Cartoon Crime: The $2.99 Open-World Crime Game From a Two-Person Studio in Istanbul

Cartoon Crime is an open-world crime and action game from BuBa Games, a two-person indie studio in Istanbul. It's out now on Steam for $2.99 / £2.39 / €2.89. It left Early Access on November 3, 2026, after launching there on August 26 and shipping ten updates, the latest adding street events, banking and vehicle destruction.

Update (November 4, 2026): Cartoon Crime left Early Access and became a full release on November 3, 2026, BuBa Games announced on Steam. Its original Early Access launch was August 26. We've updated this article to match, including the current prices and languages.

The studio emailed us about it, so here's our Indie Spotlight: what the game is and what's new. This is a spotlight, not a review.

Cartoon Crime at a glance

What is Cartoon Crime?

Think of a cartoon-style take on the classic open-world crime game. You explore cities, districts and islands at your own pace, take on missions, make money, buy weapons, improve your skills and recruit bodyguards. Its standout trick is the camera: you can switch instantly between third-person and a classic top-down view, the second giving it an old-school arcade crime feel.

The world is full of places to go inside: gun stores, gyms, fast-food restaurants, cinemas, bowling alleys, pool halls and arcades. Combat isn't just guns either. There's fist fighting, kicks, melee weapons and kickboxing rings with tougher opponents and cash prizes. Cause trouble and civilians may run or fight back, and as your wanted level rises, police chases get harder to escape. You can follow the story, or ignore it entirely and make your own chaos.

What's new in Cartoon Crime?

BuBa Games updated the game every week or two during Early Access:

• Update 7 (October 4): Skypark Island, new interiors and major fixes.
• Update 8, "Welcome to the Wild West" (October 14): a Wild West-inspired desert region. The studio says it includes Redstone Canyon, Dustwing Airfield, a nuclear plant area, new vehicles and the "Beneath the Sand" mission.
• Update 9 (October 20): steam trains, zombies and hidden labs.
• Update 10 (November 1): random street events, four repeatable challenges, breakable vehicle parts, a weapon wheel and a banking system.
• Full release (November 3): the game left Early Access.

Has Cartoon Crime left Early Access?

Yes. Cartoon Crime left Early Access on November 3, 2026, having launched there on August 26. BuBa Games says it will keep working on the game, fixing bugs, tweaking things and adding more along the way, and asks players to report problems on the Steam Discussions.

Did Cartoon Crime use AI?

BuBa Games was upfront about this in its email to us: AI tools helped with some pre-generated 2D elements, text editing, localization and development support. The studio says it reviews that material itself, and that nothing is generated by AI during gameplay.

Is Cartoon Crime worth a look?

At $2.99 it's an easy impulse buy if you like the idea of a light-hearted, cartoon open-world sandbox with a top-down mode, and two developers shipping ten updates in just over two months is a good sign. Check the Steam page and update notes before you buy. You can follow the studio on its YouTube channel.

More Indie Spotlight on iGame Magazine

• Snake: Gridbreaker: classic Snake rebuilt as a combat roguelite
• Fantasy Online 2 Patch 149: a pixel-art MMO's carnival and housing update
• All Indie Spotlight articles

Cartoon Crime FAQ