Watch Dogs

Overview

The game provides unique and inventive tools to play with, though it doesn’t really push you to use them in interesting ways. It wants to be a game about hacking, but most of the time it's yet another third-person action game. At any time, you can press X to hack. But it’s easier to just fire a gun instead.

-- As reviewed by The Verge

TechSpot Metascore

Based on 41 expert reviews

Excellent:

8
Good:

21
Average:

7
Bad:

5

TechSpot is supported by its audience. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

Last revision on August 26, 2018

Reviewers Liked

Great open world
Mission variety
Fantastic non-story content will keep you busy
Hacking gives car chases and combat encounters an additional element of freedom
Fantastic online modes provide rip-roaring fun
Digital trips are highly entertaining, the spider-bot in particular
Loaded with varied things to do, each of which is beautifully executed
Some clever mission design keeps you looking forward to the next story event

Reviewers Didn't Like

Weak car chases
Generic plot driven by cliched characters
Inconsistent tone, inconsistent lead character
Successful online invasions are boring
Neither money nor reputation are all that valuable

Expert reviews and ratings

Watch Dogs Benchmarked: Graphics & CPU Performance. Set in an alternate reality techno-dystopian Chicago, Watch Dogs hit every gamer's holiday wishlist after appearing at E3 2012. The open world hackfest wowed onlookers with its urban stealth action and its seemingly 'next-gen' graphics. Unfortunately, a...

By TechSpot on May 27, 2014

Watch Dogs is an entertaining open-world experience, but it lacks depth. A wide variety of skills and vehicles are available to unlock throughout the game, but the skill unlocks don't feel much like rewards and honestly should have been available from...

By Benchmark Reviews on June 17, 2014

We don't blame Watch_Dogs for the hype Ubisoft foisted on it for the last two years, but expectations aren't the only problem weighing this game...

By technobuffalo.com on June 05, 2014

Watch Dogs is Ubisoft's newest open-world IP, where the city of Chicago lies in the palm of your hand, quite literally. You play as Aiden Pearce, a hacker whose life turned upside down after a hotel robbery went wrong and he pissed off the wrong people....

By GameZone on June 02, 2014

If you can't wait for the inevitable PS4/Xbone GTA V release, Watch_Dogs will scratch the itch. It's a real shame that its hacking abilities, while fun, aren't much more than gimmicks, and that it feels so short on character, however. This is no herald...

By techadvisor.co.uk on June 01, 2014

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal Publisher: Ubisoft Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PS4, X360, PS3 Version Reviewed: PC Take any opencity game of the last five years that has driving, cover shooting, a central storyline and abundant side missions. Stir in the...

By Bit-tech.net on May 30, 2014

Somewhere, in its vague, fantastical version of hacking, there's a lesson about the power and the naughty temptations that lurk in our networked, selfie-loving world. And I think that lesson is ... the lesson is ... that it's good to be a wizard!

By Joystiq on May 27, 2014

This version of Chicago is crawling with a hyperbolic number of degenerates, and I didn't mind squashing pyromaniacs and slavers under my tires as I plowed through the streets chasing after a hacker, hip-hop beats blasting from the radio. After all, the struggling mothers and homeless beggars wandering Chicago deserve some peace of mind, and doling out some street justice is a good first step.

By GameSpot on May 27, 2014

It leans heavily on noir stereotypes - the sexualized female source of info, the character macguffins, the muddy morality and lack of easy choices. It leans so heavily on those noir stereotypes that it becomes achingly predictable - and picks up the genre’s sexism to boot.

By Polygon on May 27, 2014

Car chases aside, Watch Dogs is fundamentally very well made, and has more than enough unique ideas to make it a great and memorable open-world action game.

By IGN on May 27, 2014

Load More Reviews…