Publisher Curve Digital and developer Kuju have released their latest title Narcos: Rise of the Cartels. The game is based on the popular Netflix series Narcos. While the show features plenty of action, the game is strategy-based.
Narcos aired from 2015 to 2017 and was three seasons long, but was followed by a companion series called Narcos Mexico. While fans wait for the second series, they can relive the story told through a game.
According to the official YouTube channel: “Narcos: Rise of the Cartels enables players to relive the events of the first season of the Netflix series, taking the side of either the Medellin Cartel or the DEA in two distinct campaigns. In 1980s Colombia El Patrón’s influence is rapidly expanding, with drugs, corruption and crime spreading out from the Colombian town of Medellin.”
Players can choose which side they want to prevail. Gamers can choose from the growing drug cartel with Pablo Escobar or the DEA and Colombian government, who are fighting to stop the empire. Players can expect to see characters from the game, such as Steve Murphy.
While the show offers plenty of action, Narcos: Rise of the Cartels is turn-based. Players can create teams from various classes and upgrade characters to progress further in the story. Characters from the show have unique abilities and bonus skills. There are plenty of recognizable locations where battles will take place.
Two primary campaigns tell a separate side of the story to give further insight into the DEA and drug cartels’ decisions. As players progress through the game, they’ll have to unlock various side missions to proceed.
Unfortunately, Narcos: Rise of the Cartels is a single-player game. Co-op nor multiplayer is available.
Narcos: Rise of the Cartels isn’t the first time Netflix has adapted a show into a video game (not to be confused with video games adapted into shows, like The Witcher.) Netflix previously released Stranger Things 3: The Game, a mobile game based on the popular series.
The title is being released on multiple platforms, but not at the same time. Narcos: Rise of the Cartels was launched digitally on PC and PlayStation 4 on November 19. Nintendo Switch owners gained access on November 21 in both a digital and physical version. Xbox One owners are the last to play with the release date today, November 22.
