Top 10 Open World Games Like GTA You Should Try

When it comes to the open world game genre, everyone immediately thinks of Rockstar's classic GTA (Grand Theft Auto) series. From GTA: Vice City, GTA: San Andreas to GTA V, it is not only the origin of the open world game genre but also brings countless profound experiences to gamers around the world. Currently, GTA V is still one of the most highly rated games when it has dominated most game rankings worldwide.

One of the most attractive points of GTA is freedom. The open world game genre allows players to do everything they want, from actions such as fighting, driving, climbing to everyday actions such as dating, eating, playing games, sleeping... The large map system in the game allows you to go to every corner of the city as well as remote lands waiting for you to explore.

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If you are bored with the story of GTA V, but still feel interested in the open world game genre, try the games below. This article will summarize the 10 best open world games like GTA that you should try.

Red Dead Redemption 2

You can probably guess why Red Dead Redemption 2 is here – after all, both the GTA and Red Dead series are made by the same studio. Despite its early 20th century setting, Red Dead Redemption 2 (and its predecessor) still embodies GTA's values ​​of player freedom in a vast open world that feels alive.

Just Cause 4

If you enjoyed GTA 5's ragdoll physics, wait until you see what you can achieve in The Republic of Medici. To be clear, Just Cause 4 doesn't have any of the storytelling or grandeur that Rockstar's brand is known for, but instead excels in its approach to staging large-scale combat.

Watch Dogs 2

This Watch Dogs sequel is much closer to the feel and tone of contemporary Grand Theft Auto titles. Remember the “Life Invader” mission from Grand Theft Auto 5? Watch Dogs 2 is basically that, but scaled up to the entire game. You can use pool balls attached to bungee cords as weapons—it’s pretty cool.

Yakuza 0

Grand Theft Auto has always been celebrated for the way it brings cities to life, populating its virtual world with dozens of side activities to enjoy outside of the main campaign. Yakuza 0 carries on this design philosophy. Where Grand Theft Auto 5 had tennis, yoga, and a stockbroker, Yakuza 0 offers karaoke, billiards, video games, wrestling, bowling, dancing, and more. The sheer number and variety of things to do is staggering. The scale isn't nearly as expansive as GTA, but what Yakuza lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality.

Sleeping Dogs

Sleeping Dogs brings the martial arts and action genres of the movies to an open-world game. The result is a game that feels like Grand Theft Auto with a twist of a classic Bruce Lee film. The sequel includes a co-op campaign, making Sleeping Dogs a rare gem that deserves to be appreciated for the fresh ideas it brings. The game was even re-released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2014, so there's really no reason to skip Sleeping Dogs.

Mafia 3

There hasn't been a Grand Theft Auto game that hasn't involved some sort of Mafia encounter, which naturally makes 2K's Mafia series a good starting point for open-world enthusiasts who enjoy fighting organized crime. Mafia 3, the most recent release in the series from Hangar 13, is more Rockstar-like in its focus on side activities and its story revolving around a war veteran trying to escape the demons of his past. That said, the slow, fluid narrative, which draws inspiration from the likes of The Godfather and Goodfellas as well as Grand Theft Auto, is written so effectively that at times you'll forget you're playing a video game and not watching Scorsese.

Lego City Undercover

There's a good reason why most Grand Theft Auto games are labeled as being for mature audiences only, but what about those who want to see cops and robbers fight without the sex, drugs, and rock and roll? Luckily, TT Games delivered in 2013. 'Lego Grand Theft Auto' is an effective pitch for one of the best Lego games ever: Lego City Undercover, but there's so much more to this adorable open-world platformer. The visuals are fun, and the side missions and collectibles are great. Lego City Undercover can now also be enjoyed as a co-op experience, or even as a travel-friendly experience with the Nintendo Switch.

Payday 2

If you were particularly fond of Grand Theft Auto 4's infamous 'Three Leaf Clover' mission or the heists in Grand Theft Auto 5, then Payday 2 is for you. Overkill Software's multiplayer co-op game allows players to freely carry out a series of high-value break-ins and robberies. Similar to Michael, Trevor and Franklin's games, Payday 2 encourages players to strategise and think through their game plan down to the smallest detail, even allowing them to explore locations before committing their actions later that day. The focus on online co-op is also reminiscent of the multiplayer heists introduced in Grand Theft Auto Online in 2013, but Payday 2 thankfully doesn't have those awkward loading times.

The Simpsons Hit & Run

The Simpsons: Hit & Run is a game for Simpsons fans and Grand Theft Auto veterans alike, as the game cleverly makes references to its serialized namesake throughout the campaign. In fact, The Simpsons: Hit & Run is generally agreed to be one of the best Simpsons games of all time.

Saints Row

Volition released its Saints Row reboot in 2022. The new Saints Row isn't the GTA 5 rival that was hoped for, but that doesn't mean there's nothing interesting here. And besides, after nine years of exploring Los Santos, it probably needed a new location to host some open-world carnage.

All the open world games listed above are extremely attractive and worth playing. What are you waiting for, forget about GTA V and experience more open world games that you love right away.