The Boss Gangster: Criminal Empire

Open World· Simulation· Crime· Management

Early access since Oct 2025

Build a criminal empire from the streets up. Commit crimes in third-person, run and automate illegal businesses, recruit your own crime family, fight rival organizations, and take control of a seamless open-world city.

81% positive · 467 reviews

Not yet

In early access, content still planned

High confidence

Content Planned

Not yet

In early access, content still planned

High confidence

Content Planned

Where to buy

Steam Updated 12 Oct 2026 $18.99

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Evaluation

The Boss Gangster: Criminal Empire is still in Steam Early Access, launched October 31, 2025, and remains purchasable. Development has been extraordinarily active throughout 2026, with five named major content updates shipping between March and October 2026 alone. On September 7, 2026, developer BEF GAMES announced that the game will officially leave Early Access and launch as version 1.0 on October 27, 2026. Critically, that same post made clear this milestone is not the end of development: the developer stated they are "far from finished," that "many exciting features are still on the way," and that the studio will continue supporting the game with new updates, improvements, features, and content after the full release. On October 1, 2026 — today — the developer shipped Update 0.9, described as "the final major update before 1.0." This update added gamepad support, a new cartel delivery mechanic, a completely reworked save system, new vehicle animations, driving improvements, city adjustments, and various bug fixes. The update post closes with the developer stating: "Remember, for us, 1.0 is not the end. It is the beginning of a new era." The developer explicitly confirmed the game "will continue to grow and evolve" with player support and feedback. The upcoming 1.0 launch date of October 27, 2026 is still in the future as of today, meaning the game has not yet left Early Access. The developer's own words make it unambiguous that content will continue beyond that milestone.

Evidence

Update 0.9 shipped, described as 'the final major update before 1.0.' Post closes with developer stating '1.0 is not the end. It is the beginning of a new era' and that the game 'will continue to grow and evolve.'

news post · Oct 1, 2026 source content planned

high

Developer announced 1.0 release date of October 27, 2026, and explicitly stated that reaching 1.0 does not mean development stops — 'many exciting features are still on the way' and continued support with updates, improvements, features, and content is planned after full release.

news post · Sep 7, 2026 source content planned

high

Media

Details

Developer

BEF GAMES

Publisher

Tripwire Presents

Achievements

Platform

Windows

Controller

full support

Steam Deck

Playable

Players

Single-player

Crime Open World Simulation Management Resource Management Crafting Base Building Driving Character Customization Building RPG Strategy Action Sandbox Automation

About this game

This is an open-world criminal empire simulator.

Build Your Criminal Empire From the Streets Up.

Steal cars, run illegal businesses, recruit your own crime family and conquer the city in a seamless open-world criminal empire simulator. Every crime, business and territory is connected, allowing you to build your organization from a small-time hustler into the city's most powerful kingpin.

A True Criminal Playground

Choose how your empire begins. Become a car thief, drug producer, nightclub owner, dealer or crime boss. Every path leads to the same goal: control the city.

Build Your Criminal Empire

Commit Crimes

Steal Cars
Pickpocket
Evade the Police
Shootouts
Street Races

Run Illegal Businesses

Warehouse Management
Nightclub Management
Production Chains
Business Automation
Office Operations & Criminal Jobs

Rent cheap motel rooms or apartments to start your first illegal operation, then expand into warehouses, businesses, and a city-wide criminal network.

Grow from a small-time hustler into the city's most powerful crime boss.

Rule The City

Rival Families
Territory Control
Recruit Gangsters
Expand Your Influence
Become The Boss

Key Features

• Build Your Criminal Empire: Start with nothing and rise from a small-time hustler to the city's most powerful crime boss.

• Commit Crimes Your Way: Steal cars, pickpocket civilians, rob targets, evade the police, and complete criminal jobs across the city.

• Run Illegal Businesses: Build warehouses, manage nightclubs, automate production chains, and expand your criminal network.

• Recruit Your Crime Family: Hire gangsters, assign criminal operations, eliminate rival families, and take control of every district.

• Conquer the City: Fight for control of 11 unique districts, eliminate rival families, earn Prestige, and dominate the city’s criminal underworld.

• Living Open World: NPCs, police, traffic, businesses, and rival organizations react dynamically to your actions.

• Vehicle Theft & Customization: Steal, customize, upgrade, race, or dismantle vehicles for profit.

• Deep Progression System: Unlock skills, improve your abilities, expand your businesses, and discover new ways to build your empire.

• Every System is Connected: Crimes, businesses, territories, economy, and progression work together to create one seamless criminal empire simulation.