Kingpin — Life of Crime on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
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Kingpin is a tale of revenge. Take control of a street gang and order your recruits to attack, defend or even do a little safe-cracking to pick up some needed cash. Use that cash to buy nastier weapons and take down your punk enemies in this intense first-person shooter. Being the Kingpin is half attitude and all action.
Kingpin — Life of Crime is a action, fps and classic game
developed by Xatrix Entertainment
and published by Interplay Inc..
Released on August 19th 2009 is available only on Windows
in 2 languages: English and French.
It has received 444 reviews of which 354 were positive and 90 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.5 out of 10. 😊
The game is currently priced at 19.50€ on Steam.
The Steam community has classified Kingpin — Life of Crime into these genres:
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System requirements
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Windows
- OS: Windows
- Processor:233 Mhz
- Memory: 64 MB
- Graphics: OpenGL
- DirectX®: 7
- Hard Drive: 350 MB
- Sound: DirectSound
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
Kingpin — Life of Crime is a brutally grounded first-person shooter that stands apart from many of its late-1990s contemporaries through its unapologetically grim tone, urban setting, and experimental blend of shooter mechanics with light role-playing elements. Developed by Xatrix Entertainment and published by Interplay Inc., the game drops players into a decaying city ruled by gangs, corruption, and violence, offering a revenge-driven journey that feels more like a descent into criminal underworld survival than a traditional power fantasy. Even decades after its release, Kingpin remains memorable for its atmosphere and willingness to push boundaries. The narrative framework is simple but effective, immediately establishing a personal motivation that fuels the entire experience. After being brutally assaulted and left for dead by the forces of the titular crime boss, the player awakens with nothing but a desire to rise through the city’s criminal hierarchy and settle the score. Rather than relying on lengthy cutscenes or exposition, the story unfolds organically through environments, encounters, and small interactions with the city’s inhabitants. This minimalist approach reinforces the feeling that you are clawing your way upward in a hostile world where power is earned through violence, intimidation, and survival. Gameplay is rooted in classic run-and-gun shooter design, built on technology derived from the Quake II engine, but it distinguishes itself through several systems that add weight and consequence to combat. Weapons feel heavy and lethal, and the location-based damage model means that where you hit an enemy matters significantly. Headshots can end encounters instantly, while leg shots slow foes and create opportunities to reposition or finish them off. Enemies visibly react to damage, staggering, bleeding, and collapsing in ways that emphasize the brutality of each firefight. This visceral feedback, while extreme, reinforces the game’s harsh tone and makes combat feel raw rather than arcade-like. A notable twist on the traditional shooter formula is the inclusion of money and commerce. Fallen enemies can be looted for cash, which can then be spent at Pawn-O-Matic shops scattered throughout the city. These stores allow players to buy weapons, ammunition, armor, and upgrades, introducing a light economic layer that rewards exploration and careful play. Deciding whether to spend money immediately on firepower or save it for later becomes a meaningful choice, especially during tougher sections where resources are scarce. This system subtly shifts the pacing, encouraging players to think beyond constant aggression and consider long-term survival. Interaction with non-player characters further sets Kingpin apart. Some NPCs can be spoken to rather than immediately attacked, and dialogue choices—often delivered with excessive profanity—can determine whether they provide information, become hostile, or even join you as temporary allies. Hiring backup can significantly alter combat encounters, as allies draw enemy fire and contribute their own damage. While these systems are not always deeply fleshed out and can feel inconsistent, they add a sense of unpredictability and reinforce the idea that this city is populated by people with their own agendas rather than disposable targets. The environments themselves are one of Kingpin’s strongest elements. Levels are sprawling and interconnected, featuring grimy streets, abandoned buildings, industrial docks, and underground spaces that convey a strong sense of place. The art direction blends art-deco influences with urban decay, resulting in a distinctive aesthetic that feels both stylized and oppressive. Even by modern standards, the level layouts remain engaging, with multiple paths, hidden areas, and environmental storytelling that reward exploration. The city feels hostile and lived-in, as though it exists independently of the player’s actions. Audio design plays a major role in establishing mood. Gunshots echo harshly through alleyways, enemies shout threats and insults, and ambient sounds give the city a constant sense of unease. The inclusion of licensed hip-hop tracks from Cypress Hill further grounds the experience in a gritty, street-level atmosphere. While the limited soundtrack can become repetitive over long sessions, its tone fits the game’s identity and reinforces its cultural flavor in a way few shooters of the era attempted. Technically and mechanically, Kingpin undeniably shows its age. Movement can feel stiff by modern standards, enemy AI is inconsistent, and bugs or balance issues occasionally disrupt the flow of play. However, these rough edges are part of the game’s identity, reflecting an era of experimentation when developers were willing to take risks even if execution wasn’t always flawless. For players accustomed to polished modern shooters, these limitations may require patience, but they rarely overshadow the game’s ambition and personality. Multiplayer modes add additional value, offering traditional deathmatch alongside unique variations such as Bagman, where players compete to collect and defend loot. While not as enduring or refined as multiplayer offerings from genre giants of the time, these modes highlight the flexibility of the game’s systems and provide a glimpse into how its mechanics translate into competitive play. Ultimately, Kingpin — Life of Crime is not a comfortable or universally appealing experience, and it was never meant to be. Its relentless violence, abrasive language, and bleak worldview make it a challenging title both thematically and mechanically. Yet it is precisely this uncompromising vision that allows it to stand out among classic shooters. For players interested in atmospheric, character-driven FPS games with a distinctly mature edge, Kingpin offers a grim but fascinating journey through a city where power is brutal, trust is rare, and survival is never guaranteed. Rating: 7/10
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I played Kingpin: Life of Crime back around the year 2000 and I have to say it left quite an impression. The game doesn’t pretend to be polished in all respects, but it has an energy and rough charm that made it fun to dig into. In Kingpin, you take on the role of someone rising up through the criminal underworld. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWdFJCN0aCQ You can recruit members from the streetsand order them to attack or defend, even do safe-cracking in order to get cash. That cash is VERY essential: you use it to upgrade your weapons and gear, enabling you to take on tougher enemies which are otherwise very hard to manage. Eventually your goal is to challenge the Kingpin himself. Along the way you move through gritty urban levels, dealing with rival gangs and making decisions about whom to trust (or eliminate). What I appreciated most is how the game balances action with strategy: it’s not just running and shooting, but deciding when to build strength, when to move forward, and how to manage your gang.
