Watch Dogs

About

Watch\_Dogs Complete Edition allows you to experience Chicago as a weapon in your quest for revenge as hacker Aiden Pearce, with access to additional game modes, weapons, outfits, and missions from the Season Pass. The game explores the dangers of urban connectivity, where every device and infrastructure is monitored by the Central Operating System . Fight for justice and control the city's technology to your advantage.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+16

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 32,027 reviews

story5.2k positive mentions

optimization1k negative mentions

story
16,177 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
58%
9%
The story of *Watch Dogs* centers around Aiden Pearce, a vigilante hacker seeking revenge for the death of his niece, which sets off a chain of events involving corruption and crime in a digitally connected Chicago. While many players appreciate the dark and gritty tone, some criticize the narrative for being predictable and the protagonist for lacking depth, leading to mixed feelings about the overall storytelling experience. Despite its flaws, the engaging plot and character interactions keep players invested, making it a notable entry in the open-world genre.
- “The story is engaging and keeps players motivated to uncover the truth behind the events in the city.”
- “The story is dark and thrilling, and for me was the best part of the game.”
- “The story is very rich and there are much to do!”
- “The story is bland, the characters are painfully dull, and the plot is predictable at best.”
- “The main story is very predictable to the point that one of the character's double-cross could be seen within a few narrative missions.”
- “The story is a cliched mess that will bore you to sleep.”
gameplay
6,026 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
53%
11%
The gameplay of *Watch Dogs* is characterized by its innovative hacking mechanics, which allow players to manipulate the environment creatively, adding depth to the open-world experience. However, the game has received mixed reviews due to clunky driving mechanics, repetitive mission structures, and a lack of polish in certain gameplay elements, leading to frustration for some players. While the story and character development may not resonate with everyone, many find the overall gameplay engaging and enjoyable, especially when utilizing the hacking features effectively.
- “The standout feature of Watch Dogs is its hacking mechanics, which allow players to control traffic lights, cameras, and even power grids to outsmart enemies and solve missions.”
- “The gameplay is amazing, the storyline is intriguing, and the characters, specifically Aiden, are very well written.”
- “Watch Dogs offers an extraordinary gaming experience that excels in its storytelling, acting performances, and engaging gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is atrocious - the gunplay has no impact to it at all even with the heavy weapons, driving feels stiff and the camera works against you, the puzzles are braindead.”
- “The driving mechanics are terrible tho or maybe I'm just a bad driver.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive in a way that it becomes even boring to see.”
graphics
5,004 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
56%
11%
The graphics in "Watch Dogs" have received mixed reviews, primarily due to the significant downgrade from the impressive visuals showcased during its E3 2012 reveal. While many players acknowledge that the graphics are decent for a 2014 title, they often express disappointment that they do not match the initial expectations, particularly on PC where performance issues and optimization problems are common. However, with the use of mods like "theworse," players can enhance the visual quality, bringing it closer to what was originally promised. Overall, the game's graphics are considered good but not groundbreaking, with some praising the atmospheric effects, especially during rain and nighttime, while others criticize the lack of polish and consistency.
- “Visuals: Watch Dogs showcases impressive graphics, particularly in its depiction of Chicago.”
- “The graphics are stunning even for today's standards, though I have to say the lack of modding capability brings the game down a bit.”
- “For a game released in 2014, Watch Dogs boasts impressive graphics that still hold up well today.”
- “The graphics downgrade was so significant that it felt like a bait-and-switch.”
- “The graphics are poor, the driving is terrible, the gun aiming is slow, the 'hacking' is unimaginative, and the NPC AI sucks.”
- “The graphics were really awful to.”
optimization
2,282 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
42%
46%
The optimization of Watch Dogs has been widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, frame rate drops, and crashes, particularly on AMD hardware. While some users with high-end NVIDIA systems have managed to achieve stable performance, the game is generally considered poorly optimized for PC, requiring extensive tweaking and often resulting in a frustrating experience. Overall, the game's performance issues detract from its potential enjoyment, leading many to recommend waiting for patches or playing on consoles instead.
- “The game runs smoothly on modern machines even on high graphics settings.”
- “Performance was very stable.. 130 fps at 1440p on ultra.. graphics wise was very beautiful.”
- “The graphics are really good and the performance is good.”
- “This game is poorly optimized for the PC as the movements, aiming, and other stuff feels clunky.”
- “Even after all these years the optimization of the game has not been fixed and runs like ass even in the next-gen graphics cards.”
