Start with Red Dead Redemption 2 if what you miss is GTA V’s outlaw story and freedom to disappear into a richly detailed world. Choose Cyberpunk 2077 for a modern-feeling city with character builds, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 for fast urban traversal, or Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut for exploration built around stealth and sword combat. None is a complete GTA V replacement: each preserves a different part of the appeal while changing the setting, tone, movement or combat.
PlayStation’s own open-world selections span PS4 and PS5, so check the individual game page and edition before buying. PlayStation Plus Game Catalog availability is regional and can change; an inclusion shown in one country is not a promise of access in another.
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Choose by the part of GTA V you want to keep
| If you want… | Start with… | The important trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| An outlaw story and a richly detailed world | Red Dead Redemption 2 | It moves from modern Los Santos to America in 1899 and a historical western setting. |
| A modern-feeling city and build choices | Cyberpunk 2077 | Night City is futuristic, and role-playing systems matter more than contemporary crime simulation. |
| City roaming and rapid movement | Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 | It is superhero action rather than a criminal sandbox; the cited PlayStation editorial lists it for PS5. |
| Open-world action with stealth | Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut | Feudal Japan, swords and deception replace cars, firearms and urban crime. |
| A newer historical adventure on PS5 | Ghost of Yōtei | It is a standalone story in rural Japan during the 1600s, not a modern city game. |
| A crime-family atmosphere | Mafia: Definitive Edition | Its recreated 1930s city and linear crime-family story should not be assumed to match GTA V’s map scale or systems. |
| A large fantasy quest | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | Monster hunting, characters and branching role-playing replace the contemporary crime premise. |
| Discovery and demanding combat | Elden Ring | Exploration and difficult battles take priority over GTA-style narrative and setting. |
“Similar to GTA” can mean several different things: a criminal or outlaw protagonist, a recognizable city, unrestricted exploration, vehicle-based movement, emergent chaos or simply the feeling of choosing your own route. Decide which one matters most before you pick a game. That prevents the common disappointment of expecting a samurai adventure or fantasy role-playing game to reproduce a contemporary crime sandbox.
1. Red Dead Redemption 2: the closest thematic follow-up
Red Dead Redemption 2 is the best first recommendation for a player whose favorite part of GTA V was its outlaw narrative and the sense of living in a broad, reactive world. PlayStation describes Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang on the run in America in 1899, in a world it characterizes as unusually detailed and expansive. PlayStation’s open-world guide provides the setting and platform information.
#1 Best Overall
- From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption
- The deepest and most complex world Rockstar Games has ever created
- Covers a huge range of 19th century American landscapes
- Play as Arthur Morgan, lead enforcer in the notorious Van der Linde gang
- Interact with every character in the world with more than just your gun;Engage in conversation with people you meet. Your actions influence Arthur's honour;Horses are a cowboy's best friend, both transport and personal companion;Bond with your horse as you ride together to unlock new abilities
Why it fits
- You play an outlaw whose choices and relationships drive a long-form story.
- The setting rewards slow travel, observation and exploration rather than constant urban spectacle.
- The world’s historical detail supplies the same broad “what can I do next?” appeal that attracts people to GTA V.
What changes from GTA V
This is a western, not a modern crime game. There are no contemporary city streets, sports cars or firearms-driven urban missions. Travel, combat and social spaces follow a 1899 setting, so the pace is more deliberate and the atmosphere more grounded. Choose it for the outlaw fantasy and world immersion, not because it recreates Los Santos.
Edition check
A PS4 game edition is the natural purchase query. Confirm whether a listing is physical or digital, which platform it supports and whether the stock or edition is current before ordering. PlayStation’s general guide covers the title, but the individual retailer or Store page controls the actual edition you can buy.
2. Cyberpunk 2077: a dense city with role-playing depth
Pick Cyberpunk 2077 when the city is more important to you than the crime plot. PlayStation describes Night City as a bustling futuristic metropolis and V as a mercenary outlaw. The PlayStation Blog also highlights build choices involving hacking, stealth and weapon skills. PlayStation’s overview and the PlayStation Blog open-world feature support those descriptions.
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- Night City provides a modern-feeling urban environment, even though its technology and politics are futuristic.
- V’s outlaw status keeps the premise crime-adjacent rather than purely heroic.
- Character builds let you approach situations through hacking, stealth or weapons, giving your decisions a mechanical consequence.
