Dispatch has proven to be one of the best games of the year, as its unique and charming take on the superhero genre has resonated with a lot of gamers. Since its launch, Dispatch has drawn the attention of many with its clever premise. Its compelling characters and all-around strong story have helped it stick out among the year’s crowded roster, which is no easy feat. 2025 has been absolutely packed with stellar games, and while Dispatch is a solid package, many players loved its dispatching gameplay in conjunction with everything else.
There are plenty of fans who prefer deciding over Dispatch‘s two romance options and experiencing its story-driven moments, but dispatching heroes throughout the city to fight crime can definitely be another highlight of the experience. It’s so popular that some fans have even taken to social media to request an endless procedural mode that only focuses on dispatching. Unfortunately, there aren’t any known plans to bring this kind of mode to life, but thankfully, there’s one game on Steam that could quickly scratch that itch: This is the Police.
This is the Police Might Be the Cure for Some Dispatch Fans’ Woes
- This is the Police was released on Steam back in 2016.
- It’s also available for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and Mobile.
Dispatch fans who love to partake in the titular task will immediately recognize a similarity with This is the Police. With its isometric map and crime-focused story, This is the Police puts players in control of police chief Jack Boyd, a longtime officer who’s on the eve of his retirement. Boyd is set to retire in 180 days, and in that time, players must find a way to get him $500,000 before he leaves the force for good. Throughout the game, Boyd has to decide which members of the city to align with while also dispatching groups of officers to various crime scenes across the struggling city of Freeburg. Like the choices in Dispatch, what a player decides in This is the Police can heavily affect what happens in the game, but this time around, there’s a darker edge.
This is the Police 2 released in 2018, but it added tactical combat into the mix. Instead of the sequel, Dispatch fans should check out the first game for the best comparison.
This is the Police Takes Dispatch’s Best Mechanic and Makes it the Centerpiece
In This is the Police, dispatching is one of the central gameplay mechanics that players engage in. As Freeburg spirals out of control, Jack Boyd has to strategize to make sure that the right officers get sent to the right crime scenes. It’s incredibly reminiscent of Dispatch because the heroes that Robert Robertson sends out to emergencies can have different outcomes depending on the hero’s abilities. Based on a hero’s stats, they could be a perfect fit or a disaster waiting to happen, so players have to really weigh the options when picking the right team. Dispatch‘s story can overshadow much of the game’s dispatching moments, but with This is the Police, dispatching is made an integral part of the narrative.
This is the Police Takes a More Grounded and Gritty Approach Than Dispatch
Dispatch handles mature themes, but This is the Police can be downright lifelike and bleak with its depictions of a police department struggling with staffing issues and rampant crime. This is the Police goes so far with its real-world-inspired themes that it’s sometimes even a bad idea to send out officers of differing political affiliations to work on a case together because it could ignite conflict. Not only does Jack Boyd have to strategize about which officer is the best fit to deal with a certain crime, but he must even think hard about how a certain officer will behave around a teammate. Criminals aren’t the only cause for concern, and it makes planning in This is the Police more difficult. Dispatch‘s gameplay may not be as lifelike as This is the Police‘s, but that’s also what makes it a perfect candidate for fans who want something deeper and more realistic.
Beyond avoiding infighting in the police department, Jack Boyd is also dealing with the local mafia. Moral dilemmas in games aren’t anything new, but This is the Police presents these kinds of scenarios in a realistic way that shows that sometimes you can unexpectedly get backed into a corner, with the only way out seemingly being bending your morals. It’s a game filled with moral gray areas, and while that may be a turn-off for some, it’s incredibly compelling for those who find these kinds of power dynamics fascinating.
This is the Police can be downright lifelike and bleak with its depictions of a police department struggling with staffing issues and rampant crime.
Until AdHoc Studio Makes Endless Dispatching a Reality, This is the Police is the Next Best Thing
Even though Dispatch‘s story and characters are some of the key aspects that make it such a great game, it would definitely benefit from an endless dispatching mode. Right now, the only way to enjoy more of that gameplay is a second Dispatch playthrough is to experience the entire game from start to finish (or third…or fourth…).
As far as fans know, AdHoc Studio has no real plans to make an endless Dispatch mode happen, which feels like a wasted opportunity. It could give the game even more replayability, but only time will tell if developers will make that leap. Still, even without an endless procedural option, Dispatch is a standout game this year. Whether it’s a dispatch-only mode or more narrative content, it’s clear that Dispatch players want more.
With hopes of a Dispatch Season 2 continuing to grow, it will be interesting to see if AdHoc Studio decides to make a sequel. If so, then that could potentially pave the way for a highly replayable, dispatch-focused mode, but until that comes (if at all), This is the Police has plenty to offer to satisfy that craving.
- Released
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October 22, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood, Crude Humor, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
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AdHoc Studio
- Publisher(s)
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AdHoc Studio
