For people who enjoy crime documentaries and reading up on the latest crime news in Japan, the crime genre in the gaming category of entertainment also appeals. From gaining an insight into the Yakuza to learning about gang life in major cities like New York, there have been some undisputed favorites over the years.
Be it on PC or console, these crime titles allow us to sample a way of living we couldn’t imagine experiencing in real life. Alongside playing puzzle games like Candy Crush Saga and exploring real casino online releases like Wild Dragon Riches, there has been a clear appetite for crime-themed video games throughout gaming history. They can have powerful messages behind them, allow us to explore the criminal underworld without any repercussions, and are seriously fun and entertaining to play.
With the crime genre of gaming containing some truly iconic releases in the last few decades, below, we remember some of the classics.
Yakuza 0
Starting with a title Japanese gamers will almost certainly recall, Yakuza 0 is a 2015 action-adventure game many people still speak positively about today. The series’ first installment went down well, but this next version of the game was adored in and outside of Japan. It accurately and perfectly depicted the transnational organized crime syndicates and contained fascinating stories about characters like Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima. Also offering a beautiful blend of epic combat and gripping gang-related drama, Yakuza 0 is a game well worth playing today.
Payday 2
While the original is also worth playing if you can find it somewhere, Payday 2 was an undoubted upgrade. Even though the game’s bank-robbing aspect and scenes of drug cultivation aren’t unique, Payday 2 was still a tense all-around product to experience. It got tougher the further players advanced in the game. The title’s customization features were another superb inclusion, and it accurately encapsulated criminal life.
The Getaway
People seem to enjoy British gangster movies, but The Getaway is one of the very first gaming titles to highlight the criminals of the UK. Following the stories of a former bank robber and a current police detective, the game jumps between both characters to create a fantastic overall offering. With a series of surprises along the way in some of London’s meanest streets, this powerful but enthralling release went down a treat with gaming communities at the time.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
When people think of this alluring gaming genre, it’s almost impossible to ignore the various Grand Theft Auto games. The best of the lot, though, is widely regarded as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Rockstar nailed this beloved 2004 product, as gamers could do almost anything while controlling former gangster Carl “CJ” Johnson. In the end, the game’s main protagonist has to return to the life he left behind, with players having to carry out various tasks and explore the game’s massive map to ensure the murder he’s being wrongly accused of doesn’t send him down.
Red Dead Redemption 2
One of the more recent releases on the list, Red Dead Redemption 2, came out in 2018 and received rave reviews. A game still being enjoyed today, this action-adventure masterpiece isn’t your typical crime game, given its Wild West theme, but it is unique. From the presence of fearsome outlaws to the vast exploration players have to carry out on horseback, this much-loved release is perfect in every way.
