Neo Cab

« Neo Cab is poignant, well-timed, and special. A perfect fit for on-the-go platforms like Switch and Apple Arcade, Neo Cab would still be great anywhere regardless of platform because it delivers on all fronts for adventure gaming fans. With a memorable story that’s full of realistic choices and nuanced writing, Neo Cab is one of the best indies of 2019. »

« Neo Cab is a short but altogether engrossing and clever game that offers players a lot of replayability. Lina's journey in Los Ojos was ultimately very fulfilling once I reached one of the game's better endings, and I regretted none of my time behind the virtual wheel. Those who crave an original cyberpunk setting might find this creative, independent title worth playing. »

« Bugs aside, Neo Cab stands tall as a thoughtful and genuinely affecting piece of sci-fi fiction, and one of the better attempts at dialogue I’ve seen in my long career playing games. Hopping into Lina’s cab and touring Los Ojos is a ride I would be happy to take again. »

« Neo Cab poses a lot of questions, crossing something familiar with a plausible futuristic backdrop. Chance Agency crafts an intriguing world where people all have their own ideas about technology and how much it should be a part of our everyday lives. Neo Cab has the fun of being a driver, meeting new people, and trying to hustle for cash and get that coveted star-rating. But it also offers a much deeper experience – one that makes you look inward. That’s especially why it’s worth the trip. »

« The setting of Los Ojos feels alive, and its denizens are a delightful cocktail of awkward, savvy, charming, and repellent. While a playthrough can take around 3-4 hours, it’s worth returning to the world to meet different people and see how your decisions impact the overall narrative. What’s more, the dark and gritty aesthetic works well in a game that portends a potentially frightening future. At the end of a long shift, Neo Cab’s strong writing and effective story-telling make it well-worth hailing. »

« Neo Cab is a captivating story-driven game that gives a glimpse at what a world practically run by robots might look like. With a wonderful art style, a fascinating setting and a story that’ll instantly grab you, it’s well worth taking a ride with. »

« Aside from performing your day (night?) job to the best of your abilities, the game also has an overarching plot involving Lina’s best friend Savy, and her mysterious disappearance. This dark shift in tone almost feels at odds with the nature of the gameplay, and whilst that plotline is visited periodically throughout the game, we never felt that much urgency in resolving her disappearance. We were far more content with simply meeting and conversing with the wonderfully endearing inhabitants of Los Ojos. »

« It's completely understandable why Neo Cab wouldn't be for everyone. A completely unique experience of this kind could alienate, and make it difficult to justify taking a punt without an in-depth examination of what to expect. Take the chance however, and an immersive, fascinating commentary on the evils of technology interspersed with a murder-mystery novel, are delivered. If excellent pacing and a character driven narrative are the major plus points when handing over the cash, sit back, strap in, and enjoy the journey. With the multiple endings on offer, and only a few hours needed to go from start to finish, the Switch feels like the perfect place to meet new people, embroil yourself in their lives, and appreciate the highs and lows of cyberpunk couriering. »

« This is mostly a visual novel with a cab driver, with a twist - you have to keep in touch with how your character feels. Compelling stories, and believable/relatable characters. No spoilers, but theres a final "battle", and its a difficult one. »

« A story about a lonely lesbian driving & just talking to random passengers about stuff. What kind of stuff? Nothing apparently because it's so forgettable. Despite beating it, I don't remember single thing about it. »

« I loved my time with this “game.” Think of it as a choose your own adventure driving sim set in a dystopian future. Great sound design that really sets the mood. Multiple branching storylines are apparently possible, and I look forward to doing another run at some point. Yes, there’s some pretty clear “leftist” messaging, but personally that didn’t bother me. Some reviewers seem overly concerned about the fact that they don’t agree with what certain characters said or did. There are many examples of great literature (or award winning tv shows) with characters whose behavior is ethically questionable. This is like a digital work of art. It’s not meant to be akin to a non-fiction guide to healthy living. These are characters and situations crafted for reflection. This was a really fine example of interactive media that seemed to make full use of the medium. Knocking off a point because the ending seemed to drag on a bit, but otherwise a great experience. »

« Neo Cab, developed by Sweet Baby Inc., offers a unique and thought-provoking exploration of a future dominated by technology and gig economy. However, the game's underlying themes and the company's controversial reputation have left a sour taste in many players' mouths. While the game's narrative and gameplay are intriguing, the underlying message feels heavily biased. Neo Cab seems to promote a narrative that paints men as inherently harmful and oppressive. This bias is evident in the game's characters, who often fall into stereotypical gender roles. The game's focus on female empowerment, while commendable, feels forced and at times, exclusionary. Sweet Baby Inc.'s history of anti-male sentiment further fuels concerns about the game's messaging. The company's reputation for discrimination has tainted the perception of Neo Cab, making it difficult to separate the art from the artist. While Neo Cab offers a compelling experience, its underlying biases and the company's controversial past make it a difficult recommendation. Gamers who are sensitive to issues of gender equality and representation may find the game's messaging offensive and off-putting. »

« What can I say. The game is technically well done, but the story and the gameplay ****. I was so glad when I did finish this game. Just wanted to stay until the end, to see if it gets any better. But spoiler: No, it did not. Although it was a promising idea and all the reviews have been good. »

« I had already played Neo Cab most of the way through on iOS via Apple Arcade first, but when it was put on offer on Switch I decided to buy it and play it all the way through on my primary gaming platform. I enjoyed Neo Cab. The Switch port was solid as a rock. It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea, being primarily an Interactive Fiction with graphics bolted on, but for IF fans this is worth picking up. The only thing I didn't like was the ending. It felt like the gaming was building to an impressive ending that simply failed to materialise. It might be that I need to play it again and make different decisions in order to unlock a different ending, but the ending I got wasn't at all satisfying. I may return to Neo Cab in the future to look for alternative endings that better scratch my itch, but for now I'm glad of the time I spent with this game and will be moving on to other games. »

« I think most of the time I tried to pick a line which was not available due to my mental state. Most encounters were pointless. A waste of time, imho. »

« This visual novel is wonderful! I had to stop and think of reasons it wasn't a 10/10. It didn't feel like a 10/10 game - I'm not artificially knocking it down! - but it wasn't immediately obvious to me what held it back. The game is about Lina, a cab driver in a future Los Angeles (er, "Ojos"), who moves to the city to live with a friend who immediately disappears. She then drives around the city, picking up passengers and learning about the current political/social environment. There isn't any gameplay besides selecting dialogue options, but there are a lot of those options and the game never feels slow. There's also a clever "mood" mechanic that limits your choices depending on how Lina is feeling; as a player, I needed to be strategic about which passengers ("pax") to pick up if I thought they might tick Lina off. The characterization and writing are excellent, and the pacing is very strong as well. There are sci-fi elements, social analyses, and good old traditional interpersonal conflicts. The nature of the game means you can lean more into the themes that interest you by picking up those passengers again. I found all of them interesting and well done, but I could see where other players might have found it heavy-handed. I thought most sides of any debate or character motives were shown well. Except for the villain. You love to hate the villain. They're awful and I absolutely know them in real life, too. I did experience a few bugs, but nothing that affected my enjoyment of the game. The biggest gripe I have is that there is a ton of replayability to pick up different pax, but the frame story of Lina's missing friend kept interrupting me as I tried to explore other pax stories. It slows down the content. I also didn't love the animation style, as something felt a bit disjointed about how the characters moved, but that's really getting into nits. HIghly recommend this game, especially if on sale. I was very lucky to pick it up for $4 on sale and have gotten 8-10 hours out of it. It'll definitely be a replay in a few years when I can't remember much! »