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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIf you want an open-world game with a woman at the center before Grand Theft Auto VI arrives, start with Horizon Forbidden West for a fixed female hero, Far Cry 6 for modern guns and vehicles with an explicitly selectable female character, or Star Wars Outlaws for a female-led crime adventure in space. GTA VI is officially scheduled for November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and follows Jason and Lucia in Leonida.
The games below are not identical substitutes. They cover different parts of the appeal: contemporary firearms and criminal missions, a huge science-fiction wilderness, faction-driven heists, or historical raids. The guide separates confirmed protagonist options from games whose official descriptions do not establish that you can play as a woman.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition - PS5™ | $50.80 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Horizon Forbidden West Standard Edition - PlayStation 5 | $41.40 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered PS5 | $30.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Horizon Forbidden West Special Edition - PlayStation 5 | $94.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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At a glance: which game fits your GTA 6 wait?
| Game | Female-protagonist status | Setting | Combat and movement | Co-op | Platforms or edition details established by the official material |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horizon Forbidden West | Fixed female protagonist: Aloy | Post-apocalyptic America | Bows, ranged and melee weapons, machine hunting, climbing and gliding | Not stated | PS5, PS4 and PC; PS5 Complete Edition includes the base game and Burning Shores |
| Far Cry 6 | Selectable: “Play Dani Rojas as male or female” | Modern revolutionary conflict in Yara | Firearms, vehicles, outposts, improvised weapons, gadgets and animal companions | Full co-op with shared progression | Official material supplied for this guide does not specify a platform list |
| Star Wars Outlaws | Fixed female protagonist: Kay Vess | Space-western crime adventure | Blasters, stealth, heists, speeder travel and starship dogfights | Not stated | Official material supplied for this guide does not specify a platform list |
| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | Gender eligibility is not established in the official description reviewed; verify the edition and settings | Norway and ninth-century England | Melee combat, stealth, raids, alliances and settlement construction | Not stated | Official material supplied for this guide does not specify a platform list |
For the closest modern, vehicle-heavy alternative, choose Far Cry 6. For the clearest woman-led campaign, choose Horizon Forbidden West. For a criminal-adventure structure without a contemporary Earth setting, choose Star Wars Outlaws.
1. Horizon Forbidden West: the best all-round fixed female lead
Horizon Forbidden West puts Aloy, a defined female protagonist, at the center of a story about an expanding planetary blight. Sony describes an expansive open world populated by new tribes and large machines, with Aloy investigating what is causing the ecological crisis. It released on February 18, 2022, and is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and PC.
#1 Best Overall
- Experience the epic Horizon Forbidden West in its entirety, including bonus content and the Burning Shores expansion:
- Brave an expansive open world – discover distant lands, new enemies, rich cultures and striking characters.
- A majestic frontier – explore the lush forests, sunken cities and towering mountains of a far-future America.
- Confront new dangers – engage in strategic battles against enormous machines and mounted human enemies by using weapons, gear and traps crafted from salvaged parts.
- Unravel startling mysteries – uncover the secret behind Earth’s imminent collapse and unlock a hidden chapter in the ancient past… one that will change Aloy forever.
Why it works before GTA 6
Aloy gives you a consistent character rather than a customizable avatar, so the narrative, dialogue and relationships are written around her identity. That makes this the strongest recommendation when “play as a woman” means a fully authored female hero rather than a gender-selection menu.
The world is built for movement as much as combat. You can climb marked surfaces, glide over gaps and approach machines from different angles. Fights reward preparation: identify a machine’s components, use the appropriate ammunition, target weaknesses and switch between ranged and close combat. The resulting loop is very different from GTA’s firearms and driving, but it delivers the same broad pleasure of choosing your route through a large, reactive map.
What to expect from the world and story
The setting is a far-future version of the American West, where human settlements, tribal politics and autonomous machines overlap. Quests are more story-forward than a pure sandbox, and the world’s visual spectacle is a major part of the experience. If you prefer a campaign with a clear lead and extensive exploration rather than a crime simulator, it is the safest first choice.
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The PS5 Complete Edition contains the base game and the Burning Shores expansion. The supplied official information does not establish equivalent contents for every other platform, so check the store listing for the edition you intend to buy.
