All games in the GTA franchise have sold over 120 million copies. And this Rockstar success seems to be based on a simple formula: an open world, in which the player inserts himself into a reality of gangs, corruption and crimes. If you are a fan of this type of gameplay , know that there are a lot of games similar to GTA .
Many of these games are free and are even available for cell phones. Others, in turn, you have to pay, whether for PC or for PlayStation and XBox. Regardless of whether you’re a mobile or console gamer, see below for our list of 10 games similar to the Grand Theft Auto franchise .
1. Watch Dogs 2
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One and PC
Watch Dogs , developed by Ubisoft, was released in 2014, but it didn’t get very positive reviews. It was only with a sequel, in 2016, that this franchise gained the attention of players. If you didn’t know anything about the game and experienced the gameplay , you’d certainly think you’re playing some sort of GTA spin-off .
The plot isn’t entirely focused on the criminality of the streets of a big city, but there are a lot of elements related to that in Watch Dogs 2 . You take control of a young hacker , who wants to destroy a big technology company. You are equipped with a hacking system , which can control practically everything in the game.
In addition, of course, you have at your disposal a number of firearms and melee weapons. It is possible to steal cars and motorcycles and go around the city driving aimlessly. There are a lot of side quests that involve taking selfies at important monuments or helping random NPCs.
You should play this game if:
- Enjoy open worlds inspired by real cities
- If you like gameplay that involves technology and hacking
2. Mafia III
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One and PC
From the name alone, you can see that Mafia III is a game quite similar to GTA . The plot involves the player, who assumes the character of Lincoln Clay, in a theme of revenge and violence. The objective is to dismantle the New Bordeaux city mafia, inspired by New Orleans.
This fictional city in the game presents itself to the player as a large open world. In this open world it is possible to fulfill main and secondary missions, which usually involve eliminating enemies. Something interesting is that in addition to the use of firearms, it is possible to defeat opponents in physical combat. There is also the possibility to do this using stealth techniques.
Something quite different from GTA is the presence of interrogations. If you wish, you can interrogate enemies to obtain information relevant to the game’s progress. An interesting point of Mafia III is being able to attack and control buildings belonging to the Italian mafia. In addition to all this, you can have fun around the city driving your car.
You should play this game if:
- Interested in Mafia-related topics
- Enjoy stealth and action gameplay at the same time
3. Bully
Platforms: PS2, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Wii, PC and Mobile
Bully , also from Rockstar, manages to be more controversial than GTA . As the name suggests, the theme is focused on the practice of bullying . The player controls Jimmy Hopkins, a teenager who lives in an unhealthy school environment. There, he has contact with immoral teachers and employees, as well as fellow bullies who beat the most defenseless.
This game brings the concept of an open world, although it is a limited open world. Initially, you only have access to the dormitories and the entire school grounds and buildings. As you are in a boarding school, you must participate in the classes, which are several and even quite interesting. But it’s exploring the student world that Bully proves interesting.
You don’t have firearms, of course, but you can use slingshots and your hands to take on opponents. They are the school bullies and student gang members. Your goal is to survive this world of threats and aggression, always protecting the weakest. Of course, this game allows you to be as bully as your enemies, but that’s up to each player to choose.
The combat system, by the way, is very well developed in relation to even current games, like GTA V . You can take the enemy to the ground and finish him off with different blows according to your position. Also, each opponent has a different difficulty level. A nerd is easier to beat than an athlete, for example.
You should play this game if:
- Want to simulate a school experience
- Experience a PlayStation 2 Classic
4. True Crime: New York City
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube and PC
The second game in the True Crime series is yet another urban adventure very similar to GTA . The protagonist is Marcus Reed. He was a member of a gang, until he was shot and saved by a police officer. Just five years later he became a New York police officer. This city is the stage for the game’s missions.
The open world of True Crime: New York City is very small compared to GTA V and even GTA: San Andreas . Still, it is possible to drive and walk through the iconic streets of this metropolis. If you want, you can order a taxi to move around Manhattan or even take a subway.
Perhaps the most fun point of this game is the fact that there are two different endings. There is the Good Cop ending and the Bad Cop ending . Endings will be selected by the game according to their performance during the main quests. If he’s a straight cop, who hasn’t killed suspects or stolen money, he’ll have a good ending. If he has been corrupt, he knows what awaits him.
You should play this game if:
- Find interesting games with alternate endings
- If you are a fan of the True Crime series
5. Sleeping Dogs
Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PC
Like Mafia III , Sleeping Dogs is a game that involves fighting the mafia, in this case the Chinese one. This game takes place in the city of Hong Kong, with a huge open world. At the command of police detective Wei Shen, it is possible to walk the streets or drive vehicles. Among them are boats, motorcycles and cars.
