The Crew Motorfest is the closest fit if you want to drive around a shared open world and cruise or compete with friends. Choose The Crew 2 for a wider mix of motorsports and vehicle types, or Red Dead Online for western free roam with a posse. None is a full replacement for GTA Online’s combination of criminal businesses, heists, city driving, competitive modes, and social spaces.
What makes a game feel like GTA Online?
GTA Online combines several kinds of play: shared free roam, cooperative heists, competitive modes, vehicle-focused activities, business progression, and social spaces. Microsoft’s Xbox Series X|S listing describes a universe for up to 30 players and names those activities, but that maximum is specific to the listing and should not be assumed for every platform or version. See the Xbox Store listing for GTA Online.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The alternatives below each match only part of that mix. Compare them by what you most want to do with friends, then confirm platform compatibility and online requirements for the specific edition before buying.
At a glance: which game fits your group?
| If you want… | Best-supported match | Main difference from GTA Online |
|---|---|---|
| Social driving and cruising in an open world | The Crew Motorfest | It focuses on racing and car culture, not criminal businesses or gunplay. |
| Many vehicle types and motorsports | The Crew 2 | It is a motorsports game rather than a city crime sandbox. |
| Rockstar free roam with a group | Red Dead Online | Its western setting, transport, and activities create a different pace and feel. |
The Crew Motorfest: best for social driving
Motorfest is the strongest pick if the part of GTA Online you enjoy most is exploring a shared world by vehicle, meeting friends, and choosing driving activities. Ubisoft describes an open-world setting in Hawaii, themed Playlists, races, car collection, live events, and the option to cruise with friends. Its official page lists PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. See Ubisoft’s The Crew Motorfest page.
#1 Best Overall
- Race from one course to another through interconnected paths that span the world
- Traverse mountains, forests, cities, and more—with shifting weather patterns and a day/night cycle
- Ride on rails, jump off walls, skim across water, and more as you race for the finish line
- Take on the adrenaline-packed Knockout Tour—a fierce 24-driver elimination mode
- Explore courses at your own pace and wander the world to discover fun surprises in Free Roam
What it offers
- Open-world driving and exploration, with organized race and themed activity options.
- Vehicle collecting and social cruising with friends.
- Ubisoft’s live page describes more than 700 vehicle models from over 50 manufacturers. Treat that as a changing roster claim, not a fixed count.
Who should choose it
Pick Motorfest when the shared driving, cruising, and car-collection side of GTA Online matters more than crime role-play. It is not presented as a substitute for businesses, heists, or gunplay.
The Crew 2: best for vehicle variety and motorsports
The Crew 2 suits groups who want an open-world vehicle playground with more than cars. Ubisoft describes Motornation as an open-world America setting spanning cars, bikes, boats, and planes, alongside weekly challenges and multiplayer modes. The game also offers an offline way to play. Ubisoft links to PC, PS4, and Xbox One versions on its The Crew 2 page.
Rank #2
- 【📺 4.5-INCH IPS HD CRYSTAL-CLEAR DISPLAY】 Step into a new dimension of visual aesthetics with the upgraded 4.5-inch IPS OCA fully fit screen Boasting a high resolution of 1024*768, this retro handheld game console delivers ultra-wide viewing angles, vibrant colors, and sunlight clarity Whether you are indoors or outdoors, it perfectly restores every pixel of your favorite classic games, bringing your childhood nostalgia to life without eye strain
- 【🎮 ZERO-FATIGUE ERGONOMIC GRIP & HALL JOYSTICKS】 Play longer and play better! The R36MAX 2 features a meticulously designed "Zero-Fatigue Curve" detachable horizontal grip that perfectly cradles your palm, eliminating hand stiffness during intense gaming sessions Equipped with drift-free Hall sensor 3D joysticks and a dynamic 9-color RGB LED layout, this emulator handheld ensures incredibly smooth and precise control for hardcore gamers
- 【🚀 UPGRADED RK3326 CHIP & LINUX SYSTEM】 Reject lag and stuttering Powered by the advanced RK3326 64-bit quad-core Cortex-A35 processor (up to 1.5GHz) and Mali-G31MP2 GPU, this portable gaming handheld effortlessly handles complex 2D and 3D games The independent open-source Linux system provides smart resource allocation, fast loading times, and a highly stable UI, making game browsing and saving completely seamless
- 【👾 MASSIVE LIBRARY OF 20,000+ CLASSIC GAMES】 Dive into an endless pocket-sized arcade! Pre-installed with a high-capacity TF card (supports up to 256GB expansion), this preloaded game console supports over 30+ emulator formats From action and racing to RPG and puzzle games, simply power on and play right away It is the ultimate retro video game console to share the joy with friends through WiFi online multiplayer battles
- 【🔋 4000mAh HIGH-CAPACITY BATTERY FOR ON-THE-GO】 Take your retro gaming adventures anywhere. The built-in 4000mAh rechargeable Li-polymer battery delivers up to 6 hours of non-stop playing time on a single charge With fast 2-hour Type-C charging and a compact pocket-ready design, this handheld game console is the perfect birthday gift for adults, teens, and retro game lovers who want to relive the classics during travel or daily commutes
What it offers
- A broad vehicle mix across land, water, and air.
