Watch Dogs 2
Explore a massive and dynamic open world offering an incredible variety of gameplay possibilities. Hack your way through traffic while you engage in dangerous car chases through the winding streets of San Francisco, traverse the rooftops of the colorful and vibrant neighborhoods of Oakland, and infiltrate the cutting-edge offices of Silicon Valley companies. There are many secrets to uncover in the birthplace of the tech revolution.
What it feels like
The game invites experimentation with hacking mechanics and emergent sandbox interactions, with a mischievous tone toward corporate targets. DedSec's counter-culture hacker ethos and satirical approach to Silicon Valley power structures permeate the narrative and tone.
What it's about
Silicon Valley tech companies, hacking culture, and digital manipulation of urban infrastructure are central to the setting and tone. The game explores how pervasive technology and surveillance affect San Francisco's citizens and freedom. The hack targets an AI system (Blume and its surveillance network), making machine intelligence a significant thematic concern.
How it plays
Hacking is a definional pillar of Watch Dogs 2, used to manipulate traffic, bypass security, and enable core objectives. Traversing rooftops and urban terrain via vaults, climbs, and free-running is a core traversal mode through Oakland and San Francisco. Infiltrating Silicon Valley offices and avoiding detection is a central mechanic, rewarding player positioning and awareness.
How it looks and sounds
The entire game is presented from a third-person behind-the-shoulder camera following Marcus through the city. The colorful and vibrant neighborhoods of Oakland and San Francisco are visually saturated with bright, appealing aesthetics.
How it's structured
San Francisco is presented as a massive, explorable continuous play space where the player navigates neighborhoods, rooftops, and infrastructure in largely non-linear order. The game emphasizes traversal across Oakland and Silicon Valley without loading screens, maintaining a cohesive world as you move through distinct regions. The core campaign is structured as a single-player experience, though multiplayer elements are present as secondary features.
Kindred games
Shares Open World, Third-Person, Hacking Minigames, Cyberpunk.
Both lean into Open World, Third-Person, Cyberpunk, Hacking Minigames.
Shares Open World, Third-Person, Parkour, Gunplay.
Both lean into Open World, Third-Person, Single-Player, Parkour.
Shares Open World, Third-Person, Hacking Minigames, Stealth.
Both lean into Open World, Third-Person, Hacking Minigames, Stealth.
See all games like Watch Dogs 2 →
Closest hidden gems
A lesser-known kindred — Open World, Stealth, Third-Person, Playful. 90% positive across 4,775 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Open World, Stealth, Third-Person, Single-Player.
A lesser-known kindred — Third-Person, Open World, Playful, Sandbox. 92% positive across 4,750 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Third-Person, Single-Player, Open World, Playful.
A lesser-known kindred — Open World, Sandbox, Irreverent, Playful. 88% positive across 4,765 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Open World, Sandbox, Single-Player, Irreverent.