There are few gaming franchises more successful than Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto. The franchise has become a cultural phenomenon, and while few games can truly replicate the experience of pure GTA, there are plenty of games like GTA that can satisfy the desire to play something similar. Whether you enjoy the driving aspect of GTA, the heists, or the freedom, there's a game or two out there that offers a comparable experience.
Below, we highlight some of these games that feature elements similar to those of the GTA franchise. Few games offer everything that GTA does, but every game on this list features a gameplay experience that matches something you might enjoy about one of the titles in the GTA series. However, most games on the list are similar to modern GTA titles where freedom to have fun and cause chaos in an open world is king.
Below, you can see the list we've put together that encompasses the best games you can play if you're looking for something similar to GTA. As a note, this list is in no particular order and primarily includes games that are easily playable today. For more, check out our look at games like Skyrim.
Red Dead Redemption 1+2
- Developer: Rockstar Games
- Release Date: May 18, 2010 / October 26, 2018
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
- Genre: Action Adventure
How else could we kick off this list? The Red Dead Redemption series is also developed by Rockstar Games, and it's much more than simply "GTA in the Old West." While you'll find plenty of the same elements from GTA in RDR, including a large open world, criminal activity, and tons of heists, the stakes are raised when it comes to characters and storytelling. There are few better-told stories in gaming than the ones in Red Dead Redemption, especially in the sequel. Each game has a large cast of characters that evolve as the story goes on. This develops over the course of dozens of fantastic missions and several incredible locations, including Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Old West.
Saints Row 2
- Developer: Deep Silver Volition
- Release Date: October 14, 2008
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC
- Genre: Action Adventure
Dubbed the unofficial GTA "clone," the Saints Row series is beloved by many gaming fans for its authenticity, freedom, and unique style of gameplay. While it's true the game does take clear inspiration from GTA, the games do enough to distinguish themselves to warrant your playtime. In particular, the second Saints Row is widely considered to be the series at its best. You're able to make a character of your own design and are sent off on your own in a large open world straight from the start. You can acquire weapons and vehicles of mass destruction, complete dozens of story or side missions, and essentially do whatever else your heart desires. The story doesn't really compare to anything told by Rockstar Games, but it's engaging to the point that you'll want to see the end credits roll.
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Just Cause 3
- Developer: Avalanche Studios
- Release Date: November 30, 2015
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
- Genre: Action Adventure
Imagine a huge open world, and then add a grappling hook plus a wingsuit to the mix. That's essentially the entire selling point behind Just Cause 3, which features the best combination of the GTA and Just Cause series. The third installment is set in a tropical paradise that's been overrun by a dictator. You play as Rico Rodriguez and your goal is to create as much destruction on the 2,000-square-kilometer map as possible. That's not a hyperbole either, as the game features a scoring system for how many structures you destroy at a given location. Using your grappling hook and wingsuit, you can acquire dozens of weapons, equipment, and vehicles to aid your destruction goals while navigating the world in a fast-paced and extremely entertaining way.
As a note, the entire Just Cause series is fantastic and the three additional games deliver a similar experience to the third installment.
Watch Dogs 2
- Developer: Ubisoft
- Release Date: November 15, 2016
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
- Genre: Action Adventure
Watch Dogs is another series that was dubbed a GTA clone, but it has more going on than that. Watch Dogs 2 takes the hacking element the Watch Dogs series is known for and cranks it up a notch. You can hack just about anything in the beautiful recreation of San Francisco that you want. This includes streetlights, cars, phones, cameras, and everything in between. What separates the sequel from its predecessor is the exploration and characters; San Francisco provides hundreds of activities to take part in that don't just boil down to fetch quests. Along the way, you'll meet a vast cast of characters that enrich the story and experience through quirky dialogue and humorous interactions.