2. Far Cry 6: the closest modern guns-and-vehicles substitute
Far Cry 6 is the most direct match for readers searching for “games like GTA with a female protagonist.” Ubisoft’s official description explicitly says, “Play Dani Rojas as male or female.” You can therefore choose a female Dani without relying on an inference from the character’s name or appearance.
Rank #2
- An epic Action/RPG Adventure:
- Brave an expansive open world - discover distant lands, new enemies, rich cultures and striking characters.
- A majestic frontier - explore the lush forests, sunken cities and towering mountains of a far-future America.
- Confront new dangers - engage in strategic battles against enormous machines and mounted human enemies by using weapons, gear and traps crafted from salvaged parts.
- Unravel startling mysteries - uncover the secret behind Earth's imminent collapse and unlock a hidden chapter in the ancient past. one that will change Aloy forever.
Why it feels familiar to GTA players
The island of Yara is a contemporary setting shaped by a violent political conflict. You travel by road, attack enemy outposts, collect weapons and use improvised guerrilla equipment. The combination of cars, firearms, open-ended assaults and a protagonist involved in a rebellion gives it the closest surface resemblance to a modern crime-and-action sandbox among these recommendations.
It is not a city-based crime story. Yara’s environments include rural areas and military-controlled locations, and missions are organized around guerrilla resistance rather than building a criminal empire. Expect more emphasis on liberating territory and experimenting with weapons than on civilian traffic, urban businesses or police chases.
Weapons, gadgets and companions
Improvised weapons and gadgets encourage unconventional attacks. Animal companions add another tactical option, letting you create distractions or pressure enemies while you reposition. Outposts can be approached with stealth, direct fire or a mixture of both, so the same objective can support different play styles.
Co-op and progression
The official page describes full co-op with shared progression. That makes Far Cry 6 the clear choice if playing with a friend matters: you can experience the campaign’s open-world activities together while retaining progress. The supplied material does not provide a platform list, regional availability details or current bundle contents, so verify those details in your store before purchase.
3. Star Wars Outlaws: a female-led space-western crime adventure
Star Wars Outlaws stars Kay Vess, a female scoundrel trying to navigate the criminal underworld. Ubisoft positions it as the “first-ever open world Star Wars™ game.” Instead of one continuous Earth-like map, you move among several planets and settlements, including Toshara, Akiva, Kijimi, Cantonica and Tatooine.
Rank #3
- EARTH IS OURS NO MORE
- Experience the critically acclaimed Horizon Zero Dawn with stunning new visuals and upgraded features
- In a far future where colossal machines roam and rule the Earth, pockets of humanity survive in unique tribes amon the lush, overgrown ruins of our long-lost civilization
- Take up bow and spear as Aloy, a youn machine hunter and outcast of her tribe, as she discovers her origins, the truth of this mysterious world, and her own destiny to save it from impending doom.
- On her journey, Aloy will come across unique tribes, lively settlements, and compelling characters and companions.
Why it belongs on a pre-GTA 6 list
Kay’s story is built around heists, deals and escaping powerful syndicates. That criminal-adventure structure is recognizably adjacent to GTA, even though the technology, locations and tone are science fiction. You are not simply clearing enemy camps: your decisions affect relationships with competing factions, which can change how you approach later situations.
Travel and mission variety
A speeder handles surface travel, while a starship lets you move into space and fight in dogfights. The transition between ground exploration, vehicle travel and orbital combat gives the game a broader travel fantasy than a conventional terrestrial sandbox. Missions can combine stealth, shooting and infiltration, so you can decide whether to stay hidden, create a distraction or fight your way out.
Reputation as a decision system
Crime syndicates track your reputation. Helping one faction can complicate your relationship with another, turning side jobs and heists into strategic choices rather than isolated activities. Choose this game if you want a woman-led criminal narrative and varied movement systems, but do not expect a modern city simulator or the same type of open-world density as GTA.
4. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: a Viking world, with protagonist details to verify
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla follows Eivor, who leads a clan from Norway into ninth-century England. Ubisoft’s official description emphasizes raids, settlement construction, alliances and a large explorable world. It is an excellent option for historical exploration and melee combat, but the official page reviewed for this guide does not state the gender-selection detail.
