Deal | When GTA still had real competition: Open-world action for less than $3 on Steam

In Sleeping Dogs, players take on the role of Wei Shen, an undercover police officer sent to infiltrate the Hong Kong Triads. Unlike many other open-world crime games, the focus is not only on shootouts and vehicle action but also on intense hand-to-hand combat. Players brawl their way through crowded street markets, neon-lit nightclubs and narrow alleyways, all while following a story about loyalty, betrayal and internal conflict.

In many ways, Sleeping Dogs feels similar to the Grand Theft Auto series. Hong Kong can be explored freely, missions and side activities are spread across the city, and high-speed pursuits are as much a part of the experience as illegal street races. What sets the game apart, however, is its emphasis on martial arts combat. Wei Shen takes down enemies with fast combos, brutal counters and environmental attacks that give fights a distinct cinematic feel. Firearms are also part of the game, but for much of the experience, they take a back seat.

German gaming magazine GameStar reviewed Sleeping Dogs when it was released in 2012 and praised its engaging story, atmospheric open world and combat system, which drew comparisons to the Batman: Arkham games. Criticism focused mainly on technical shortcomings, including muddy textures, occasional AI issues and driving physics that took some getting used to. Even so, the game earned a strong score of 84 out of 100.

On Metacritic, Sleeping Dogs holds a Metascore of 80 and a User Score of 8.1. The Steam community has been even more enthusiastic: 94% of more than 17,000 user reviews are positive. On the Steam Deck, the game is currently listed as “Unsupported.”

85% discount on Steam

Sleeping Dogs normally sells for around $20 on Steam. Until June 11, an 85% discount brings the price down to just $2.99. According to SteamDB, 85% off has been the best regularly recurring offer in recent years. However, the game has gone even lower in the past, with a 90% discount recorded in 2019.

For anyone looking to pass the time until GTA VI, this deal might be worth considering. Sleeping Dogs never reached the popularity of Rockstar’s flagship franchise, but it remains one of the most distinctive and accomplished alternatives the genre has produced.

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.