GTA V remains the open-world benchmark over a decade later. Three protagonists, Los Santos chaos, heist missions that hold up against any cinematic, and GTA Online keeping things fresh through year 13. If you’ve burned through every heist and want more games that hit the same notes, you’re in the right place.
This list cuts straight to 15 alternatives that genuinely deliver open-world freedom, crime sandbox gameplay, or city exploration. No filler picks, no “kind of similar” stretches.
Quick Comparison: Top 5 Picks
| # | Game | Open World | Price | Platforms |
| 1 | Red Dead Redemption 2 | Yes | $59.99 | PC, PS4, Xbox |
| 2 | Cyberpunk 2077 | Yes | $59.99 | PC, PS5, Xbox |
| 3 | Sleeping Dogs | Yes | $19.99 | PC, PS4, Xbox One |
| 4 | Saints Row IV | Yes | $19.99 | PC, PS, Xbox, Switch |
| 5 | Watch Dogs 2 | Yes | $29.99 | PC, PS4, Xbox One |
1. Red Dead Redemption 2
Why it’s similar
Same Rockstar open-world design philosophy with story missions plus sandbox freedom. The most direct successor in spirit.
What makes it unique
Western American setting replaces Los Santos. Honor system tracks moral choices visibly affecting NPC reactions. Arthur Morgan’s story is widely considered one of gaming’s best.
Key features
- Detailed American west setting
- Honor reputation system
- Hunting and survival mechanics
- Online multiplayer mode
Price: $59.99 Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Where to Buy
Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.
2. Saints Row IV
Why it’s similar
Open-world chaos and over-the-top action with sandbox gameplay and humor. GTA V’s parody cousin.
What makes it unique
Superpowers replace traditional vehicles. Super sprint, gliding, and energy blasts make traversal absurd. Hours of side missions parody pop culture relentlessly.
Key features
- Superpower traversal
- Steelport open city
- Pop-culture satire
- Re-Elected Edition bundles all DLC
Price: $19.99 (Re-Elected) Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch
Where to Buy
Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.
3. Sleeping Dogs
Why it’s similar
Crime-focused open-world gameplay with strong melee combat and narrative. Hong Kong setting and undercover cop angle echoes GTA’s missions.
What makes it unique
Martial arts combat system is some of the best in open-world gaming. Definitive Edition includes all DLC plus visual upgrades.
Key features
- Hong Kong open world
- Martial arts combat
- Drug bust and triad missions
- Definitive Edition with DLC
Price: $19.99 Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Where to Buy
Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.
4. Watch Dogs 2
Why it’s similar
Open-world hacking and missions with player freedom and city exploration. San Francisco setting parallels GTA V’s Los Santos.
What makes it unique
Hacking mechanic lets you control phones, cameras, vehicles, and infrastructure. Lighter tone than the original Watch Dogs balances Saints Row chaos with GTA realism.
Key features
- San Francisco open world
- Hacking and drone mechanics
- 2-player co-op
- Lighter satirical tone
Price: $29.99 Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Where to Buy
Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.
5. Mafia: Definitive Edition
Why it’s similar
Story-driven crime experience with cinematic missions and open-world setting. 1930s Lost Heaven offers prohibition-era GTA vibes.
What makes it unique
2020 remake fully rebuilt the original 2002 classic. Linear story missions in an open-world wrapper give it a cinematic feel.
Key features
- 1930s Lost Heaven setting
- Cinematic story missions
- Period-accurate vehicles
- Full remake of the original
Price: $39.99 Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Where to Buy
Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.
6. Cyberpunk 2077
Why it’s similar
Open-world city exploration with missions, freedom, and progression systems. Night City rivals Los Santos for density.
What makes it unique
Phantom Liberty expansion added a full spy-thriller campaign. Cybernetic implant system lets you completely customize V’s body and abilities.
Key features
- Open-world Night City
- Cybernetic implant builds
- Phantom Liberty expansion
- 100+ hour campaign
Price: $59.99 Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Where to Buy
Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.
7. Just Cause 4
Why it’s similar
Massive sandbox destruction and chaos with vehicle gameplay and freedom. GTA V’s stunt potential turned up to eleven.
What makes it unique
Grappling hook combined with parachute and wingsuit creates the most chaotic traversal in gaming. Weather system includes tornadoes, lightning storms, and blizzards as combat hazards.
Key features
- Grappling hook traversal
- Dynamic weather hazards
- Massive open-world Solis
- Destruction-heavy combat
Price: $29.99 Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Where to Buy
Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.
8. Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Why it’s similar
Crime storytelling with side activities, open-city exploration, and humor. Japanese gangster setting reframes GTA tropes.
What makes it unique
Turn-based RPG combat replaces traditional brawler mechanics. Ichiban Kasuga’s earnest optimism contrasts the Yakuza series’ tradition of stoic protagonists.
Key features
- Turn-based RPG combat
- Yokohama open city
- 50+ side activities
- Dragon Quest-inspired tone
Price: $59.99 Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Where to Buy
Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.
9. The Saboteur
Why it’s similar
Open-world action with stealth elements and city liberation mechanics. WWII Paris setting offers a unique GTA-style sandbox.
What makes it unique
Liberating zones from Nazi control restores color to the black-and-white world. Climbing system inspired by Assassin’s Creed predates Watch Dogs.
Key features
- Color-restoration mechanic
- Climbable Paris architecture
- WWII Resistance setting
- Open-world sabotage missions
Price: $9.99 Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Where to Buy
Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.
10. Far Cry 6
Why it’s similar
Open-world combat and exploration with sandbox mission structure. Yara island provides Cuba-inspired sandbox warfare.
What makes it unique
Wingsuit and horseback traversal alongside vehicles. Amigos pet companions fight alongside you including a crocodile and a wiener dog.
