- Release Year: 2021
- Platforms: Windows
- Publisher: Kasedo Games Limited
- Developer: SomaSim, LLC
- Genre: Strategy, Tactics
- Perspective: Diagonal-down
- Game Mode: Single-player
- Gameplay: Business simulation, Managerial, RPG elements, Turn-based strategy
- Setting: City – Chicago, City – Detroit, Interwar, North America
- Average Score: 70/100
Description
City of Gangsters is a turn-based strategy and managerial simulation game set during the Prohibition era in 1920s America, where players build and manage a criminal empire. Combining elements of business simulation and RPG, the game challenges players to navigate the complexities of bootlegging, bribery, and turf wars while expanding their influence in cities like Chicago and Detroit. With deep strategic gameplay and historical authenticity, players must balance resources, outsmart rivals, and evade law enforcement to rise as the ultimate gangster.
Gameplay Videos
Where to Buy City of Gangsters
City of Gangsters Mods
City of Gangsters Guides & Walkthroughs
City of Gangsters Reviews & Reception
metacritic.com (67/100): A very well thought out and developed game. It’s very detailed and quite comprehensive.
techraptor.net : City of Gangsters may not be as well polished as its more famous counterparts, but it makes up for that with some unique and fun ideas.
thirdcoastreview.com : City of Gangsters takes a more simulation-based approach to managing a criminal empire.
steambase.io (73/100): City of Gangsters has earned a Player Score of 73 / 100.
City of Gangsters Cheats & Codes
PC
Press ‘/’ to open the cheat console and enter the following codes.
| Code | Effect |
|---|---|
| chbigdeal | +20K dirty and clean cash |
| chsecretstash | +150 storage, 50 beer, liquor, and firearms |
| chfearme | Maxes out fear rating |
| chfancysuit | Maxes out like rating |
| charmsrace | Adds all weapons to inventory |
| chfeellucky | Wins a tactical mission |
| chcementshoes | Loses a tactical mission |
| chfullhouse | Unlocks all henchmen |
| chplayground | Unlocks all districts |
| chdrycity | Wins current district |
| chding [value] | Level up to level [value] |
| territory | Gives the player all districts |
| player | Makes the player invulnerable |
| motherlode | Gives 50K money |
| crew increase-cap |
Increases crew capacity by specified number |
| crew grant-vehicle vehicle-sedan | Grants a sedan vehicle to the crew |
| crew grant-vehicle vehicle-pickup-truck | Grants a pickup truck to the crew |
| crew grant-vehicle vehicle-small-delivery-truck | Grants a small delivery truck to the crew |
| crew grant-vehicle vehicle-large-delivery-truck | Grants a large delivery truck to the crew |
| skills add homebooze-moonshine | Adds moonshine skill |
| skills remove homebooze-moonshine | Removes moonshine skill |
| skills add starter-cops | Adds starter cops skill |
| crew add-xp | Adds XP to crew |
| respect increment-at-crew | Increments respect at crew |
| finances add-cash | Adds cash to finances |
| finances remove-all-cash | Removes all cash |
| finances remove-cash | Removes specified amount of cash |
| heatmap appeal | Shows appeal heatmap |
| heatmap density | Shows density heatmap |
| heatmap ethnicity | Shows ethnicity heatmap |
| heatmap groundbuildings | Shows ground buildings heatmap |
| heatmap groundroadrail | Shows ground road rail heatmap |
| heatmap lotzone | Shows lot zone heatmap |
| heatmap off | Turns off heatmap |
| heatmap rail | Shows rail heatmap |
| overlay building | Shows building overlay |
| overlay off | Turns off overlay |
| victory forceturn | Forces turn victory |
| victory goalclear | Clears goal victory |
| victory goalset | Sets goal victory |
| crew add-crew | Adds crew |
| crew add-xp | Adds XP to crew |
| crew grant-vehicle vehicle-car | Grants a car to the crew |
| crew grant-vehicle vehicle-car-preorder | Grants a preorder car to the crew |
| crew grant-vehicle vehicle-cop-car | Grants a cop car to the crew |
| crew grant-vehicle vehicle-police-van | Grants a police van to the crew |
| crew increase-cap | Increases crew capacity |
| crew kill-crew | Kills crew |
| crew set-crew-health | Sets crew health |
| crew set-points | Sets crew points |
| crew set-vehicle-health | Sets vehicle health |
| crew set-xp | Sets crew XP |
| skills add homebooze-brick-wine | Adds brick wine skill |
| skills add homebooze-home-brew | Adds home brew skill |
| skills add homebooze-cider | Adds cider skill |
| skills add homebooze-apple-jack | Adds apple jack skill |
| skills add homebooze-corn-moonshine | Adds corn moonshine skill |
| skills add homebooze-fruit-wine | Adds fruit wine skill |
| skills add homebooze-bootlegging | Adds bootlegging skill |
| skills add upgraded-bootlegging | Adds upgraded bootlegging skill |
| skills add improved-homebooze-cider | Adds improved cider skill |
| skills add improved-homebooze-moonshine | Adds improved moonshine skill |
| skills add improved-homebooze-corn-moonshine | Adds improved corn moonshine skill |
