TheGTAfranchise isn’t just iconic, it’s the gold standard. It’stheopen-world video game that everybody knows and loves, thanks to its realistic cities and polished gameplay. WhileGTA VIis right around the corner, I wanted to highlight a few similar games to help you warm up for the big release.

What better game to start this list with than Rockstar Games' second most famous game franchise?Red Dead Redemption 2is a lot likeGTAbut set in the Wild West, so instead of criminals and hustlers, you get cowboys, outlaws, and gunslingers. It’s supposedly even set in thesame universe as GTA.

RDR2features a beautiful open world filled with interesting characters, encounters, and areas that you may explore on horseback. While you explore, you’ll be accompanied by a stunningdynamic scorethat masterfully shapes itself based on the action you see on-screen.

Perhaps the biggest difference between the two franchises is the stronger emphasis on the story and characters. You play as Arthur Morgan, a member of the infamous Van der Linde gang.RDR2gives you plenty of freedom, so you can do almost anything: rob a store or train, kidnap an NPC to get a bounty reward, hunt down rare animals, intimidate other outlaws, and escape from law enforcement afterward.

In addition to the campaign,RDR2features a full-fledged online version that’s similar toGTA Online. A remaster of the firstRed Dead Redemptionis coming to PC very soon, and sinceRDR2is a prequel, you can start withRDR2and follow it up withRDR1.

9Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077hadone of the rockiest launchesin video game history back in 2020, but I’m happy to report that CD Projekt RED has fixed and upgraded the game significantly in the time since. Night City’s streets are filled with hustle and bustle. The biggest difference is the first-person perspective, which arguably makes for better combat. Fortunately, you can drive cars in a third-person view for a genuineGTAfeel.

Although the game lacks aircraft, there are plenty of fictional cars and bikes to choose from. you may steal them from NPCs, but you can also buy cars and have them delivered to you whenever you want, just like inGTA. You can even do drive-bys and vehicular combat, thanks to a recent update. Oh, and did I mention that the game has Keanu Reeves in it, with Idris Elba in thePhantom LibertyDLC?

If you haven’t givenCyberpunka chance, now is the best time to get into it, as it likely won’t be getting anymajor updates.

8Mafia: Definitive Edition

If you’re drawn to the world of virtual crime inGTA, you’ll loveMafia: Definitive Edition. The game takes place in a fictional city called Lost Heaven in the 1930s, so it’s filled with cool fictional cars reminiscent of the period. You play as Tommy Angelo, an Italian-American Taxi driver who gets entangled in the criminal underworld and makes a name for himself.

Mafiais actually part of a franchise; while all three Mafia games have received “Definitive Editions,” only Mafia 1 actually gotthe full remake treatment, likely because it’s the oldest.Mafia IIandMafia IIIare also great sequels, and the third entry is as close as it gets to a “GTAclone,” except it has a much morefocused story.

7Watch Dogs: Legion

If you want a modern game with a modern city, you can’t get much closer to it than withWatch Dogs: Legion, as the game features a futuristic and dystopian representation of London. You can think ofWatch DogsasGTAwith hacking. The game lets you hack and manipulate almost anything and anyone from a distance.

Watch Dogs: Legion isn’t a perfect game, but it’s decent. One of the biggest downsides is that you don’t have a single main protagonist and instead have to recruit characters. However, you can somewhat mitigate that by purchasingBloodlineDLC. The DLC adds Aiden Pearce, the beloved protagonist from the first game, and Wrench, an important character from the second game.

Speaking of the first and second games, those are absolutely worth playing, too.Watch Dogs 2is arguably the best entry in the franchise and features an awesome map of San Francisco.

6Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition

Would you likeGTAif it was set in Hong Kong and you played as a police officer?Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Editionis your game. You play as an undercover cop who knows how to weaponize his martial arts skills when guns don’t suffice. Having been released in 2012, it’s an older title, but it still holds up thanks to the amazing gameplay. The story, the city, and the vibe are impeccable.

Sleeping Dogswas actually part of theTrue Crimeseries before Activision canceled it. The series always suffered from poor sales, as it lived inGTA’s shadow despite having a few solid entries. Square Enix bought the rights, finished the game, and released it under a different name. By the way,Sleeping Dogsis unrelated toWatch Dogsand came out two years earlier.

5Saints Row

This might be a controversial pick, but I think that the 2022Saints Rowreboot makes for an okay GTA clone. The story is corny, and you might encounter some bugs, but the combat is actually surprisingly good. The map is filled with beautiful buildings and landscapes, and there are lots of customizable cars that even Los Santos Customs would envy. Moreover, the game has beenheavily discounted from its $70 launch price.

It’s also worth mentioning thatSaints Row, much likeTrue Crime, was initially dismissed as a cheapGTAclone. However, by the timeSaints Row: The Thirdcame out, the game deliberately redefined itself as an over-the-top version ofGTA, with much higher stakes and ridiculous storylines.The Thirdreceived a 2021 remaster that’s worth playing.

If you want an even more ridiculous game, getSaints Row IV: Re-Elected. You play as the president of the US who has superpowers, kind of like Neo from The Matrix. If you playedPrototype, you’ll know what I’m talking about. If you want that same core game but set in Hell, getSaints Row: Gat out of Hellinstead.

4The Crew Motorfest

If you playGTAbecause of all the different vehicles, no game does it better thanThe Crew Motorfest. The game has all kinds of licensed vehicles, including cars, boats, planes, and bikes. Whether you prefer regular street races, off-road, drifting, drag racing, or even air and sea racing,The Crew Motorfesthas it all.

Vehicles handle similarly to those in GTA, leaning more towards an arcade-style rather than a sim. The game is currently online only, but it’ll get anoffline mode soon.

The Crew 2 is also worth playing because of the large map of the contiguous US. I got it on sale for $1 recently, though it’s back to $49.99 now, so you might have to wait for a new round of sales.

3Just Cause 4 Reloaded

Are you the type who just wants to watch the world burn? Then you’ll loveJust Cause 4. The game cranks up the chaos ofGTAto a whole new level. WhileGTAmight let you blow up a tank with a rocket launcher, inJust Cause, you’re able to use the thing to blow up a whole building.

Just Cause'4’s protagonist, Rico Rodriguez, is equipped with all kinds of weapons and gadgets, but the most notable are the grappling hook, wingsuit, and parachute. You can use these three to fly across the huge map to catch up with enemies or just explore in a very quick and satisfying way.

Admittedly,Just Cause 4might not be the best entry in the series, partially because the game is too complex, but fortunately,Just Cause 3and evenJust Cause 2still hold up.

2Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Yakuza: Like a Dragonis filled to the brim with fun mini-games and silly side quests, just likeGTA. While those are heaps of fun, I’m happy to report that the main story is even better. You play as a low-ranking Yakuza gang member. It’s a story filled with betrayal, plot twists, and great humor.

The combat inYakuza: Like a Dragonis turn-based. This could either be a great feature or a total deal-breaker, depending on your preferences. The good news is thatYakuza 0has a satisfying real-time brawler combat system, so just play that game instead.

Movie tie-in games often get a bad rap, but there are some notable exceptions, andMad Maxis one of them. Even if you haven’t watchedMad Max: Fury RoadorFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga, this game is still an absolute blast.

The post-apocalyptic world of this franchise is vast and empty, so you spend a lot of time driving around the barren desert in your improvised combat car as you fend off enemies.

There’s no shortage of great open-world games that can match and even exceedGTA’s appeal, at least in certain aspects. Whether you want better vehicles and driving, destructible environments, or a heartfelt story, there’s something out there for everyone.