Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition

Enjoyable but the world is too limited compare to GTA 5 still a very good game. worth every penny

great game and crazy storyline

karaoke? in MY serious crime drama third person open-world action game that allows the player to learn hand-to-hand combat skills from a mentor set in an asian setting where u have to partake in organised crime? verily, this concept had yet to be executed once in the gaming industry!!

i am soo glad i finished this awesome game, its one of the few games that can blend pure video gamey fun and realism. the fighting mechanism is some of the best you will ever play even in 2025. the open world has some really cool side content that's fun and worth doing. i also love how they incorporate health and buffs through various simple but cool features like the infamous pork buns, the massages, drinks etc. really loved the characters they are all fairly well written but most importantly feel authentic and interesting something we lack a lot in modern games recently. Its just a breath of fresh air to play and chill around i loved every minute of it wish we got a sequel

played this back when i was like 13, graphics are a bit dated but otherwise it still holds up well. it's a shame we never got a sequel.

One of the best games i've ever played, great story and gameplay, it's sad that we're not getting sleeping dogs 2 :(

Tremendous.

Badass protagonist, gritty and engaging story, fun combat, pork buns...what's not to like.

You can also dress up like GSP and go around superman punching fools. 10/10

This game hits alot of nostalgic vibes for me played this game alot back on my playstation 3 and i just recently replayed the main story and ow my i cant get enough what i wouldnt do for the sequal to be released even if they charge me 100€ for it they will get it instantly XD i seen alot of people compare this game with grand theft auto and honestly no this game is on a league of its own there is no comparing this if i had a friend who asked me for a story rich game with a open world with all kind of activity's i would for sure recommend this master piece also truly loved all the kind of different fighting styles you can get and unlock by clothing pieces one moment i whas fighting as wukong with a big ass pole the other i had a sword the other i whas fighting drunken fist style like honestly there is so much to discover with this game so yhe absolutly recommended to play

I bought this game for like $6.00 or something and it’s worth. The combat is amazing, the story and the world were very immersive. I did enjoy the Karaoke and other things to do around the world. The main campaign was short but very good. But I still need to go back and play the DLCS. :side note I do appreciate that you can wear GSP clothes and do his flying punch.

Game i absolutely insane i have been playing this game since around the time when it cam out and have never stopped revisiting it i love it 10/10

really good game even after all this time ,the story is interesting, all the side activities are quite cool, and the combat reminds me a little bit of the yakuza series but thats a good thing , just remember to have the newest graphic drivers for youre gpu or this game might just randomly blow up and run in 3 fps till you update .

the driving mechanics was just simply crap,played it when it was first released in 2014,and installed it again few months back since this time it was a definitive edition,the crappy driving was still the same,fighting style was on point 5 * ,the rest is fine

This game is literally the reason I moved away from MMOs. Previously, I played nothing but MMOs (WoW, GW2, etc.) and I bought the original on sale (about $5, figured I'd give it a shot). Didn't get into it the first time but tried it again a couple years later and BAM! I was obsessed with it (a rarity for me). After that, it was GTA, Saints Row (2, 3, 4 & GooH... none of that reimagining thing), games like that.

This game is a gateway drug!

Simi Liu recently tweeted: "A man who never eats pork bun is never a whole man." Why did Simi Liu tweet this? Turns out that he is making a movie adaptation of the game Sleeping Dogs. Huh. I check my Steam library and saw that I had 'Sleeping Dogs'. Installed the game and started playing it.

I'm midway through the game and I can see why this is a fan favorite gem. Sleeping Dogs reminds me of the old GTA games like San Andreas and Vice City. The gameplay is very sandboxy with a lot of content packed into the small map of Hong Kong. Rockstar lost that spirit with the newer GTA games. Indeed, many open world games in urban settings could be like Sleeping Dogs. Less is more and what not.

Recommended (Or Not) for Specific Gamers

Gamers who hate bugs

Sleeping Dogs is a great game marred by one annoying bug. You have to drive your car on the left. Argh! I can't believe developers skipped this major bug! They even forgot to patch it post-launch and in the Definitive Edition!