Key features
- Yara open island
- Amigo pet companions
- Resolver Weapons crafting
- Two DLC story chapters
Price: $59.99 Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Where to Buy
Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.
11. L.A. Noire
Why it’s similar
Rockstar-style narrative focus with crime investigation and immersion. 1947 Los Angeles setting captures noir atmosphere.
What makes it unique
Facial animation tech was groundbreaking at launch. Detective gameplay focuses on interrogation rather than shootouts.
Key features
- 1947 Los Angeles
- Facial animation tech
- Interrogation gameplay
- Multiple desks (Patrol, Homicide, Vice, Arson)
Price: $39.99 Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Where to Buy
Available on Green Man Gaming and Steam.
12. Scarface: The World Is Yours
Why it’s similar
Crime empire gameplay with open-world progression systems. Direct adaptation of the iconic Tony Montana story.
What makes it unique
Picks up after the movie’s ending. Tony Montana survives and rebuilds his empire. Drug distribution and territory control add management elements.
Key features
- Continuation of the film’s story
- Drug distribution mechanics
- Territory control
- 1980s Miami setting
Price: Out of print (used market) Platforms: PS2, Xbox, Wii, PC
Where to Buy
Available through retro game retailers.
13. Crackdown 3
Why it’s similar
Open-world destruction and combat with sandbox-style progression. Vertical traversal echoes GTA V’s stunt potential.
What makes it unique
Cloud-powered destruction in multiplayer Wrecking Zone mode. Verticality emphasizes rooftops over street-level cruising.
Key features
- New Providence open city
- Cloud-powered destruction
- Multiplayer Wrecking Zone
- Co-op campaign
Price: $29.99 Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Where to Buy
Available on Xbox Store and Steam.
14. True Crime: Streets of LA
Why it’s similar
Open-world police/crime gameplay with missions and exploration systems. 2003 classic that pre-dated GTA’s sandbox dominance.
What makes it unique
Plays as a cop solving cases across Los Angeles. Multiple endings based on player performance.
Key features
- 2003 cop sandbox
- Multiple endings
- LA open world
- Branching mission paths
Price: Out of print (used market) Platforms: PS2, Xbox, GameCube, PC
Where to Buy
Available through retro game retailers.
15. The Godfather II
Why it’s similar
Open-world crime management with story progression and combat. Direct video game adaptation of the iconic film sequel.
What makes it unique
Manage a crime empire across New York, Florida, and Cuba. Recruit and assign capos to specific roles in your organization.
Key features
- Three-city open world
- Crime empire management
- Recruitable capos
- Don’s View strategic map
Price: Out of print (used market) Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Where to Buy
Available through retro game retailers.
Full Comparison Table
| # | Game | Open World | Price | Platforms |
| 1 | Red Dead Redemption 2 | Yes | $59.99 | PC, PS4, Xbox |
| 2 | Saints Row IV | Yes | $19.99 | PC, PS, Xbox, Switch |
| 3 | Sleeping Dogs | Yes | $19.99 | PC, PS4, Xbox One |
| 4 | Watch Dogs 2 | Yes | $29.99 | PC, PS4, Xbox One |
| 5 | Mafia: Definitive Edition | Yes | $39.99 | PC, PS4, Xbox One |
| 6 | Cyberpunk 2077 | Yes | $59.99 | PC, PS5, Xbox |
| 7 | Just Cause 4 | Yes | $29.99 | PC, PS4, Xbox One |
| 8 | Yakuza: Like a Dragon | Yes | $59.99 | PC, PS, Xbox |
| 9 | The Saboteur | Yes | $9.99 | PC, PS3, Xbox 360 |
| 10 | Far Cry 6 | Yes | $59.99 | PC, PS, Xbox |
| 11 | L.A. Noire | Yes | $39.99 | PC, PS4, Xbox, Switch |
| 12 | Scarface: The World Is Yours | Yes | Used market | PS2, Xbox, Wii, PC |
| 13 | Crackdown 3 | Yes | $29.99 | PC, Xbox |
| 14 | True Crime: Streets of LA | Yes | Used market | PS2, Xbox, GC, PC |
| 15 | The Godfather II | Yes | Used market | PS3, Xbox 360, PC |
Conclusion
GTA V fans have plenty of directions depending on what hooked them. Want more Rockstar polish? Red Dead Redemption 2 and L.A. Noire are obvious starting points. Craving sandbox chaos? Saints Row IV and Just Cause 4 deliver pure mayhem. Hungry for crime storytelling? Sleeping Dogs, Mafia, and Yakuza: Like a Dragon hit the criminal underworld from different cultures.
The open-world crime genre has matured into one of gaming’s most rewarding spaces. Pick one based on whether you want gritty realism, super-powered chaos, or cinematic story focus. Every game on this list earned its spot through real sandbox credentials, not just an “open world” tag.
Read More Like This!
15 Games Like Cyberpunk 2077 You Need to Play in 2026
15 Games Like 007 First Light You Need to Play in 2026
15 Games Like Forza Horizon 6 You Need to Play in 2026
15 Games Like Red Dead Redemption 2 You Need to Play in 2026
15 Games Like Borderlands 4 You Need to Play in 2026
15 Games Like The Witcher 3 You Need to Play in 2026
15 Games Like Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 to Play in 2026
15 Games Like Coffee Talk Tokyo You Need to Play in 2026
15 Games Like Crimson Desert You Need to Play in 2026
15 Games Like Elden Ring Nightreign You Need to Play in 2026
15 Games Like Oblivion Remastered You Need to Play in 2026
15 Games Like Lies of P You Need to Play in 2026
15 Games Like ARC Raiders You Need to Play in 2026
15 Games Like Directive 8020 You Need to Play in 2026
15 Games Like Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2026 Guide)