5 Best Video Games Like Sleeping Dogs

The crime-riddled action-adventure genre in video games is primarily dominated by a couple of popular franchises, namely "Grand Theft Auto" and "Mafia." However, "Sleeping Dogs" remains one of the most underrated games in that genre, and it should also receive far more recognition in the industry as a whole. It's been cast in the role of being a "GTA" clone in the past, but it's much more than that. An open world, action-adventure game, "Sleeping Dogs" follows the story of Wei Shen, an undercover cop looking to infiltrate the darkest corners of Tokyo's crime ring. 

While "Sleeping Dogs" isn't as popular as other crime-focused games, it was massively influential for its genre. If you were one of the lucky players to enjoy the mastery of "Sleeping Dogs," then you might be looking for another game that has similar gameplay or also falls within the action-adventure crime genre. Luckily, there are several games that can offer the same kind of experience, and we've picked the best of them right here.

If you're looking for the closest 1:1 experience to "Sleeping Dogs," then you're going to want to check out "Yakuza 0." Also set in Japan, "Yakuza 0" is another open-world crime game that features a martial arts style of combat, both of which are major components of "Sleeping Dogs." The game isn't just a clone, though, as it has a much denser world full of activities to take part in and three unique combat styles that you can alternate between during combat.

The entire "Yakuza" franchise is great for any "Sleeping Dogs" fan, but "Yakuza 0" is considered the prequel to the entire series. This allows you to hop in fresh and go through an original story without any required knowledge beforehand. The game follows two characters, Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima, as they navigate the crime world of Tokyo and Osaka. The stories of these two characters are intertwined, and things get more complicated for both of them as the game progresses. "Yakuza 0" is a fantastic experience that closely mirrors "Sleeping Dogs" in a number of ways without feeling like you're playing the same game.

When people talk about crime games, one key franchise often gets overlooked alongside "Sleeping Dogs." That franchise is "Batman: Arkham," which includes three main games that rank among the best trilogies in video game history. While many players rate the second game in the trilogy, "Batman: Arkham City," as the best game in the trilogy and one of the best DC games ever, "Batman: Arkham Knight" offers the closest experience to "Sleeping Dogs."

This is the final game in the trilogy, but you don't need to play the previous two games to get the gist of what's happening in the story. To no one's surprise, you play as Batman, and the game's open world is set in the infamous city of Gotham. As the Dark Knight, you'll go head-to-head with some of the most iconic villains in the DC universe, with the main plot revolving around Scarecrow and the Arkham Knight. 

While the story is action-packed with several twists and turns, the best parts about "Batman: Arkham Knight" are the combat and the world exploration. You'll primarily venture around Gotham using the Batmobile, which is kitted out to survive any kind of situation. When you hop out of the Batmobile, you'll use the famous Arkham-style combat that allows Batman to subdue enemies using a variety of abilities. Whether you're in it for the crime aspect or the ability to play as Batman, "Arkham Knight" is a fantastic choice for any "Sleeping Dogs" fan.

While the two franchises share a similar name and genre, "Watch Dogs" and "Sleeping Dogs" aren't related in any way. "Watch Dogs" as a franchise features three unrelated games, all of which focus on open-world crime that's more inspired by "Grand Theft Auto" than anything else. The franchise lies dormant in 2026, but "Watch Dogs 2" is still an outstanding experience that holds up extremely well today.

Hacking plays a key role in the story of "Watch Dogs 2," as the protagonist, Marcus Holloway, joins a criminal hacking group that aims to take down corrupt corporations.Your character can tamper with any piece of electronics in the world, so you can manipulate traffic lights to turn green, infiltrate the feed of a security camera, and even gain control of automated weapons. The hacking mechanic is quite enjoyable to use in "Watch Dogs 2," as it gives the world exploration more of a purpose and lets you craft your own path during missions and side quests. That's not your only weapon, though, as "Watch Dogs 2" also features in-depth driving mechanics, a variety of guns, and melee combat.

As far as story-driven crime games go, "Mafia" is one of the dominant franchises in the genre. Consisting of an action-packed trilogy, the "Mafia" games are all terrific in their own right. However, when compared with "Sleeping Dogs," "Mafia III" stands out as the game with the most similarities.

For starters, "Mafia III" is the only game in the trilogy that's open-world, as the first two games mainly feature linear levels that don't offer much exploration, collectibles, or side quests to complete. "Mafia III," on the other hand, has a gorgeous open world that's teeming with criminal mischief to get into. You play as the protagonist, Lincoln Clay, whose family is killed by the Italian mafia in a fictional version of New Orleans during the year 1968. During the story, you'll seek revenge against every Italian mobster responsible for your family's death. 

Combat in "Mafia III" mostly revolves around using old-fashioned guns, but there are also plenty of chances to be stealthy and take out enemies from the shadows. Between the open world, the criminal activities available, and the engaging story, "Mafia III" checks a lot of boxes that "Sleeping Dogs" players are looking for.

It's strange to think about, but "Sleeping Dogs" was actually released one year before "Grand Theft Auto V." Naturally, "Sleeping Dogs" almost certainly took inspiration from the previous "GTA" games, but "GTA V" is far and away the best game you can play if you're looking to replicate Wei Shen's adventures. Set in Los Santos, a fictionalized version of Los Angeles, "GTA V" features three primary protagonists who take part in huge crime sprees throughout the entire game.

These crimes are spread out during the story of the game, and some of them involve carefully laid schemes that require the utmost coordination to pull off. Of course, perhaps the best part about "GTA V" is how much chaos you can cause in its open world. Right from the start of the game, you can travel throughout Los Santos and do just about anything your heart desires. From stealing cars to robbing stores to eluding the police, most of your playtime in "GTA V" revolves around crime. 

However, there's also a well-crafted story waiting for you in between all of the open-world hijinks that lets you decide the ultimate ending for the game's three protagonists. While "GTA VI" is coming soon, you can always find a reason to head back to Los Santos if you're a fan of this particular genre.