Combat is not so much focused on the use of firearms, but rather on melee combat. There are elements of Batman: Arkham City in the “FreeFlow” style hit system. The vehicle driving system has elements of the Need for Speed series .
Like every open world game similar to GTA , the player may or may not fulfill the main missions. They serve to progress in the game and to free up areas of the city. Sleeping Dogs does, however, offer a number of side quests and extra activities.
If you want, you can steal cars, join fight clubs and bet on cockfights. It is possible to participate in car races and, if you are interested, visit the main player’s girlfriends.
Remembering that Sleeping Dogs is a sequel to True Crime: New York City . The name wasn’t True Crime: Hong Kong because there was a change in the developer during the game’s production.
You should play this game if:
- Want to delve into a narrative about the dreaded Chinese mafia
- Enjoy exploring huge open worlds
6. Saints Row IV
Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PC
The acclaimed Saint Row game series could not be missing from this list. The most recent, Saints Row IV , brings back the leader of the group Third Street Saints. He is now President of the United States, which means the entire game takes place in a fictional city similar to Washington DC. It’s actually the same Steelport from the third game, but redesigned.
What draws attention in Saints Row IV is that the fight between gangs, a classic theme of previous games, no longer exists. The enemy is now alien. The objective now is to face aliens, in a dystopian and futuristic Steelport. To do so, the player receives elemental and supernatural powers.
Compared to the previous title, the character can now jump buildings and run at super speed. In addition to various super powers, there is a skill tree, which can be improved throughout the game. As with the other games in the series, you can almost entirely customize your character’s appearance.
You should play this game if:
- Like alien themes
- Want to customize your avatar
7. Total Overdose
Platforms: PS2, Xbox and PC
A game that is little mentioned and that is far from the best sellers , but it is very interesting. It is evidently inspired by GTA , as well as being a parody of the movie Once Upon a Time in Mexico . The player can control three characters: Tommy, Ernesto and Ramiro. The first two are only controllable in the first two missions, however.
It is with Ramiro that you venture into the fight against Mexican drug cartels. The gameplay is what we already know: driving or walking in an open world that takes place in a Mexican city. You have the possibility to use a series of firearms, as well as you can acquire common cars and other legendary ones within the narrative.
The melee combat system has an interesting feature: you can finish off an enemy with so-called Loco Moves . There are six different Loco Moves , each giving access to different combos and experience points.
You should play this game if:
- Liking culture or references to Mexican culture
8. The Godfather: The Game
Platforms: PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox 360, Wii and PC
Surely the theme music of the movies and even the game has already come to your head. The Godfather: The Game , inspired entirely by the 1972 classic, features many voiceovers from the original film. Despite this, however, he is only inspired, as the plot follows very different paths.
The game is one of the simplest on our list, in pretty much every way. Despite being set in an open world, in New York City, the exploration mode is not very broad. Everything focuses more on destroying the rival families of the Corleone family. The player’s objective is to become the new “Don”.
The fun thing is that throughout the missions you will be able to recognize some moments taken from the movie.
You should play this game if:
- Watched The Godfather Movies
- Enjoying subjects related to the Italian Mafia
9. Yakuza 6 – PS4
Platform: PS4
Yakuza 6 is the latest title in the celebrated Yakuza franchise , which focuses on the Japanese mafia. In this game you control Kazuma Kiryu, a former member of this mafia who fights after being kicked out of the group. Despite the graphical improvements and the combat and vehicle driving systems, Yakuza 6 continues the legacy of other games in the franchise.
That is, this game brings the same mixed dynamics between open world exploration and elimination of enemies with firearms or in melee combat. There are locations in three Japanese cities: Onomichi, Tokyo and Kamurocho. In all of them, the player has access to primary and secondary missions, as well as new items, as the game progresses.
You should play this game if:
- Have played previous franchise titles
- Haven’t tried any Yakuza titles yet
10. Reservoir Dogs
Platform: PS2, Xbox and PC
Anyone who is a fan of Quentin Tarantino will certainly understand the reference. Reservoir Dogs is an adaptation of the film directed by the director and is fraught with controversy. It did not receive very positive reviews, having been banned in countries such as Germany and Australia, for promoting acts of pure violence.
Anyway, it’s a partial open world game. The missions are basically kidnapping people and taking hostages. The idea is not to kill anyone. The mechanics of Reservoir Dogs classify the player as either “Professional” or “Psychopath”, depending on how he acts during gameplay . The ending will also depend on how you behaved while playing.
You should play this game if:
- Fan of Quentin Tarantino
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