What changes from GTA V
This is a role-playing game first. Character statistics, equipment and build decisions shape encounters in ways GTA V generally does not. The world is a dystopian science-fiction metropolis, so its tone, technology and social conflicts are deliberately unlike a present-day American city. It is a strong choice for players who want freedom inside a city but are happy for progression systems to sit at the center.
3. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: the best city-movement pick
If your favorite GTA activity is simply moving through a recognizable-feeling city and finding the next distraction, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is the most direct movement-focused choice. PlayStation describes an expanded Marvel’s New York and lets you switch between Peter Parker and Miles Morales. Its Blog coverage emphasizes faster traversal and Web Wings. The PlayStation editorial and PlayStation Blog feature provide those details.
Why it fits
- Movement is the headline attraction: web-swinging, rapid traversal and Web Wings make crossing the city itself enjoyable.
- The expanded city gives you a large urban playground with activities between story missions.
- Switching between two heroes changes how you experience the same environment.
What changes from GTA V
You are a superhero, not an outlaw trying to manage a criminal enterprise. Combat, rescues and traversal replace GTA’s vehicle chases, firearms and criminal schemes. That makes this a recommendation for urban exploration and kinetic movement, not for realistic crime simulation or unrestricted criminal role-play.
PS5 warning
The cited PlayStation editorial lists Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 for PS5. PS4 owners should not assume compatibility; verify the platform on the specific Store page before purchasing.
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4. Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut: exploration with stealth and swords
Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut is a deliberate reset for a GTA player who wants another open world but is ready to exchange cars and firearms for katana combat, stealth and a historical revenge story. PlayStation Blog describes Sucker Punch’s samurai epic in feudal Japan and its combination of direct combat and deception. Read the PlayStation Blog description for that framing.
Why it fits
- Exploration is tied to a strong sense of place and a historical conflict.
- You can approach threats through swordplay or stealth rather than relying on one combat loop.
- The revenge-and-honor story gives the open world a focused emotional purpose.
What changes from GTA V
The premise, weapons and social world are entirely different. There is no contemporary city, car culture or criminal freedom. Its appeal is the quality of the journey through feudal Japan and the choice between confrontation and deception. Buy it when you want open-world action, not when you need a modern sandbox.
5. Ghost of Yōtei: a standalone historical PS5 adventure
Ghost of Yōtei suits players who want a newer-feeling historical setting and a standalone story. PlayStation describes rural Japan in the 1600s, following lone mercenary Atsu. The same description calls out katana combat, weapons training, shrines and other cultural activities. See PlayStation’s open-world guide for the setting and feature summary.
Why it fits
- Atsu’s journey offers an independent entry point rather than requiring knowledge of another game’s plot.
- Exploration includes shrines and cultural activities alongside combat.
- Katana fighting and weapons training make the historical setting central to play.
What changes from GTA V
This is a rural 1600s adventure, not a city sandbox. Its freedom comes from discovering landscapes, activities and historical spaces rather than stealing vehicles or building a modern criminal network. The game belongs on this list for open-world exploration and action, while its setting makes it one of the least similar choices in premise.
PS5 warning
The cited PlayStation material lists Ghost of Yōtei for PS5. Check the local Store listing and do not infer PS4 support from the fact that other games in this guide have PS4 editions.
Rank #2
- From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption
- The deepest and most complex world Rockstar Games has ever created
- Covers a huge range of 19th century American landscapes
- Play as Arthur Morgan, lead enforcer in the notorious Van der Linde gang
- Please note that although this game is Region Free or Region Unlocked and will work on all systems, this is the international version and may differ from the local version in age rating, labeling or instructions.
6. Mafia: Definitive Edition: crime-family atmosphere in a 1930s city
Choose Mafia: Definitive Edition if the part you want to preserve is the crime-family story rather than a huge sandbox. PlayStation presents Tommy Angelo’s recruitment into the Salieri crime family and the sights of Lost Heaven, a recreated 1930s city. The official PlayStation description establishes that setting and premise.
Why it fits
- The narrative centers on organized crime, loyalty and Tommy’s rise inside a family.
- Lost Heaven supplies a period city to drive through and observe.
- Its Prohibition-era atmosphere offers a grounded historical alternative to Los Santos.
What changes from GTA V
The cited material supports its story and setting, but does not establish a map size or systems match with GTA V. Treat it as a focused crime drama in a recreated historical city, not as a claim of equivalent scale, mission variety or free-form mayhem. It is the right choice when tone and period atmosphere matter more than maximal sandbox freedom.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.7. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: a narrative-led fantasy detour
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is for players who want a substantial open world and a story-driven quest structure, even if they are ready to leave crime and modern cities behind. PlayStation describes Geralt’s monster-hunting quest and identifies the Complete Edition’s two expansions. PlayStation’s guide provides that description.
