Forget GTA 6, The Precinct is now at its lowest price for a short time

While the Grand Theft Auto series puts you in the shoes of a criminal mastermind (or just a run-of-the-mill criminal in the case of GTA V's Trevor), plenty of people - myself included - would love Rockstar Games to release an entry that delivers a police-focused sandbox. Grand Theft Auto V's biggest mod is, undoubtedly, the LSPDFR mod that turns the game into a police simulation experience, and if you like that premise, The Precinct is a game you should check out, and it's now at its lowest price ever.

LSPDFR's ability to give one of the best sandbox games an entirely different vibe is a big part of its continued success, and despite the popularity, it's surprising that it's taken this long for a developer to capitalize on the idea with a standalone game. Fortunately, The Precinct is exactly that, an indie game that sees you clean up the streets as rookie cop named Nick Cordell Jr.

Unlike Rockstar Games' fairly linear L.A. Noire (which is honestly one of the best detective games), Nick Cordell Jr's fresh-faced approach means that things feel a little more chaotic than the gruff-voiced and older cops we've come to know and love in entertainment. Robberies can quickly turn into gunfights, and the dangers of the open-world setting of Averno City can get risky for a fledgling cop like yourself.

Each call out can go pleasantly well, or horribly wrong, with each interaction with Averno City's various citizens feeling like a puzzle. It's what I had hoped 2014's Watch Dogs would be like, as you patrol streets lit by dim neon signs, watching chaos unfold, knowing you're in control to put the bad guys away for good.

While Reid McCarter wasn't too positive in our The Precinct review, the consensus over on Steam certainly holds it as one of the best police games. Sitting at a 'very positive' rating, with 85% of user reviews recommending the game, I really enjoy the game, and well, we're waiting for the GTA 6 release date to arrive anyway, so you may as well give it a try. It's not like there's anything else to scratch that itch right now.

If you're looking to don your badge and get out onto the streets, you can grab The Precinct for just $18.89 / £15.74 at Fanatical, a huge 37% off the retail price and the lowest price the game has ever been. It's actually $5 lower than its typical sale price, so you're getting a big discount overall.

The Precinct is a great GTA-style game, and it makes for a good timesink while waiting for the long-anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6. Whichever side you prefer being on when it comes to the law, the best crime games will give you plenty of similar experiences. Alternatively, the upcoming PC games list is full of exciting-looking titles that we can't wait to play.

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