Sleeping Dogs

Sleeping Dogs does not break new ground but delivers enough content and visuals to get Square-Enix out of the dog house.

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"Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition" is an action-adventure game set in a vibrant, open-world Hong Kong. As an undercover cop, engage in explosive combat, high-speed pursuits, and various side missions. The definitive edition includes all DLCs, with enhanced graphics, audio, and seamless gameplay for an immersive experience in this richly detailed criminal underworld.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,650 reviews

story2,591 positive mentions

stability142 negative mentions

Engaging story that captures the essence of Hong Kong action cinema.
Satisfying hand-to-hand combat system reminiscent of the Batman Arkham series.
Vividly depicted open world that immerses players in a lively Hong Kong setting.

Driving mechanics can feel clunky and unresponsive compared to other open-world games.
Some missions can be repetitive and lack depth, leading to a less engaging experience.
The game suffers from occasional bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay.

story
5,852 mentions
44 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of "Sleeping Dogs" is widely praised for its engaging narrative that follows Wei Shen, an undercover cop infiltrating the Hong Kong triads. Players appreciate the depth of character development and the moral complexities faced by Shen as he navigates his dual identity, which adds emotional weight to the gameplay. While some find the story predictable and the side missions repetitive, the overall execution, voice acting, and cinematic presentation make it a standout experience in the open-world genre, often compared favorably to titles like "GTA" for its unique setting and focus on martial arts combat.
- “Sleeping Dogs is a compelling blend of action, story, and setting, making it a must-play for fans of action games looking for something that challenges both the protagonist's and the player's sense of right and wrong.”
- “The story is engaging and captivating, which might lead you to spend more time with the game than you initially anticipated. It explores the moral complexities of being an undercover cop in a community you grew up in.”
- “The story follows Wei Shen, an undercover police officer tasked with infiltrating and taking down the triads from within. This narrative framework adds layers of moral complexity and emotional depth to what could have been a straightforward crime story.”
- “The first few missions were cool, but it got repetitive really quick.”
- “The story is your average undercover cop/revenge story and literally nothing in the entire game feels like a novelty.”
- “The story is filled with the melodrama you expect from modern Asian cinema as a whole.”
gameplay
1,633 mentions
48 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Sleeping Dogs" is widely praised for its engaging hand-to-hand combat mechanics, which draw comparisons to the "Batman: Arkham" series, and its smooth driving mechanics that enhance the open-world experience. While some players note that the gunplay can feel less refined and the driving mechanics may lack realism, the overall gameplay is considered fun and immersive, with a compelling story that complements the action. Despite some dated elements and occasional bugs, the game successfully combines various gameplay styles, offering a unique experience in a vibrant Hong Kong setting.
- “Was very surprised at how good it is, a very unique entry in the open-world action games genre, with super cool combat and movement mechanics.”
- “Sleeping Dogs perfectly nails the story beats and gameplay mechanics of a GTA-style game, with a refreshingly non-western setting and sensibility to boot.”
- “The driving mechanics are smooth and enjoyable, fitting seamlessly into the high-speed chases and street races that punctuate the narrative.”
- “The driving mechanics are horrible though!”
- “The gameplay is repetitive and boring.”
- “The mechanics of Sleeping Dogs are very troubled, but they didn’t ruin my fun.”
graphics
1,109 mentions
67 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Sleeping Dogs" are widely praised for their vibrant portrayal of Hong Kong, with many reviewers noting that the visuals still hold up well even years after its release. The game features stunning lighting effects, particularly during rain and nighttime, and the addition of a free HD texture pack enhances the overall aesthetic. While some players mention minor graphical glitches and dated character models, the overall impression is that the graphics are impressive, especially for a game released in 2012.
- “Graphically, Sleeping Dogs impresses with its vivid portrayal of Hong Kong's bustling streets, night markets, and neon-lit skyline.”
- “In terms of graphics, Sleeping Dogs delivers, with stunning visuals that bring the city of Hong Kong to life.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, especially with the HD texture pack, and the city is alive.”
- “The definitive edition actually has worse graphics and a terrible choice in clothing swaps and other things for NPCs.”
- “I don't recommend this on PC at all considering the excess of screen blackouts, crashing to the desktop, and inexplicable graphical glitches that only exist on the PC port.”
- “Even on lowest graphic settings, the game still lags, especially while driving.”
music
409 mentions
51 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in "Sleeping Dogs" is widely praised for its diverse and high-quality soundtrack, featuring a mix of well-known artists across various genres, including rock, hip-hop, and classical music, which enhances the game's immersive Hong Kong setting. Players appreciate the authenticity of the radio stations, which include both Western and Cantonese tracks, although some note that the limited number of songs per station can lead to repetition. Overall, the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's atmosphere and player experience, making it a standout feature.
