Choose Watch Dogs 2 if you want one recurring protagonist, Marcus Holloway, and a hacking story set in the San Francisco Bay Area. Choose Watch Dogs: Legion if you would rather recruit and switch among London residents with different skills. The better fit depends on which game structure appeals to you—not on a universal quality ranking.
How the two games differ
| What matters | Watch Dogs 2 | Watch Dogs: Legion |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | San Francisco Bay Area | Near-future London |
| Main character structure | Marcus Holloway is the recurring lead, working with DedSec. | You build DedSec by recruiting people encountered in the world and can switch among operatives. |
| Defining appeal | A hacking sandbox built around one protagonist and his crew. | A rotating cast whose individual skills and resources shape your choices. |
| Platforms Ubisoft lists | PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One. | PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One. |
Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs 2 product page describes Marcus and DedSec’s campaign against ctOS 2.0, an operating system the publisher says is used to monitor and manipulate citizens. Ubisoft’s Legion product page frames its story around forming a resistance from people in London.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Watch Dogs Legion (PS5) | $22.75 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Watch Dogs: Legion PlayStation 5 Standard Edition | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Watch Dogs: Legion - PlayStation 5 | $18.12 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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WATCH DOGS LEGION PS5 VF | $24.10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
![Watch Dogs Legion -PS5 [CERO Rating 'Z']](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51JjHl+4RzL._SL160_.jpg)
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Watch Dogs Legion -PS5 [CERO Rating "Z"] | $29.50 | Buy on Amazon |
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What playing Watch Dogs 2 is built around
One lead and a hacking sandbox
Watch Dogs 2 follows Marcus Holloway, a young hacker in the San Francisco Bay Area. Its central premise gives the story a consistent lead rather than asking you to build a roster of protagonists.
The hacking systems also let you shape encounters in multiple ways. TIME’s Matt Peckham described using a wheeled robot to enter tight spaces and operate route-opening panels, and a quadcopter to scout and mark targets. He also noted that players can manipulate traffic and electrical systems or call police and gang members into encounters. These are options in the game, not a promise that every player will prefer this style.
#1 Best Overall
- Open-world London, explore a massive urban open-world where you can visit London's many famous landmarks
- play as anyone, experience a never-seen-before gameplay Innovation. Anyone you see can join your team complete with a unique backstory, personality, and skill set
- weaponise London's Tech infrastructure. Hijack armed combat drones, deploy stealthy spider-bots, covertly take down enemies using an augmented reality cloak, and much more
- bring your team online and join forces with up to three friends and explore the world together or take on entirely new co-op missions
In his November 18, 2016 review, Peckham called the hacking approach “almost jazz-like,” praising how it lets players turn enemies and their surroundings against one another. That is one reviewer’s dated opinion, rather than an official description or a claim of consensus. Read the TIME review.
What Legion’s recruit system changes
Build a team instead of following one lead
Legion shifts the focus to recruiting people you encounter in near-future London. Ubisoft’s launch description says recruits have individual skills, resources, and talents; those differences make selecting and switching operatives a central part of play.
Rank #2
- Recruit and play as anyone from London. Everyone you see has a unique backstory, personality, and skill set for unique situations
- Hack armed drones, Deploy spider-bots, and take down enemies using an augmented reality Cloak
- Explore a massive urban open world featuring London's many iconic landmarks and fun side activities
- Team up with your friends for new missions in co-op mode, releasing as a free update post-launch
- Upgrade to the Gold Edition or ultimate Edition for access to the Season Pass and more
In a June 2019 feature, Ubisoft described characters as having schedules and backstories, being persuadable to join DedSec, and being switchable during play. The announcement also described the possibility of permanent character death in certain confrontations. Those details reflect Ubisoft’s announced design; they should not be read as a guarantee that every feature or mode works identically across all versions and updates. See Ubisoft’s recruit-system announcement.
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Which one should you play?
- Pick Watch Dogs 2 if you want a steady protagonist, a San Francisco setting, and a story centered on Marcus and DedSec’s fight against ctOS 2.0.
- Pick Legion if the idea of assembling a team from London’s residents and choosing operatives for their different capabilities sounds more appealing than following one lead.
- Check platform and format first if you have a specific console generation or want a physical copy. The games’ listed platforms differ, and Legion had a physical PS5 release; that does not establish current stock or pricing.
These recommendations are based on the games’ documented structures. The available evidence here does not establish a current review-aggregate comparison or show that one is objectively better overall.
Rank #3
- Freedom and Consequences - Play the game the way you want. A brand-new melee system and a wide range of weapons and abilities means that the way you approach combat has real consequences.
- Customize Your Recruits - Personalize each member of your resistance and level them up by building out different skill sets, from hacking to stealth moves to all-out assault training. Customize further with unique outfits and iconic masks.
- Play As Anyone - Recruit anyone from the entire population of London into your resistance: from an MI6 agent to a tough bareknuckle fighter, or an inconspicuous old lady… Anyone you see can join your team and has a unique backstory, personality, and skillset.
- Team Up with Friends - Bring your team online with up to three friends as you freely explore the world together or take on entirely new co-op missions and challenging end-game content. Enjoy free regular updates adding new online modes, rewards, and themed events.
- Open World London - Explore a massive urban open world and visit London’s many famous landmarks – including Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, or the London Eye – and engage in side activities like bareknuckle boxing, freestyle football, illegal courier contracts or street art.
Platforms, PS5 copies, and online play
Confirm the edition for your device
Ubisoft lists Watch Dogs 2 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Its Legion page lists PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Before buying, check the current product listing for your region, console generation, and preferred digital or physical format.
Ubisoft’s October 2020 next-generation announcement dates Legion’s original launch to October 29, 2020, with digital PS5 availability on November 12 and physical PS5 copies on November 24. Those dates establish that a physical PS5 edition existed, not that it is currently available from a particular retailer. See Ubisoft’s next-generation release details.
Rank #4
- Recruit and play as anyone from London. Everyone you see has a unique backstory, personality, and skill set for unique situations
- Hack armed drones, Deploy spider-bots, and take down enemies using an augmented reality Cloak
- International products have separate terms, are sold from abroad and may differ from local products, including fit, age ratings, and language of product, labeling or instructions.
Do not assume launch-era online plans are current
Ubisoft’s October 29, 2020 launch article described online co-op for up to four players and PVP modes as post-launch plans for 2020. That is a dated announcement, not confirmation of present-day service status or compatibility. If online play is a major reason for choosing Legion, verify current service availability and platform compatibility before purchasing. See Ubisoft’s launch article.
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Best Value
- Free to add the people you encounter on virtual and organize resistance and get back to London in the near future, facing the crisis of collapse by hacking, intrusion, and combat Now it's time to gather with resistance
- Whoever met in the city can be played as part of their companion, and each has a backstory, personality and skill set
- Hack your armed drone, unfold the Spider Bot and eliminate your enemies while concealing them with the AR Cloak
- Explore the open world recreating the huge city, and enjoy the countless landmarks and fun side activities
- Invite new members online, collaborate with friends to make missions and challenge challenging end game content
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
