Watch Dogs
Hack Chicago through Aiden Pearce’s phone, using cameras and city infrastructure to connect stealth, gunfights and vehicle pursuits in an open-world revenge story.
- AI score · out of 10
- 7.89 / 10
About this game
Watch Dogs follows Aiden Pearce as he investigates the forces behind a family tragedy in Chicago. The city’s ctOS management network turns information and street infrastructure into tools for his pursuit. Switch between security cameras to scout guards, use environmental devices to create opportunities, or enter directly with stealth and weapons. Vehicle chases connect different parts of the city. Hacking abilities and action skills expand with progression, while investigations and side activities offer objectives beyond the main story.
Collected in series
Watch Dogs makes the connected city part of an open-world action adventure. Hacking cameras, devices and urban systems changes how you approach missions, while stories about surveillance and control move between Chicago, the San Francisco Bay Area and London.
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Windows PC
AI review
AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:
GameNavo evidence-led AI editorial review
Watch Dogs
Inventive infiltration with awkward keyboard driving and uneven missions.
Watch Dogs is strongest when city infrastructure becomes a tool for planning. Following cameras to scout guards and triggering devices creates openings beyond conventional cover shooting. Unlocks and investigations keep objectives available, but forced chases, tailing and repeated attempts interrupt that freedom, and the revenge plot is not compelling enough to carry the whole journey. These uneven missions make an interest in experimentation more important than simply wanting another large city to clear. The PC test finds the city attractive rather than memorable. Mouse aiming works naturally, but driving prompted a switch to a controller. Automatic input prompts help, while large UI elements and driving drops on the stated medium-settings rig leave friction. It rewards players willing to adjust controls and explore the tools.
Strengths
- Camera and device-based infiltration
- Varied abilities and investigations
Weaknesses
- Repetitive forced chases and tailing
- Awkward keyboard driving and intrusive UI
Who it is for: Action players interested in remote scouting and experimenting with environmental infiltration.
Play notes: Independent judgment from Christopher Livingston’s May 27, 2014 PC test, not our own playtest. Intel i7 at2.80GHz,8GB RAM,GTX660Ti,mostlymedium settings; patch and hours unknown. Driving drops and no crashes in that run do not guarantee present hardware results. Offline content only; historical online invasions are not promised as current benefits.
View scoring basis
| Dimension | Review state | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimension Unlocks, investigations and side activities keep objectives available, and remote scouting varies familiar scenarios. Tailing, retries and an unconvincing revenge story still make the quantity feel repetitive. | Reviewed | 7.7 / 10 | 0.25 |
| Dimension Camera hopping, environmental devices and direct infiltration reward observation and positioning. Forced chases and scripted reinforcements sometimes narrow those choices, so hacking does not refresh every mission equally. | Reviewed | 8.2 / 10 | 0.4 |
| Dimension The PC test finds the connected districts attractive but not particularly memorable, with many facade buildings. Hacking gives the environment purpose, while weak character writing reduces its conviction. | Reviewed | 8.0 / 10 | 0.2 |
| Dimension Mouse aiming feels natural, but awkward keyboard driving led the tester to switch to a pad. Prompts adapt automatically, while intrusive UI and driving-related drops on the stated medium-settings rig leave friction. | Reviewed | 7.2 / 10 | 0.15 |
Review sources
Not provided
Core information
- Developer
- Ubisoft
- Publisher
- Ubisoft
- Release date
- 2014
- Platforms
- Windows PC
- Content kind
- Game
- Release state
- Released
- Region
- Worldwide
- Official website
- Not provided
- Offline minimum players
- Not provided
- Offline maximum players
- Not provided
- Online minimum players
- Not provided
- Online maximum players
- Not provided
- Categories
- Shooter · Primary genreAdventure
- Tags
- Player versus EnvironmentReplayableFast-pacedMain Story Under 10 Hours3D GraphicsDodgeLinear LevelsShootingSolo-friendlyThird Person
- Supported game languages
- Not provided
- Requires base game
- Not provided
- Standalone
- Not provided
- Age ratings
- Not provided
- Play modes
- Not provided
- Perspectives
- Not provided
Release editions
- Windows PCWorldwide2014
- Xbox 360Worldwide2014
- Wii UWorldwide2014
- PlayStation 3Worldwide2014
Game gallery
Sources
Not provided