Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition

Released

Release Date: October 8, 2014

Action, TPP, Gangster, Sandbox, Police, TPS, Remaster/remake, Singleplayer

A dynamic, open-world TPP action game inspired by John Woo's films. Sleeping Dogs was created by United Front Games, and the player takes on the role of a police detective who tries to infiltrate the structures of a dangerous crime organization. The experience is filled with spectacular melee combat sequences, shootouts, as well as car chases taking place on the crowded streets of Hong Kong.

9.4

Steam

6.5

Users

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Ratings

 Videos: 3 

Images: 18 

Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition for PC, PS4 and XONE is a TPP open-world action game featuring a melee combat system, which is significantly more complex than in other games of this kind. Originally, the project was to deliver the third installment for the True Crime series (with the subtitle Hong Kong), but due to legal issues, it was necessary to change the name of the product. Sleeping Dogs was developed by United Front Games – a Canadian studio founded in 2007.

Plot & Mechanics

The player is taken to the Far East, and the game is set in Hong Kong. While creating the plot, the developer was heavily inspired by Asian action films made by John Woo, such as Hard Boiled. The player assumes the role of Wei Shen – a police detective who tries to infiltrate the structures of a dangerous crime organization known as Sun On Yee. In order to gain the trust of mobsters, Wei has to fulfill their orders, climbing the mob hierarchy. The path leads through a lot of smaller and larger assignments. While completing those, the player engages in melee combat, drives fast cars, jumps across rooftops, takes part in shootouts, etc.

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The aforementioned elements constitute the main contents of the game. The protagonist quickly learns martial arts, as well as how to use different weapons and a lot of other destruction-causing techniques. The open world of the virtual Hong Kong is divided into a few diverse districts, such as the splendid Central HK or Aberdeen, where the poor live. Obviously, the game world offers a lot of side missions and challenges that make the experience more diverse.

The moral element to the work of an undercover cop (heavily inspired by Splinter Cell: Double Agent), is an important feature of the game. The player has to balance their actions in order not to become an evil figure, and neither to lose the trust of the protagonist's new employers.

Countless American and Asian action films inspired the creators, and this can be seen in the game's overstylized, expressive visuals. Sleeping Dogs does a good job of presenting the atmosphere of an eastern metropolis. The original version made quite a good visual impression, but this Definitive Edition introduces a lot of graphical improvements – above all, they encompass the characters' faces, particle effects and the draw distance; also, more environmental objects can be destroyed in this version. Certain changes were also brought to the mechanics, as for instance the difficulty level in challenges was rebalanced – previously, they were either too easy or too difficult.

Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition for PC, PS4 and XONE includes all the 24 expansion packs, which came out earlier for the edition released on the seventh-generation systems. The two largest DLCs for Sleeping Dogs were included as well (Nightmare in North Point and The Year of the Snake).

Platforms:

PC Windows October 8, 2014

PlayStation 4 October 10, 2014

Xbox One October 10, 2014

Developer: United Front Games

Publisher: Square Enix

Similar Games:

Grand Theft Auto IV

Mafia II

Watch Dogs

Game Series

3GAMES

Sleeping Dogs Game Series

Features

News

Actor on Sleeping Dogs: Movie Will be a Breakthrough

The work on the Sleeping Dogs movie, based on the game under the same title, is to start soon. The main role will be played by Donnie Yen, known from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

movies & tv series

Karol Laska

July 7, 2020

Actor on Sleeping Dogs: Movie Will be a Breakthrough

Downloads

Top downloads for Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition Video Game:

All Downloads

System Requirements

System Requirements for Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition Video Game:

PC / Windows

Recommended System Requirements:
Core i5 2.3 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB (GeForce GTX 560 or better), 20 GB HDD, Windows Vista/7/8 64-bit.

Ratings

Game Ratings for Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition Video Game.

94%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (72,720)

STEAM

User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

Engaging Storyline: The narrative of Wei Shen, an undercover cop infiltrating the Triad, is well-received, with many players finding it emotionally compelling and well-written.
Combat System: The hand-to-hand combat is a standout feature, praised for its fluidity, depth, and brutal execution methods. Players appreciate the variety of combos and environmental takedowns.
Open World Setting: The recreation of Hong Kong is vibrant and alive, with diverse districts and a rich atmosphere that enhances the gaming experience.
Variety of Activities: Players enjoy the diverse side missions and mini-games, from street racing to martial arts tournaments, which contribute to the overall gameplay experience.
Visuals and Soundtrack: The graphics, particularly for a 2014 title, are considered impressive, and the soundtrack fits the game's setting well.
DLC Content: The inclusion of all DLCs and story expansions adds value and variety to the game.

The main cons of the game

Driving Mechanics: The driving controls are often described as clunky and unnatural, especially when compared to other open-world games like GTA.
Shooting System: The gunplay is criticized for being less satisfying, with issues related to aiming and auto-aim mechanics.
Repetitive Side Missions: Some players find the side missions repetitive and lacking depth, which can detract from the overall experience.
Bugs and Technical Issues: Several users reported bugs that could interrupt gameplay, such as enemies getting stuck or mission-related glitches.
Camera Issues: The camera can be problematic, especially while driving, leading to awkward perspectives during gameplay.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

Gun Shops: Players expressed disappointment over the absence of gun shops, even after completing the main story.
More Hacking Variations: Some users felt that the hacking system could have been expanded for greater variety and engagement.
Improved Side Content: There are calls for more engaging side missions and activities to avoid repetitiveness and enhance the open-world experience.
Cloud Save Feature: Some players noted the lack of cloud saving, which could lead to issues if they needed to uninstall or reinstall the game.

Summary

Overall, Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition is praised for its engaging story, combat mechanics, and vibrant setting, but it faces criticism for its driving and shooting systems, as well as some technical bugs. Players appreciate the value of the included DLCs but wish for more depth in side missions and additional features.

Summary generated on: October 8, 2025

6.5

USERS Score

Average score from votes.

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