Watch Dogs Reviews

Watch Dogs is ranked in the 79th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
ZTGD
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Jun 6, 2014

Watch_Dogs borrows game play elements from GTA, inFamous and Assassin's Creed (among others), adds a hacking dynamic and pulls it all together into a great game. Despite some standout visuals though there's nothing here that feels like a leap forward in gaming, and I can't imagine the core game feeling much different had I played a last-gen version. It doesn't tarnish the experience, but players looking for a reason to need a new console still don't have one.

Read full review

Will Greenwald
Top Critic
May 29, 2014

Watch Dog's gritty story and dystopian near-future are paper-thin, but the amount of stupid fun you can have running around Chicago and "hacking" things more than makes up for it.

Read full review

ACG
Top Critic
Buy
May 27, 2014
Watch Dogs Videogame Review video thumbnail
6 / 10
Dec 11, 2014

Unfortunately, the extra time it took to get on the Wii U did not lead to improvements over the other versions and some technical issues remain unaddressed.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

Jun 2, 2014

The profiling system isn't as deep as expected, but still offers remarkably strong and subtly creepy world-building away from the main plot.

Read full review

May 27, 2014

Watch Dogs is a very good game - and occasionally a great one - but not a landmark game or any sort of classic. It's a fine open-world game with a fantastically detailed setting, and one you'll happily play for weeks. In fact, with a good thirty to forty hours of content, that's probably what it's going to take.

Read full review

7 / 10
Jun 4, 2014

It is Open World: The Game, and as such, struggles to find an identity of its own beyond its entertaining hacking hook and the inspired multiplayer. But those two elements make up a sizeable portion of the game. There are moments of genuine brilliance buried in the game that elevates it above mediocrity, but its reliance on increasingly tired design does it a disservice.

Read full review

EGM
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
May 27, 2014

Imaginative, cleverly integrated online play helps to bolster Watch Dogs' less exciting single-player offering, which fails to capitalize on its ambitious hacking concept in any truly memorable way.

Read full review

May 28, 2014

Watch Dogs makes up for a snooze-worthy story with heaping amounts of smartly designed diversions scattered around its gorgeous open world.

Read full review

4 / 5.0
Jun 10, 2014

The game won't be for folks who prefer a more straightforward action game or shooter. But if you're a fan of open world games and would like to try one with a more cerebral approach, then you'll want to hack into Watch Dogs and give the title a spin.​

Read full review

6 / 10
Nov 27, 2014

Watch Dogs is a bold, ambitious game that delivers well in some areas, though nevertheless feels like an iteration away from reaching its potential; the inevitable Watch Dogs 2 could be one to keep an eye on. It's a sizeable, enjoyable game, but one that is let down on the Wii U by poor optimisation and disappointing performance; the frame-rate is inconsistent but tolerable while on foot, but often struggles badly when driving. It's possible to play Watch Dogs and work through these bottlenecks, but that shouldn't be expected of the gamer in a big-budget, pricey retail experience.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Jun 9, 2014

Ultimately, the vast amount of content that you get for Watch Dogs help inspire us to overlook its graphical shortcomings. It may simply be yet another GTA clone that didn't meet our expectations, but it still plays efficiently and offers a staggering amount of fun for players to explore every pocket of this tech-noir version of Chicago.

Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
Nov 24, 2014

If you are a Wii U only owner, Watch Dogs is a decent buy if you want a GTA-like experience, but I'd wait for a used copy or a price drop. Although the driving hinders the game, good graphics and a decent amount of content make this a good, but uninspired game.

Read full review

May 27, 2014

I'm happy to report to you, Watch Dogs is a great game.

Read full review

4 / 5.0
May 28, 2014

Watch Dogs may not be the "next-gen" game that many had the expectations for, but it is a fantastic game that is worth experiencing. Hacking is both your weapon and your toy. Enemies will cower at your feet and the city will bend to your will as you walk amongst the low-tech plebs. Unique gameplay and a beautiful living world sets Watch Dogs apart, establishing itself as a great outing and the strong foundation of a new franchise.

Read full review

May 27, 2014

With Watch Dogs, Ubisoft Montreal has created an interesting, immersive and innovative new IP, which will hopefully end up marking the beginning of a great series.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
May 27, 2014

Watch Dogs won't please everyone. Its shallow narrative and bland protagonist detract, but those looking for a finely-crafted open world game that eschews parody and satire for an overall darker tone will have a great time in Watch Dogs' digital Chicago.

Read full review

May 27, 2014

[I]t will fray your nerves and test your mind. But won't hack its way into your heart.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
May 27, 2014

Watch Dogs is an excellent open world title whose story and gameplay options will keep players interested right up to the end.

Read full review

9 / 10.0
May 27, 2014

Watch_Dogs may not have the best story out there and certain elements may not be 100% perfect, but things mesh together in a beautifully large open world playground that will leave you wanting more, and will pretty much always provide what you're looking for.

Read full review