When Microsoft and Sony showcased their Xbox Series X|S and PS5 consoles, there was one game in particular on many gamers wish lists, a newGrand Theft Autotitle. Unfortunately, players universally groaned as yet another port ofGTA 5was announced instead. It’s almost hard to believe at this point, but its been over seven years sinceGTA 5initially released on the Xbox 360 and PS3.
Although a day will inevitably come when people look at their Twitter feed andsee that a newGrand Theft Autohas been announced, it could still be many, many months before the game is released. So until that glorious day comes, here are some great GTA-style games to play in the meantime.
Updated July 17, 2025, by Usama Ali:At the time of writing, GTA 6 is expected to be released sometime in Fall 2025 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Waiting for GTA 6 may seem like an eternity, but it’s also a great time to find other amazing games to play. Of course, one could always revisit old GTA titles, reliving legendary missions and nostalgic moments. Still, for players who wish to venture beyond the familiar streets of Los Santos and Liberty City, there are a bunch of amazing games like GTA 6. This list has now been updated with even more great titles to keep players entertained until they can finally play GTA 6.
Rockstar’s cult classicBullytook the gameplay mechanics from theGTAseries and put them in a dysfunctional boarding school. Unlike theGTAgames that take heavy influence from the relevant pop-culture at the time,Bullyhas minimal references to life outside the school and its neighboring town making it far more timeless and less-dated than its GTA counterparts.
The game is a joy to play as it has one of the most charismatic and memorable casts in a Rockstar game, and many quintessential childhood items are available like itching powder, stink bombs, and itching powder.
AlthoughPayday 2is all about planning and pulling off heists with a crew, there is plenty to keep players entertained untilGTA 6. From bank heists to art thefts, every heist inPayday 2comes with its own set of challenges and objectives, demanding more than just a smash-and-grab approach. These will surely remind players of the carefully planned heists of Michael, Trevor, and Franklin inGTA V.
Interestingly,Payday 2has a deep progression system with skill trees, weapon modifications, and a leveling system. Players earn experience and money fromcompleting heists, which they can use to unlock new skills and equipment. Plus, the constant updates and new content released forPayday 2means that there’s always something new to experience, making it a great way to pass the time and get your criminal fix while waiting for the release ofGTA 6.
The Xbox One and PS4 generation may not have been blessed with a newGTAgame, but there was a follow up to 2010sRed Dead Redemption. The 2018 prequel had everything that you would expect in an open-world Rockstar game with a huge world to explore, action-heavy gameplay,and tons of side activities.
The game offered a level of realism not yet seen in a Rockstar game, particularly the incredible weather effects andwildlife AI.Rockstar clearly spent many, many hours perfecting these details, implying that they will also feature in the nextGTAgame as it would be a waste not to re-use them.
L.A. Noireis the final game on this list that is developed by the same team asGTA. Unconventionally for a Rockstar game,L.A. Noireputs players on the side of the law.As a detective, players a tasked with solving crimes around Los Angeles. Consequently, the game is less focused on action and more on methodical police work.
The game was re-released in 2017, featuring updated facial animations that greatly improved the game’s frequent questioning sequences. The re-release also removed the confusing ambiguity over the Truth, Lie, and Doubt options, replacing them with Good Cop, Bad Cop, and Accuse respectively.
Of all the non-rockstar entries on this list, theSaints Rowseriesis the most directly influenced by theGTAgames. The series is largely split into two half’s, as the first two games have a more realistic feel, whereas the latest two feature over-the-top action that is focused far more on fun than realism.
The fourth game takes the third’s action-pact gameplay to a whole other level as players become the US President and are tasked with using their superpowers to battle an army of aliens.
8Mafia III
Mafia IIIis the third entry in theMafia seriesand is set in a fictionalized version of New Orleans in 1968. Players take on the role of Lincoln Clay, a Vietnam War veteran who gets revenge on the Italian Mafia for their betrayal and assassination of his adoptive family. It’s the perfect alternative toGTA 6for everyone with a taste for organized crime.
Mafia III, perhaps more than other entries in the series, closely mirrors Rockstar’s design, with side activities and a story focused on a war veteran dealing with his past. There are many activities that players can participate in, such as completing missions, taking over rackets, and recruiting allies.
Just Cause 4is similar to the previous entry, not just because they’ve both got 4 in their title, but because they both offer fun over-the-top action. The game gives players a ton of exciting items to use, such as the wingsuit and grappling hook and lets them tackle objectives or simply explore the game’s huge playpen-like map in any way they choose. Along with the items are some of the most innovative and havoc inducing weapons in all of gaming, such as the lightning gun, wind gun, and super-sniper.
Just Cause 4ramped the action of its predecessor up a notch by adding extreme weather conditions to the mix, including giant, destructive tornados.
There’s a reason whyThe Simpsons: Hit and Runis often referred to asGTAfor kids. Developer Radical Entertainment took the open-world driving gameplay fromGTAandthrew it into the iconic Springfield.
The game’s missions aren’t as varied asGTA, as most of them consist of simply driving from point A to point B within a time-frame. But exploring the game’s wonderfully designed levels is a joy and there are tons of collectibles hidden away in each stage, providing hours of enjoyable optional gameplay.
The Simpsons: Hit and Runisn’t the only child-friendlyGTAalternative out there,Lego City Undercovercombined the open-world gameplay ofGTAandgave it the Danish block treatment.
The game does feature many of the gameplay elements thatLego Star Wars: The Video Gameintroduced and subsequent entries have built upon, but generally speaking, it plays very differently to the other modern Lego games with its emphasis on free-roaming and lack of movie tie-in to adhere to.
While it’s more of an immersive RPG,Cyberpunk 2077shares the familiar formula ofGTA’s crime-ridden open world. Just like inGTA, players can steal cars, get into chases with the police, and freely explore the open world.Cyberpunk 2077is set in a futuristic, dystopian metropolis called Night City. The city is heavily influenced by cyberpunk tropes and shows a world where technology has advanced rapidly, but society is plagued by inequality, corporate control, and violence.
Cyberpunk 2077features a main storyline with numerous missions, as well as numerousside questsand activities that players can engage in. The decisions players make during the game can heavily influence the story and its ending. It’s an ideal game for anyone who wants to kill time while waiting forGTA 6.