- “The game is very poorly optimized for PC, the need to use Ubisoft's Uplay sucks, if the game crashes your save games will be ruined and you need to start over.”
stability
876 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
1%
93%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly disrupt gameplay. While some users have managed to enjoy the game despite these issues, many express frustration over game-breaking glitches and poor optimization, particularly on the PC version. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," with stability issues that detract from the overall experience, making it difficult for players to fully engage with the content.
- “The game is pretty stable & bug free.”
- “No issues, no glitches, no stuttering or anything.”
- “Ahhh man this game is awesome, the graphics, the gameplay mechanics, no glitches or framerate tearing or desync for me at all.”
- “Such a buggy game had to restart because some cutscenes get stuck and I have to do the whole mission to get the cutscene. It's too hard; there are just juggernauts scattered, and it takes about 5 magazines to kill them. I can't complete this game, sorry Ubisoft.”
- “The problem is that the game is good before the first 2 hours of gameplay, but after that, it just turns into a buggy mess that is not fun to play at all. If you think it cannot be that buggy, I had to download some DLL files from a YouTube video to even get the game to launch.”
- “The game is buggy, unstable, and does not run well unless you have some nuclear-powered double Titan X monster.”
music
841 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
59%
11%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the dynamic soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere and fits the urban setting, while others criticize the limited and repetitive radio selections. Players appreciate the ability to unlock additional tracks by hacking NPCs, but some find the overall music selection bland and not memorable compared to other open-world games. Despite these criticisms, the game's original score and ambient music are often highlighted as strong points that contribute to the immersive experience.
- “The soundtrack features a mix of ambient music and radio stations that fit the game's urban setting.”
- “[✔️] 🎵 Immersive soundtrack: the game features a dynamic soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere, from tense action sequences to quiet, reflective moments.”
- “Amazing soundtrack! I wish whatever Ubisoft was on when they made this masterpiece they would hit again and make a story/game like this again.”
- “One of the drawbacks is the limited radio music, which quickly becomes repetitive and tiresome.”
- “The music is fucking terrible.”
- “The music sucks, they didn't feel the need to put in radio stations for when you're in a car, so you're stuck spamming the n key to skip til you find the 1 song you like.”
humor
503 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in "Watch Dogs" is often described as a mix of dark and absurd, with players finding amusement in the quirky interactions and unexpected moments throughout the game. Many highlight the comedic potential of hacking NPCs, leading to funny revelations and situations, while the banter between characters, particularly the sidekick Jordi Chin, adds a layer of levity to the otherwise serious narrative. However, some players note that the humor can feel inconsistent, with the game's darker themes sometimes overshadowing the comedic elements.
- “Cartoonish crash physics and roads littered with tons of breakable objects make smashing through shortcuts spectacular and hilarious.”
- “There was a hilarious moment where I decided to hack an electronic sign on the highway to see what would happen.”
- “It's mostly banter between T-Bone and Tobias Frewer all the way through, which was hilarious to watch!”
- “Usually it's just very stereotypical and simply not funny.”
- “At least an interesting title, but as tradition Ubisoft, not worthy of the expectations, and unfunny.”
- “It affects so many people it's not funny.”
atmosphere
298 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
45%
2%
The atmosphere of Watch Dogs is widely praised for its dark, gritty portrayal of a fictionalized Chicago, effectively immersing players in a world reminiscent of noir films and dystopian narratives. Reviewers highlight the game's dynamic weather, day-night cycle, and an engaging soundtrack that enhance the overall experience, making it feel alive and reflective of its themes of surveillance and control. Many players prefer this somber atmosphere over the lighter tone of its sequel, asserting that it significantly contributes to the game's storytelling and emotional impact.
- “The atmosphere is insane, heavily recommend.”
- “It brilliantly captures the atmosphere of a slightly alternative 2013-2014 America, showcasing a grim city with diverse and interesting streets, which has its own soul.”
- “The atmosphere of this game is incredible, you truly feel like a vigilante in Chicago.”
- “The overall grim atmosphere throughout this game was completely ruined in the sequel, and I will forever remain bitter about that.”
- “The atmosphere of virtual Chicago is really lacking and there is not much to do in terms of interactivity with the game world.”
- “The city is by no means 'living' - again, GTA V has a much better atmosphere to it.”
grinding
237 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
82%
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, with many players feeling that side missions and tasks often lack variety and excitement. While some enjoy the ancillary missions, a significant number find them to be a chore, leading to a sentiment that players may need "a second life" to fully engage with the grinding elements. Overall, the grinding experience detracts from the enjoyment of the game, making it feel drawn out and monotonous.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The missions are not fun or challenging; they are just tedious work.”