Some would say I am griping. But these kind of bugs have real world implications. Trust me: you dont want to hear kids in the bus screaming when you're almost driving on the left like in game. Next thing you know you're catching hell from the parents!

Gamers who hate UI issues

Another minor gripe here: it's hard to hire a taxi cab without hijacking it. The button command is the same for both functions which sucks UI wise. I eventually found a workaround for this. Go to the back/front of the taxi and then press the 'Hire Taxi' button. Makes playing the game a lot easier.

The HUD is also an annoying distraction. I wish there was a toggle HUD hotkey so I could immerse myself more in the game (you can do this in the settings but it is multiple steps each time). Same applies for the Social Hub notifications which get distracting after a while.

Hong Kong & East Asia Lovers

Sleeping Dogs makes you want to visit Hong Kong. I cannot say how authentic the game is to the actual city. But the setting in game is lively, intricate and makes for an amazing immersive experience.

If you miss the 80s/90s/the 00s, try experiencing those decades from the perspective of a different country! Trust me, nostalgia hits different when you go beyond AmerIca or the West in general. Because of Sleeping Dogs, I went into a rabbit hole watching classic action films from Hong Kong. You get the feel of an era gone by and it hits the right spot. Recommendations? You won't be disappointed by John Woo films, the Young and Dangerous series and the Infernal Affairs trilogy.

Realism Gamers

Do you enjoy going to the restroom in video games? And you should be able to pee and wash your hands afterwards right? This game lets you do that. I can't remember the last time I did that in a videogame (or IRL really). Beautiful.

Mental Health Fans

Fans of mental health will appreciate the little touches in Sleeping Dogs that speak to those issues. Being an informant is a tough job. There is a lot of psychological stress involved and you could die (often in a brutal way). As Wei Shen, you can really feel the stress and anxiety he is weighed down by. In between missions, you see Wei experiencing nightmares from all the violence he is exposed to. Wei gets up abruptly from these nightmares, shaking and gasping. You see him get up, still feeling jittery, telling himself to "keep it together." I would stop for a few moments just to watch Wei and process what he was going through. Very few games made me feel that way, to actually care for the mental health of my video game protagonist.

It is because of things like these that I am sad about the closure of United Front Games. Really wish they were still around to launch Sleeping Dogs 2.

(Side note: If you want to watch a film about the informant life, I'd recommend the Scorcese masterpiece 'Departed'. Also does a great job of showing the stress and strain of being an informant.)

Open Carry & Second Amendment Fans

I am a huge fan of the Second Amendment (specifically of its universal adoption across the world). As my fans (and haters) know, I advocate for open carry no matter which game you are playing.

Wei Shen lived in America. He used guns there like any true American. So why shouldn't he have free access to guns in HK? He does not sadly and that is crazy!

Guns are hard to find in Sleeping Dogs. You are forced to defend your life with fists and knives. Just like the commoners in Britain do.

This game also fails the open carry in games test sadly. Try going about with a gun on you in Sleeping Dogs. Vendors look upon your big assault rifle with suspicion. They refuse to do business with you. Civilians cower in fear (despite your reassurances) and promise to "be your slave." As if things couldn't get worse, the police will outright chase you if you are open carrying. This is sad!

Melee Combat Fans

This game is focused on melee combat as a core mechanic. Sleeping Dogs is inspired by martial arts films. You are able to do a variety of martial art moves, some of which are lovely to use. Everytime you do a bonebreaker or limbbreaker, it is satisfying to hear that crunch of breaking bone and the scream of your hapless victim.

Driving Fans

I really miss the Midnight Club games. I would spend hours racing tuned up cars through densely populated night cities, pumped up on high octance trance and rap tracks. Midnight Club captured that core experience so well for me and I've been seeking it in many games.

Sleeping Dogs devs did a good job capturing some of that of Midnight Club magic. The race tracks are well designed and the rubberbanding is not too bad. The race music is mostly meh. If you're struggling with the races, I'd recommend purchasing more vehicles. That should makes the races easier.

