There was a time when open-world games were few and far between, but the success ofGrand Theft Autoas a series after going completely 3D ended up changing this notion completely.Grand Theft Auto 3ended up taking over the gaming world by storm, showcasing just what the medium was capable of when creative geniuses were at the helm of driving the next generation of video gaming experiences. The template ofGrand Theft Auto 3ended up being massively influential for obvious reasons. This formula has been improved bit by bit until Rockstar Games perfected their development all the way in 2013 with the release ofGrand Theft Auto 5.
The fact thatGrand Theft Auto 5is still one of the most popular games to this dateis a testament to the sheer quality of this brilliant title, andplayers who ended up experiencing this brilliant title firsthandwould obviously want to play more games in the same vein. Keeping this in mind, the following ten games could certainly fill the void this game has left behind.
Updated June 18, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:There’s no denying that Grand Theft Auto 5 is one of the greatest open-world games ever made, especially from a technical standpoint. The idea of switching between three protagonists and engaging in an epic story that’s full of memorable dialogue and amazing set-pieces is a brilliant one. It’s easy to see why players would want to check out more games in the same vein if they can’t get enough of Rockstar’s biggest open-world game to date. Since the wait for Grand Theft Auto 6 is proving downright agonizing, here are a few more titles to play in the meantime.
The firstMafiatitle featured one of the best video game stories, even if the open world itself felt lifeless at times. With the game getting on in years and not aging all that well, it’s clear to see why most players didn’t mind a remake of the first game. The rerelease lets both new and old players enjoy this title with a fresh coat of paint.
Mafia: Definitive Editionis an easy recommendation for fans ofGrand Theft Auto 5who want to check out a title in the vein of movies likeThe Godfather.Players take on the role of a lowly cab driver who impresses a member of the Mafia and is indoctrinated into the Salieri Family, rising up the ranks before this life of crime eventually catches up to him.
Red Dead Redemption 2features the finest story ever told in a Rockstar game to date, establishing Arthur Morgan as one of the best video game protagonists of all time. Watching this character slowly become disillusioned with Dutch’s leadership before striving to amend his own ways makes for a great time.
This amazing narrative is further bolstered by a beautiful open world that players will love exploring, displaying all of Rockstar’s strengths. Fans ofGTA 5will settle into this game in no time after the prologue. Players witness Marston’s story before the events of the first game, before Arthur’s story either ends on a poignant or brutal note.
It’s a shame that theGTAcomparisons plaguedCyberpunk 2077’s reputation at launch, even if the marketing did the game no favors. Still, there were parallels to be made here. Thankfully, CD Projekt Red took all this criticism on the chin and released patches and updates to ensure that this game met the high standards of their fans.
As of this point,Cyberpunk 2077is considered by many to be one of the greatest open-world games ever made. Players can channel the spirit ofGTAby carjacking everything in sight and losing themselves in an open world that is detailed and breathtaking to look at. All of this is held up by V’s emotional story as they strive to regain control of their body after a botched heist that implants the engram of Johnny Silverhand in their mind, turning their body into a ticking time bomb.
After the massive success ofGrand Theft Auto 3, it was only a given that more and more games would try and emulate the formula of this landmark title. Such a title came in the form ofTrue Crime: Streets of L.A.
While the game did suffer from a myriad of technical issues, playing through the title when it was released was quite enjoyable nonetheless. Ultimately, it was a great experience for any fan of theGTAseries.
WhileStreets of L.A.was a decent title, its sequel —True Crime: Streets of New York— was anything but. This critical and commercial failure prompted Activision to develop another GTA-esque game set in Hong Kong without the True Crime label.
The end result wasSleeping Dogs,a wildly imaginative title that was as ridiculous as it was brilliant. Getting into the shoes of an undercover cop has never been as engaging as it was in this title.
TheWatch Dogsseries started off on the highest of highs with the announcement of the first title, before its release ended up majorly disappointing fans. However, Ubisoft didn’t give up on the series, andWatch Dogs 2ended up being an improvement over its predecessor in every way, shape, and form.
The latest game in the series,Watch Dogs Legion, might suffer from a few issues. Still, it’s impossible to deny that the ability to record every NPC in the game is a neat touch, and elevates the experience to a new level.
TheSaints Rowseries is widely considered to betheGTAclone that ends up racking up the ridiculous nature of its gameplay to the max. While the first two games in the series were excellent, the third and fourth titles ended up cranking their strangeness meter all the way to the max.
Saints Row 4went so far as to turning the player — who’s the President of the United States as well — into a superhero, turning the sandbox into a playground for the player to mess around in with zero repercussions. This ultimately made for an experience that prioritized player fun over everything else.
Speaking of sandboxes that give players full reign to go completely berserk, one can’t fail to mention the brilliance of theJust Causeseries as well. The games have always ensured that players can blow up as many things as possible in the game without any problems, making for an experience that would be the perfect example of what a Michael Bay game would look like.Just Cause 4— the latest game in the series — perfects this aforementioned formula and makes for a brilliant experience indeed.
Released more than two decades ago but still harped on to this day, there’s a reason whyDriverhas attained such a cult reputation in the gaming fandom. It features some memorable driving missions, coupled with one of the hardest tutorials ever featured in a video game. Altogether,Driveris a classic title that any fan ofGrand Theft Autotitles should not miss out on.
AGrand Theft Auto-like gameset in the 40s and 50s is bound to turn some heads, and that’s exactly whatMafia 2managed to accomplish. While the open world might not be packed with enough content to satiate most games, it’s the story of this title that serves as the major draw. A riveting tale of crime families and betrayals,Mafia 2is a game that will definitely keep fans hooked all the way to the very end.
