How to Get Free Energy in Criminal Case

Criminal Case, Pretty Simple's popular hidden-object crime investigation game, is still active in 2026, even though the studio has shifted much of its resources to newer titles and the classic versions carry some technical debt. Even so, millions of players keep solving cases in Grimsborough and its spin-offs. The engine driving the whole game is Energy: every time you examine a crime scene you spend energy points, and without it you can't progress in the investigation. Energy regenerates on its own over time, but very slowly, which pushes many players to consider buying it with real money or, worse, falling for third-party 'generators' that don't work and only try to steal data. In this guide we cover every legitimate way to get free Energy: from passive regeneration to team gifts, forensic mini-games, rewarded ads and daily bonuses. We also cover Stars, the game's paid currency, and its limited free routes, so you know exactly what to expect without spending a euro.

What's the fastest way to get Energy in Criminal Case?

We've gathered and verified every real method for getting free Energy, ranked from most to least profitable based on the time they take and what you can actually earn from each. No tricks, no generators — just the game's own mechanics.

1 point every 2-3.5 minutes (max. 110) Variable

Automatic regeneration over time

Energy recharges on its own passively until it reaches the max of your bar (110 points in most versions). On the mobile app it recovers about 1 point every 2 minutes, while on the desktop/Facebook version it takes a bit longer, around 3 minutes 20 seconds per point. It requires no action: just leave the game closed for a while and come back later with a full or partially full bar. It's the most reliable source long term, though the slowest, so it's worth combining it with the other methods if you want to investigate several scenes in a row.

5 energy per gift Weekly

Free gifts from Pretty Simple (Wednesdays and Saturdays)

Pretty Simple usually publishes free energy gifts twice a week, typically on Wednesdays and Saturdays, through in-game notifications, its Facebook page or the rewards panel itself. Each gift grants about 5 energy points and is claimed with a single tap. It's worth having notifications enabled or checking the game's community on those days so you don't miss it, since it usually expires within 24-48 hours.

2 energy sent + 1 received when accepted Daily

Energy from your police team/partners

As with many of Pretty Simple's social games, you can send and receive energy from your teammates within the game. Each day you can send 2 free energy points to your teammates, and every time one of them accepts your gift you receive 1 extra point. The more active teammates you have added, the more energy you accumulate just by checking the gift inbox every morning. It's free, daily, and scales with the size of your team.

Variable depending on solving speed Daily

Forensic kit mini-games

By completing the Forensic Kit mini-games (analyzing fingerprints, substances, ballistics, etc.) during an investigation, the game rewards you with extra energy points. The faster and more accurately you solve the mini-game, the bigger the reward. It isn't a fixed source, but playing cases normally lets you accumulate extra energy without extra effort, so it's worth trying to get it right the first time instead of failing and repeating.

~20 energy per video Daily

Rewarded video ads

The game lets you watch video ads in exchange for instant energy, usually around 20 points per view. There's typically a daily limit on available ads, so it's common to be able to repeat it several times a day until you hit the cap. It's the fastest way to refill the bar when you need energy right away and don't mind spending a few minutes watching ads inside the app.

Energy items after 3-5 days in a row Daily

Daily bonus streak

Claiming the game's daily gift several days in a row unlocks better rewards. From the third consecutive day onward, energy items are usually granted, and reaching five days in a row typically gives a more powerful energy item (a 'burger'-type item that grants a noticeable recharge in one go). Breaking the streak resets you to the first step, so it's worth logging in daily even if just to claim the bonus before closing the game.

+20 energy for 1 star Variable

Trade a spare Star for energy after finishing a case

After completing a case and its Additional Investigation, if you have spare stars you can trade them for energy: one spare star equals roughly 20 energy points. It's not the most efficient option if you're saving stars for something else, but it's useful as a fallback when you've run out of energy right after closing a case and want to keep playing without waiting.

How much free Energy can you get per month?

Source	Estimated amount	Frequency
Passive regeneration (24h/day)	Up to the bar's max (110), continuously	Constant
Official Pretty Simple gifts	~5 per gift, 2 times/week	Weekly
Team/partner gifts	1-2 per active teammate per day	Daily
Rewarded ads	~20 per video, several a day	Daily
Daily streak bonus	Variable energy items (50-120 depending on item)	Every 3-5 days
Estimated total	Not precisely quantifiable	—

Energy is capped by a bar limit (it doesn't stack indefinitely like a bank currency), so the 'monthly total' depends more on how many times a day you empty and refill the bar than on a fixed figure; with active use of ads, team gifts and daily bonuses, a consistent player can keep the bar practically always full without spending money.

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Frequently asked questions

Do online generators for unlimited energy or stars exist for Criminal Case?

No. Any website or app that promises 'unlimited' instantly generated energy or stars is a scam: it doesn't work, it usually asks for your credentials or personal data, and it can get your account locked. The only real energy comes from the game's own official sources.

What's the difference between Energy and Stars in Criminal Case?

Energy is the free, regenerating resource you spend when examining crime scenes; it recovers on its own over time and can be earned for free through several methods. Stars are the game's paid currency, used for actions like analyzing clues or progressing faster; they can be bought with real money, though they can also be earned for free by completing cases, missions and events, in more limited amounts.

Is Criminal Case still worth playing in 2026?

The game is still active and receives new cases and events, although Pretty Simple has prioritized other, newer titles, and some players report technical glitches and broken social integrations in the classic versions. If you already have progress or enjoy the hidden-object format, it's still playable for free by combining the energy sources described in this guide.

How to get free Energy in Criminal Case