Cunch-Line Chronicles
Review

Cunch-Line Chronicles (2020) is a simple running and jumping game with an unusual and controversial theme. It aims to depict "gritty reality of life" and tasks you with avoiding obstacles, delivering and collecting drugs and avoid the police. Its name comes from the concept of "going cunch" which denotes going to the country to sell drugs away from city Police.

In the game you tap the screen to jump while the character automatically runs. If you are caught by the police you have to pay bail to get out of prison. It's a simple game that doesn't develop beyond that simple interaction.

"Explore the urban side of the UK that they don't show you anywhere else," says the developer, who also highlights the game's multicultural characters and diverse range of individuals. In fact this kind of setting and theme is found in games like Grand Theft Auto, Mafia and Watch Dogs.

Although some schools have suggested there is a chat feature in the game, this is not true. There is no chat feature and no way a player can be contacted. Players are encouraged to share their achievements on social media as is common on other games.

Other safety organisations have highlighted the county-lines issue and quoted players as saying, "this game gave me valuable advice on how to run a cunch line and now I own 7 cunch lines and I employ 12 year old runners." This is from a comment on the Android app store that is either satire or a post to attract attention to the game rather than a genuine result of playing the game.

As indicated in the game ratings, this is content aimed at those 18 and over. Children cannot access this game if you have your parental controls configured on the smartphone. If they do play the game a useful response is to use it to engage with the topic of drugs and coercion into illegal behaviour.

More involved, enjoyable and engaging running games to try instead include Alto's Adventure and Jetpack Joyride.

Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Cunch-Line Chronicles 3 years ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 24 months ago.