Vehicular combat is also satisfying to play and master in this game. You learn how to ram other vehicles and wreck them. Okay cool: the mechanic gets boring after a while. But then the game introduces you to shooting while driving. Damn! High octance vehicle chases combined with gun battles on the freeway. The missions with this mechanic are pure fun. GTA games have never done driving+shooting well. Rockstar devs should take notes from Sleeping Dogs in this aspect.

Music Enjoyers

Sleeping Dogs has some banger tracks. Even the main menu theme is a bop to groove to (someone should put bars to that ).

The Sleeping Dogs soundtrack features songs from many genres such as Cantopop, Canto rap, Western rap, electronic music etc. Check this guide for a full list of songs.

Achievement/Completionist Hunters

As I said, this game lacks polish and has some achievement breaking glitches and bugs. Sadly those issues were not fixed in the Definitive Edition.

At several points in the game, the achievements don't pop up. This was the case for collectible achievements. I checked the forums and there are others who faced the same issues. (Reloading a past save helped here.)

In the Nightmare in North Point DLC, you can lock yourself out of killing demons and getting an achievement for that.

Because of these issues, I can't recommend Sleeping Dogs for completionist gamers.

Conclusion

Sleeping Dogs is an underrated open world masterpiece. This game lacks polish and has glitches and bugs. Even so, it is worth playing from your backlog. I really hope the upcoming Sleeping Dogs movie is a good one that pleases longtime fans. The Sleeping Dogs franchise deserves to keep growing. Maybe the next movie or game will feature a sleeping dog, yeah?

Overall Rating

Great game, don't have a pork bun in my hand, 9/10

I like how the developer presents this game, the Asian country atmosphere is presented beautifully, the story is beautiful, the graphics are charming and the fighting animations are very cool.

Sleeping Dogs is an exceptional open-world action game that delivers a gripping story, fluid combat, and an immersive setting. Set in a beautifully crafted Hong Kong, the game perfectly blends intense martial arts combat, thrilling driving mechanics, and a compelling undercover cop narrative.

You play as Wei Shen, an undercover officer tasked with infiltrating the dangerous Triads. The story is engaging, filled with moments of tension, loyalty, and betrayal that keep you invested from start to finish. The characters feel real, and the relationships Wei builds throughout the game add emotional depth to the experience.

What truly sets Sleeping Dogs apart is its combat system. The hand-to-hand combat is dynamic and satisfying, allowing players to execute brutal martial arts moves and use the environment creatively. Whether you’re slamming enemies into phone booths or countering attacks with expert precision, every fight feels impactful. The driving mechanics are also well-executed, making high-speed chases and stunts incredibly fun.

Beyond the main story, the world of Hong Kong is full of life, with side missions, street races, and collectibles that make exploration rewarding. The city feels authentic, with bustling night markets, neon-lit streets, and Cantonese voiceovers that enhance the immersion.

Despite being an underrated title, Sleeping Dogs stands out as one of the best open-world action games of its time. If you enjoy story-driven experiences with strong gameplay mechanics, this is a must-play. I wish they have a sequel to this game.

One of the most underestimated games ever. Awesome combat with real martial arts, gameplay like no other (basically what GTA could have been but never evolved to), extremely immersive story with awesome development and very good graphics, aging well even considering today.

A fantastic game. Stellar writing, fluent combat, visuals that hold up more than a decade later. The undiscounted price is still a shameless rip-off from Square Enix, so get it on a hefty sale. It goes on a 90% sale pretty regularly.

If you're not a completionist, you should skip the two separate DLCs. Especially the spooky one; It's a tiresome slog through tanky enemies, even though some of the writing is funny. The new-years DLC is just a bit bland.

If you ARE a completionist;
Save-scum the gambling/cock-fight achievement, and do the same when killing Yao-Guai with swords. Despite what some outlets would have you believe, the Derby and Cruise missions accompanying the Wheels of Fury DLC are indeed necessary to get the Chief Inspector achievement in the Definitive Edition.

Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition is a high-quality re-release of one of the best open-world action games. The game immerses you in the atmosphere of criminal Hong Kong, where the protagonist, Wei Shen, works undercover in the triads. The plot is well written and keeps you in suspense.
The main emphasis here is on hand-to-hand combat, and this system is implemented really well. The fights look spectacular, combos feel smooth, and the ability to use the environment makes combat even more interesting. Shooting and chases are also up to par, although shooting sometimes seems too easy because of the auto-aiming.
The game world is not as large as GTA, but Hong Kong looks lively and atmospheric. The streets are filled with NPCs, neon signs add color, and music on radio stations helps to immerse yourself in the local environment.
All in all, this is a great crime action movie worth trying, especially if you like Hong Kong action movies with a hand-to-hand combat bias.

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It's clearly inspired by Grand Theft Auto but it's much more than that. It has a unique atmosphere and vibe. Amazing gameplay, story, characters, voice acting, DLC, and more. This game aged well and is worth every penny.

I'm super excited for the movie adaptation and sequel finally coming.

Awesome game for the Steam deck stable 60fps on High graphics worth the money on Steam deck

Since the old days when I still had limited devices, I forced myself to play this with a low display. Now playing on a better device, the experience is also getting better because the graphics make us one with Hong Kong. This game has a very addictive fighting mechanism, from bare-handed attacks, killing with weapons to executions with the surrounding environment which is certainly gore.

It feels good to relive old memories, and this game provides you the kind of feeling that we are losing with new games. This game gives you some color and has a "soul"; it doesn't take anything away from you. You don't feel really accomplished by the new titles, which are just taken from you. Sleeping Dogs has everything you want: action, exploration, story, combat, ambient, and freedom. Most new games are just graphics and a little action, but in this game you can do all of those things in peace. This is a real jewel to have and enjoy, and I wish there were more.

Best game in my eyes , I am being honest I bought this game coz I was looking for a GTA alt since my old pc could not run gta v but this has been absolutely great .
The story , graphics , side quest and all the stuff. I know Part 2 will noit come but I hope someday we get it.



i highly recommend you play this game it's worth every penny

this story is truly amazing. good combat and open world. get this game

It's probably the only game out there that is set in Hong Kong. Every time I play this game I feel like just in Hong Kong again.

This game is full of atmosphere, personality, great characters, and it shows you a place you are not familiar with at least for me. There are so many cool stuff to do like races, kareoke, cop missions, investigation, car thefts, betting, and more on top of the story which is intense. And so is the gameplay, its mostly fist fights with the occasional firefight, getting all achievements is a lot of fun because you really get immersed in the city vibes and stuff you know

Super fun kung fu GTA. Really wish we would've got a sequel. Arkham style combat is incredible. I played this on Xbox 360 when it first came out. The DE is imo the best way to play this now. If you're looking for something to scratch that GTA itch in 2025, you should give this a try as it still holds up today.

playing it for the fifth time crazy story crazy game play must give it a try

its a very good game with lots of dates with girls amazing combat techniques and interesting fabula

Hard to believe that this game came out so long ago. Its GTA clone that surpassed GTA. Story, setting, melee combat are perfect. Drive model arcady, but its goes really well with gameplay. Only this that could be improved would be shooting model, but can live with it as most of the game is melee combat.

The combat in this game is the most unique combat i have seen in a game (not much to contest tho). The only issue for me is that the story can get confusing at some parts (atleast thats what happened in my experience).

Has some parts that were just alright but mostly a fun experience. I liked some characters but the MC is definitely the best out of all. Gameplay really made me feel like I was in a Hong Kong action film.

Sleeping Dogs is what happens when you mix the open-world chaos of Grand Theft Auto with the brutal hand-to-hand combat of classic kung-fu movies. Set in a beautifully crafted version of Hong Kong, the game lets you take on the role of Wei Shen, an undercover cop infiltrating the triads. The melee combat system is incredibly fluid, allowing for brutal counterattacks, environmental takedowns, and martial arts combos that make every fight feel cinematic. Driving feels smooth and action-packed, with plenty of high-speed chases, and the story is gripping, packed with undercover tension and well-developed characters.

