Common Sense Media Review
By Chad Sapieha
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Hacker romp lets players choose violent or peaceful methods.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
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Watch Dogs 2
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 65 parent reviews
Parents say that the gameplay of this title is more suitable for children than its rating suggests, citing minimal violence, infrequent profanity, and optional nudity, which many found to be exaggerated by various reviews. It promotes critical themes such as cyber safety and ethical hacking while allowing players to avoid violent options altogether, making it appropriate for kids aged 10 and above with parental supervision.
- violence minimal
- profanity frequent
- nudity optional
- suitable for teens
- promotes cyber safety
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 132 kid reviews
Kids say the game appeals to older teens, often being seen as a less graphic alternative to other titles in its genre, although it features strong language, some nudity, and optional violence. Reviews suggest it could be rated around 12 or 13, but parents should consider their child's maturity and willingness to engage with the content.
- age suitability
- optional violence
- strong language
- nudity concerns
- alternative option
- engaging storyline
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
Players become San Franciscan hacker Marcus Holloway in WATCH DOGS 2, a near-future open-world adventure that imagines the Bay Area has come under the control of an all-encompassing central operating system called ctOS 2.0. This high-tech infrastructure is connected to everything from cameras to traffic lights and collects personal data on citizens that nefarious companies purchase and use for personal gain, doing things like rigging elections and gaming the insurance industry. Disillusioned (Marcus was once racially profiled by the system), he hooks up with a group of "hacktivists" known as DedSec, and together they work to expose the misdeeds of some of San Francisco's biggest tech firms. Most of their missions involve infiltrating secure facilities, which can be done violently -- using guns and explosives -- or stealthily, by employing drones and a range of powerful hacker abilities to distract guards and gain access to locked rooms. It's up to the player to choose how to play and whether to engage in combat or remain peaceful; the entire game can be completed without ever aiming or shooting a gun. Beyond the main missions, players can freely explore San Francisco and the surrounding area, engaging in a wide range of side activities that include dirt bike races, driving for an Uber-like taxi service, and spraying DedSec graffiti on billboards.
Is It Any Good?
It's refreshing to not be forced into acts of violence in an M-rated open-world action game. Unlike most adult-oriented open-world adventures, which tend to turn characters who are normal and likable in story sequences into rampaging killers once they hit the streets to take on missions, Watch Dogs 2 gives players freedom of choice to maintain a character who acts more or less as one would hope someone in his position would. Or not. It's admittedly a lot easier to just shoot your way through earlier missions rather than try to be stealthy. But once players unlock some of Marcus' more powerful hacker abilities -- like taking remote control of pursuing vehicles, using aerial- and ground-based drones to surveil secured areas, or even hacking people's ctOS profiles to make it seem as though they're wanted by the police, creating a distraction -- it becomes a lot more enjoyable to try to complete missions without causing a ruckus.
The biggest obstacle to enjoying Watch Dogs 2 is simply having the patience to keep playing until it gets really fun. The DedSec hackers are a funny and likable bunch, but the intrigue they're embroiled in takes a good five or six hours to really pick up. And while Marcus can hack phones and cameras right from the start, you'll need to wait for some time before he can begin doing some of the cool hacker stuff mentioned above. This makes early missions a bit uncreative and perhaps harder than they need to be if you try to play them without killing anyone. Stick with it, though, and Watch Dogs 2 eventually proves itself one of the more innovative and memorable open-world action games to come along in years.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the impact of violence in media. Watch Dogs 2 provides options for players to be as violent or as nonviolent as they like while carrying out most missions; did you feel as though you were better rewarded or more satisfied if you played one way or the other?
Talk about how minorities are represented in games. Why do you think so few big-budget games feature people of color as protagonists? Is Watch Dogs 2's hero defined more by the color of his skin or his actions?
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 4 , Windows , Xbox One
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : UbiSoft
- Release date : November 15, 2016
- Genre : Third-Person Shooter
- Topics : Adventures
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : February 18, 2026
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