- “A long, tedious game which is dragged out by constant plot twists and new story elements, yet somehow feels extremely shallow and lacking.”
emotional
230 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
85%
15%
The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its dark and touching storyline that evokes strong feelings, while others criticize the protagonist's lack of emotional depth and the overall narrative's failure to engage. Many found certain moments heart-wrenching and impactful, yet others felt disconnected due to generic characters and a repetitive plot. Overall, the game offers an emotional rollercoaster for some, but leaves others feeling uninvested and unimpressed.
- “Great gameplay with a dark and emotional storyline; the characters actually had meaning, they all meant something in some sort of way to the story and that's what made it shine a lot.”
- “Every death made me feel inside, and that says a lot because most games nowadays feel so lifeless that I can't connect to any character and their deaths don't make me feel anything.”
- “The story line touched my heart in every way possible; it made me feel like I was the character and the character had a purpose.”
- “With a boring story featuring a main character with no personality at all, a D-tier soundtrack, characters that don't act or talk like humans do, terrible 'floating car' style driving, terrible performance, constant graphic pop-in, and much more - this game is one of the most doo-doo open world messes I have played in a very long time.”
- “A boring story and protagonist wears on you after hours of repetitive missions.”
- “I bought into the hype and was severely disappointed by a boring story, repetitive gameplay, and a multitude of bugs.”
replayability
229 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
51%
21%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its engaging mechanics and side missions that offer substantial replay value, particularly in multiplayer modes. However, many others criticize the lack of meaningful content after completing the main story, leading to a consensus that once the campaign is finished, there is little incentive to return. Overall, while some aspects provide replayability, many players feel it falls short compared to other open-world titles.
- “This game has a ton of replay value because you can reset side missions in the options.”
- “The game is very replayable and has many interesting and engaging side missions along with the main storyline.”
- “There is a whole lot of things to do which adds a lot to the replay value.”
- “Sadly, this game has no achievements giving the game little replay value.”
- “The replay value of this game is minimal, once you beat it there is no reason to go back.”
- “However there is little to no replay value once you have completed the story.”
character development
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
48%
18%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while Aiden Pearce's motivations are clear, his character lacks depth and growth throughout the story. Some players appreciated the interactions that added some complexity, but overall, the consensus is that character development is limited and often feels flat, detracting from the narrative experience. Despite this, a few reviewers highlighted moments of strong character design and engaging storytelling, suggesting that the game has potential for improvement in future installments.
- “Aiden Pearce's character design is absolutely perfect; his cold lines give you chills down your spine.”
- “One of the best stories and character developments I have ever played, rivaled by that of The Witcher, Skyrim, and Uncharted.”
- “A gem of the game that packs a combination of an incredible story, good play mechanics, amazing graphics, and great character development.”
- “The game’s story and character development were not very engaging, but the unique gameplay mechanics and immersive open-world environment made up for it.”
- “As far as character development goes, this game is just trash. Aiden, of whom we know nothing about, with his stupid little revenge plots and 'oh no, the whole world is out to get me' attitude is just stupid, and at points, I just wish he would take a step back and calm down.”
- “Sadly, however, they all have amazingly poor character development throughout the game...”
monetization
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
9%
87%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, particularly regarding misleading advertising and a perceived focus on cash grabs by Ubisoft. While some players noted the absence of microtransactions, many expressed disappointment over the game's failure to deliver on its advertised features, leading to a sense of betrayal and frustration with the company's practices. Overall, the sentiment reflects a growing concern over deceptive marketing tactics in the gaming industry.
- “Doesn't have in-app purchases, unlike the later series.”
- “There was no noticeable monetization within the game.”
- “[i] microtransactions - in-game purchases.”
- “I was really hoping to find reasons to like this game because conceptually it's really cool, but it's just a shill cash grab like a majority of Ubisoft's other projects.”
- “A game that had too much hype behind it, a fake tech demo, and a publisher determined to turn it into a cash grab; it is without doubt that Watch Dogs was widely unsuccessful due to these factors.”
- “Their advertising was disingenuous.”