Mini-games guide
Mini-games are timed challenges wrapped in story. The screen shows title, reward hints, and a gem skip; your job is to meet the success condition before you fail. Difficulty often scales with context (crime vs. school), so the same kind of challenge can feel faster or stricter in different scenes.
Mute distractions and tap once per decision—double taps ruin lockpicking and cue-based games. If you are struggling, a gem skip beats repeating a harsh penalty loop.
1. Stop the bar
Core: A marker moves along a line; tap to stop inside the green band.
Strategy: Watch speed more than the band’s position—learn the rhythm for one pace, then adjust when the bar speeds up. Common for pickpocketing and precision timing moments.
2. Lockpicking
Core: A rotating pick; tap when it aligns with the sweet spot on an arc.
Strategy: Anticipate delay between what you see and when your tap registers; aim for the center of the window, not the edge. The theme is locks and car theft—expect tighter windows at higher stakes.
3. Sequence memory
Core: A Simon-style grid—cells flash in order; repeat the sequence.
Strategy: Chunk the pattern (pairs or edges-first); say the order quietly. Used for alarm codes and prison escape style setups.
4. Swipe sequence
Core: Direction arrows show briefly, then hide; reproduce them with the arrow pad.
Strategy: Turn arrows into body motion (up = ceiling) immediately—abstract memorization fades fast. Used for fight combos and ordered quick-time scenes.
5. Tap on cue
Core: Green cue = tap on time; red cue = do not tap (each has its own timer).
Strategy: This mixes holding back and reacting fast—slow your first impulse on mixed rounds. Used for street crossing, “don’t move” beats, and discipline checks.
6. Mash meter
Core: Rapid taps fill a meter that drops over time; beat the time limit.
Strategy: Use two thumbs if comfortable; short bursts beat uneven spam when the meter falls quickly. Used for forcing doors, struggling free, and sprinting beats.
7. Keep centered
Core: A marker drifts; use left/right to stay inside the center zone until the timer clears.
Strategy: Small corrections—big moves overshoot. Used for meditation, balance, and stress needle style scenes.
8. Tap targets
Core: Targets appear in random spots; tap each before it vanishes; hit the target count under a global timer.
Strategy: Scan with peripheral vision; hit soonest-to-expire targets first. Used for riot reflex scenes and whack-a-mole style challenges.
9. Spot the difference
Core: Memorize the grid, then find the one cell with a different icon.
Strategy: Take a row-by-row mental picture on the memorization pass; on the hidden phase, eliminate identical neighbors first. Used for inspection and detail puzzles.
10. Memory pairs
Core: Flip two cards to match pairs; wrong flips use up your try budget; a countdown adds pressure.
Strategy: Open four corners early to map symbols; remember pair locations, not single tiles. Used for concentration and safe-cracking style puzzles.
Skills: Some actions are easier if you have trained the right skills—if a challenge feels smoother after leveling up, that is intentional.
Difficulty and timing can change in updates; use in-game feedback as the final word.