Crime Boss: Rockay City

Crime Boss: Rockay City aims to deliver a thrilling mix of Payday-style heists, Grand Theft Auto crime drama, and roguelike mechanics, all wrapped in a 90s action movie aesthetic. Developed by INGAME STUDIOS, the game boasts an all-star cast featuring Michael Madsen, Kim Basinger, Danny Glover, Chuck Norris, and more. Unfortunately, while it has moments of fun, the execution often stumbles, leaving an experience that feels unpolished and underwhelming.

Gameplay – 6.5/10

Central to the gameplay are high-priced heist missions paired with shootouts and capture of strategic territories, although this is hindered by erratic AI and stale mission design.

✔ Heist-Based Missions – Players plan and execute several criminal operations like bank robbery and turf war.
✔ Roguelike Elements – Permadeath is one of the aspects of the primary campaign that forces players to rebuild their deformed empire after failure.
✔ Co-op Mode – The game is excellent in multiplayer mode, unlike AI teammates.

However, shooting mechanics feel inconsistent, enemy AI is erratic, and stealth fails to hold its ground. Missions quickly tend to blend into each other due to the lack of variation in their objectives and modes of execution.

Graphics & Art Style – 7/10

The neon-drenched streets of Rockay City conjure up memories of some gritty 90s crime thrillers but hardly manage to set the whole thing straight.

✔ Decent Character Models – The celebs-materialized treatment is not quite different from one that will get you to close likenesses.
✔ Retro 90s Aesthetic – Neon lights, vintage cars, and crime-ridden streets set the right tone.

Yet there is bad motion and texture detail, and the overall picture finish feels inconsistent. The game, however, is perhaps not made to modern standards of graphic detail but in terms of style makes it use a very dated look.

Sound & Music – 7.5/10

The game’s soundtrack and voice acting are hit-or-miss.

✔ Strong Voice Cast – It's awesome hearing both Michael Madsen and Danny Glover featured in a crime game.
✔ Fitting Soundtrack – The 90s-inspired music was fitting for the title.

However, the dialogue doesn't come across well; some of the performances seem to be lacking emotional punch. The sound effects from gunfire aren't very impressive, either, lacking the kind of heavy impact expected in a crime shooter.

Story & Atmosphere – 6/10

It tries to create a compelling crime story; however, it fails due to poor writing and lackluster execution efforts.

✔ Crime Empire Progression - The sensation of taking territories and increasing its influence is fun.
✔ 90s Action Vibes - It pays homage to classic action movies, but the charm wears off quickly.

Unfortunately, all of this is boring storytelling with forgettable characters and incredibly uninspiring dialogue. It tries to bring some Vice City-style crime drama, failing to deliver anything memorable in depth or intrigue.

Replayability – 6.5/10

The roguelike form supports reliving moments over and over again, but boredom and a lack of change take toll on the experience over time.
✔ Multiple Heist Scenarios - Every mission doles out a little replay value.
✔ Co-op Play Enhances the Experience - Co-playing with real friends raises the overall enjoyment of the game.

The repetitive missions, the quite easy AI behavior, and the absence of a meaningful progression prevent replay value from developing, while the fun quotient itself wears thin.

Once the novelty wears off, there’s little incentive to keep playing.

Final Verdict – 6.5/10

Crime Boss: Rockay City is a game with a fantastic concept but poor execution. The 90s action movie aesthetic, star-studded cast, and crime empire mechanics have potential, but lackluster gameplay, weak AI, and repetitive missions make it a disappointing experience. While there’s some fun to be had in co-op mode, it fails to deliver the thrilling crime fantasy it promises.

Unless you’re a hardcore crime game fan willing to overlook its flaws, Crime Boss: Rockay City is a heist better left unplanned. 💰🔫🚔