Neo Cab

 PC
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Edge Magazine
    Nov 10, 2019
    70
    If not quite a five-star ride, Neo Cab is an empathetic and stingingly perceptive insight into the challenges of freelance life. [Issue#139, p.121]
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  2. DualShockers
    Oct 2, 2019
    70
    Neo Cab has a good sense for subtlety and for real human emotion.
  3. Gamers Heroes
    Oct 2, 2019
    70
    Neo Cab is a delightful experience that sometimes trips over itself due to certain design choices. Make sure to check out the demo before purchasing.
  5. PC Invasion
    Oct 2, 2019
    70
    A short but entertaining and beautiful look at cyberpunk dystopia, through the unlikely lens of a gig economy taxi driver.
  6. GameSpot
    Oct 2, 2019
    70
    Neo Cab might suffer from inconsistencies and presentation issues in some places, but as a depiction of a near-future society corrupted by tech fetishization, and an exploration of how humans are adapting to automation and the rise of the gig economy, it's got plenty to say about how important it is that we all look out for one another. This is a forward-thinking game, but the issues it explores are extremely relevant in 2019, which makes for an engaging, stimulating narrative experience, even if the central mystery of your friend's disappearance is not particularly interesting.
  7. 4P.de
    Nov 8, 2019
    62
    Conceptually interesting visual novel with too rigidly constructed situations.
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  1. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Oct 2, 2019
    Neo Cab is certainly strongly anti-corporate. I already agree with that, so I don’t know if Neo Cab has the power to change minds. But it does excel at capturing how messy things are becoming. How it can be difficult to know what the right thing to do even is. How some people have more breathing room to be ‘good’ than others.

User Reviews

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User Score
5.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 29 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 29
  3. Negative: 9 out of 29
  1. PEnchan707
    Dec 22, 2019
    3
    Wow, what a waste of time. A choice laden story like this relies on you slowly building up to a wonderful finale. It's partly about theWow, what a waste of time. A choice laden story like this relies on you slowly building up to a wonderful finale. It's partly about the journey but the end is the big pay off. However, when the game concludes, you don't really get to choose anything and seemingly nothing you've done up to that point matters, all because of an obtuse/unintuitive gameplay mechanic. It just makes the whole experience feel shallow, frustrating and pointless.

    To make matters worse, the game has some confusing 'inner dialogue' that seemingly wants to guide you but can actually do the exact opposite.

    If they had nailed the ending, then it'd be closer to a 6/10. As it is, I was actually angry I'd played.

    The ending is simply filled with nonsensical decisions, irrational reactions, far-fetched motivations and just lots of dialogue and drama that make no sense whatsoever.

    Even after all the drama is finished and you're in the epilogue, the game still won't give you the satisfaction of being your own person. It's bizarre.

    If I'd had my own 'mood bracelet' on, it'd have burned so red it would have exploded :s    … Full Review »
  2. ShinoSeven
    Oct 7, 2019
    7
    TLDR: The writing is great, the setting and the music are also great. However, some of the mechanics (namely the FeelsGrid system and theTLDR: The writing is great, the setting and the music are also great. However, some of the mechanics (namely the FeelsGrid system and the entire cab system) are underdeveloped.

    It gets worse when by reaching the end you are forced down a path that doesn't always seem logical with your choices in-game up to that point, as if the ending is dictated solely on the last conversation you have and not the entire experience.

    The FeelsGrid system is mostly infuriating as most of the time you will be given 3 or even 4 conversation choices but the game refuses to let you pick the choices you want to and forces you down a path because of your character's emotional state. A better option would have been to not show the other choices as options and instead limit the number of choices to the one you are actually allowed to take.

    The mechanics of the cab system work fine but could have been better developped. You are allowed a maximum of 3 fare per night but are also allowed to go to bed early after 2 rides. As far as I can tell it's pointless to go to bed early as you mostly end up shortening the lenght of the game. Of course you could tank your star rating by picking up a bad fare or could end up having to spend more money and potentially leaving you short changed. However, I never came close to running out of money and the rating system is very easy to recover if you end up getting a few bad reviews. I would have preferred a system where if you get to bed early, you get to complete 1 extra ride the next day. The rides are where the game shines the most and it's a shame that you end up missing on many new characters along the way by being limited to only 3. Especially since most of the characters have follow up stories on following nights, so you end up mostly picking the same passengers over and over to get to know more about them (and thus missing out on potential new stories from new characters).

    The game is also fairly short (at around 4h) but thankfully the price point is also on the lower side (about 15$).

    Finally, very few bugs, some popping issues due to a low draw distance (probably to accommodate an iOS/Android release).

    All in all, it is a good product but flawed for sure. If you are a fan of game set in a cyberpunk-y universe, then definitely check it out.    … Full Review »
  3. Muyrka
    Mar 17, 2020
    2
    Really slow, repetitive and boring game. Story is weak and you lose will to play at approx 1/3 of the game. I've finished it but was veryReally slow, repetitive and boring game. Story is weak and you lose will to play at approx 1/3 of the game. I've finished it but was very disappointed.… Full Review »
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