Have you been playing a lot of GTA lately? Do you like the open world in the game that you can roam freely and explore at your own pace? If that’s the case then you’d be glad to know that GTA is not the only game with a large map and an open world. There are several games that offer the ability to roam freely and do whatever you please apart from the missions. If this sounds interesting to you then keep reading because we’ve got the perfect games for you. If you want to take a break from GTA and explore a new game then you are at the right place. Below are the 12 best games like GTA.
Best Games Like GTA (Updated August 2020)
Here, we have included the best games like GTA which have a similar open-world theme with exploration and action-packed adventure. You can take a glance at the list below and click on the link to jump to the corresponding game.
- Saints Row IV
- LA Noire
- Red Dead Redemption 2
- Sleeping Dogs
- Mafia II
- Mad Max
- True Crime: New York City
- Payday 2
- Just Cause 4
- Yakuza Kiwami Series
- Watch Dogs 2
- Bully
List of Games Like GTA
1. Saints Row IV
What is it? Open World, Action-Adventure.
Why you should try it: If you think that GTA is fun then you are going to be blown away by the amount of fun and over-the-top action Saints Row brings to the genre. This game is specifically built for having as much fun as you possibly can without ever getting bored of it. You get to use special powers and act like mighty heroes in this iteration of Saints Row.
If you have played the previous games in the series then this is a must-play for you but even if you have never played a Saints Row game before then Saints Row IV is the perfect game for you to start. Saints Row IV is GTA on steroids and superhero powers combined. This game lets you play absurd missions and a wacky storyline that’s both funny and entertaining for the gamer.
This game feels like you are in the Matrix because of all the over the top action. This is entirely a non-serious game that’s all about enjoying yourself and having some real fun. Free roamers who prefer roaming and exploring the entire sandbox world in games are going to find themselves in paradise when they play this game because it has a huge world that you can explore, destroy, or do whatever you want with it.
Where to buy: Xbox, Playstation, Steam
Works on: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Linux
2. LA Noire
What is it? Open World, Crime-Thriller, Action.
Why you should try it: This is published by the same people that developed GTA. This feels like GTA set in the 1940s. However, L.A. Noire lets you experience life from a law enforcement officer’s perspective instead of a criminal perspective which is available in GTA. You are a detective in the 1940s L.A.
You start from the bottom and work your way up in any way you like. Every choice you make in the game affects how the story unfolds. You get promotions, demotions, praise, etc based on how you make your choices and how you choose to solve your cases. You can also roam around, snatching people’s cars and that will also affect your in-game reputation.
This game has a serious story that unfolds with each case that you solve. Your reputation is at stake so every move you make has to be well-planned because you don’t want to end up in a difficult situation. You get fast car chases, gunfights, standoffs, and all the action that you’d ever want from the 1940s. This is the perfect game for mystery and detective gameplay fanatics.
Where to buy: Xbox, Playstation, Steam
Works on: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows
3. Red Dead Redemption 2
What is it? Open World, Western Action-Adventure
Why you should try it: The sequel to Rockstar Games’ popular Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the best open-world games that you can play right now. If you’re a fan of the GTA franchise, then you’ll definitely fall in love with Red Dead Redemption 2, which is essentially GTA set in the American Wild West.
Instead of snatching cars, you get to ride horses and take part in exciting bank heists, followed by horseback getaways and some intense gunfights. The game is perfectly executed in every way and is one of the best games released in 2018. Get your guns and start your gun-slinging adventure in the classic west.
Where to buy: Xbox, PlayStation
Works on: Xbox One, PlayStation 4
4. Sleeping Dogs
What is it? Open World, Action-Adventure.
Why you should try it: Sleeping Dogs takes you to the glamorous and vibrant streets of Hong Kong where you have to infiltrate a dangerous gang. You are a cop who goes undercover to Hong Kong to infiltrate a lethal gang of criminals and destroy it from the inside.
The story is really captivating and sucks you right in. The combat system in Sleeping Dogs is top-notch and you can feel every hit you land. The counter system in the combat lets you take on multiple targets and show them your martial arts technique.