Even years later, Sleeping Dogs still holds up thanks to its unique setting and polished gameplay. The Definitive Edition improves the visuals and includes all DLC, adding even more content. If you love open-world action games but want something with a fresh setting and a heavy emphasis on hand-to-hand combat, this is a must-play—especially when it’s on sale. It’s one of the most underrated games of its kind.

Unreasonably good story telling, decent gameplay.

When reviewed in 2025 this game worked without any BS patches/compat mode BS, just worked - refreshing for an older title.

Gameplay, it reflects its time, its good but not amazing

Graphics - Again good for its time but not amazing

Happy to replay, and worth the price about 50% off

yeah, spose it's pretty fun aye, 30 hours put into just on pc, countless more on 360 back in the day, had a lot of fun, would definitely play again in another 12 years. Buy it when it's cheap, or when it's not, full price is still a third of the price of these scams that get released nowadays

So, I just played this game, and here’s the scoop. The graphics are pretty sick, and the music really hits the spot. The martial arts combat is super fun! It keeps you engaged and doesn’t get old. The gun mechanics are solid too.

But the real gem here is the story. But I wish it was longer.

The game captures the vibe of the Hong Kong, even if the places aren't exact replicas. The overall feel is on point.

A couple of nitpicks: some Chinese characters don’t really make sense, and they use simplified Chinese instead of traditional. But overall, as a local, I’m pretty happy with how they portrayed Hong Kong. Not perfect, but decent enough!

Combat is easy to learn, Open world is amazing and the characters feel engaging. Wish there was an online pvp though

Very fun mix between Yakuza and GTA, aged very well. The DLC is also good too, I absolutely loved the Zodiac tournament's bruce lee aesthetic. Nightmare in north point was pretty decent and Year of the Snake felt a little short. I got the game for around $3 so I would highly recommend it.

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Amazing combat mechanics. Love the gameplay.

Very good "GTA clone" with very good story, a lot of activities and collectibles. That's the second game from 2014, I've played recently that imo looks fantastic for its age.

I especially liked that almost every activity unlocks something after completion, be it new car, clothing or showing collectibles on the map.

Finally beat the game after 12 years lol
If you like Hong Kong action movies, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, etc... just buy the game because it's awesome

yes it is an old game but the game play holds up once you get the hang of the driving (just dont use your right thumb stick) you ll have a good time with this game.

story is engaging combat is simple but very fun lots to do in such a small open world if you played this at its release this is what gta ivs open world should have been like.

gameplay mechanics are amazing with the hand to hand combat. shooting can use a little work but the game dosent encourage you to just cover and shoot. use the games action features this game is an underrated one and if you can pick it up for 5 bucks or less its a bang for you buck.

one note it starts off slow so give it a chance very good game underrated

Good game but i was not able to complete the game due to an error at Mrs. Chu's revenge. The main disappoint thing is, it doesn't have cloud save feature

A very good game, an interesting alternative to GTA, mostly based on melee combat, worth buying.

This game got overlooked ass another GTA clone but man it's so much fun! The first half is pretty slow but after the wedding mission shit hits the ceiling and things get really interesting. Really wish this game received a sequel.

1 of the most underrated games of all time imo. the combat is awesome. there's tons of in-game content like different side missions, different collectibles, and really cool outfits that add different buffs.

Nice alternative to GTA, Yakuza. Graphics and story are good.

best £3 I've spent in a while, amazingly fun experience with a rich world and gritty story.

Sleeping Dogs is Truly and underated game, If you enjoy open world city games like the GTA series, Saint's row etc.. You will enjoy this game, The combat is mostly focused on martial arts but you will end up using guns later in the game more often.

The story is a MAsterpiece , You will experience happiness sadness and anger playing this game ( IF you really get into it.)

After you finish the main story , you can still do side quest , Races, and of course a lot of collectibles if you like to hunt those.

To End , i'd like to say THIS is Worth playing , if only for the story, cause it truly is brilliant!

Cheers
-LeeInTheAction