The Swindle

Game Overview

The Swindle is a fast-paced cyberpunk stealth-platformer developed by Size Five Games and published by Curve Digital for the PlayStation Vita. The core gameplay loop revolves around planning and executing randomized, procedurally generated burglaries. Every building you infiltrate features different layouts, security cameras, laser grids, guard patrols, and locked cash vaults.

Players must sneak past hazards or neutralize guards using tools like teleportation devices, bombs, and hacking bugs. The catch is time: every level operates on a strict countdown. If you trigger an alarm or get caught, you can attempt to escape back to your airship base, but getting killed means losing your current operative permanently—though your accumulated cash remains safely invested in unlocking game-changing upgrades for your next thief.

Quick Specifications

• Platform: PlayStation Vita (PS Vita)

• Release Date: August 25, 2015 (North America / Europe)

• Genre: Stealth Platformer, Roguelike, Cyberpunk, Action

• Developer: Size Five Games

• Publisher: Curve Digital / Limited Run Games

• Players: 1 Player (Single-Player)

• Play Length: Approximately 10 to 20+ hours (highly replayable)

• Region Format: Region Free (Digital via PlayStation Network / Physical via Limited Run Games)

Key Features

• 100-Day Campaign Limit: Race against the clock to build up your team's wealth and technology before Scotland Yard activates the infallible Basilisk security grid.

• Procedurally Generated Heists: Infiltrate completely randomized buildings where room layouts, security traps, and loot locations change every single run.

• Permanent Character Death: If your active thief is gunned down or trapped by alarms, they are gone for good, forcing their successor to pick up the slack.

• Steampunk Tech Upgrades: Spend your stolen loot to unlock powerful tools, including double-jumps, wall-climbing gear, hacking bombs, and silent dispatch tools.

• Portable Heist Optimization: Enjoy crisp stylized art design, responsive physical control inputs, and bite-sized mission structures tailored for the PlayStation Vita.

Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Q: How does the roguelike progression work if my thief dies?

A: While your individual thief perishes if they fail to escape a heist, any cash they successfully pocketed before dying (or safely extracted with) stays in your syndicate's shared bank account, allowing you to purchase permanent upgrades for future recruits.

Q: Are the levels entirely random every time you play?

A: Yes, buildings are procedurally generated using modular rooms, security systems, and guard patrol routes, ensuring that no two break-ins are ever identical.

Q: Can you play the game completely stealthily, or do you have to fight?

A: You can approach missions however you like. While stealth and hacking avoid raising alarms, you also have access to explosives, blasters, and gadgets to blast your way through obstacles—though doing so drastically increases security risk.

Q: Was the game released physically on cartridge for the PS Vita?

A: Yes, alongside its digital release on the PlayStation Network, The Swindle received a physical cartridge release through boutique distributors like Limited Run Games for physical collectors.