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Why it fits
- Geralt’s journey links exploration to a large narrative arc rather than isolated activities.
- The fantasy world gives you a broad change of scenery after a contemporary urban game.
- The Complete Edition includes two expansions, useful for players seeking a long-form role-playing commitment.
What changes from GTA V
There is no contemporary crime premise, car-based city life or modern weaponry. The focus is monster hunting, quests and fantasy role-playing. Pick it when “open world” and memorable storytelling are your priorities, not when you specifically want a criminal sandbox.
8. Elden Ring: exploration and demanding combat first
Elden Ring belongs on the shortlist for players whose favorite GTA moments were unscripted discovery and choosing a direction, rather than its setting or narrative style. PlayStation describes a traversable open world filled with secrets and mysteries, with horseback travel. Consult PlayStation’s overview for that positioning.
Why it fits
- The world encourages you to investigate distant landmarks and hidden paths.
- Horseback travel supports long-distance exploration.
- Combat difficulty makes preparation, experimentation and persistence central to progress.
What changes from GTA V
This is a fantasy action role-playing game built around demanding fights and discovery. Its mysteries are not presented as a contemporary crime story, and the freedom is about where to explore and how to overcome enemies rather than which urban activity to pursue. Select it only if you welcome a substantial combat challenge.
How to check PlayStation compatibility and availability
Verify the platform and edition
- Open the individual game page in your local PlayStation Store or the retailer listing.
- Read the platform label—PS4, PS5 or both—rather than relying on a search result or another game’s compatibility.
- Confirm whether the listing is digital or physical and whether it is the standard release, a Director’s Cut, a Complete Edition or another package.
- Check language, region and stock details before paying, especially for a physical PS4 copy.
The PlayStation Store listing for GTA V confirms that GTA V itself is sold for PS4 and PS5, and that online play has its own PS Plus and online-service conditions. That listing does not prove that every recommendation here runs on both consoles. View the GTA V PS4 and PS5 Store page for the title’s own conditions.
Check PlayStation Plus locally
PlayStation says its Extra and Premium/Deluxe Game Catalog varies by region, and catalog membership can change. The PlayStation Blog’s May 22, 2026 open-world feature describes games available through the catalog but does not make access universal. Check the Blog feature, then search the catalog in your own account before treating a title as included. A game leaving the catalog or being unavailable in your country can change the cost calculation completely.
What GTA V’s listing tells you—and what it does not
The US PlayStation Store page showed GTA V at 4.46 out of 5 stars from 1,016,848 ratings on October 13, 2026. That is a live user-rating aggregate, not a critic score and not a ranking of the alternatives above; the count and average can change. See the live listing for the current figure.
The practical lesson is to identify the feature behind your attachment to GTA V. If it is the outlaw narrative, choose Red Dead Redemption 2. If it is a city full of build-driven possibilities, choose Cyberpunk 2077. If it is movement across an urban map, choose Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. If you want to reset the setting while keeping open-world action, choose one of the historical Japanese games. For crime-family atmosphere, use Mafia: Definitive Edition; for a full genre change, use The Witcher 3 or Elden Ring.
A simple decision path
- Choose your setting. Stay near modern urban life with Cyberpunk 2077, move to a historical western with Red Dead Redemption 2, or accept a full fantasy or historical reset.
- Choose your movement. For rapid city traversal, select Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. For horseback travel and discovery, consider Elden Ring or one of the historical adventures.
- Choose your combat. Hacking, stealth and weapons point to Cyberpunk 2077; swords and stealth point to Ghost of Tsushima or Ghost of Yōtei; demanding fantasy battles point to Elden Ring.
- Choose your story distance from GTA. Red Dead Redemption 2 and Mafia: Definitive Edition keep outlaw or organized-crime themes. The others deliberately trade that premise for superheroes, samurai or fantasy.
- Confirm hardware and access. Recheck the edition, platform and local PlayStation Plus catalog immediately before purchase.
The Bottom Line
Best overall thematic follow-up: Red Dead Redemption 2. Best modern-city alternative: Cyberpunk 2077. Best traversal-first choice: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. The right pick depends on whether you want GTA V’s outlaw story, urban freedom or open-world discovery—not on finding a game that reproduces every feature at once.
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