8 Must-Play Crime Strategy Games That Will Make You a Kingpin!

Summary

Strategy games allow players to control the criminal underworld by making unsavory deals and using political shenanigans.
Crime-based strategy games like “Gangsters: Organized Crime” and “Antihero” offer unique gameplay dynamics and scenarios.
Games like “Dough: A Crime Strategy RPG” and “City of Gangsters” provide players with the opportunity to build criminal empires and make strategic decisions.

Strategy games provide a means for players to amass significant influence. With careful planning and execution, one could potentially dominate the entire game world, or even control parts of the universe! It might involve bending rules, making questionable alliances, breaking previous commitments, or engaging in various underhanded political maneuvers, but sometimes, these actions are necessary to gain an advantage.

Instead of the usual open world, imagine if players took charge of the hidden criminal underworld instead. Here, they’d deal with various illicit goods and manage to divert the authorities’ attention so much that they’d seem like a mere street vendor in comparison to the power they amass. For those seeking such thrilling experiences, I recommend exploring these strategy games centered around crime.

8. Gangsters: Organized Crime

For Methodical Would-Be Mafiosos

One of the initial strategy games centered around crime was titled “Gangsters: Organized Crime“, which was launched as far back as 1998. In this game, players dispatch their gang members to grow their territories by discovering new businesses to extort protection fees from. These businesses can be sourced from various locations such as gyms and billiard halls, but it’s crucial to choose wisely in order to advance.

As a gamer, I control a criminal empire in this game. I need brawn to intimidate folks and muscle my way around, sly legal eagles to talk my way out of sticky situations with the law, and sharp accountants to keep track of my ill-gotten gains, laundering money, and managing bribes. The goal is to amass enough clean cash without attracting too much attention from the authorities, either by becoming the city’s mayor or wiping out every rival gang. The original game was generally well-received, although its sequel, Gangsters 2: Vendetta, had more bugs and a less favorable response.

7. Antihero

Get ‘Em By Gaslight

Instead of assuming the role of 1920s Chicago mobsters, Antihero offers a unique twist by enabling players to construct their own thieves’ guild within a Victorian setting. It’s less about Al Capone and more akin to the world of Oliver Twist. Players can also challenge their friends in various rounds through its asynchronous multiplayer function, allowing for gameplay across different sessions.

Regardless of the number of participants, the game title remains consistent: the objective is to establish a group of street kids who can pick pockets, burglarize houses, intimidate and extort wealthy individuals, and even eliminate obstacles in the way of your functioning criminal underworld. Money is vital in this game as it enables players to upgrade their weapons, acquire new skills, or recruit more people. If a player lacks funds, they may find themselves resorting to violence instead.

6. All In The Game: Crime Strategy

Become The Kingpin Of Crime One Turn At A Time

Developer: Strangelet Games
Platform: PC
Release: June 2024 (Early Access)

If you’re seeking something fresh and contemporary, there’s the game called “All in the Game: Crime Strategy“. It shares similarities with “Gangsters“, where players initially choose a spot on the street and gradually plan their power expansion one turn at a time. To succeed, they’ll require Middlemen to handle finances, Experts for technical matters, and Soldiers who can dish out some lead if rival gangs attempt an invasion.

In different methods, they could seize control of the city. They might opt for a violent approach and essentially transform into a ruthless warlord, or they could work covertly by bribing officials to turn a blind eye, or cause unrest from within. It’s much like the game Saints Row 2, where they possess numerous advantages but also share an equal number of disadvantages (for example, alcohol boosts morale but weakens attack).

5. Dough: A Crime Strategy RPG

Get Money, Gain Power, Win Glory

Developers: NeverNorth Games and Not the Best Games
Platform: PC
Release: July 2024 (Early Access)

Gangsters isn’t the only game that sets its crime strategy in the Prohibition era; Dough: A Crime Strategy RPG delivers on its promise by allowing players to climb from poverty to wealth using RPG mechanics as they conquer the city. Players simply choose their nationality, select a playstyle, and embark on their mission to dominate the underworld through 250 distinct encounters.