| skills add improved-homebooze-home-brew | Adds improved home brew skill |
| skills add improved-homebooze-brick-wine | Adds improved brick wine skill |
| skills add improved-homebooze-fruit-wine | Adds improved fruit wine skill |
| skills add delivery-driving | Adds delivery driving skill |
| skills add small-garages | Adds small garages skill |
| skills add truck-garage-brick-wine | Adds truck garage brick wine skill |
| skills add truck-garage-cider | Adds truck garage cider skill |
| skills add truck-garage-home-brew | Adds truck garage home brew skill |
| skills add truck-garage-moonshine | Adds truck garage moonshine skill |
| skills add truck-garage-improved | Adds truck garage improved skill |
| skills add car-bullies | Adds car bullies skill |
| skills add crock-return | Adds crock return skill |
| skills add industrial-filters | Adds industrial filters skill |
| skills add good-yeast | Adds good yeast skill |
| skills add trap-door | Adds trap door skill |
| skills add dishwashers | Adds dishwashers skill |
| skills add big-barrels | Adds big barrels skill |
| skills add old-glassware | Adds old glassware skill |
| skills add pool-table | Adds pool table skill |
| skills add player-piano | Adds player piano skill |
| skills add junkyard-booze | Adds junkyard booze skill |
| skills add bottle-return-racks | Adds bottle return racks skill |
| skills add ethnic-solidarity | Adds ethnic solidarity skill |
| skills add ethnic-bump-cider | Adds ethnic bump cider skill |
| skills add ethnic-bump-wine | Adds ethnic bump wine skill |
| skills add ethnic-bump-beer | Adds ethnic bump beer skill |
| skills add ethnic-bump-liquor | Adds ethnic bump liquor skill |
| skills add ethnic-bump-fruit-brandy | Adds ethnic bump fruit brandy skill |
| skills add ethnic-bump-speakeasy | Adds ethnic bump speakeasy skill |
| skills add native-bump-speakeasy | Adds native bump speakeasy skill |
| skills add local-speakeasies | Adds local speakeasies skill |
| skills add better-bartending | Adds better bartending skill |
| skills add small-speakeasy | Adds small speakeasy skill |
| skills add supper-clubs | Adds supper clubs skill |
| skills add large-clubs | Adds large clubs skill |
| skills add bathtub-ginworks | Adds bathtub ginworks skill |
| skills add sparkling-cider | Adds sparkling cider skill |
| skills add fake-beer | Adds fake beer skill |
| skills add fake-wine | Adds fake wine skill |
| skills add fruit-brandy | Adds fruit brandy skill |
| skills add corn-whiskey | Adds corn whiskey skill |
| skills add barrel-aging | Adds barrel aging skill |
| skills add bourbon-reveal | Adds bourbon reveal skill |
| skills add bourbon-making | Adds bourbon making skill |
| skills add bootleg-whiskey | Adds bootleg whiskey skill |
| skills add bootleg-vodka | Adds bootleg vodka skill |
| skills add bootleg-brandy | Adds bootleg brandy skill |
| skills add bootleg-rum | Adds bootleg rum skill |
| skills add whiskey-still | Adds whiskey still skill |
| skills add brandy-still | Adds brandy still skill |
| skills add vodka-still | Adds vodka still skill |
| skills add rum-still | Adds rum still skill |
| skills add booze-bottling | Adds booze bottling skill |
| skills add backroom-distillery | Adds backroom distillery skill |
City of Gangsters: A Deep Dive into Prohibition-Era Crime Simulation
Introduction
City of Gangsters (2021) is a turn-based strategy and management simulation game developed by SomaSim and published by Kasedo Games. Set during the Prohibition era in the United States, the game tasks players with building a criminal empire from the ground up, navigating the complexities of bootlegging, territorial control, and organized crime. With its unique blend of resource management, relationship-building, and tactical decision-making, City of Gangsters offers a fresh take on the crime simulation genre. This review will explore the game’s development, narrative, gameplay mechanics, world-building, reception, and legacy, providing a comprehensive analysis of its strengths and weaknesses.
Development History & Context
The Studio and Vision
SomaSim, the developer behind City of Gangsters, is known for its expertise in simulation and management games, particularly Project Highrise (2016), a skyscraper management simulator. The studio’s vision for City of Gangsters was to create a game that captured the essence of Prohibition-era organized crime, blending historical accuracy with engaging gameplay mechanics. The game was built using the Unity engine, which allowed for a flexible and scalable development process.
Technological Constraints and Design Choices
The game’s turn-based mechanics and diagonal-down perspective were chosen to emphasize strategic planning and territorial control. The developers aimed to create a game that was both accessible and deep, with a focus on player agency and emergent storytelling. The procedural generation of cities and characters added replayability, ensuring that each playthrough offered a unique experience.
