Top 20 Video Games Where You Play as a Cop

20. True Crime: Streets of LA (2003)

Before sandbox games went full chaos mode, True Crime: Streets of LA was laying down the law with roundhouse kicks and shootouts at traffic stops. You play as Nick Kang, a smirking, wise-cracking detective who’s basically a one-man army with a badge. This game lets you roam a condensed version of Los Angeles, busting criminals, chasing perps, and occasionally engaging in a car chase that feels like it was directed by Michael Bay. It walks a fine line between gritty police drama and kung-fu movie fever dream, and that’s what makes it so iconic. Plus, your choices actually matter – you can play it straight, or become the kind of "cop" Internal Affairs nightmares are made of. | © Luxoflux / Activision

Cropped Police Quest In Pursuit of the Death Angel

19. Police Quest: In Pursuit of the Death Angel (1987)

Ah, the glorious days of floppy disks and command lines. Police Quest: In Pursuit of the Death Angel isn’t just a game – it’s a time machine to a world where forgetting to read a suspect their rights could end your playthrough faster than you can type “draw gun.” You play as Sonny Bonds, a by-the-book cop navigating a gritty, fictional California town plagued by drugs and crime. It’s part adventure game, part procedural simulator, and entirely unforgiving in the most charming retro way. You’ll log evidence, make traffic stops, and follow protocol like your badge depends on it – because it does. It’s a slow burn, sure, but for those who crave structure over chaos, this one's a pixel-perfect classic. | © Sierra On-Line

18. The Silver Case (1999)

If video games had an art house cinema section, The Silver Case would be showing in the weirdest, most interesting theater. Created by the ever-enigmatic Suda51, this avant-garde visual novel blends noir aesthetics, cyberpunk atmosphere, and existential dread into a story that will make you question reality – and your job as a cop. You’re tasked with solving bizarre crimes tied to a legendary assassin, but good luck piecing it all together; the narrative is fragmented, the characters are cryptic, and the vibe is just off in the best way. It's more psychological thriller than action-packed cop caper, and you’ll either love it or stare at the screen wondering what just happened. Either way, it leaves a mark. | © Grasshopper Manufacture

17. Contraband Police (2023)

Imagine Papers, Please but with more vodka, bigger guns, and smugglers hiding snakes in their spare tires. Contraband Police is an oddly addictive mash-up of border control simulator and undercover detective work set in a cold-war inspired dystopia. You’ll check passports, inspect car interiors, and occasionally engage in shootouts with bandits who really don’t want their suspicious cargo confiscated. It’s weird, funny, and surprisingly tense – one minute you're checking vehicle weight, the next you're dodging bullets behind a sandbag. With every decision affecting your reputation and resources, it’s not just about sniffing out the illegal stuff – it’s about surviving the job. Who knew bureaucracy could be this wild? | © Crazy Rocks / PlayWay

16. RoboCop: Rogue City (2023)

Freeze. You’re under arrest – for not playing this game yet. RoboCop: Rogue City drops you into the steel boots of the legendary cyborg cop as you dispense justice in the grimiest parts of futuristic Detroit. It nails the vibe of the original films, complete with Peter Weller reprising his role and that satisfyingly slow RoboCop walk. But don’t let the stiff movement fool you – when it comes to action, this game delivers hard-hitting, explosive chaos with the kind of deadpan one-liners only RoboCop can pull off. Between missions, you’ll actually investigate crimes, interact with citizens, and restore some order to the city's digital chaos. It’s fan service done right – and justice served cold. | © Teyon / Nacon

15. This Is the Police (2016)

In This Is the Police, you don’t run around with a gun yelling “freeze!” – you sit behind a desk, sip coffee, and slowly spiral into moral ambiguity. You play as Jack Boyd, a soon-to-retire police chief trying to survive 180 days of corruption, mob pressure, political drama, and budget cuts. It’s part strategy game, part visual novel, and part slow descent into a noir-flavored ethical quagmire. Do you send officers to real emergencies or to help your shady mob friends? Can you keep your department running while also padding your retirement fund? It’s stressful in the best way and paints law enforcement in fifty shades of grey, not blue. Definitely not your average good cop/bad cop tale – this one’s about the messy middle. | © Weappy Studio

14. Lacuna (2021)

If you mixed Blade Runner with an existential crisis and then turned it into a pixel-perfect detective thriller, you'd get Lacuna. This slick sci-fi adventure casts you as Neil Conrad, an interstellar agent of the CDI (think: space FBI) who’s stuck unraveling a political conspiracy that just keeps getting darker. It's a dialogue-heavy game where every choice matters – lies, omissions, and small decisions ripple out in big ways. There are no save-scumming safety nets, so if you mess up an interrogation or fail to catch a lead, the story just keeps going, mistakes and all. It’s moody, atmospheric, and surprisingly emotional for a game where everyone looks like tiny sprites. You may not be in uniform, but make no mistake – you’re the cop here, and the galaxy’s counting on you. | © DigiTales Interactive

