WhenCrime Boss: Rockay Cityfirst made a splash at the 2022 Video Game Awards, viewers were enamored with the nostalgic treat of a host of iconic ’80s and ’90s film stars who’ve lent their likenesses and vocal talents to this strange and flashy heist game. Despite, some bold development choices surrounding this first-person shooter,it wasn’t received well critically.
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Still, the explosive world of heists and daring shootouts will resonate with certain players. While it’s impossible to say there are other games structured exactly like Crime Boss: Rockay City, it is an amalgamation of popular gaming mechanics used in other hit titles.
7Grand Theft Auto 5
Of course,Grand Theft Auto 5comes to mind. In fact, the entire series revolves around felonious and lawless characters who often engage in the same kind of criminal undertakings as seen in Crime Boss. Grand Theft Auto 5 is an open-world story-centric title, unless you’re running your own criminal empire in the online component.
The heist nature of Crime Boss reflects heavily on the same story beats and mechanics of some of Grand Theft Auto’s biggest and boldest missions throughout. Just imagine that Chuck Norris is on your tail as the police heat increases, and it will bring it even closer to home.
6Payday 2
Crime Boss will not be able to shake the inevitable comparisons players might make with regard toPayday 2. But if you’re uninitiated in the Payday world, it is a first-person heist experience much like Crime Boss. The gameplay loop is probably even more fleshed out and engaging in Payday 2.
Payday 2 can be played solo, but it is ultimately best experienced with others, as you strategically take on bank robberies and other nefarious heisting activities. Arguably, Payday 2 even excels in the stealth arena where Crime Boss falters. So, if you prefer to not be forced into dicey shoot-outs, Payday 2 could be a better option.
5Returnal
You might be wondering what we were thinking while addingReturnalto this list. After all, it’s a sci-fi third-person shooter that wades deep into the waters ofmemory, loss, and surrealism. Despite its hefty themes, there is one major mechanic that Returnal ultimately shares with Crime Boss. It is a roguelike by most definitions of the gaming term.
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Crime Boss and Returnal both employ a form of perma-death where you are forced to start over upon your demise - at least in the single-player experience. Of course, like most roguelites, a measure of progression still holds true despite your death. If you enjoy the roguelike gauntlet, Returnal might be up your alley.
4Back 4 Blood
The spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead, fits nicely into the first-person shooter co-op mold. If that’s your favorite takeaway from Crime Boss, then giveBack 4 Blooda try. Like Left 4 Dead before it, Back 4 Blood employs a four-person team of survivors to fight through an onslaught of undead monstrosities known as The Ridden, while you traverse an area or complete an objective.
If you wish to play on your own, your teammates can be AI-controlled. But if you’re looking to join a squad for some first-person action, you can’t go wrong with Back 4 Blood.
3Mafia: Definitive Edition
If you simply just love living the criminal life, don’t look pastMafia: Definitive Edition. This is a wonderfully crafted recreation of the original Mafia game from 2002. And, as luck would have it, a large portion of the team at Ingame Studios, the developer behind Crime Boss: Rockay City, worked on the Mafia series. You’ll take on the role of Tommy Angelo in an urban open-world setting during the 1930s.
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The parallel here is that you can once again enjoy the thrill of living on the other side of the law. As is the trend with these games, law enforcement will come down on you hard if you cause a stir. At least they’re not as scary as Chuck Norris.
2Warhammer: Vermintide 2
This medieval-inspired Warhammer title puts you in the greaves of one of five warriors. It’s a wildly different setting than the retro urban throwback of a heist thriller like Crime Boss. But it does employ a similar squad-like co-op strategy, and you must contend with the Chaos army from the first-person perspective.
Despite its fantasy themes,Vermintide 2can deliver the chaotic combat rush of heist titles like GTA 5 and Crime Boss. The story unfolds over 13 missions and continues where the previous game left off. If you never played the original, read up on the storyline if that sort of thing interests you.
1Deathloop
This phenomenal first-person shooter from Arkane Studios, employs time loop mechanics that ultimately give it some relation to the roguelike genre. Though, by definition,Deathloopis more of a roguelite since the world and environments never change with each death. Still, if Colt Vahn bites the dust, he is sent back to the first day in this time loop which mirrors the similar structure built into Crime Boss.
The shootouts with thecolorful Visionariesof the Aeon Program bent on creating an eternal utopia are fast, frenetic, and thrilling. Additionally, this strange alternate 1960s world plays it fast and loose with its fictional tech and weaponry which only adds to the impact of the game’s action.
