: You will be deceived

    "Game grounded in realistic police procedural and political corruption themes; no fantasy or improbable fiction."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -3

    "Primarily a single-player experience with limited social or community features."

    Capsule for Way of the Samurai 3 Way of the Samurai 3

    "Primarily single-player experience with limited social or community features."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players develop investigative skills and progress through police ranks, learning from case outcomes."

    Capsule for L.A. Noire L.A. Noire

    "Players develop officers' skills and progress through story, learning management and investigative strategies."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

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

    Capsule for Okami HD Okami HD

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

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires sustained attention and management; not designed for casual or background play."

    Capsule for X3: Reunion X3: Reunion

    "Requires constant attention to manage calls and staff; not designed for casual or background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -4

    "Limited social interaction; focus is on individual tasks and story rather than forming close relationships."

    Capsule for Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story

    "Limited social interaction; focus is on individual management and narrative rather than forming close relationships."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    4

    "Players lead and manage a police department, making strategic decisions and guiding officers."

    Capsule for This Is the Police 2 This Is the Police 2

    "Player leads police department, manages staff, and makes authoritative decisions affecting outcomes."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    3

    "Players accumulate money, unlock new tools and abilities, and progress through story stages."

    Capsule for The Imperial Gatekeeper The Imperial Gatekeeper

    "Players accumulate money, improve officers, and unlock story events, showing clear progression."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    -2

    "The game’s heavy political and historical themes create tension and emotional strain rather than relaxation."

    Capsule for The Rainy Port Keelung 雨港基隆 The Rainy Port Keelung 雨港基隆

    "Game involves tension and stress from managing crises and political pressures, though music and style provide some flow."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Atmospheric visuals, voice acting, and music contribute to emotional and sensory engagement."

    Capsule for The Fall Part 2: Unbound The Fall Part 2: Unbound

    "Atmospheric music and voice acting provide emotional stimulation, though visual style is minimalist."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -4

    "No social status or recognition systems; achievements exist but no multiplayer visibility."

    Capsule for FATE: The Cursed King FATE: The Cursed King

    "No social status or recognition systems; achievements exist but no multiplayer visibility."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    5

    "Strong narrative focus with immersive storytelling and character development."

    Capsule for Shenmue I & II Shenmue I & II

    "Strong narrative focus with deep character development and immersive storytelling."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    4

    "Requires planning, problem solving, and tactical decision making."

    Capsule for Vangers Vangers

    "Requires planning, resource allocation, and problem solving to manage police force and political factions."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Tense combat situations and risk of casualties create suspense and emotional engagement."

    Capsule for Combat Mission Shock Force 2 Combat Mission Shock Force 2

    "Tense situations and risk of officer deaths create suspense and emotional engagement."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players report good value for price with many hours of gameplay and content."

    Capsule for BattleBit Remastered BattleBit Remastered

    "Players report good value for price with many hours of gameplay and rich story content."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    3

    "Game involves cleaning violent crime scenes with blood and bodies; some destruction of objects."

    Capsule for Crime Scene Cleaner: Prologue Crime Scene Cleaner: Prologue

    "Game involves police combat and crime scenes, with officer casualties and criminal confrontations."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    3

    "Players must manage time and avoid destruction to progress, facing threats from opponents and police."

    Capsule for Carmageddon TDR 2000 Carmageddon TDR 2000

    "Players must manage limited resources and avoid failure to keep police force operational."

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Last update: 01/06/2026