13. SWAT 4 (2005)

SWAT 4 is the anti-Rambo of tactical shooters. You’re not here to blast through walls and toss grenades for fun – you’re here to follow procedure, subdue suspects, and shout “Get down!” until your voice gives out. This game takes law enforcement seriously, and that’s what makes it so compelling. As the leader of an elite SWAT team, you’ll carefully breach doors, use non-lethal force, and get graded on how well you de-escalate tense situations. Kick in a door without announcing yourself? That’s a penalty. Accidentally shoot a civilian? Yeah, your badge is probably getting pulled. It’s intense, methodical, and surprisingly satisfying for players who prefer brains over bullets. Think Rainbow Six but with more handcuffs and fewer explosions. | © Irrational Games

12. Beat Cop (2017)

Beat Cop throws you into the scuffed shoes of Jack Kelly, a disgraced detective turned street-level beat cop trying to clear his name in the grimy, neon-lit jungle that is 1980s Brooklyn. Inspired by classic cop shows and pixel art aesthetics, the game has you writing parking tickets one minute and negotiating with the mafia the next. You’ll juggle petty crimes, daily quotas, suspicious neighbors, and maybe even shake down a hot dog vendor or two. The tone is tongue-in-cheek, the humor is dark, and the job is thankless – but man, is it fun. Every day brings new chaos, and it’s up to you whether you’re the kind of cop who plays by the rules… or makes their own. | © Pixel Crow

11. Police Stories (2019)

Police Stories is what happens when Hotline Miami puts on a badge and decides to do things by the book – well, mostly. This top-down tactical shooter is all about fast decisions, clean execution, and not shooting first unless you really have to. You and your partner respond to high-risk situations – hostage rescues, gang raids, drug busts – and you’ll have to use tactics like peeking under doors, throwing flashbangs, and yelling “hands up!” like your virtual life depends on it. Unlike a lot of games on this list, Police Stories rewards restraint, not carnage. The AI is unpredictable, every room could be a trap, and split-second choices make all the difference. Bring a friend, bring your patience, and bring a bulletproof vest. You’re gonna need it. | © Mighty Morgan

10. Far Cry 5 (2018)

Look, you didn’t sign up for this. You were just the new deputy in a quiet Montana county, maybe hoping to bust a few DUIs and rescue a cat from a tree. Instead, Far Cry 5 throws you headfirst into a full-blown doomsday cult uprising, complete with brainwashing, flamethrowers, and more explosive fishing trips than anyone asked for. While the game doesn’t always treat the “cop” role traditionally, you are law enforcement – at least on paper. What follows is a wild, open-world chaos simulator where your badge is more like a polite suggestion. You’ll fight against a creepy cult family, liberate towns, fly planes, and maybe accidentally blow up a gas station or two. Just another day in the backwoods justice system. | © Ubisoft

9. The Evil Within (2014)

Sebastian Castellanos: detective, trench coat aficionado, and magnet for nightmarish brain-bending horror. The Evil Within starts off as your typical murder investigation, but things go sideways fast – like, "fall into a surreal alternate dimension where reality doesn’t apply" fast. One minute you're searching a bloody asylum, the next you're dodging a chainsaw-wielding nightmare in a sewer. It’s part psychological thriller, part gore-fest, and all kinds of creepy. Being a cop here isn’t about reading Miranda rights – it’s about survival, shotguns, and screaming “WHAT IS THAT?!” at your TV. If you're into the darker side of detective work (and you’ve got a strong stomach), Sebastian’s journey is a wild ride. | © Tango Gameworks / Bethesda

8. Policenauts (1994)

From the mind of Hideo Kojima comes Policenauts, a cinematic visual novel that’s part space opera, part buddy cop movie, and 100% early-’90s anime fever dream. You play as Jonathan Ingram, a former astronaut turned private detective who’s dragged back into action when a mysterious case ties into his past. Think Lethal Weapon – if it were set in orbit and had philosophical rants about artificial organs. The gameplay’s a mix of point-and-click investigation and shootouts, but it’s really the storytelling that shines: rich, weird, and way ahead of its time. It never officially released outside Japan, but fans have translated it – and it’s absolutely worth tracking down for Kojima fans and retro detective junkies alike. | © Konami

Cropped Max Payne 2 The Fall of Max Payne

7. Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (2003)

