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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Buy Watch Dogs 2 if you want a single, defined hero (Marcus Holloway), the San Francisco Bay Area and a DedSec crew fighting ctOS 2.0. Buy Watch Dogs: Legion if you want near-future London and a resistance built from people you recruit and switch between. The original is where the series starts, but Ubisoft’s pages don’t give enough detail to compare its mechanics fairly, so this guide doesn’t pretend to.
The quick decision
| You want… | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One named protagonist and a crew-driven story | Watch Dogs 2 | Ubisoft’s page centres on Marcus Holloway, a young hacker in the Bay Area, and DedSec’s effort to take down ctOS 2.0. |
| Hacking gadgets and machines as your toolkit | Watch Dogs 2 | Ubisoft lists taking control of drones, cars, cranes and security robots, plus co-op and player-versus-player activities. |
| Many playable characters and a “build your team” feel | Legion | Ubisoft’s tagline is “Play as Anyone”: you recruit people you see in London, each with individual skills, resources and talents. |
| Current consoles (PS5, Xbox Series X|S) | Legion | Ubisoft lists Legion for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Watch Dogs 2 is listed only for PC, PS4 and Xbox One. |
| Starting at the beginning | The original | Ubisoft describes the franchise as dating to 2014 and says the first game drew more than 40 million players worldwide (a publisher figure with no stated date or method). |
Watch Dogs 2: for the character-led hacker story
Ubisoft’s own copy says: “Play as Marcus Holloway, a brilliant young hacker living in the birthplace of the tech revolution.” The game is an open world built around hacking connected devices, and the publisher’s page specifically names drones, cars, cranes and security robots as things you can take over. It also lists co-op and PvP activities.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Watch Dogs Legion - PlayStation 4 Standard Edition | $9.40 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Watch Dogs | $28.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Watch Dogs xbox one | $9.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Watch Dogs 2 - PlayStation 4 | $23.11 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Watch Dogs Legion (PS5) | $22.75 | Buy on Amazon |
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Choose it if you prefer one consistent protagonist and a defined cast over a roster of strangers. Its platform list is narrower, so check that you own a supported system.
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Watch Dogs: Legion: for recruiting and switching characters
Ubisoft describes Legion as letting you “build a resistance from virtually anyone you see as you hack, infiltrate, and fight to take back a near-future London that is facing its downfall.” The defining idea is that the playable cast comes from the city’s population, with each recruit bringing different skills, resources and talents.
#1 Best Overall
- 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 as you complete co-op missions and unique game modes
- Upgrade to the Gold Edition or Ultimate Edition for access to the season pass and more
Choose it if you like assembling and rotating a team more than following one lead. Ubisoft’s store page shows Standard, Deluxe, Gold and Ultimate editions, with Bloodline and a Season Pass as add-ons.
The original Watch Dogs: where the series began
It is the first entry, and nothing in Ubisoft’s current franchise material suggests you must play it before the others. Ubisoft’s pages reviewed here don’t describe its protagonist, setting or mechanics in enough detail to compare it with the sequels, so treat any claim about how it plays relative to 2 or Legion with caution until you’ve checked the listing for your platform.
Rank #2
- HACK THE CITY: Control the city's infrastructure, in real time, with Aiden's cell phone; Trap your enemy in a 30 car pileup by manipulating the traffic lights; Stop a train, and then board it to evade the authorities; Narrowly escape capture by quickly raising a drawbridge; Anything connected to the city's CTOS can become your weapon
- SEAMLESS MULTIPLAYER EXPERIENCE: Discover a new level of interaction, cooperation and confrontation between players thanks to a brand new multiplayer game system that links the single and multiplayer modes into one seamless experience; That means no menus, no loading screens, just instant open world multiplayer action
- DYNAMIC NAVIGATION: Watch Dogs gives you the ability to not only use the city's ctOS to your advantage, but the streets as well; In real world Chicago, cut through one of the buildings or climb to the rooftops to catch your target
- HIGH OCTANE DRIVING: Get behind the wheel of more than 65 vehicles bursting with horsepower to explore the massive city while completing missions; Ubisoft Montreal partnered with Ubisoft Reflections, the acclaimed studio behind the award winning Driver series to develop each vehicle with state of art physics and handling
One packaging note: Ubisoft’s Legion editions announcement said the Season Pass included story expansions, extra missions, playable heroes and the Complete Edition of the original Watch Dogs. That described the package at announcement time; confirm it on the current listing before counting on it as a way to get the first game.
Check before you buy
- Platform: Watch Dogs 2 is listed for PC, PS4 and Xbox One; Legion adds PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
- Edition contents: Gold or Ultimate Legion editions may include a Season Pass, but not every copy does. Read what the exact listing includes.
- Watch Dogs 2 DLC: Ubisoft warns that its store DLC works only with base games bought through Ubisoft.com or Ubisoft Connect.
- Console upgrades: At Legion’s 2020 launch, Ubisoft offered a no-additional-cost upgrade from PS4 to PS5 and Xbox One to Xbox Series X|S for buyers on the corresponding last-generation console. That’s launch-era information, so verify eligibility on your platform’s store.
- Price and region: Editions, prices and availability vary by region, platform and account, and change over time. Check the live store page.
Which order?
Ubisoft’s materials don’t tie the three games into a required sequence. Start with whichever matches the playstyle above: Watch Dogs 2 for a single-hero story, Legion for team-building in London.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 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
Rank #4
- PLAYSTATION EXCLUSIVE Play future Mission Packs 30 days early on the PlayStation4
- EXPLORE THE MASSIVE AND DYNAMIC OPEN WORLD OF SAN FRANSISCO BAY Experience an incredible variety of game play possibilities in the winding streets of San Francisco, the vibrant neighborhoods of Oakland, and cutting edge Silicon Valley
- HACK EVERYTHING Every person, vehicle and connected device can be hacked. Take control of drones, cars, cranes, and more to use them as your weapon
- CONNECT WITH FRIENDS Play Co op and Player vs. Player activities in a seamless shared world
- YOU ARE IN CTRL Develop your skills and combine hacking, weapons and stealth to complete missions in ways that suit your playstyle
Rank #3
- HACK THE CITY: Control the city's infrastructure, in real time, with Aiden's cell phone. Trap your enemy in a 30-car pileup by manipulating the traffic lights. Stop a train, and then board it to evade the authorities. Narrowly escape capture by quickly raising a drawbridge. Anything connected to the city's CTOS can become your weapon.
- SEAMLESS MULTIPLAYER EXPERIENCE: Discover a new level of interaction, cooperation and confrontation between players thanks to a brand new multiplayer game system that links the single and multiplayer modes into one seamless experience. That means no menus, no loading screens, just instant open world multiplayer action.
- DYNAMIC NAVIGATION: Watch_Dogs gives you the ability to not only use the city's ctOS to your advantage, but the streets as well. In real-world Chicago, cut through one of the buildings or climb to the rooftops to catch your target.
- HIGH OCTANE DRIVING: Get behind the wheel of more than 65 vehicles bursting with horsepower to explore the massive city while completing missions. Ubisoft Montreal partnered with Ubisoft Reflections, the acclaimed studio behind the award-winning Driver series to develop each vehicle with state-of-art physics and handling.
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.
