11 Games like GTA That Redefine Open-World Exploration

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GTA isn’t a game name but an emotion from everyone’s childhood. Want to explore more games like GTA? Here you go.

Playing games like GTA takes us adults to our childhood. The nostalgia hits hard when we hear the word “GTA,” let alone when we actually play the game. Similarly, some games like these emerged as our go-to ones.

GTA’s Unending Popularity

In the early 2000s, the innovative Grand Theft Auto series electrified the gaming industry. Let’s crank up our virtual time engines and go back to that time. A pioneer in the open-world gaming genre, Rockstar Games’ renowned GTA captivated players with its unrivaled freedom and enjoyable gameplay.

Because of its sandbox-style gameplay, GTA was distinctive because it let players explore substantial urban areas, finish tasks, and, most importantly, perform a range of frenzied pranks. GTA’s excellent sense of chaos, from car hijacking and escaping police to criminal escapades, made it so appealing.

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GTA’s popularity grew exponentially with each successive release. The pioneering game GTA III, which switched from a top-down perspective to a completely immersive 3D world, marked the series’ pinnacle. The ability to build their criminal empire and meet allies and enemies enthralled players.

Later, games like GTA Vice City and GTA San Andreas increased the thrill by including lovable characters, exciting settings, and a killer soundtrack that completely submerged players in the colorful and gritty worlds they explored.

GTA’s captivating stories, sarcastic humor, and social commentary further influence the game’s success. Rockstar’s focus on the finer points and dedication to an immersive experience made the series a genuine treasure in the gaming world. Newer games like GTA V continue astounding gamers with their striking visuals, gripping plot, and the excitement of wreaking virtual havoc. GTA is still regarded as a classic franchise.

Expanding Gaming Horizons

Why not extend your horizons and explore other fantastic games with a similar vibe if you’ve been enjoying the action-packed world of GTA? A vast universe of games is waiting to be discovered, and it’s a promise that you won’t be let down.

Exploring diverse video games might give one a new perspective on the genre. If you enjoyed GTA’s deep storytelling and exploration, you’d be happy that many other games provide just as compelling stories and vast open worlds to discover. You can appreciate each game’s distinct gameplay mechanics and varied storylines by playing various of them, so keep that in mind. You might find a new favorite because each game has its unique charm.

So why not take the leap and explore the worlds of games like GTA? Along with improving your gaming, you’ll join a number of dedicated gaming communities. Let us look at some of the top GTA-like games that you OGs will enjoy. Sleeve up & get on in the gaming mode.

Saints Row IV

The massive action-adventure game Saints Row IV raises the bar for the outrageous gangster fun of the Saints Row series. In this virtual simulation, you take on the role of the Boss, the Saints’ commander who has been endowed with superpowers. Thanks to these abilities, you can jump over large buildings, run faster than a car, and even shoot fire out of your hands!

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The player gets elected as the President of the United States, gains superpowers, and repels an extraterrestrial invasion while serving as the leader of the Saints. This street gang has grown to be the most “powerful and popular” group in the world. You’ll further run into lovable individuals, go on crazy quests, and take part in outlandish antics that defy logic.

You have made your switch from a penthouse to the White House, and now it is up to you to save the Earth. With an arsenal full of weapons and superpowers, you are trusted to save the earth.

Developers: Volition

Publishers: Deep Silver

Release date: August 20, 2013

Platforms Available: Windows, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Linux, Google Stadia, and Nintendo Switch.

➡️ Check it out on Steam.

Sleeping Dogs

An exciting open-world game that transports you to the busy streets of Hong Kong, Sleeping Dogs welcomes you to its thrilling universe. Take on the role of a character known as Wei Shen, an undercover police officer torn between his loyalty to the law and his connections to organized crime. With moral choices to make along the way, your goal is to enter and take down violent gangs.

