The best game to play while waiting for GTA 6 depends on which part of the formula you miss: a world that feels alive, present-day city crime, a focused crime story, or room to roam and get sidetracked. Rockstar currently lists GTA VI for November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S; plans can change, so check the official listing for the latest details. Until then, these six games offer different pieces of the open-world crime appeal rather than identical GTA substitutes.
Choose by the GTA experience you want
These recommendations are best treated as different routes to a similar appetite, not as a universal ranking. Some emphasize a large, absorbing world; others prioritize a crime plot, combat, side activities, or a modern city. Platform listings below reflect the comparison guide’s snapshot; editions and regional availability can vary, so check the current store listing for your platform before buying.
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| If you want… | Try… | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|
| Rockstar-style world freedom in an outlaw setting | Red Dead Redemption 2 | A sprawling, lived-in western world; horses and outlaw life replace modern cars and urban crime. |
| A present-day city with satire and hacking | Watch Dogs 2 | Contemporary urban mischief built around hacking, rather than a straightforward GTA-style crime story. |
| Crime drama with martial arts and stunt action | Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition | A focused Hong Kong setting where melee combat is a major part of the action. |
| A futuristic city, driving, gigs, and RPG systems | Cyberpunk 2077 | Night City has crime and cars, but the experience is more science-fiction RPG than crime sandbox. |
| Urban crime texture and lots to do in compact districts | Yakuza 0 | Story and activities in city districts take priority over a huge drivable map. |
| A grounded organized-crime story | Mafia III | A narrative-led, slower-burn crime drama rather than a broad sandbox match. |
Best games for each kind of GTA fan
Red Dead Redemption 2: for a world that rewards wandering
If what you want is the sense that the world keeps going beyond the main story, Red Dead Redemption 2 is the clearest Rockstar-family pick. Its expansive, alive-feeling world and player freedom make it a natural recommendation for someone who enjoys exploring between missions. The key difference is the fantasy: this is an outlaw-era western, not a contemporary city game about cars and street crime. The comparison guide lists PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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Watch Dogs 2: for modern-city troublemaking
Watch Dogs 2 offers a present-day urban setting and a satirical tone, making it one of the closer choices if your GTA fix is specifically a modern city. Hacking is central to its identity, though, so think of it as a distinct tech-and-mischief take on open-world crime rather than a clone. The comparison guide lists PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
#1 Best Overall
- Amazing challenging missions
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition: for crime drama and close-quarters action
Choose Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition if you want an open-world crime story with a more focused scope and martial-arts combat. Its Hong Kong setting, melee fighting, and B-movie-style stunt action give it a different rhythm from a game centered on driving and gunplay. It is the sharpest fit here for someone who values a crime narrative and hand-to-hand action over a massive sandbox. The comparison guide lists PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Cyberpunk 2077: for a futuristic city and RPG-led freedom
Cyberpunk 2077 combines Night City exploration with cars, gigs, crime activities, and role-playing systems. That makes it appealing if the draw is getting lost in a dense city and choosing how to approach its challenges. Its science-fiction setting and stronger RPG emphasis are substantial differences from GTA’s crime-sandbox formula. The comparison guide lists PC, PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X.
Rank #2
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Yakuza 0: for compact districts packed with activity
Yakuza 0 is a good fit when story and the texture of urban neighborhoods matter more than a huge map to drive across. It offers a wide range of activities and a crime story in city districts, but its scale is smaller than GTA’s and its action has a different combat emphasis. The comparison guide lists PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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Pick Mafia III when a crime story is the priority and a broad, playful sandbox is not. The comparison guide describes the Mafia series as more grounded and highlights this entry’s narrative focus. It is better approached as a slow-burning crime drama than as a close match for GTA’s range of activities and freedom. The guide lists PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Rank #3
- Explore a realistic Indian open-world city
- Ride, steal, and race desi bikes
- Perform gangster missions and heists
- Fight enemies and rival gangs
- Customize your gangster avatar
Check platforms and editions before you buy
The platform lists above are a snapshot from the comparison guide, not a guarantee of current store availability or of a particular edition in your region. Check the live listing for the exact game, edition, and platform you own—especially if you are considering a console version or a remaster. This is particularly relevant for Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition, since the recommendation is for that specific edition.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Rockstar currently says about GTA VI
Rockstar’s official listing currently gives GTA VI a release date of November 19, 2026, and names PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S as launch platforms. Its support page, last updated August 18, 2026, says the physical version will be a box containing a download code, with no disc included. Treat those details as Rockstar’s current plan rather than a guarantee: check the official GTA VI page for updates, particularly if you are waiting for a physical copy or a platform beyond those listed.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- City of Open World Gangster setting of the video game Grand Gangsters
- Grenades are used in shooting gang games and melee weapons in mafia battles.
- Real big gangsters commit crimes in a city with a mafia-related history.
- Run the city scenes in gang city gangster games to experience modern city crime and mafia.
- In a mafia criminal city, mafia fights resemble genuine gangster shootings.
Rank #4
- A Serial Killer Case Collab With The Morbid Podcast: Co-created with Ash and Alaina, this immersive horror mystery game drops you into a 1985 cold case with realistic evidence and a hidden truth.
- Solve a Realistic Cold Case: Crack ciphers, examine forensic files, and dig through a mystery box of clues. A true crime detective game for adults who actually want to investigate, not roll dice.
- Includes an Exclusive Podcast Episode: Recorded just for this case. Listen for clues hidden inside the audio. More than a board game, it's a true crime puzzle box that talks back.
- Realistic Evidence at Your Fingertips: Vintage newspaper clippings, suspect profiles, a locked box, a bloody scrunchie, a train figurine. Detective board game energy, no plastic tokens in sight.
- Game Night for People Who Like Their Fun A Little Dark: Play solo or with a group. A murder mystery party game for date night, girls night, dinner parties, or any couples game night that needs a body.
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.
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