171 A Brazilian city, yours to run

The setting is the point. 171 recreates typically Brazilian scenarios, from humble neighborhoods to middle-class areas and greener outskirts, and it aims for familiarity in the details rather than a generic skyline. You decide where to go and what to do in a broad open world, and the city stays lively while you do it: traffic to weave through, food stands to grab a bite at, a radio playing as you drive. If you know these streets from real life, the game leans into that recognition on purpose.

Money comes your way from both sides of the law. The honest route means deliveries, giving rides across the map, or serving the city as a bus driver, street sweeper or paramedic, with dealerships and rent-generating properties as the reward. The other route is drug deliveries, debt collection and confronting the city's factions, claiming territory and recruiting other criminals to run operations while police watch for anyone stepping outside the law. Or skip negotiating entirely and just steal the car you want.

Customization runs deep here. Lower a car, fit a sound system and new wheels, or strip a motorcycle down and parade it through the streets. A suspicious white van on the map lets you rework your firearms with extended magazines, lasers, suppressors and skins. Your character gets the same treatment: clothes and accessories from the store, haircut and beard at the barbershop, tattoos at the studio. The body itself is part of the game, since the hunger system makes your choices at food stands show on your waistline, and the gym builds the muscle that keeps Nicolau ready for the streets.