10 Best Starting Areas In Open-World Video Games

10. Sleeping Dogs - North Point

The detailed depiction of Hong Kong in Sleeping Dogs is first shown to players when protagonist Wei Shen attempts to infiltrate the Sun On Yee in North Point.

Shen uses his childhood friend Jackie Ma to get involved with the Water Street Gang run by Winston Chu, a faction within the triad that controls the neighborhood which becomes the player's first explorable area in the game.

Operating out of Chu's mother's restaurant the Golden Koi, the undercover cop gradually becomes trusted by the gang ahead of an explosive and shocking conclusion to the opening act. Players can find their way around the night market, their own apartment, and Club Bam Bam where Wei can dazzle the patrons with his Karaoke ability.

North Point is only the start of the very faithful depiction of Hong Kong throughout the game which was released in 2014 and is easily one of the most beloved open-world experiences of the prior decade.

A long-anticipated sequel has yet to be picked up despite the title's cult favorite status, but thankfully Sleeping Dogs is a very replayable game in itself.