Gangs of Asia Review: Kung Fu Chaos Pretending to Be a Crime Empire

You know that moment when you walk into a restaurant, order “chef’s special,” and what arrives is a microwave lasagna wearing a tuxedo?

That’s Gangs of Asia.

And I mean that with love. Slightly confused, slightly violent love.

Gangs of Asia gives you kung fu turf war, but not enough criminal homework for the aspiring sidewalk emperor. Pair this review with more CRIMENET crime game reviews and grab The Art of War: Deluxe Hardbound Edition by Sun Tzu on Amazon before your strategy remains “run forward and get folded.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHN2mi4AVnM

So what is it?

On paper, this thing is a dream for us crime enthousiasts.

You’re a gang leader. You take over buildings. You recruit fighters. You generate money. You smash rival gangs into decorative pavement.

Lovely. We’re in business. This is the kind of pitch that usually ends with three corrupt politicians and a yacht.

In reality? It’s less “crime empire” and more kung fu chaos simulator where everyone has had too much Red Bull and poor life choices.

The gameplay (aka organized violence with a hint of admin)

You run around punching people in real time like a caffeinated Jackie Chan while simultaneously playing a mini RTS in your head.

Capture a building. It gives you money. Or units. Or something vaguely useful.

Then you spawn more lunatics.

Then they run at other lunatics.

Then everyone starts kicking each other in the face like it’s a family reunion.

It’s fast. It’s messy. It’s about as subtle as a brick through a sushi restaurant window.

The gangs

You’ve got fighters, ninjas, sumos, kung fu masters…

Basically, if a martial arts movie and a street brawl had a child and raised it on energy drinks, this is it.

There’s zero dignity. Zero restraint.

And honestly? That part works.

Because when it clicks, the game turns into a glorious pile-up of fists, special attacks, and absolute nonsense. Like someone tried to turn a drunken pub fight into a strategy game and accidentally succeeded.

The crime fantasy… or lack of it

Here’s where things start to wobble like a shopping cart with a broken wheel.

Yes, you’re technically a gang leader.

But do you feel like a criminal mastermind?

No.

You feel like a bloke who found a whistle and is now summoning ninjas like a deranged football coach.

There’s no:

• money laundering

• intimidation

• dirty deals

• cops breathing down your neck

• betrayals

• empire-building decisions

No underworld. No politics. No sense that you’re actually running anything beyond a very aggressive daycare for violent adults.

It’s crime… in the same way punching someone in a kebab shop at 2AM is “urban development.”

If the game’s fist-festival made you crave proper martial arts carnage, don’t sit there like a confused traffic cone. Read our villain games coverage, then hunt down Bruce Lee: His Greatest Hits - The Criterion Collection Blu-ray on Amazon and remember what controlled violence looks like.

Heists?

Absolutely not.

If you came here looking for Payday, you’ve taken a wrong turn and ended up in a kung fu parking lot.

No planning. No stealth. No “in and out in 60 seconds.”

Just: “run in, scream, kick, repeat.”

The Early Access reality check

Right now, Gangs of Asia feels like:

• a solid idea

• a fun core loop

• and about 40% of a much bigger game hiding behind it

There’s potential here. Real potential.

But at the moment, it’s like owning a nightclub that only has:

• a dancefloor

• one speaker

• and a guy named Kevin aggressively clapping to no music

You can see what it could become.

You just wouldn’t charge entry yet.

The good stuff (yes, it exists)

When everything explodes at once, it’s brilliant.

You’re fighting. Your gang is flooding the map. Buildings are flipping sides. Special attacks are flying.

It becomes chaotic in the best possible way.

Not refined chaos. Not elegant chaos.

Glorious, stupid, fist-first chaos.

The bad stuff (and it’s not subtle)

It lacks depth.

Proper, meaty, criminal, “I own this city” depth.

Right now, it’s a match-based turf war with gang flavour, not a full-blown crime empire simulator.

And for CRIMENET?

That’s like ordering a heist and getting a fistfight.

Fun… but not the same sport.

Final Verdict (Charge Sheet)

Charges:

• Impersonating a criminal empire

• Excessive use of ninjas in a residential area

• Running a gang like it’s a PE class

Sentence: Early Access probation with mandatory upgrades.

CRIMENET Verdict

If you want:

• fast fights

• chaotic matches

• arcade gang warfare

You’ll have a good time.

If you want:

• a proper criminal empire

• heists

• underworld strategy

You’ll stare at this like it owes you money.

Final Score

6.8 / 10 - “Fun chaos, but not the kingpin you were promised.”

Gangs of Asia is fast, scrappy, and chaotic, which means playing it on a tragic office mouse is criminal negligence. After checking CRIMENET’s heist game picks, grab the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C Wireless Controller for Windows PC and Android on Amazon and give your turf war some thumbs with dignity.

FAQ

What kind of game is Gangs of Asia? It’s a chaotic hybrid of action brawler and light RTS where you control a gang leader directly while capturing buildings, spawning units, and overwhelming rival gangs. Think street fight meets strategy board, then set it on fire.

Can you actually play as a criminal or villain? Yes, but don’t expect a deep underworld saga. You are a gang leader taking territory and crushing rivals, but it’s more mechanical violence than story-driven villainy.

Does the game include heists or stealth gameplay? No. There’s no sneaking through vaults or planning elaborate robberies. This is loud, fast, and about punching your way to dominance, not quietly stealing diamonds.

Is Gangs of Asia a full criminal empire simulator? Not yet. It has the foundations with territory control and income systems, but it lacks deeper features like crime networks, politics, or meaningful empire management.

Is it worth playing right now in Early Access? If you enjoy fast, chaotic matches with gang warfare and don’t mind limited depth, yes. If you’re expecting a rich crime sim, you might want to wait for updates.

Will it improve over time? It has the potential. The core idea is strong, and with more systems, depth, and polish, it could evolve into something far more interesting than its current form.