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For a Rockstar-style world with room to roam, start with Red Dead Redemption 2. If you want a modern city, vehicles and crime activities, choose Cyberpunk 2077. Neither is a direct replacement for Grand Theft Auto: the strongest alternative depends on whether you want its world detail, city setting, driving, crime stories or open-ended chaos.
Rockstar currently lists GTA VI for November 19, 2026, and describes Jason and Lucia’s story in Vice City and the wider state of Leonida. These picks offer different ways to fill the wait rather than promising the same kind of game.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Open World: Video Games and Contemporary Art | $53.58 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Ghost of Tsushima - PlayStation 4 | $22.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Mad Max - PlayStation Hits (PS4) | $18.64 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Just Cause 4 - PlayStation 4 | $11.80 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Elden Ring - PlayStation 4 | $33.15 | Buy on Amazon |
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Choose by what you want from GTA
| If you want… | Try… | The key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Rockstar-style world detail and a long, story-led journey | Red Dead Redemption 2 | A slower-paced period western, not a modern city crime sandbox. |
| A modern city, vehicles, crime activities and RPG progression | Cyberpunk 2077 | A futuristic RPG structure rather than GTA’s crime-sandbox loop. |
| Exploration and demanding combat | Elden Ring | A fantasy action RPG with no crime or driving focus. |
| Hacking and contemporary satire | Watch Dogs 2 | Its tone and systems differ from GTA. |
| Martial arts in a crime story | Sleeping Dogs | An older release; check availability for your platform. |
| Squad-based heists | Payday 2 | Focused on co-op robberies, not a single-player open-world campaign. |
| Traversal stunts and sandbox chaos | Just Cause 4 | GamesRadar+ describes its story and polish as weaker than Rockstar’s. |
| A grounded organized-crime narrative | Mafia 3 | More focused on its story than GTA’s broad sandbox. |
| Many side activities in a compact city | Yakuza 0 | Smaller in scale than GTA. |
This is a preference-based guide, not a measured ranking or a claim of firsthand testing. The distinctions draw on GamesRadar+’s games-like-GTA roundup and PC Gamer’s open-world recommendations.
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Red Dead Redemption 2: for world detail and freedom
If what you’ll miss most is the sense of inhabiting a detailed Rockstar world, Red Dead Redemption 2 is the strongest fit here. GamesRadar+ highlights its player freedom and expansive world; PC Gamer points to its frontier detail, random encounters and long story. Expect a western setting and a slower pace, not modern streets, contemporary cars or GTA’s crime-sandbox rhythm. GamesRadar+ and PC Gamer discuss the game’s world and appeal.
#1 Best Overall
Cyberpunk 2077: for a modern city and RPG systems
Cyberpunk 2077 is the pick if you want a dense urban setting, vehicles, gigs and crime activities, but are happy to trade a contemporary crime story for a futuristic role-playing game. PC Gamer describes the open-world RPG after updates and the Phantom Liberty expansion. Check the edition for your platform: whether Phantom Liberty is included depends on the product listing. GamesRadar+ and PC Gamer cover the game’s city and RPG appeal.
Pick a different kind of open-world escape
Elden Ring: for discovery and hard fights
Choose Elden Ring if the part you want is wandering into the unknown and facing demanding encounters. Its organic exploration and challenging combat make it a strong open-world recommendation, but it is a fantasy action RPG, not a crime game or driving sandbox. PC Gamer describes its discovery-led world and difficult challenges.
Rank #2
- Available Now - Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, a new cooperative multiplayer experience inspired by Japanese folk tales and mythology.
- Beyond war, ancient beauty endures: Uncover the hidden wonders of Tsushima in this open-world action adventure.
- The rise of the Ghost: Forge a new path and wage an unconventional war for the freedom of Tsushima.
Watch Dogs 2: for hacking and satire
Watch Dogs 2 gives you a contemporary city and hacking-focused play with a satirical streak. It is GTA-adjacent in setting, but its mechanics and tone make it its own alternative. GamesRadar+ includes it among games like GTA.