- “The soundtrack is AAA as well, with many great songs and huge names on the various radio stations.”
- “The soundtrack is phenomenal, the voice acting is amazing, and it includes well-known pieces of classical music by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Wagner, just to name a few.”
- “The music selection is pretty good too, featuring a mix of traditional Asian music and different radio genres including rap, classical, and folk music.”
- “Some of the activities are not well polished like karaoke, which amounts to an easy matching game, with too few songs to choose from (8 in total).”
- “The other thing I didn’t like is how often I heard the same songs over and over again. Each station has probably 10+ songs, but at times it felt like I would be listening to the same 3 songs on repeat.”
- “I understand they wanted to keep the soundtrack true to the Hong Kong setting, but if this game had a banging soundtrack like GTA, I'd probably put another 20 hours in to get 100% complete.”
atmosphere
223 mentions
66 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Sleeping Dogs" is widely praised for its immersive and authentic depiction of Hong Kong, capturing the vibrant culture, sounds, and sights of the city. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a compelling environment that enhances the storytelling and gameplay, with many noting the effective use of music and visuals to evoke a strong sense of place. Despite some criticisms regarding the game's size and repetitive elements, the overall atmosphere is considered one of its standout features, making it a memorable experience for players.
- “The atmosphere of Hong Kong and the story are perfect!”
- “Sleeping Dogs provides players with an engrossing narrative set to the atmospheric and richly-detailed backdrop of Hong Kong.”
- “The city feels authentic, the atmosphere in the city really does feel like Hong Kong.”
- “The atmosphere of the game is more thought out and somewhat realistic than GTA, for instance; the city feels alive and the music and sounds seem to fit right in.”
- “The atmosphere really makes you think of Hong Kong, with neon signs, English and Chinese writing all around.”
- “Driving the downtown city streets at night, in the rain, with the neon lights brightening the atmosphere, is just a joy to experience.”
humor
153 mentions
99 % positive mentions
-1 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a notable highlight, with players appreciating its blend of funny dialogue, quirky side missions, and amusing glitches that enhance the overall experience. Many reviews mention the engaging and often hilarious interactions, particularly in Cantonese, which add a unique charm, while the game's physics and combat mechanics contribute to its comedic moments. Overall, the humor strikes a balance between lightheartedness and serious themes, making it an entertaining experience for players.
- “The story is engaging and has great pacing, with an interesting supporting cast and several funny moments; there is a lot to love about the story in Sleeping Dogs.”
- “The dialogue has made me laugh many times, in a good way though.”
- “The game has a great number of glitches and bugs; some are funny and some are absolutely infuriating.”
- “The humor in the game often falls flat, relying too much on funny bugs rather than clever writing.”
- “I expected a lot of laughs, but the jokes were mostly just silly glitches.”
- “While there are moments of humor, they are overshadowed by the frequent funny bugs that disrupt the experience.”
stability
152 mentions
6 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
The stability of "Sleeping Dogs" has received mixed feedback from users, with many noting a significant number of glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, including freezing and crashing issues, particularly on the PC version. While some players find the glitches amusing and not game-breaking, others report serious stability problems that hinder their experience. Overall, the game is described as fun and engaging, but its stability issues are a common point of frustration among players.
- “Amazingly optimized for PC, looks good and runs great.”
- “It's surprisingly optimized, runs great on my laptop, considering how beautiful it can be.”
- “Game is fluid and runs great for an open world game.”
- “The only option that works is setting the compatibility for Windows 8/ME (come on!!), and the game freezes for half a second and the FPS is way slower than normal.”
- “I don't recommend this on PC at all considering the excess of screen blackouts, crashing to the desktop, and inexplicable graphical glitches that only exist on the PC port.”
- “This version of Sleeping Dogs is terrible, even if you have a powerful PC you cannot escape the main flaw of this game, it freezes and crashes your PC and the only way to exit the game is by hard resetting your PC.”
optimization
114 mentions
49 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The optimization of "Sleeping Dogs" has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its performance on low to mid-range systems, reporting smooth gameplay and solid frame rates, particularly with the definitive edition. However, others have experienced significant performance issues, including heavy stuttering and low frame rates on modern hardware, indicating that the game may not be well-optimized for all configurations. Overall, while many commend its graphical fidelity and optimization for certain setups, there are notable concerns regarding performance consistency across different systems.
- “It ran consistently over 100 fps for me on a GTX 1080, so that HD texture pack would have been great, and I can tell you with confidence that this game is very well optimized.”
- “The game is also extremely well optimized and shows how you can have a PC port that isn't absolute garbage made for the sake of raking in more cash.”
- “Great optimization for ATI video cards.”
- “Unfortunately, performance-wise, Sleeping Dogs is a catastrophe on modern systems.”
- “This is a fantastic game that suffers from horrible performance on modern hardware.”