Mad Max
- Developer: Avalanche Studios
- Release Date: August 30, 2015
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC
- Genre: Action Adventure / Driving
Mad Max didn't get nearly the attention it deserved when it was released in the summer of 2015. Years later, though, many players discovered what they missed out on, which was a terrific driving game set against the backdrop of the Mad Max universe. While the game does center around driving, which is its strong suit, there's plenty of hand-to-hand combat to provide some on-foot action. The game features Arkham-style combat, so you can perform combos, finishers, and chain targets together with a melee weapon. There are guns as well, but you'll find ammo is difficult to come by. Perhaps the most underrated aspect of Mad Max is the story, however. The start of the game sees your "Magnum Opus" vehicle stolen from you, and your goal is to get it back by any means necessary. Mad Max is a roughly 20-hour game, but those hours are jam-packed with action, intrigue, and downright fun gameplay.
Mafia III
- Developer: Hangar 13
- Release Date: October 7, 2016
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
- Genre: Action Adventure
One of the more underrated gaming franchises over the past decade is Mafia. While it might look like another GTA clone at first glance, there's a ton of depth to each game. However, if you want the full Mafia experience, you have to go with the third installment. Mafia III features some of the best third-person combat you'll find in an action-adventure game and crisp driving mechanics as well. The story is also not to be overlooked and takes you on a journey of revenge and gut-wrenching decisions. Mafia III is set in an open world, but the map is compact, allowing for exploration without overwhelming you with its size. You could also play Mafia I and II, but you don't need to play those games to understand what's happening in Mafia III.
Cyberpunk 2077
- Developer: CD Projekt Red
- Release Date: December 10, 2020
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
- Genre: RPG
Cyberpunk 2077 is different from GTA in many ways, including its RPG mechanics and mission structure. However, it's also extremely similar in ways that will appeal to GTA fans. You have absolute freedom to do whatever you want in a large, bustling city that also features massive, lawless outside areas. If you get into trouble, police in Cyberpunk 2077 will hunt you down to the ends of the earth following several updates to the AI. Cyberpunk 2077 features extremely memorable characters, a wild and thrilling story, and some of the best graphics ever seen in a game. You can be anyone and do anything in Cyberpunk's Night City, giving you perhaps even more freedom than in a GTA game.
Payday 2
- Developer: Starbreeze Studios
- Release Date: August 13, 2013
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Genre: First-Person Shooter
At their core, GTA V and Payday 2 are quite alike in some key ways. Payday 2 foregoes the open world of GTA games in favor of focusing on completing heists, which were arguably the best part of GTA V--if those were your favorite part, then Payday might just scratch that itch.
Critically, you can complete Payday 2's heists with up to three other players. The heists are dramatically varied, offering vastly different experiences every time you suit up as one of the Payday crew. The gunplay in Payday 2 is solid and you have dozens of weapons and equipment to choose from for your next heist. A sequel, Payday 3, is also now available, though a variety of complaints have driven much of the fanbase to return to Payday 2, which remains popular after more than a decade.
Yakuza 0
- Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Release Date: March 12, 2015
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
- Genre: RPG / Action Adventure
There are plenty of games to choose from in the Yakuza series, which shouldn't be mistaken for "Japanese GTA," as some used to position it. They do, however, heavily focus an open city you can roam for things to do.
In terms of where to start with the long-running series, many players agree that Yakuza 0 is the best option. When talking about Yakuza 0, most fans bring up the story first, as it's an extremely well-told and intertwining tale of two Japanese men leading vastly different lives. Yakuza 0's combat centers around over-the-top, beat-em-up-style combat, allowing you to choose between three fighting styles per character that can change up combat from fight to fight. Finally, the world of Yakuza 0 is certainly one to behold. It's a beautiful reimagining of 1980s Japan and you won't find yourself bored at any time with how much content there is to take part in. From minigames to side quests to sheer exploration, Yakuza 0 is well worth the dozens of hours you'll likely spend playing it.
