Review: Drug Dealer Simulator | Xbox

Sometimes the most accurate way to describe a game is simply “it does exactly what it says on the tin.” Drug Dealer Simulator, now available on Xbox after four years on PC, delivers a methodical simulation of building an illegal empire from the ground up. Whether that makes for compelling gameplay is another matter entirely.

Starting Small, Thinking Big

After waking up hungover and jobless, your protagonist embarks on a new career path that begins with a laptop, a dodgy supplier, and dreams of criminal enterprise. The core gameplay loop is straightforward: order drugs through the dark web, collect them from dead drops around the city, prepare them for sale in your flat, then deliver to waiting customers whilst avoiding police patrols.

During my initial hours, I found myself genuinely engaged by the mechanics. There’s something oddly satisfying about the preparation process—weighing out products, adding “extras” to bulk up your supply, and managing your inventory before heading out for deliveries. The reputation system encourages you to spray graffiti to build street cred, unlocking new areas and customers as you progress.

The Empire Business

What Drug Dealer Simulator does well is progression. Starting from small-time deals in the slums, you gradually expand across the map, eventually recruiting your own dealers and investing in money laundering operations. The game takes its simulation aspects seriously—you’ll need to clean your dirty money through local businesses and upgrade your equipment to handle larger operations.

The police mechanics add genuine tension to proceedings. Getting spotted whilst carrying a rucksack full of contraband leads to foot chases accompanied by surprisingly effective pursuit music. Getting caught means losing your entire stash and paying a £100 fine, which can be devastating during larger operations.

Repetition Sets In

Unfortunately, what starts as an engaging criminal simulation gradually becomes a repetitive slog. The core loop of ordering, collecting, preparing, and delivering remains essentially unchanged throughout the 20-hour experience. Even as your operation expands, you’re still performing the same basic tasks, just on a larger scale.

I found myself particularly frustrated by the waiting periods—orders can take up to six hours to arrive, and while time can be accelerated in your apartment, it breaks the flow of gameplay. The constant trips back to your hideout for preparation work also becomes tedious, especially when navigating the same staircases repeatedly.

Technical Mediocrity

Visually, Drug Dealer Simulator shows its age despite allegedly receiving improvements for Xbox Series consoles. Character models look dated, textures appear smudgy, and the predominantly brown colour palette makes the world feel drab throughout. The game runs smoothly enough, but occasional menu bugs and numerous typos in the dialogue text suggest a lack of polish.

The urban environments capture the intended gritty atmosphere but offer little incentive for exploration beyond the necessary drug-related activities. Most areas feel empty and lifeless, with minimal NPC interaction or environmental storytelling.

Moral Complexity

It’s worth noting that Drug Dealer Simulator doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of its subject matter. Achievements for causing overdoses and the general premise of exploiting addiction aren’t treated with much sensitivity. While the game positions itself as consequence-free exploration of criminal activity, some players may find the tone off-putting.

Missing Elements

Perhaps most frustratingly, certain features mentioned in tutorials never became available during my playthrough. The ability to produce your own drugs and expanded export opportunities seemed to disappear after initial introductions, leaving me wondering if console versions are missing content from the PC release.

The Verdict

Drug Dealer Simulator is competently designed and functionally sound, delivering exactly what its title promises. The progression system works, the mechanics are mostly logical, and there’s undeniable satisfaction in building your criminal empire from nothing.

However, competence doesn’t necessarily equal entertainment. The repetitive nature of the core gameplay, combined with dated presentation and questionable subject matter handling, makes this a difficult game to enthusiastically recommend. It’s neither terrible nor excellent—just thoroughly mediocre.

For simulation enthusiasts with a specific interest in the concept, there’s enough content to justify the purchase. For everyone else, this particular career change probably isn’t worth pursuing.