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Kingpin — Life of Crime is a pretty worthwhile experience if you like old school shooters. I found myself really impressed by the AI several times. Towards the end of the game I had two goons get in an elevator by themselves and kill a bunch of guys on the floor above me. On occasion you will have to go back to get them to follow you, but most of the time they do a really good job at keeping up. They even climb ladders and jump across gaps. I really wish your friendly AI would have voice lines, it would give them some much needed character. They are pretty useful if they are equipped with good weapons. I wasn't a massive fan of the street level at the end of the game, I got quite lost on how to progress. The story is pretty non existent, it is really just there to give you an excuse to shoot a bunch of guys. Love how grungy everything looks. The design of the characters are fantastic. Credit to the legendary Viktor Antonov (RIP) for his amazing work. Level design isn't that interesting, but that is probably mostly so that the AI can utilize the space without getting stuck. There is rewarding loot to be found if you explore optional areas. I found the game on normal difficulty pretty brutal towards the end. Enemies are no push over. The game can be pretty frustrating at the start because there is no tutorial. I recommend you look at your keybinds for some help. The steam version for some reason does not include the soundtrack for the game. I was able to add it back, but there is no way to lower the volume so I decided to play without it. The game is extremely charming, dialogue can be pretty hilarious. It's a shame they f*cked the remaster. Highly recommend using the pcgamewiki to download the MH Kingpin Patch.
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Had this game when i was like 10 - still recommend in 2025 for that old school half-life/quake feel but with more neo noir vibes.
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This is a really surprising game for me. I did not own Kingpin when it first came out in 1999 but I remembered the controversy surrounding it. A friend of mine recommended I check it out last year and I am really glad I did. I discovered an unusual but very interesting singleplayer campaign whose lacklustre story is made up for with some really cool game mechanics and fantastic environmental design (Viktor Antonov of HL2 and Dishonored fame was the art director). With MH's patch (very easy to install) you not only benefit from a bunch of fixes and modernizations but you'll also be able to join multiplayer games. Kingpin games are played every Thursday and Sunday. I can confirm that the KP community is a great bunch. In addition to deathmatch and the amazing Bagman mode, the community had added tons of maps, new game modes, and they even host seasonal events. Highly recommend you give Kingpin a look if you want a unique Quake engine game experience.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Kingpin — Life of Crime is currently priced at 19.50€ on Steam.
Kingpin — Life of Crime is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 19.50€ on Steam.
Kingpin — Life of Crime received 354 positive votes out of a total of 444 achieving a rating of 7.50.
😊
Kingpin — Life of Crime was developed by Xatrix Entertainment and published by Interplay Inc..
Kingpin — Life of Crime is playable and fully supported on Windows.
Kingpin — Life of Crime is not playable on MacOS.
Kingpin — Life of Crime is not playable on Linux.
Kingpin — Life of Crime offers both single-player and multi-player modes.
Kingpin — Life of Crime offers both Co-op and PvP modes.
Kingpin — Life of Crime does not currently offer any DLC.
Kingpin — Life of Crime does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
Kingpin — Life of Crime does not support Steam Remote Play.
Kingpin — Life of Crime is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for Kingpin — Life of Crime.
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Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.
Last Updates| Steam data | 24 January 2026 22:36 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 27 January 2026 04:15 |
| Steam price | 28 January 2026 20:46 |
| Steam reviews | 27 January 2026 21:46 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Kingpin — Life of Crime, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about Kingpin — Life of Crime
- SteamCharts - Analysis of Kingpin — Life of Crime concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Kingpin — Life of Crime compatibility
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Developer
Xatrix Entertainment
Publisher
Interplay Inc.
Release
19 Aug 2009
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