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Sleeping Dogs: for martial arts and crime drama
For a crime story built around martial arts and stunt action, look at Sleeping Dogs. It is an older game, so confirm that the edition you want is currently available for your console or PC before buying. GamesRadar+ lists it among GTA alternatives.
Rank #3
- Be Mad Max - Become the iconic post-apocalyptic warrior, crafting and upgrading Max's equipment and weapons to survive by combining melee combat, gunplay and tactical techniques. Gamers must form alliances as they work towards the goal of building their "Magnum opus."
- Immersive savage Wasteland - Explore the gritty, dynamic world while braving the treacherous landscapes, hostile weather patterns and deadly marauders.
- survive the open-world landscape - Staying alive isn't easy. Players clash with deadly factions and gangs through scores of dangerous side-missions and quests in the dynamic open-world full of exploration.
- intense vehicular combat - Engage in dynamic inter-vehicular combat, taking down enemy vehicles with a range of powerful weapons. Car combat is entirely physics-based, so no two battles are ever the Same.
- build the ultimate survival machine - Players design, customize and upgrade their ultimate vehicle-the Magnum Opus-choosing from different car chassis and a slew of upgrades including mounted weapons, armour and engines to survive another day
Payday 2: for co-op heists
If what you want is planning and pulling off robberies with friends, Payday 2 is a focused co-op option. Its heist structure is a different proposition from a single-player open-world campaign. GamesRadar+ includes it in its roundup.
Just Cause 4: for stunts and destruction
Just Cause 4 is the choice for unrestrained traversal and spectacle: its wingsuit and grappling hook support stunts and large-scale destruction. Go in for sandbox chaos rather than a Rockstar-caliber story; GamesRadar+ rates its story and polish as weaker by comparison. GamesRadar+ discusses its strengths and trade-offs.
Rank #4
- Day One Edition includes Neon Racer Pack with these DLC items Neon Racer Supercar, Neon Racer Wingsuit, Neon Racer Parachute; see description for full details
- Bring The Thunder Soar through the skies with your wingsuit Skydive, Base Jump and Free Dive, as you fight your enemies harnessing extreme weather to your advantage
- Rico’s Ultimate Mission Spearhead the rebellion and defeat a hi tech private military organization; Face off against the most capable adversary yet; Uncover the mystery behind Rico’s Father’s past
- Huge South American World 100 square kilometers to explore from rainforest to desert, and across snowy mountain peaks as you explore the world of Solis from bustling cities to rural grasslands
- Creative destruction at its best Customize your new grapple hook with evolved and new capabilities; Experiment with military jets, helicopters, turbo fueled sports cars, and construction vehicles
Mafia 3: for a crime narrative
Mafia 3 offers a grounded organized-crime setting, character-led story and side activities. It is a better fit for a focused crime narrative than for the broad, free-form sandbox many players associate with GTA. GamesRadar+ includes it among related games.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Yakuza 0: for a compact city full of activities
Yakuza 0 packs varied side activities and an offbeat story into a smaller city setting. Pick it for density and personality, not for GTA-scale geography. GamesRadar+ highlights its activities and story.
Best Value
- ELDEN RING is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki—creator of the influential DARK SOULS video game series; and George R.R. Martin—author of The New York Times best-selling fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire
- Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to-date
- HIDETAKA MIYAZAKI: President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls
- GEORGE R. R. MARTIN: the #1 The New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire—A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons
Check platform and edition details before buying
Availability can vary by platform, region and edition, and roundup listings can go out of date. Check the current store listing for the game and platform you intend to play, especially for older releases and editions that may bundle expansions.
Rockstar’s current GTA VI platforms, editions and versions guidance says its physical box contains a download code, not a disc, and warns that code redemption rules depend on platform and region. Rockstar recommends buying in the country associated with your platform account to reduce possible activation problems. Check the support page again close to purchase, as retail and launch details can change.
For PlayStation, Sony’s June 24, 2026 platform announcement says the game will “play best on PS5.” That is PlayStation’s promotional position, not an independent comparison of platforms.
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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.
