Sleeping Dogs

Sleeping Dogs is a 2012 open-world action-adventure developed by United Front Games and published by Square Enix for Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Set in a vivid, neon-soaked recreation of Hong Kong, it casts the player as Wei Shen, an undercover police officer who infiltrates the Sun On Yee triad organisation, forcing him to walk a razor's edge between his duty as a cop and the loyalties and brutality demanded of his criminal cover. The game blends the familiar open-world formula of driving, shooting and free-roaming with a standout, melee-focused combat system inspired by Hong Kong action cinema, emphasising fluid hand-to-hand martial arts, counters and environmental takedowns. Its strong sense of place, authentic atmosphere and gripping crime drama distinguished it from its peers. The game had a troubled development, originally conceived as a True Crime sequel before that brand was dropped and it was reborn under Square Enix. Critically well received, Sleeping Dogs was praised for its setting, combat, story and characters, earning a devoted following even if its commercial performance was solid rather than spectacular. A definitive remastered edition followed. It is widely regarded as an underrated gem of the open-world genre and a uniquely authentic cinematic crime story.