By HandyGames
Report updated Apr 16, 2026
This Is the Police
For fans of strategy, simulation, and narrative-heavy games who enjoy dark, mature themes and complex decision-making.
This Is the Police is an established games app that is a paid app. With a 3.8/5 rating from 4.1K reviews, it shows polarized user reception.
What is This Is the Police?
Current Momentum
v1.1
Unity update
Active Nemesis
911 Operator
By Games Operators S.A.
Other Rivals
7-Day Rank Pulse 🇺🇸
StrategyRating Pulse 🇺🇸
What makes this app unique?
What Does It Look Like?
How Is The App's Momentum Right Now?
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What Are The Key Features?
A deep, branching story where player choices directly influence the fate of the protagonist and the city.
Manage staff, respond to emergency calls, and allocate resources in a high-pressure environment.
Gather evidence and solve cases to dismantle criminal gangs operating in the city.
Balance relationships with the mayor, mafia bosses, and the press to survive and secure a retirement fund.
Full voice-over performance featuring Jon St. John.
How much does it cost?
- One-time purchase price of $7.99
Premium upfront pricing model typical of high-quality indie ports, avoiding microtransactions or ads to maintain narrative immersion.
Who Built It?
HandyGames
Delivering deep, mechanically-rich strategy and simulation games to mobile players seeking PC-quality experiences.
Portfolio
13
Apps
Who is HandyGames?
HandyGames has established a distinct position as the mobile publishing arm for THQ Nordic, focusing on porting complex PC and console IPs to the mobile market. Their moat is the technical and design capability to translate deep economic simulations and tactical turn-based mechanics into accessible touchscreen experiences. A key strategic signal is their recent high-velocity shift toward 'Try & Buy' monetization, aimed at reducing entry barriers for their traditionally premium-style titles.
Who is HandyGames for?
- Mid-core
- Core gamers seeking mechanical depth
- Particularly in the strategy
- Simulation genres
Portfolio momentum
With 22 releases in the last 6 months and over 57% of the portfolio remaining active, the publisher is aggressively updating legacy titles and launching new trial-based versions.
What other apps does HandyGames make?
Way of the Hunter Wild America
SpongeBob - The Cosmic Shake
Wreckfest
Aporkalypse - Pigs of Doom
Save the Puppies Premium
1943 Deadly Desert Premium
What do users think recently?
Analysis in progress, available soon
What is the competitive landscape for This Is the Police?
How's The Games Market?
How does it evolve in the Games market?
| Country | Category | Chart | Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Adventure | iOSPaid | #69 | NEW |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | Strategy | iOSPaid | #85 | ▼22 |
The rivals identified
The Nemesis
911 Operator
★4.2 (31.8K)Games Operators S.A.
⚡Directly competes on the core mechanic of managing police resources and responding to emergency calls in a city environment.
Head-to-head analysis pending — refresh this report for a detailed comparison.
Contenders
112 Operator
Games Operators S.A.
📈A more advanced sequel to 911 Operator that offers deeper management of police, fire, and medical services on a larger scale.
Do Not Feed the Monkeys
★4.0 (1.9K)Alawar Entertainment, Inc
📈A narrative-driven 'digital voyeurism' sim that forces players to manage resources while making difficult moral choices.
Orwell: Keeping an Eye on You
★4.8 (71)Osmotic Studios GmbH
💀A narrative investigation game where players manage data and surveillance to solve crimes for a state agency.
Death and Taxes
Placeholder Gameworks
A narrative management game where you decide the fate of individuals, mirroring the high-stakes decision-making of Jack Boyd.
Peers
Trade Base Exchange
Approval Rating Management
Client Fate Examination
Catastrophe Events
60 Seconds! Reatomized
★4.8 (1.9K)Robot Gentleman sp. z o.o.
Focuses on high-pressure resource allocation and narrative events where every choice has immediate consequences for survival.
New Kids on the Block
Suzerain
★4.6 (11.2K)Torpor Games GmbH
📈A deep political simulation where you manage a country's fate through dialogue and policy, similar to the political maneuvering in Freeburg.
The outtake for This Is the Police
Strengths to defend, gaps to attack
Core Strengths
- High-quality narrative and world-building
- Professional voice acting (Jon St. John)
- Unique minimalist noir art style
- Premium experience free of ads/IAP
Critical Frictions
- Low review volume (69 ratings) affecting discovery
- High barrier to entry ($7.99)
- Limited replayability after story completion
Growth Levers
- Introduction of DLC case packs
- Expansion into serious gaming/ethics education
- Community-driven narrative challenges
Market Threats
- Direct competition from the 'Operator' series
- Devaluation of paid apps by subscription services
- Niche market saturation
Key Takeaways
This Is the Police is an established games app that is a paid app. With a 3.8/5 rating from 4.1K reviews, it shows polarized user reception.
Where Is It Heading?
Trend analysis
Available very soon