How to use this recommendation safely
If playing specifically as a woman is non-negotiable, confirm the gender option in the edition and settings you plan to use before buying. Do not treat the existence of Eivor as proof that every version presents a female protagonist. The game can still be a strong fit if your priority is an open-world role-playing adventure with a defined clan, a settlement to develop and long-running alliances.
Rank #4
- Includes Full Game SteelBook Mini Art Book Digital soundtrack
- Brave an expansive open world - discover distant lands, new enemies, rich cultures and striking characters.
- A majestic frontier - explore the lush forests, sunken cities and towering mountains of a far-future America.
- Confront new dangers - engage in strategic battles against enormous machines and mounted human enemies by using weapons, gear and traps crafted from salvaged parts.
- Unravel startling mysteries - uncover the secret behind Earth's imminent collapse and unlock a hidden chapter in the ancient past. one that will change Aloy forever.
What makes its sandbox different
Raids are structured assaults on fortified locations, while settlement upgrades provide a longer-term reason to return home. Combat is primarily melee, supported by stealth and exploration rather than modern firearms. The setting offers a slower, historical alternative to GTA’s contemporary cities and to the science-fiction landscapes of the other confirmed female-led games.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How these games compare with GTA 6
Setting and tone
- Closest to contemporary crime: Far Cry 6, although its focus is revolution and military outposts rather than urban criminal enterprise.
- Most distinct setting: Star Wars Outlaws, with planets, syndicates and space travel.
- Best for post-apocalyptic spectacle: Horizon Forbidden West, where machines and ecological mysteries drive exploration.
- Best historical alternative: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, provided its protagonist settings meet your requirements.
Combat and traversal
- Far Cry 6 uses guns, vehicles, gadgets and outpost tactics.
- Horizon Forbidden West combines bows, machine-part targeting, melee, climbing and gliding.
- Star Wars Outlaws mixes blaster combat, stealth, speeder travel and starship dogfights.
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla centers on melee, stealth, raids and settlement management.
Protagonist certainty
There are three different levels of certainty in this list. Aloy and Kay are fixed female protagonists. Dani Rojas is explicitly selectable as male or female. Eivor’s gender eligibility is not established by the official description used here, so verify it rather than assuming.
Games that are useful comparisons but not female-protagonist recommendations
Ghost of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima is a strong open-world benchmark for stealth, swordplay, archery and exploration across feudal Japan. However, PlayStation identifies Jin as the protagonist. It should not be presented as a campaign in which you play as a woman.
Cyberpunk 2077
The official page confirms Night City and the Phantom Liberty expansion, but the page reviewed does not document protagonist-gender options. Do not make a gender-specific recommendation for it without a source that clearly establishes those options.
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A practical way to choose your next game
- Choose your protagonist requirement. Pick Horizon Forbidden West or Star Wars Outlaws for a confirmed, authored female lead. Pick Far Cry 6 if you want to select female Dani. Treat Valhalla as conditional until you verify the settings.
- Choose the gameplay loop. Select Far Cry 6 for guns and outposts, Horizon for machine hunting and traversal, Outlaws for heists and faction reputation, or Valhalla for raids and settlement building.
- Check your hardware and edition. Horizon Forbidden West is confirmed for PS5, PS4 and PC, with a PS5 Complete Edition that includes Burning Shores. For the other games, confirm the current platform listing, edition contents and regional availability on the store where you plan to buy.
- Decide whether co-op matters. Far Cry 6 is the only entry here whose official description explicitly promises full co-op with shared progression. The supplied official descriptions do not establish co-op for the other recommendations.
- Use GTA VI’s date as your planning point. Rockstar lists November 19, 2026 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. A long campaign such as Horizon Forbidden West or Valhalla can fill months; Far Cry 6 and Outlaws are better choices if you want a more direct action-and-mission rhythm.
Bottom line
Horizon Forbidden West is the best overall answer when the priority is a substantial open world led by a woman. Far Cry 6 is the best answer to “Can I play as a woman in a modern open-world action game?” because Ubisoft explicitly supports female Dani and adds full co-op. Star Wars Outlaws is the most distinctive female-led crime alternative, while Assassin’s Creed Valhalla deserves consideration for its Viking sandbox only after you verify the protagonist settings for your edition.
Quick Recap
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