If you have been waiting to take your grifting on the go, you are in luck. The Big Con has finally landed on Android, bringing its brand of 90s-fueled comedy and criminal improvisation to mobile devices. Originally launched on PC in 2021, the game puts you in the shoes of Ali, a sarcastic high school student on a cross-country mission to save her mother’s video store from being shut down by predatory loan sharks.

Mastering the Art of the Hustle

The core of the experience is built around Ali’s journey across America, where you must navigate various schemes to secure the cash needed to pay off the store's debts. While the game lets you stick to simple pickpocketing for quick, small-time gains, the real rewards come from pulling off more elaborate operations.

Gameplay varies significantly based on your choices. You will need to:

  • Break and enter into restricted areas
  • Pick locks to bypass security
  • Spy on conversations to gather vital clues
  • Use disguises to infiltrate new locations
  • Talk your way through tricky social encounters

Crucially, the game asks you to decide who is actually worth conning. You will be faced with moral choices throughout your journey, deciding whether a target is a mark or someone who might actually deserve your help.

A Nostalgic Trip to the 1990s

Beyond the mechanics of the grift, The Big Con leans heavily into its 90s aesthetic. Whether you grew up in the decade or are just experiencing its quirks for the first time, the game is saturated with period-accurate details like payphones, landlines, cassette tapes, VHS collections, and the era’s obsession with plushies.

The world-building extends to the fictional businesses as well. You will visit locations like 'Videoville,' which serves as a clear parody of the blue-and-yellow branding found at major video rental chains of the era. Movie buffs can hunt for fake posters, including a notable nod to Quentin Tarantino with From Husk Til Dawn. And for those who truly want to lean into the absurdity, the game fully supports riding the 'Hormpillar' as often as you like.