Bully
- Developer: Rockstar Games
- Release Date: October 17, 2006
- Platforms: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PC
- Genre: Action Adventure
Bully is another Rockstar Games masterpiece, but it's incredibly different from anything else it's put out in the past 20 years. The game is set around 15-year-old Jimmy Hopkins, who is attending the Bullworth Academy boarding school. Playing as Jimmy, you have to live life as he would, which means going to class, causing trouble with classmates, and paying the price for any misdeeds. As the name of the game suggests, there's quite a bit of bullying going on at this school, and it's mostly directed at Jimmy. Your main goal in Bully is to push back against the bullies and navigate the school in the best way you can. Bully features fantastic characters, hilarious gameplay, and can be extremely relatable. While it may not be a game centered around causing destruction in an open world, it's worth playing if you're a fan of Rockstar Games and GTA.
L.A. Noire
- Developer: Rockstar Games
- Release Date: May 17, 2011
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Genre: Action/Adventure
L.A. Noire is another Rockstar title that doesn't follow the traditional GTA gameplay model. While there's still combat and you're playing in a recreated version of 1940s Los Angeles, your main priority is not engaging with enemies and roaming around an open world. Instead, you play as detective Cole Phelps and solve crimes using deduction and puzzle-solving skills. As you solve more crimes, Phelps ascends the ranks of the LAPD. The story is a standout aspect in L.A. Noire, and the crime-solving sections are incredibly in-depth and will certainly leave you scratching your head at times.
Sleeping Dogs
- Developer: United Front Games
- Release Date: August 13, 2012
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC
- Genre: Action Adventure / RPG
Sleeping Dogs is over a decade old at this point, but it has aged extremely well. It's one of the most underrated action-adventure games from the 2010s, and any GTA fan will find something they like about it. The game takes place in Hong Kong and you play as Wei Shen, an undercover detective attempting to infiltrate the Triads gang. As the game goes on, you earn more trust within the gang, but it becomes increasingly difficult to keep your cover intact. This plot makes for an excellent and memorable story, with plenty of characters to meet along the way. As for combat, you can fight your way across an open world using martial arts attacks, which feature gory finishers and animations. If you don't feel like fighting, you can take part in street races and acquire new vehicles to drive around the open world.
Crackdown
- Developer: Realtime Worlds
- Release Date: February 20, 2007
- Platforms: Xbox 360 (backwards compatible)
- Genre: Action Adventure
The first two entries in Crackdown series were only released on Xbox 360, but backwards compatibility makes them playable on modern Xbox consoles, including Series X|S. It was originally thought up by David Jones, the man who created the GTA series, and features plenty of the same elements as the older GTA games. Crackdown puts a unique spin on its gameplay, though, as you're essentially a super human that can run fast, jump far and high, pick up and throw vehicles, and more. You're playing Crackdown strictly for the open-world gameplay, as the story and characters take a backseat to all the action, but it's some very fun action. If you end up enjoying the formula and want more, the aforementioned Saints Row series delved into this style with Saints Row 4.
Lego City Undercover
- Developer: TT Games
- Release Date: March 18, 2013
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Wii U, PC
- Genre: Action Adventure
Lego City Undercover is certainly not the first game that comes to mind when you think of games like GTA. However, the gameplay isn't too dissimilar from other games on this list. Sure, you're playing as a Lego figure, but that just adds to the enjoyment factor. Lego City Undercover is an open-world game that sees you play as Chase McClain, an undercover cop who is aiming to hunt down an escaped convict. Over the course of the story, you can explore 20 unique districts, drive dozens of vehicles, and catch crooks who you find breaking the law. It might be the antithesis of what GTA is all about by playing on the side of the law, but there are also undercover parts where you get to be a criminal.
Maniac
- Developer: Transhuman Design
- Release Date: March 28, 2024
- Platforms: PC
- Genre: Roguelike / Action
Finally, the last spot on our list goes to the most recent title we've featured. Whereas many of the other games on this list emulate the modern style of GTA established with GTA 3, Maniac is a callback to the original GTA games, where your only job was to create mayhem across a city from an isometric perspective. The game is a roguelike that scales with how much chaos you can cause. The entire world is against you in this top-down simulation, and you can unlock myriad weapons, vehicles, characters, and perks to destroy anything and everything around you. As you create more mayhem, more opposing forces will come in to try and stop you, which will appeal to those who love wreaking havoc and racking up the Wanted stars in GTA.
