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How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (Metacritic) | – | 82 | 20 |
| Creator reviews (4 tracked) | – | 89 | 4 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 78 | 750 |
| Backloggd ratings | – | 72 | 750 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (94)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 90
“Most importantly, Watch Dogs 2 offers a sense of humor running through it that the series badly needed. You don’t need miserable family death stories in a ludicrous game about “smart cities” and cartoony hackers. You need writing that leans into the silliness, that has a laugh at its own expense, which is exactly what this game gets.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The sincere belief in a pack mentality is just one reason why Watch Dogs 2 is such an improvement over its predecessor.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Watch Dogs 2 is a bold sequel with some issues. Not all gameplay modifications are good, there are some bugs and performance on consoles isn't perfect. What's more the main story is pretty far from interesting but fortunately side missions remedy that. Ubisoft's new game can be really entertaining but you can't take it seriously. It works well as a cool and pretty funny product.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Ubisoft removes that painful thorn from its side with Watch Dogs 2, and they can boast they have a great sandbox franchise. Its not the fact that it creates anything really new, but that it improves every hack possibility, the main difference between Watch Dogs and the rest of sandbox games. What's more, the lighting, the vibrant colors that compose San Francisco, and the sass of this sequel are exactly what it needed. Add a seamless multiplayer that rewards co-op action and you have stumbled upon the best sandbox of the year. ”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Watch Dogs 2 is a solid extension of the series and not the complete load of ctOSS it could have been. It's not quite the Assassin's Creed 2 of Ubisoft's hacking brand, but it's certainly a fun-packed and exciting ride, which benefits from less generic mission design and a vibrant open world to enjoy.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Watch Dogs 2 is the proper way to do a sequel. The series is now back in my category of games I care about, which says a lot after how forgettable the first game truly was. I love the tone, the whimsical nature, and just exploring the gorgeous interpretation of San Francisco. Sure it has some bad story pacing, and plenty of useless open world mission types, but I still had a blast playing it.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Overall, Watch Dogs 2 is a solid title that improves upon the original in gameplay and plot but still has some flaws. It's too easy at times, and the plot isn't structured well enough to have the desired impact, but that's easy to forgive when you're setting up a Rube Goldberg contraption to send a hacked car covered with sticky bombs into the middle of a group of gang members. It won't drastically change your mind if you disliked the first Watch Dogs, but if you found it flawed but fun, you'll probably enjoy the bulk of the sequel's improvements. The drop-in multiplayer and freedom of gameplay do a lot to keep the title feeling engaging, but it depends on a player's creativity in order to thrive.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Watch Dogs 2 is better than the previous episode gameplay-wise, but the new characters and the story show one step behind Ubisoft’s standards. It's a fun game, though, so if you love open world titles with a lot of activities, you’ll enjoy this big and entertaining experience.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Watch Dogs 2's world is a step up from the first game's dreary rendition of Chicago, and even though Watch Dogs 2 can't go toe-to-toe with genre heavyweights, it's hard to walk away from its fun-loving attitude and exuberant cast.”
read full review ↗ - 95
- 80
“By shifting the tone and putting the emphasis on your hacker tools rather than guns, Watch Dogs 2 feels like a more fun and more thoughtful game, without losing the ability to create mayhem when the itch strikes. The controls can be an obstacle at times, and it’s a shame that it’s missing online features at launch, but it gives you a lot of room to experiment and play with your options. ”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Watch Dogs 2 is the perfect sequel. It takes everything that made the first game unique and original, and expands on all of it. Everything is better, from the hacking, to the story, the setting and the variety of content. Watch Dogs 2 is far from being just more of the same. An apt comparison could be the jump from the first Assassins Creed game to Assassins Creed 2. While the first was a promising yet clunky new idea, the sequel delivered on that idea and turned it into one of the most iconic series of the last decade. With Watch Dogs 2, Ubisoft is well on its way to recreating that same magic.”
read full review ↗
The Jimquisition
Slant Magazine
GRYOnline.pl
Push Square
ZTGD
Worth Playing
Eurogamer
GameSpot
GameGrin
Easy Allies
TheSixthAxis…and 82 more tracked reviews.