Games Like GTA 5
What are the best games like GTA 5? We’ve all had that urge to stick up a bank, mow down some pedestrians, and take a leisurely cruise around the city in a helicopter. The crime life is alluring, and nothing tops GTA 5, but there are bits of it in these games’ DNA.
These are the best Open-world games like GTA 5 that you should play if you’re missing that Los Santos feeling, with heists, an open city, and some of the best stories and side activities to keep you busy. From pirates to comic book villains, here are the games that offer a slice of GTA.
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag
Who knew that the best games like GTA 5 would feature pirates? Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag lets you pull off heists on the high seas with pirates. You can scale a fort, sneak into the armory, and steal the governor’s treasure before setting sail with your new swag.
Black Flag’s main story is a bit of a letdown after the heights of Assassin’s Creed 3, but even so, the naval gameplay is so satisfying that it elevates Black Flag to the ranks of the best games like GTA 5.
Far Cry 5
Far Cry 5 takes the open-world genre to the wilderness, taking back the world from a cult. The game is chaotic, but it’s also open, beautiful, and surprisingly emotional. There’s nothing quite like Far Cry 5, and we’d recommend checking out our Far Cry 5 review to see if it’s the right game for you.
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a superhero game through and through, but its open-world Manhattan is almost a perfect GTA clone. Swinging around the city feels so good, and there are plenty of side activities to keep you busy. Fighting crime and taking down the Kingpin is the main draw, but the story is an emotional rollercoaster packed with humor and heartbreak.
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is still a fair way off, but this futuristic open-world game has everything you’d expect from a game like GTA 5. You can pull off heists, you can drive around the city in a variety of vehicles, and you can even shoot up the place in an armored car – Cyberpunk 2077 is chaotic and has a very similar personality to the king of sandbox games.
Yakuza games
Yakuza games are excellent crime adventures that share quite a few similarities with GTA. Both series are heavily focused on crime and money, offering similar experiences in an open-world setting.
There are plenty of differences between the two, but if you’re looking for a game like GTA 5 that has more of a Japanese flavor, we’d recommend the Yakuza games. The main characters are charming, funny, and always trying to make a quick buck, and the games themselves are packed with side activities to keep you busy for hours.
Just Cause 3
Just Cause 3 is all about destruction. At its core, the game is about shooting down helicopters, blowing up oil rigs, and causing as much chaos as possible. The game’s missions often feel like an afterthought, as you’re more likely to spend your time experimenting with your grappling hook.
From tethering cars to enemies and watching them explode to creating tornadoes by pulling off explosions, Just Cause 3 is all about the over-the-top explosions. The sequel is a slight step down, but if you can’t get enough of this chaotic series, why not try Just Cause 4 on for size.
Mafia: Definitive Edition, 2, and 3
Mafia 2 and 3 are criminally underrated, and the Definitive Edition is the perfect way to play this mafia game if you missed it the first time around. Mafia 2 is the more cinematic of the two, taking players on an emotional journey through the dark and unforgiving streets of Empire Bay.
Definitive Edition is a remastered version of the original Mafia, and Mafia 3 is a gritty open-world game that takes players through the corrupt underbelly of New Bordeaux, a fictionalized version of New Orleans. The characters are engaging, the missions are fun to play, and you’ll find yourself sucked into the fictional city of New Bordeaux.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is an emotional journey through the Wild West, and there’s nothing quite like it. Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the best games of recent years, and it’s easy to see why, considering the depth the game builds around its characters.
Missions are often a secondary concern as you live out your cowboy life by hunting, fishing, and checking in on your horse, but that’s part of the charm. Take a look at our Red Dead Redemption 2 review for a full rundown of the game.
Saints Row
The Saints Row series has always been a comedic crime series with engaging characters. You’ll find some familiar gameplay mechanics in the series, with both GTA and Saints Row games favoring an over-the-top style and similar mechanics.
While the first two Saints Row games are a little rough around the edges, the series really hits its stride in Saints Row 3, and the goofy chaos continues in Saints Row 4, Gat Out of Hell, and Saints Row: The Third.
GTA 4
GTA 4 is a complex story with stellar DLC, so if you’ve somehow missed this entry in the legendary classic series, we’d recommend giving it a try. GTA 4’s main story is a wild ride, and the game’s open-world is more fleshed out than ever.
GTA 4’s DLC is also some of the best ever, so if you’re looking for a lengthy narrative experience, we’d recommend checking out The Lost and the Damned, a motorcycle-themed expansion that follows Johnny Klebitz, a member of The Lost, a motorcycle gang.
