You’ve been roaming Los Santos for over a decade. Honestly, at this point, you probably know the layout of Vinewood better than your own neighborhood. We’re all sitting around waiting for that November release of Grand Theft Auto VI, but let's be real—a few months can feel like a lifetime when you’re itching for a new sandbox to wreck.
People usually look for similar games like gta 5 because they want that specific "Rockstar magic." That mix of high-speed chases, a satirical world that hates itself, and the freedom to ignore the story for six hours just to see if you can land a dirt bike on a moving train. But most "clones" fail because they try to copy the scale without the soul.
Why "GTA Clones" Usually Miss the Mark
Most developers are terrified of going up against Rockstar. Former Rockstar technical director Obbe Vermeij recently pointed out that the industry has basically "given up" on competing directly with GTA. It’s too expensive. It’s too risky.
When you look for alternatives, you aren't just looking for a map with cars. You're looking for a world that feels reactive. If you punch a random person in Cyberpunk 2077, the police response feels different than in GTA. If you drive a car in Watch Dogs, it doesn't have that heavy, physics-based "crunch" we’ve grown used to.
To find something that actually satisfies the itch, you have to look at games that take one specific part of GTA and do it better—or at least differently enough to feel fresh.
The Undercover King: Sleeping Dogs
If you haven't played Sleeping Dogs, stop reading this and go buy it. It’s usually on sale for the price of a sandwich anyway.
This game was originally supposed to be True Crime: Hong Kong before Activision canned it. Square Enix picked it up, and thank god they did. It is basically "GTA: Hong Kong," but with a massive focus on brutal, Arkham-style martial arts instead of just gunplay.
You play as Wei Shen, an undercover cop infiltrating the Sun On Yee Triad. The tension is real. You’re constantly balancing your "Police" XP and your "Triad" XP. In GTA, you’re just a criminal. In Sleeping Dogs, you’re a guy who might actually feel bad about the people he’s hurting. Plus, the city of Hong Kong feels alive in a way that’s way more claustrophobic and neon-soaked than Los Santos.
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Pro tip: The "Definitive Edition" has some of the best rain effects in gaming, even by 2026 standards.
The High-Tech Alternative: Watch Dogs 2
Forget the first Watch Dogs with its moody protagonist, and definitely forget Legion—which most fans agree feels a bit hollow. Watch Dogs 2 is the one you want.
It takes place in a vibrant, sun-drenched San Francisco. While GTA 5’s satire is broad and cynical, Watch Dogs 2 targets Big Tech and social media in a way that feels surprisingly relevant today.
Hacking is the main draw. You can trigger car alarms, explode steam pipes, or even frame a random NPC for a crime and watch the police show up to arrest them. It gives you a "god mode" feel that GTA only gets when you start using cheats. The driving is a bit floaty, sure, but the ability to finish entire missions without ever stepping foot inside a building—just by using drones and RC cars—is a total blast.
Cyberpunk 2077: The Sandbox with a Soul
There’s a lot of debate on Reddit about whether this counts as one of the similar games like gta 5.
It’s an RPG first. If you go in expecting a pure crime simulator, you might be annoyed by the stat menus and loot tiers. But if you want a city that makes Los Santos look like a Lego set, Night City is it.
After the massive 2.0 overhaul and the Phantom Liberty expansion, the police system actually works. You can have high-speed vehicular combat. You can build a character that’s basically a cybernetic ninja. GTA is about the "American Dream" falling apart; Cyberpunk is about a future where the dream was replaced by a corporate nightmare. It’s darker, weirier, and visually, nothing else on a PS5 or PC even comes close right now.
The Period Pieces: Mafia and Red Dead
Sometimes you want the crime, but you’re tired of the cell phones and the internet memes.
- Mafia: Definitive Edition: This is a much tighter, more linear experience. Don't go in expecting a million side activities. It’s a playable Scorsese movie. The driving in "Simulation Mode" is genuinely difficult—cars from the 1930s handle like boats on ice. It’s beautiful and focused.
- Red Dead Redemption 2: It’s made by the same people, so the DNA is there. But it’s slow. It’s very slow. If GTA is a shot of espresso, RDR2 is a three-course meal you have to cook yourself. But the "Living World" tech in this game is still the gold standard.
What’s Coming in 2026?
We're in a weird gap. Most big studios have cleared their schedules to avoid being crushed by GTA VI. However, there are a few outliers worth watching if you're looking for that open-world fix.
- Mafia: The Old Country: This was teased for a 2025/2026 release. It's going back to the roots of the series in Sicily. If you like the organized crime aspect of GTA more than the random chaos, this is your primary target.
- The Precinct: This is a "top-down" game that looks like the original GTA titles but puts you in the shoes of a rookie cop in the 80s. It’s got procedurally generated crimes and car chases. It’s a bit indie, but the vibes are immaculate.
- MindsEye: This is a high-octane action game coming from Leslie Benzies—the guy who was basically the "architect" of the modern GTA series. It looks like it’s leaning more into the cinematic, "Mission Impossible" side of things.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Playthrough
If you're bored of Los Santos and need a change of pace before November, here is how you should choose:
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- Want better combat? Go with Sleeping Dogs. The melee is miles ahead of GTA’s "push one button to punch" system.
- Want more toys? Watch Dogs 2. The drone gameplay adds a layer of strategy GTA just doesn't have.
- Want to get lost in a story? Cyberpunk 2077. Just be prepared to read some dialogue.
- Want a "chill" crime vibe? Mafia II: Definitive Edition. The soundtrack alone is worth the price of admission.
Most people make the mistake of looking for a game that does everything GTA does. That game doesn't exist because Rockstar spends a billion dollars to make sure it doesn't. Instead, pick the one feature you love—the driving, the shooting, or the city-building—and find the game that specializes in that. You'll have a much better time than just playing a second-rate clone.
Check your digital storefronts for the Sleeping Dogs or Watch Dogs bundles; they usually go for under $15 during seasonal sales. Start there while you count down the days until we finally get back to Vice City.