They might choose the conventional path of rising as a crime leader, establishing illicit enterprises for operation, expansion, or closure if circumstances become perilous. Yet another option is to ascend in politics, employing their skills to outmaneuver adversaries, all while maintaining an impeccable reputation by manipulating public image through media and compensating legal authorities to disregard them. In truth, there are multiple paths to becoming a power broker.

4. The Dope Game

It’s Exactly What You Think It’s About

Developer: Tenth&Hess Games
Platform: PC
Release: May 2016

Managing crime isn’t exclusively about being a crime lord; there are other ways too. The game titled “The Dope Game” revolves around the illegal trade of drugs, though not always by personal preference. Your character in this game is trying to flee from the gritty (and fortunately fictional) city of Starkham, aided by a friend named Preston. The goal is to obtain $2,000 from a notorious loanshark, Sweaty Mike, on behalf of Preston. However, the tricky part is that you have to repay this debt within a stipulated time frame without causing trouble for the authorities or the locals.

In order to succeed in this endeavor, they must gain control over the black market for drugs and stay informed about which illegal substances are popular and which ones are not. If things should take a turn for the worse, they’ll have to use their earnings to purchase weapons and armor for self-protection. Regardless, having as much money as possible will be crucial for obtaining quality equipment or ensuring that repaying any loans won’t become a major concern.

3. Pixel Gangsters: Mafia Manager

Rule The 1920s Like It Was The 1980s

Developer: Gidib Games
Platforms: PC, Android
Release: November 2022

As a gamer, if I’m drawn to games like “All in the Game” or “Dough,” but prefer a more retro vibe with those classic pixels, then “Pixel Gangsters: Mafia Manager” is right up my alley! This game lets you construct your own criminal empire by hiring the perfect thugs, shakedown businesses, rob locations, and eliminate targets that can’t be swayed with bribes. What sets it apart is its 320×180 resolution pixel graphics, giving it an old-school charm. Each key character even has unique stats like mentality, loyalty, and social skills for players to manage and utilize!

In summary, this game offers unique elements as players vie for control of a city that’s randomly generated. Instead of just outgunning opponents’ thugs, they can also interrogate them to gather intel and sneak peeks into the enemy’s territory. This uncovers vulnerabilities and strategic advantages, providing an additional tactical dimension. Players can choose to rely on intelligence rather than brute force during their urban conquest or legal battles.

2. City Of Gangsters

Get Dollars Out Of Distilleries In Prohibition Era America

In a different setting, City of Gangsters revolves around the criminal underworld during the Prohibition period. Instead of concentrating on the secretive manufacture of alcohol, you’re tasked with building your own illegal liquor empire. By establishing speakeasies and clandestine gambling establishments, you can discreetly sell your contraband goods to unsuspecting patrons.

As a business grows larger, it requires greater caution, from ensuring sufficient funds for potential bribes to officials, to staying inconspicuous amidst street informants. If one skillfully navigates the underworld during the 13-year period (Prohibition ended in 1933 with the legalization of alcohol again), they can control their town by mastering the game of secretive enterprises, knowing who to befriend and who to confront.

1. Plutocracy

See What Kind Of ‘Hard Work’ It Takes To Become A Billionaire

Developer: Redwood
Platform: PC
Release: November 2019 (Early Access)

In terms of open gangster-themed strategy games, City of Gangsters might be leading the pack. However, Plutocracy suggests that no one amassed a fortune through legitimate means alone. The game promotes both covert and overt strategies. Players can manipulate the system by acquiring influential ‘agents’ to lobby for their interests in courts and political arenas, and those who orchestrate ‘mishaps’ at rivals’ businesses to undermine them.

Later, they may devise methods to underpay their employees, thereby illegally accumulating wealth. If necessary, they can bribe judges or officials to receive a lenient punishment if their actions are discovered. Although this doesn’t portray Plutocracy as heavily crime-centric compared to other games on the list, it does allow players to engage in illegal activities as part of their strategy to become the next Carnegie during the late 19th century in America.

2025-05-10 11:02