Deal | Steam: GTA meets Yakuza – open-world shooter 85% off for just $3
Sleeping Dogs is an open-world action game that blends elements of GTA and Yakuza. Developed by United Front Games and published by Square Enix in 2012, it’s been around for a while but still holds up surprisingly well. If you're looking for something to fill the gap until GTA 6 – officially announced for May 2026, though insider Jason Schreier reports that the date isn’t set in stone yet – this might be a solid pick. You play as Wei Shen, an undercover cop who infiltrates Hong Kong’s infamous triads, aiming to bring them down from within without blowing his cover.
Sleeping Dogs combines open-world freedom in the style of GTA with a strong focus on hand-to-hand combat and a tightly woven narrative more in line with the Yakuza series. The combat system feels similar to the Batman: Arkham games – Wei Shen can strike, counter, use the environment to his advantage and pull off dramatic finishers, like electrocuting enemies or smashing them through neon signs. Alongside the main story, the game offers plenty of side content, including street races, police chases and collectibles like health shrines and clothing that provide gameplay perks.
Reviews: Compelling narrative and solid presentation with a few weak spots
In its review, the German gaming magazine GameStar praised Sleeping Dogs for its strong story focus and polished presentation. The gripping undercover plot is driven by believable characters, a rich atmosphere and cinematic cutscenes that draw players in. The combat system was described as accessible, impactful and fun, though it may feel a bit stiff at first until players get used to the mechanics.
On the technical side, Sleeping Dogs has a few issues. Textures can appear blurry, shadows lack detail and the AI occasionally stumbles. The driving physics and camera angles also take some getting used to. Gunplay doesn’t play a major role early on and only becomes more prominent later in the game. Still, despite these flaws, GameStar awarded it a solid 84 out of 100. On Steam, the game has over 10,000 user reviews, with 93% positive. It also holds a Metascore of 80 and a User Score of 8.2 on Metacritic.
85% discount on Steam
Sleeping Dogs is usually priced at around $20 on Steam, but it's currently 85% off until May 28, bringing the price down to about $3. According to SteamDB, this would be the first major discount in years – although that may be inaccurate, as the price history could be incomplete or outdated.
Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.
Source(s)
