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Grand Theft Auto V continues to be one of the most popular games on the planet, even over 5 years after release. With a steady flow of additional content keeping existing players hooked and regular deals enticing new players onto the streets of Los Santos, GTA 5 shows no signs of slowing down yet.
With that being said, for those of you who have moved on and are looking for games like GTA 5 to pass the time before Grand Theft Auto 6 is announced and released, we’re curated 5 of the best games like GTA 5 to tide you over.
5 Games like GTA 5
1. Saints Row: The Third
Saints Row started life as a GTA-clone, desperately copying Rockstar’s monster’s designs in what was ultimately a pretty average effort. Fast forward two instalments, however, and the Saints Row franchise finally found its feet and shrugged off most of its GTA comparisons.
Saints Row: The Third is crazy, it is silly, it is ridiculous…and it’s also a whole ton of fun. You’ll find yourself fending off a zombie apocalypse, whacking enemies around the face with a three-foot dildo and parachuting out of planes while exchanging gunfire with mercenaries.
Saints Row 4 also deserves a mention, but we weren’t as fond of the fourth outing for the franchise, playing the President of the World (yes, really) fending off aliens. Still, it was great fun and worth checking out if you’re looking for a game like GTA.
2. Watch Dogs 2
The original Watch Dogs was an excellent open-world action game which introduced hacking to the GTA formula. Watch Dogs 2 upped the ante with a similar tone to the Grand Theft Auto games, packing humour into a great story that unfolds on the streets of San Francisco.
Watch Dog 2’s stars of the show are undoubtedly its gadgets. The majority of the electrical gadgets in the game are hackable, which creates a variety of unique opportunities for either destruction or the ability to use a more stealthy approach.
3. Yakuza 0
Grand Theft Auto has always been celebrated for the way it brings cities to life, cramming its virtual worlds with dozens of side activities to enjoy outside of the main campaign.
Yakuza 0 is one of the most complete games like GTA that you’ll find. Taking place in 1988 on the streets of Kamurocho and Sōtenbori (fictionalized recreations of Tokyo’s Kabukichō and Osaka’s Dōtonbori), players will find a living, breathing world to explore and make their own. Gone are the American influences seen in the Grand Theft Auto games, replaced with karaoke, arcades and wrestling. The sheer variety of things to do is staggering – and that’s alongside an expertly crafted story and solid gameplay mechanics. This is a must-play.
4. Sleeping Dogs
If you haven’t played Sleeping Dogs, don’t let its age put you off. Despite having been released in 2012, it is an incredibly beautiful game and the remaster only amplified that.
Set in a contemporary Hong Kong, Sleeping Dogs combines martial arts and B-movie stunt action into a plot that wouldn’t feel out of place on the big screen. Playing as an undercover cop brings pressures not normally felt in games like GTA; players have to tread a careful line between being lawful and convincing their criminal counterparts that they’re one of them.
We’ve mentioned the martial arts but they’re worth mentioning again: the counter-heavy, kung-fu melee combat system is deeper than anything you will find in Grand Theft Auto. Guns are overrated.
5. Red Dead Redemption 2
You knew it was coming, didn’t you? Despite switching Grottis and Ocelots for horses, Red Dead Redemption 2 makes the most of Rockstar’s experience to deliver an incredible experience.
Set in the early 20th century, Red Dead Redemption 2 give players the freedom to explore an expansive open world that feels alive, something that many games struggle to achieve. The characters you’ll meet along the way feel like living, breathing people with their own experiences, goals and questionable morals.
If you’re done with driving supercars along rain-swept streets but still want the experience of a game like GTA, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a must play. For the retro gamers out there, the original Red Dead Redemption is also exceptional and worth picking up.
Honourable Mentions
Honestly, this list of games like GTA 5 could have had 10, 20 or more games listed. Just Cause 4, Mafia 3, LA Noire, Payday 2, even Lego City Undercover…they’re all sure to help scratch that Grand Theft Auto itch.
Be sure to check out a more expansive list of games like GTA V at Games Finder.
