Tired of mobile games that are all about planting gardens or running a bakery? Want a sim that’s a bit grittier? Prison Gang Wars gives you all the fun of going to prison.

Okay, maybe ‘fun’ is the wrong word for that, but it does give you an insight into life behind bars that has more research behind it than you might think. 

Based On True Prison Experience

According to the devs, the game involved extensive research into the hidden world of prison life and how gangs operate inside. They used prison forums, videos made by ex-convicts, and various books on the subject to try and portray the way gangs work on the inside. 

You take the role of a con, trapped in a prison where gangs rule the roost. In an effort to make a name for yourself, you join up and try to work your way up the hierarchy.

Being in a prison gang isn’t easy, though. To earn the respect of the members, you need to help smuggle contraband, move money, and maybe fight members from other gangs to make sure they don’t push your guys around.

Walk The Line

This is all well and good, but this is also while you are, you know, in prison. Guards will be looking for any illegal behaviour, and if you’re caught acting out, you could face penalties including solitary confinement, which will cost your stats. It’s a tense game of walking the line between staying powerful and not making enough noise that the authorities shut you down. 

This means making your way around the prison, moving items, making calls, and sometimes engaging other cons in turn-based battles to prove who rules an area. 

The game combines this gameplay with a pretty sharp, comic-book-inspired art style from a bona fide comic artist, and a plotline that has plenty of twists and unexpected threads.

Sounds good? You can check out Prison Gang Wars on Google Play and the App Store. It’s free to play, with ads and in-app purchases.