I’m sorry, Grand Theft Auto V, but Watch Dogs 2 is the best open world game of all time

I’m not afraid to admit it; Watchdogs 2 is one of, if not the, best open world experiences of all time. A carefully crafted world with some of the cleverest dialogue and characters? This was something I never expected, especially after the mediocrity of the original Guard dogs.

In my opinion, “Watch Dogs 2” is the best game Ubisoft has ever made

After Watch Dogs came and went with a whimper instead of the bang I wanted, I wasn’t sure how well a sequel would do. I was expecting another game of milquetoast Aiden Pierce, but instead? We have an entirely new cast, and although some of the dialogue is cringe-worthy, it is refreshing and real.

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Marcus Halloway is the quintessential “l33t hack3r” character of 2016, but damned if he isn’t So much cooler than Aiden could ever have been. DedSec may be idiots, but they’re lovable and offer a lot more variety than the typical gray and white of the original Guard dogs. It was refreshing, it was beautiful and most of all? It was so much fun.

The version of San Fransico Bay depicted in Watch Dogs 2 is one of the most vivid and real examples of an open-world game. Even 10 years after its release, I can pick it up again and still have fun exploring. So much about that Watchdogs 2 has shined since its release, and it’s sad to see the lukewarm reception Watch Dogs Legion will likely end the franchise for now.

Even now the world feels more alive than any other Grand Theft Auto Game I played. It’s a joy to watch people react realistically to their digital lives. The mock Google Campus is still hilarious and being a dark and brooding vigilante just feels right. It’s a shame that some of the best open world games are being forgotten GTA Online brings in millions per year.

It should be a crime that Watch Dogs 2 hasn’t received a next-gen patch

Watchdogs 2 is amplified on Xbox, and that’s great. But the 900p resolution doesn’t do it any favors. It’s a great game and deserves a proper next-gen patch so players can enjoy it in 4K60. Sure, the PC version has an HD texture pack. But I would love to see the same thing made available to console owners too.

Because Ubisoft doubles the amount Assassin’s Creed I really hope they plan to do something with the experiences the world is about to experience Watchdogs 2. It’s hard to imagine they will. The game is now almost 10 years old and there are no new updates in sight. But as soon as I see a 4K60 patch on my Xbox Series X or PS5, I’ll be right back at it. And yes, I played it on my PC. It’s just too beautiful to put down, even all these years later.