With the imminent release of Grand Theft Auto 6 for consoles later this year (November 19, 2026), now is a good time as any to jump into the world of GTA like games and sate your hunger until the real deal releases.
As such, we will be listing a few of the best games like GTA that you can play right now, taking into account its crime based gameplay, story-driven missions, and extra bits that make them stand out from being a 1:1 GTA clone.
Key Takeaways
- GTA became so popular that it’s managed to carve an unofficial niche for itself.
- While most of these GTA-like games have their own identity, some started off as a direct clone.
- More often than not, these games cater to a diverse fanbase, given the variety of activities that they have to offer.
Best Games Similar to GTA for Thrill-Seekers
The GTA concept isn’t unique, but few have managed to capture the vast open world scale and freedom (while being set in an urban setting) as the series has in the past decade.
That being said, some games have gotten really close to achieving it, and in certain cases even surpassing the source material in some ways:
Mafia: Definitive Edition
Mafia: Definitive Edition is a full-blown remake of the 2002 video game simply titled Mafia. It was released in 2020 by 2K and Hangar 13 for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. While both games feature the aspect of organized crime and being able to participate in said acts of crime, their presentation is very different.
Mafia has always been grounded in reality, telling what is a gritty tale with a focus on realism, which translates to its gameplay. Mafia has a much slower, ‘realistic’ gameplay with an emphasis on character development and interpersonal struggles.
On the other hand, GTA has always been a bit more chaotic, with a heavy focus on satire. Character actions are often whimsical, and GTA is definitely the more ‘fun’ game. That being said, if you love character-driven stories, Mafia: Definitive Edition is worth trying out.
Crimson Desert
While Crimson Desert isn’t out yet, the devs have mentioned a release date of March 19, 2026 which makes it arrive before GTA 6 (assuming that the games aren’t delayed any further).
Going back to the games, they both feature open worlds and very interactive NPCs and in-game scenery, which has a lot of secrets to uncover.
However, GTA is an urban satire fantasy, while Crimson Desert is essentially a high fantasy game that features serious tones and is set in the fictional, medieval continent of Pywel.
Crimson Desert looks unreal, and a mash-up of the most popular action adventure games out there (and with good results too!). It’s definitely not one you should skip out on this year
Red Dead Redemption 2
The Red Dead Redemption series was first released in May 2010 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and was a brand new adventure from Rockstar Games. Often (rightfully) described as a western Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption was massively popular, culminating in the release of a sequel.
Red Dead Redemption 2 was released back in October 2018 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and was an immediate hit. The game featured life-like visuals and some of the best in depth world building we’ve ever seen in a game.
It’s also a fan favorite and rightfully deserves its place in this list. Red Dead Redemption 2 is one game you should try out before GTA 6 ultimately releases. Think of it as a companion title.
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition
Released back in 2012, Sleeping Dogs was an action adventure game developed by United Front Games and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Windows PCs.
The game spent years in development hell, initially starting as a spinoff to the True Crime series. Despite some rather glaring issues, Sleeping Dogs has a special place in my heart and stands out as being one of the most memorable GTA clones you can play right now.
Unlike GTA, Sleeping Dogs features an emphasis on hand-to-hand combat, along with a much smaller game map. Where it really shines, though, is in its story which keeps you entertained with stellar character development.
Saints Row 4
Saints Row 4 takes GTA’s satire and punches it to eleven, adding in a great amount of whimsicality to it as well. Saints Row 4 is the epitome of this display, being full of practical jokes and weird scenarios that stay delightfully tacky (and enjoyable).
It’s an interesting change as well, given how the series initially started as a plain GTA clone at first. The change seems to be for the better anyway, and most fans would tell you that this change in direction was most well advised.
Saints Row 4 also introduced superpowers, along with a bizarre selection of weapons that makes it stand out as a unique GTA like game, and is well worth playing (largely thanks to its lowered pricing).
Cyberpunk 2077
The much hyped and initially disastrous Cyberpunk 2077 was released back in December 2020, and was met with negative reception. While the core gameplay and story were good, the game suffered from a plethora of bugs and technical issues that made it almost impossible to play.
CD Projekt Red managed to do the impossible, though, and 6 years later, Cyberpunk 2077 is a very different game. It’s worth a shot, and is basically cyberpunk GTA. It does have its fair share of shortcomings, and some parts of the gameplay delve into the RPG-y nature too hard, but its a fantastic game nonetheless.
Why GTA Is A Genre In of Itself
Calling GTA a genre might be a bit of a stretch, but hear me out. While the concept of Grand Theft Auto isn’t particularly new or innovative, no game has managed to attain the popularity and depth of GTA.
So much so that GTA is now used as a yardstick for measuring a game’s success, be it related to the genre or not. There is no doubt that GTA is one of the biggest video game franchises of all time, and for good reason.
GTA is perhaps the only game series that has managed to blend together crime fantasy with a modern urban setting, while retaining the satire and arcade-y gameplay that keeps you coming back for more. It’s a fantastic game series and should reach even greater heights with GTA 6.
FAQs
What game is like GTA but with superpowers?
There’s not a whole lot of GTA like games that give you superpowers. However, Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell and the Infamous series do come to mind as close alternatives.
Was GTA inspired by Saints Row?
The opposite is true. Saints Row took direct inspiration from Grand Theft Auto, and the first Saints Row game was pretty much a copy of GTA. The series has since had some major development, and the newer games take the goofiness and satire to whole new levels.
Are there any free games like GTA in 2026?
There aren’t any free GTA like games in 2026 just yet, but there is one that’s supposed to be out this year. The game is Ananta, an open world anime styled RPG that is entirely free to play, releasing for PCs, mobiles and consoles in mid 2026.
Are there open-world crime games like GTA on PC?
Yes, there are such games that exist. Saint’s Row is an open-world crime game like GTA, which you can play on PC.
Can I play GTA-like games offline?
While most games mentioned on this list are single-players, you may need an active internet connection to play them. This will depend on the storefront you’ve purchased them from, especially on PC.
