Noir Mafia Simulator: 1960s American Crime Impressions | Early Access Launch Comes Too Soon

A rough first outing with some potential, but not a heist game I can recommend yet

I spent some time with Noir Mafia Simulator: 1960s American Crime ahead of its Early Access release, and while there is something here, it feels far too undercooked in its current state. The basic idea is easy enough to understand: go into heists, deal with alarms, guards, and police pressure, and try to get out alive. The problem is that the game does not do nearly enough to guide the player into that loop.

For stronger takes on the same crime-simulator space, see our Crime Simulator Game of the Week feature and our earlier Thief Simulator 2 coverage.

If you follow Fix Gaming Channel, you know I do not mind giving an Early Access game room to grow. But it still needs a clear foundation, and right now this build feels more like a sketch of a robbery game than something ready to leave a strong first impression. I also recorded gameplay, which you can watch below to judge for yourself.

Noir Mafia Simulator: 1960s American Crime

Release: April 21, 2026 (Early Access)

Genre: Indie, RPG, Simulation

Developer / Publisher: Meraki Tech

Platform: PC via Steam

Noir Mafia Simulator: 1960s American Crime – Gameplay Video

A weak start with very little direction

Starting the game, I was met with a very simple menu that offered a “Start Heist” option and a “Continue Heist” option. That was about it. There were no proper graphics settings to work with, only very basic sound options. For a game about to enter Early Access, that is not a great start, and it immediately gave the impression that the overall package still needs more work.

Once I got in, I spent time running around inside a house without really understanding what I was supposed to do. I moved upstairs, entered an office, and eventually found a map with a few mission choices. Because I had not really done much up to that point, the selection was very limited, and I ended up trying a museum heist.

Entering the bank hall during a heist in Noir Mafia Simulator.

The museum mission showed both the promise and the problems

Weapons spawned, I picked up a rifle, pushed inside, and the alarm quickly went off. At first, movement felt fairly smooth, which gave me some hope. But the combat started to lose me almost immediately. Guards did not seem especially intelligent, and even several lethal-looking headshots were not always enough to bring them down cleanly. That alone took some of the tension and credibility out of the firefights.

A tense moment with police during a heist in Noir Mafia Simulator.

After some trial and error, I found the breakers and cut the alarm, but I still did not really understand what my actual objective was beyond trying to locate something to steal. I never found it. Instead, I ended up dealing with a countdown, which felt like around five minutes, before the full police force came crashing into the museum. And that was basically that.

A mafia house robbery should have felt stronger than this

Next, I tried a mafia house robbery mission, thinking that this would be where the game started to show more character and challenge. I have played more than enough mafia games over the years, and yes, the robbery angle naturally brings games like Payday to mind. Right now, though, this is nowhere near that level. It is not close.

Exploring a mansion interior in Noir Mafia Simulator.

That does not mean the concept is dead on arrival. I can still see how this could grow into something much better over time, especially if multiplayer becomes a real strength. But in its present form, it is not there. Not yet.

Not broken, but clunky and underdeveloped

What stands out most is that the game is not failing because of major bugs or complete technical collapse. I did not run into chaos at every turn. Instead, it feels rough in ways that are arguably more important for a game like this. Movement feels clunky, shooting feels a bit out of sync, and the whole structure needs more clarity.

Carrying loot during a vault robbery in Noir Mafia Simulator.

It needs a proper tutorial mission. It needs stronger mission flow. It needs some kind of story framing or context. Right now, too much of the experience feels like being dropped into a scenario and being expected to figure out what the game wants from you without enough feedback, logic, or payoff.

Final thoughts

So no, I cannot recommend Noir Mafia Simulator: 1960s American Crime in its current state. For me, this is not a pass. There is some potential buried in the idea, and mafia game fans may still want to keep an eye on it, but this build needs more time, more guidance, and more gameplay polish before it feels ready.

I will revisit it later, because there is at least a foundation here worth watching. But for now, if you are curious, watch the gameplay video above and make up your own mind. Just keep in mind that this is an Early Access build, not a finished game.

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