The Gaming Landscape at Release
City of Gangsters was released on August 9, 2021, into a gaming landscape dominated by open-world crime games like Grand Theft Auto and Mafia. However, its focus on management and strategy set it apart from these action-oriented titles. The game’s release coincided with a growing interest in historical simulation games, such as Empire of Sin (2020), which also explored the Prohibition era but with a different gameplay approach.
Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive
Plot and Setting
City of Gangsters is set in 1920s America, at the dawn of Prohibition. Players take on the role of an aspiring mob boss in cities like Chicago, Detroit, or Pittsburgh, with the goal of building a criminal empire through bootlegging, smuggling, and territorial control. The game’s narrative is emergent, shaped by the player’s decisions and interactions with NPCs. The overarching goal is to dominate the city’s underworld before Prohibition ends in 1933.
Characters and Relationships
The game features a diverse cast of characters, each with unique traits, relationships, and motivations. Players must navigate a web of alliances, rivalries, and familial ties, using favors and intimidation to gain the upper hand. The relationship system is a core mechanic, with NPCs reacting dynamically to the player’s actions. For example, wronging a member of a family can lead to retaliation from their relatives, while earning favors can open up new opportunities.
Themes
City of Gangsters explores themes of power, corruption, and survival in a lawless society. The game’s narrative highlights the moral ambiguities of organized crime, where players must balance profit with the risks of violence and betrayal. The Prohibition setting serves as a backdrop for exploring the economic and social dynamics of the era, with players experiencing the challenges of running an illegal operation under constant threat from law enforcement and rival gangs.
Gameplay Mechanics & Systems
Core Gameplay Loop
The core gameplay loop revolves around managing resources, expanding territory, and building relationships. Players start with a small street corner and must gradually expand their influence by establishing fronts, setting up illegal operations, and recruiting henchmen. Each turn, players allocate action points to their crew, directing them to perform tasks such as purchasing supplies, selling goods, or intimidating rivals.
Combat and Conflict
Combat in City of Gangsters is turn-based and tactical, with players positioning their crew members to maximize their effectiveness. However, the game’s focus is more on management and strategy than direct combat. Rival gangs and law enforcement pose constant threats, requiring players to balance aggression with diplomacy. Bribes, favors, and intimidation are often more effective than outright violence.
Character Progression and UI
Players can recruit and train a diverse crew, each with unique skills and traits. The game’s UI is designed to provide a wealth of information, with overlays showing resource distribution, rival territories, and police suspicion levels. However, the UI can be overwhelming at times, with some players finding it difficult to navigate the game’s many systems.
Innovative and Flawed Systems
One of the game’s most innovative features is its procedural generation system, which ensures that each playthrough offers a unique experience. However, the game’s complexity can be a double-edged sword, with some players finding the learning curve steep. The lack of difficulty settings and the game’s unforgiving nature can also be frustrating for newcomers.
World-Building, Art & Sound
Setting and Atmosphere
City of Gangsters captures the gritty atmosphere of Prohibition-era America, with detailed city maps and historically accurate architecture. The game’s art style is minimalist but effective, with a focus on clarity and functionality. The cities are procedurally generated, ensuring that each playthrough offers a unique layout and set of challenges.
Visual Direction
The game’s visual direction is understated but effective, with a focus on readability and immersion. The diagonal-down perspective allows for a clear view of the city, while the game’s UI provides essential information without overwhelming the player. The game’s art style is reminiscent of classic management simulators, with a modern twist.
Sound Design
The game’s sound design is atmospheric, with a jazz-infused soundtrack that evokes the spirit of the 1920s. The ambient sounds of the city, from the hum of traffic to the chatter of NPCs, add to the game’s immersion. However, the lack of voice acting can make the game feel somewhat sterile at times.
Reception & Legacy
Critical Reception
City of Gangsters received mixed reviews from critics, with a Metacritic score of 67/100. Critics praised the game’s depth, historical accuracy, and emergent gameplay, but criticized its steep learning curve and overwhelming complexity. Some reviewers compared the game to classic management simulators like Railroad Tycoon, praising its attention to detail and strategic depth.
Commercial Reception
The game’s commercial reception was modest, with a player score of 73/100 on Steambase. While the game found a niche audience among fans of strategy and management games, it struggled to gain widespread appeal. The game’s complexity and lack of accessibility may have limited its commercial success.
Influence and Legacy
City of Gangsters has had a modest influence on the strategy and management game genre, with its procedural generation and relationship systems inspiring other developers. The game’s focus on historical accuracy and emergent storytelling has also set a benchmark for future crime simulators. However, its legacy is somewhat overshadowed by more mainstream titles in the genre.
Conclusion
City of Gangsters is a ambitious and deeply engaging strategy game that offers a unique take on the Prohibition era. Its blend of resource management, relationship-building, and tactical decision-making creates a rich and immersive experience. However, the game’s complexity and steep learning curve may deter some players. For those willing to invest the time, City of Gangsters offers a rewarding and challenging experience that stands out in the crowded strategy game landscape.
Final Verdict: City of Gangsters is a niche but brilliant strategy game that rewards patience and strategic thinking. While it may not appeal to everyone, its depth and historical accuracy make it a standout title for fans of the genre.