You go around wreaking havoc posing as a criminal, your real objective is to gain information on the gang and help the police bring it down for good. This is GTA with a more Asian style and some extra kung fu chops. Just don’t forget that you are just pretending to be a criminal so don’t go over the limit or you might get in trouble.
Where to buy: Xbox, Playstation, Steam
Works on: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows
5. Mafia II
What is it? Open World, Crime Thriller, Action.
Why you should try it: Mafia II takes you into the intriguing world of top mob families in the game. You will be a part of the mafia and it feels like being in the Godfather. The game tells the story of a small-time criminal who quickly starts gaining ranks in the underworld and becomes the mob boss of one of the most lethal mafia families in the game.
This game is all about trust, honor, and the occasional betrayal that keeps things interesting. You get to experience the 1940s again with this game, however, this time, you are on the other side of the law. The storyline is really amazing and the cinematic cutscenes give it amazing depth.
The game feels like a Hollywood movie with an intriguing story and beautifully rendered cutscenes that may even put some budget movies to shame with the acting. The game even has a sequel called Mafia III which you can check out, but it wasn’t as well-received as Mafia II which is why we haven’t included it separately.
Where to buy: Xbox, Playstation, Steam
Works on: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Mac OS
6. Mad Max
What is it? Open World, Action-adventure
Why you should try it: Mad Max is an action-adventure game similar to GTA which is based on the Mad Max franchise. The plot is well-known to everyone, but a new open-world dimension has been added to this awesome video game. You are Max, the lone survivor who wants to leave the madness behind and find solace in something called “Plains of Silence”.
However, he has to fight his way out using cars and deadly combats. If you are wondering how it’s similar to GTA then here comes the interesting part. You drive about the town and beat up other people to upgrade your car. The more you explore, solve puzzles, and unlock the map, you beat up more people on your way.
And just like GTA, on Mad Max, you grow a beard, change your personality, and upgrade your cars to kill the opponents. If you keep the apocalyptic brutality out of Mad Max, it surely feels like playing GTA. I would say, if you are looking for best games like GTA then Mad Max is a perfect pick.
Where to buy: Microsoft Store, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Steam
Works on: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Steam, macOS, Linux
7. True Crime: New York City
What is it? Open World, Action-adventure, Crime-thriller
Why you should try it: Although True Crime: New Your City was released in 2005, it’s still considered a classic game just like GTA. The noir style of gameplay makes it one of the best open-world, crime thrillers out there. Under the single-campaign gameplay, you begin as a police officer who is promoted to the rank of Detective.
You are tasked to find the former gang members of New Your City. On the other hand, you can choose to be a normal player and just like on GTA, you can travel across the city in different vehicles and do whatever you want. Due to its open-world theme, you are allowed to attack or kill anyone and spend time in the city at your own leisure.
There are many sidequests, street racing circuits, underground fight clubs in the city and you can take part in those activities. Simply put, in terms of theme and game mechanics, True Crime: NYC falls into the genre of GTA and you must give it a try.
Where to buy: PlayStation / Xbox / GameCube
Works on: PlayStation, Xbox, GameCube
8. Payday 2
What is it? Open World, Crime Thriller, Shooter.
Why you should try it: If you think that robbing places and pulling off amazing heists in GTA is the best thing ever then you are going to fall in love with Payday 2 because this game invented co-op heists that you can pull off with your friends. This game is the perfect game for playing with your buddies in co-op because you can get together and rob the bank.
This game lets you experience the thrill of robbing a highly secure place. It feels like you are in one of the best heist movies of all time. It’s a first-person shooter so you get to shoot people as well but the main objective of the game is to safely pull off the heist and get away before the law reaches out for you.
The single-player story mode is decent but Payday 2 really shines when it comes to 4 player co-op mode. It’s never been more fun to rob a place along with friends, truly exhilarating.