If noir had a love affair with slow motion, it would be named Max Payne 2. This sequel turns up the drama, doubling down on Max’s tragic backstory, moody monologues, and the kind of emotional baggage that could fill an evidence locker. Still a cop (albeit one barely hanging on), Max falls into a twisted web of crime, betrayal, and dangerous love. But let’s be honest – you’re really here for the bullet time. Diving through doors, dual-wielding pistols in a blur of slo-mo chaos, Max turns shootouts into balletic death scenes. The story’s grim, the atmosphere is thick, and the vibe? Pure cinematic noir, soaked in painkillers and heartbreak. | © Remedy Entertainment / Rockstar Games

6. L.A. Noire (2011)

Put on your fedora and brush up on your "doubt" face – L.A. Noire is all about reading people and questioning everything. As Cole Phelps, a war vet turned LAPD detective, you’ll rise through the ranks of 1940s Los Angeles, solving cases that range from arson to homicide to full-blown conspiracy. The real magic here is in the interrogation system, where actors’ facial performances are so detailed, you’ll swear someone blinked too fast and must be guilty. It's a love letter to classic noir films, with smoky jazz, dirty politics, and enough moral ambiguity to make your badge feel a little heavy. Whether you're chasing down crooks or second-guessing your instincts, this one's a thinking cop’s dream. | © Team Bondi / Rockstar Games

5. Ready or Not (2021)

Ready or Not isn’t just a tactical shooter – it’s a stress test in SWAT form. You’re not playing as a superhero with infinite ammo and plot armor. You’re a law enforcement officer with strict rules of engagement, limited information, and suspects who do not want to come quietly. Clearing rooms isn’t about being flashy; it’s about precision, communication, and hoping no one opens fire on you with a sawed-off shotgun behind Door #3. The realism here is brutal, intense, and rewarding – especially when you nail a perfect breach with non-lethal force. It’s a love letter to SWAT 4 with modern polish, and it’s one of the most immersive cop experiences out there – if your nerves can handle it. | © VOID Interactive

4. Chicken Police (2020)

Yes, you read that right. Chicken Police is a noir detective story starring anthropomorphic animals – and it’s every bit as amazing as it sounds. You’re Sonny Featherland, a washed-up rooster cop reluctantly pulled back into a mystery that drips with gritty atmosphere and sarcastic banter. Think Sin City, but with feathers, fur, and deadpan poultry puns that never get old. Don’t let the absurd premise fool you – it’s beautifully written, stylishly presented in black and white, and actually delivers a sharp, character-driven story worthy of the noir genre. You’ll interrogate suspects, examine clues, and maybe question your life choices – but you’ll love every second of it. | © The Wild Gentlemen

3. Sleeping Dogs (2012)

Sleeping Dogs is what happens when you mix open-world chaos with a gritty undercover cop drama set in the neon-soaked streets of Hong Kong. You play as Wei Shen, an undercover officer with serious martial arts skills and a loyalty crisis the size of a triad empire. It’s got hand-to-hand combat smoother than most dedicated fighting games, intense car chases, and a genuinely compelling story about identity, duty, and betrayal. Whether you’re smashing a thug’s head into a seafood stall or singing karaoke between missions, it’s hard not to fall in love with this beautifully chaotic crime epic. Plus, Wei Shen’s wardrobe? Impeccable. | © United Front Games / Square Enix

2. Resident Evil 2 (2019)

Leon S. Kennedy shows up for his first day as a rookie cop – and walks straight into the zombie apocalypse. Resident Evil 2 (the 2019 remake, specifically) takes the survival horror crown and gives it a bulletproof vest. Playing as Leon or Claire, you’ll navigate a decaying Raccoon City Police Department while solving puzzles, dodging lickers, and being perpetually haunted by Mr. X’s booming footsteps. The game balances tension and action with masterful pacing and razor-sharp atmosphere. You may be undertrained and overwhelmed, but you're still the law – kind of. Even if your job mostly involves shooting undead things in the head and running away. | © Capcom

1. Disco Elysium (2019)

What if being a cop was less about shooting bad guys and more about arguing with your own psyche while wearing mismatched socks? Disco Elysium flips the entire genre on its head, casting you as a hungover, amnesiac detective solving a murder in a strange, broken world. Every choice, every thought, every bit of internal monologue shapes who you are and what kind of cop you become: genius sleuth, philosophical mess, fascist bootlicker, or disco-dancing wreck of a man. There’s no combat, just dialogue, deduction, and existential spiraling. It’s funny, tragic, deeply weird – and a masterpiece of narrative design that redefines what a detective game can be. | © ZA/UM