- “The main issue is stuttering, especially when you’re moving fast, which makes getting to places annoying and races a little more challenging.”
replayability
95 mentions
33 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many users noting a lack of incentive to replay after completing the main story. While some players appreciate the side missions and DLCs that add to the experience, others feel that the game offers limited content for repeated playthroughs. The average rating for replayability stands at 3.4/5, indicating that while some find it enjoyable to revisit, many agree that it lacks substantial replay value.
- “There is an incredible amount of replay value even though the story is relatively short.”
- “The game has great replayability, and if you enjoy old Chinese movies, Bruce Lee, or Jackie Chan, then you can find clothes that match their look and create your own adventure in the game using your imagination.”
- “An excellent game with tons of replayability; the mix of martial arts and action driving, along with a gripping story and stellar voice acting makes this one a gem not to be missed.”
- “No replay value though in my opinion.”
- “There is little to no replay value in the game, no new game plus, and the world becomes empty of anything to do once you do everything.”
- “The replay value for this game is low since once you finish the game there is little incentive to go back again.”
emotional
88 mentions
98 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its complex narrative, which immerses players in the moral dilemmas faced by the protagonist, Wei Shen, as he navigates his dual identity as an undercover cop and a member of the triads. Many players report feeling deeply connected to the characters and their struggles, with moments of genuine heartbreak and intensity that elevate the experience beyond typical open-world gameplay. While some critiques mention pacing and character development issues, the overall consensus is that the game successfully delivers a compelling and emotionally charged story that resonates with players.
- “This narrative framework adds layers of moral complexity and emotional depth to what could have been a straightforward crime story.”
- “The story is intense and emotional and not at all what I expected.”
- “The build-up to the ending is excellent and surprisingly emotional.”
- “Repetitive gameplay, unlikable characters (especially the main character), and a boring story.”
- “It's basically an Asia-themed GTA 4 with a rather boring story of cops versus triads and a big focus on beating up enemies.”
grinding
49 mentions
0 % positive mentions
6 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience, with many describing it as tedious and repetitive, particularly in combat and side missions. While some side activities and mini-games provide a break from monotony, the need for extensive grinding to achieve completionist goals often detracts from the enjoyment. Despite the game's potential, the repetitive nature of tasks and the lack of meaningful rewards contribute to a sense of fatigue over time.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Many of the game's achievements and 'stat awards' consist of tedious, monotonous grinding.”
- “The only con that I have with this game is that the combat system, while interesting and kick-ass from the start, becomes dull and tedious later on, especially when weapons/guns are introduced.”
character development
43 mentions
47 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
Character development in "Sleeping Dogs" receives mixed reviews, with many praising the depth and progression of the protagonist, Wei Shen, and his relationships, particularly in the context of his undercover work. However, some players feel that certain character arcs lack depth and that key motivations are not fully explored, leading to missed opportunities for emotional engagement. Overall, while the game features strong character design and memorable moments, there are criticisms regarding the inconsistency and abruptness of character development for some supporting characters.
- “The character development of Wei throughout the adventure is significant and really shows how long-time undercover operations can make even paragons of the law become proper criminals.”
- “Character development is amazing and very likable, with many twists and turns throughout the main storyline.”
- “The story, despite a few hiccups, is interesting and unique: the player takes on the role of Wei Shen, an undercover cop who infiltrates a Hong Kong triad family, as he starts to become emotionally attached to those he's supposed to ultimately betray and arrest.”
- “There are big chunks of his character development missing and his real motivations of why he's doing anything are never really explained.”
- “This game just doesn't have a lot of depth or character development that drives you through a game's story.”
- “I would have liked more character development for the protagonist and for the other characters he gets to meet in the game since this was surely lacking and would have made those characters more memorable.”
monetization
15 mentions
13 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
87 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with players criticizing intrusive advertisements for DLC and a perceived cash grab mentality, particularly regarding certain content packs. However, many appreciate the absence of microtransactions that detract from the gameplay experience, highlighting the game's focus on player immersion and story. Overall, while some elements feel exploitative, the game's authentic atmosphere and engaging soundtrack are praised.
- “It's the kind of AAA single-player game that focuses on the player experience and story first, not microtransactions.”
- “You can also get discounts on your in-game purchases while wearing specific outfits.”
- “Some advertisements for DLC cover most of the screen while accessing the wardrobe and are super distracting on the pause menu.”
- “DLC is a cash grab, but the overall game is great.”
- “Some packs contain the same items and it has a very cash grab feel.”