Where to buy: Xbox, Playstation, Steam
Works on: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Linux
9. Just Cause 4
What is it? Open World, Action-Adventure
Why you should try it: Just Cause 4 is another great GTA alternative that was released in 2018. The latest addition in the Just Cause franchise, Just Cause 4 is all about blowing everything up in the most ridiculously fun way ever. You get access to a huge collection of destructive weapons which means you can wreak havoc on the evil dictator in any way you like.
Blow people up, send them flying to the moon with your portable rockets, etc. This game is all about going crazy, just cause you can (pun totally intended). Explore everything from the skies to the seabed.
Perform insane stunts and moves, the game is filled with over-the-top action and it’s definitely exciting for people who are looking for some serious fun and action. Unleash destruction in the most imaginative and creative way you can ever dream of. It’s all about chaos in this game.
Where to buy: Xbox, PlayStation, Steam
Works on: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Windows
10. Yakuza Kiwami Series
What is it? Open World, Action-Adventure
Why you should try it: A remake of the 2006 game Yakuza, Yakuza Kiwami is another great action-adventure title that offers players a wide-open world in which they can do almost anything that they want.
The game follows the same plot structure as the older title while adding new gameplay features and a couple of new story elements that resolve confusing plot points from the previous game.
The game is set in the fictional Japanese districts of Kamurocho, Tokyo and Sotenbori, Osaka, and offers the same combat mechanics as the older game. Yakuza Kiwami series is a must-try for anyone looking for a GTA alternative based in an oriental setting.
Where to buy: Xbox, PlayStation, Steam, Microsoft Store
Works on: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Windows
11. Watch Dogs 2
What is it? Open World, Action-Adventure, Stealth
Why you should try it: Watch Dogs 2, a sequel to the popular open-world game Watch Dogs, which is set three years after the events of the original game in the city of San Francisco which has also installed ctOS (central Operating System) – a platform that connects everyone and everything.
The game follows the story of hacker Marcus Holloway who has been wrongly punished for a crime he did not commit. In a bid to protect the innocent citizens of San Francisco, Holloway joins the cover hacking group DedSec to take down ctOS and Blume, the company that built the platform.
Where to buy: Xbox, PlayStation, Steam
Works on: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Windows
12. Bully
What is it? Open World, Action-Adventure.
Why you should try it: If you have ever wanted to beat the big bad bully in your school then this is the game for you. It follows the story of our hero, Jimmy who is recently enrolled at a new school where he finds out that almost everyone is a bully.
Jimmy wants to bring peace to the school and get rid of all the bullies around. You also get to attend classes and learn different subjects, if you really want to. Help Jimmy rise through the school ranks and become the savior who saves everyone from the wrath of bullies.
You can use your fists or some weapons to fight other bullies, you can use your trusted bicycle or skateboard to navigate the world. If you are into watching kids beat each other into pulp then this is the game for you. Become the big bad bully in this game and gain the respect of your peers.
Where to buy: Xbox, Playstation, Steam
Works on: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Windows
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are Games like GTA Called?
Games like GTA are called action-adventure games and they fall under the open-world genre.
Q. Which Game is Most like GTA 5?
If I had to pick one game that is very similar to GTA 5 then I would choose Saints Row IV. It has the open-world game mechanics, superhero powers, sidequests, exploration, and everything that you want in a GTA game.
Q. What Type of Game is GTA Online?
GTA Online is similar to offline GTA games, but since you are online, you can play multiplayer campaigns with your friends.
Q. Which is the Hardest GTA Game?
In my opinion, GTA: Vice City is the hardest GTA game that I have played.
Q. Which GTA Game Should I Play First?
Again, I would recommend you to begin with GTA: Vice City. The gameplay is much better and there are many improvements in terms of controls and scenes.
Enjoy Games Like GTA in 2020
These games will give you a decent excuse to stop playing GTA for a while and play something entirely different. Some of these games are old but they are still popular and definitely one of the best in their genre. If you’ve been itching for an open-world game with a different storyline and gameplay than GTA then these are the perfect games for you.
If you think there are other open-world games that deserve to be on the list then feel free to mention them in the comments section below. Also, tell us about your favorite open-world games like GTA.