- Motorsports challenges and multiplayer activities.
- An offline option for playing outside multiplayer.
Who should choose it
Choose The Crew 2 if your GTA sessions are mostly about vehicles, races, and trying different ways to get around. Its motorsports focus means it is not a close match for GTA-style urban crime role-play or business progression.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsRed Dead Online: best for western free roam with a posse
Red Dead Online is the option for players who want to roam a Rockstar world together but would rather trade city streets and modern vehicles for a western setting. Rockstar’s feature page describes joining a posse and exploring in free roam; one route is to select “Posse Up” from the Online menu. See Rockstar’s Red Dead Online features page.
Rank #3
- Enjoy two Mario adventures solo or with friends
- In Super Mario 3D World, choose a character each with distinct playstyles as you dash and climb through dozens of colorful courses, collecting Green Stars and power-ups along the way
- Cooperate (and compete) with friends locally or online to reach each stage’s goal. A crown is awarded to the highest-scoring player, making for a friendly frenzy
- In addition to added multiplayer options, the Nintendo Switch version of the Super Mario 3D World game has been improved with faster character speeds and more
- Explore a seamless feline world in Lake Lapcat, complete objectives to collect Cat Shines, and defeat a giant Bowser in the new Bowser’s Fury adventure
What it offers
- Free roam in a western world with other players.
- Posse-based group play, including the “Posse Up” option in the Online menu.
Who should choose it
Choose Red Dead Online for cooperative roaming and the setting, rather than expecting GTA’s vehicle density, city activities, or criminal-business loop. Red Dead Online is accessed through Red Dead Redemption 2 editions that include it, so verify the exact edition and platform listing before purchase: Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2 page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check platform and online details before buying
Availability, edition formats, and online requirements can change, and the available official information does not establish a complete cross-play or console-subscription matrix for these recommendations. Check the current store page for each game and platform, especially if your group owns different systems.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Boost your progression faster than your friends by earning double Speed Points for your first four hours of multiplayer.
- Unlock the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale and Porsche 911 Carrera S for early use in multiplayer
Rank #4
- HACK THE CITY: Control the city's infrastructure, in real time, with Aiden's cell phone. Trap your enemy in a 30-car pileup by manipulating the traffic lights. Stop a train, and then board it to evade the authorities. Narrowly escape capture by quickly raising a drawbridge. Anything connected to the city's CTOS can become your weapon.
- SEAMLESS MULTIPLAYER EXPERIENCE: Discover a new level of interaction, cooperation and confrontation between players thanks to a brand new multiplayer game system that links the single and multiplayer modes into one seamless experience. That means no menus, no loading screens, just instant open world multiplayer action.
- DYNAMIC NAVIGATION: Watch_Dogs gives you the ability to not only use the city's ctOS to your advantage, but the streets as well. In real-world Chicago, cut through one of the buildings or climb to the rooftops to catch your target.
- HIGH OCTANE DRIVING: Get behind the wheel of more than 65 vehicles bursting with horsepower to explore the massive city while completing missions. Ubisoft Montreal partnered with Ubisoft Reflections, the acclaimed studio behind the award-winning Driver series to develop each vehicle with state-of-art physics and handling.
- Platform and edition: Confirm the game is available for your exact console or PC storefront, and that the edition includes the mode you intend to play.
- Cross-play: Do not assume friends on different platforms can join one another; verify cross-platform play for the specific game, edition, and platform pairing.
- Console online access: Check the relevant platform’s current online-play requirements. Microsoft’s GTA Online Xbox listing specifies an online subscription requirement; that listing does not establish requirements for other games or platforms.
- Group size: Verify the current player limit and session setup for your edition instead of treating a platform listing’s maximum as universal.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Recommended Free Tools