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Experience bone-crunching combos and dramatic takedowns in fluid martial arts action that delivers a furious hand-to-hand battle. Enjoy the rich culture, breathtaking graphics, and authentic audio to experience Hong Kong truly. Enjoy a breather from the activity and partake in several extracurricular pursuits, including karaoke, gambling, or even martial arts practice.

Sleeping Dogs provides a remarkable gaming experience because of its intriguing plot, likable cast, and flawless fusion of exploration and action. So, hone your abilities, adopt a courageous stance, and take on the criminal underworld in this epic criminal thriller!

Developers: United Front Games

Publishers: Square Enix

Release date: August 14, 2012

Platforms Available: Windows, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Mac OS.

➡️ Check it out on Steam.

Cyberpunk 2077

Players embark on an adventurous mission in the future Night City of the open-world, action-packed role-playing game Cyberpunk 2077. This fascinating game is set on a future Earth with cyber-enhanced characters, dangerous organizations, and cutting-edge technology.

The character that the gamers are in control of in the game is V, a mercenary whose abilities, demeanor, and decisions impact the storyline. With the help of gorgeous graphics and easy gameplay, V also explores a vast environment filled with busy streets, neon-lit lanes, and lofty buildings. Create alliances with fascinating characters in this action-packed adventure.

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Consisting of six locations in the game, it’s heaven for explorers to play the game. Fans of action RPGs and cyberpunk aesthetics must play Cyberpunk 2077 because it also offers a fantastic experience through its combination of cybernetic thrills, compelling plot, and stunning visuals.

Developers: CD Projekt Red

Publishers: CD Projekt

Release date: December 10, 2020

Platforms Available: Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Google Stadia.

➡️ Check it out on Steam.

Watch Dogs 2

Your heart will race to play the exciting open-world action-adventure game Watch Dogs 2!  Marcus Holloway, a skilled hacker who joins the infamous hacking outfit DedSec, is the character you play. Their objective? Bring about justice for the populace by exposing corrupt corporations.

Thanks to the intriguing plot, you will become engrossed in the hacker subculture, using your abilities to compromise security, utilize technology to your advantage, and outwit adversaries. With so many hacking chances and side quests available in the game, you can approach problems your way. Moreover, drive a range of unique vehicles, scout with drones, and also defeat enemies with various weapons.

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But mayhem isn’t all that Watch Dogs 2 is about. As you ascend famous sites, you’ll take in breathtaking views of the incredible world around you. Working together with pals on cooperative missions is also much fun. Get ready for Watch Dogs 2 to hack, investigate, and revolutionize the online world!

Developers: Ubisoft Montreal

Publishers: Ubisoft

Release date: November 15, 2016

Platforms Available: Windows, PS4, Google Stadia, and Xbox One.

➡️ Check it out on Steam.

Watch Dogs: Legion

The third-person action-adventure game Watch Dogs: Legion features an open world that models London. The game’s open-world environment can be explored on foot while using parkour maneuvers, cars, or the city’s underground stations for speedy transportation.

The game consists of several missions that advance the main plot, liberation missions meant to free the city’s boroughs featured in the setting, recruitment missions for new playable characters, and various side activities. Players can freely pursue a task or activity or explore the city for hidden objects and collectibles.

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Watch Dogs: Legion delivers a rich gameplay environment with compelling stories, interesting side quests, and a diverse cast of characters. Each play will be unique and also exciting since you’ll have a personal connection to the characters you choose.

Developers: Ubisoft Toronto

Publishers: Ubisoft

Release date: October 29, 2020

Platforms Available: Windows, PS4, PS5, Google Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

➡️ Check it out on Steam.

Just Cause 4

In the grand action-adventure game Just Cause 4, you take control of the formidable Rico Rodriguez. In this made-up South American setting named Solis, you’ll assume the role of a one-man army and fight against the oppressive Black Hand militia and a dangerous environment.

Thanks to the game’s enormous open-world sandbox, you can cause mayhem in the most inventive ways possible. You can further also travel the vast environment by grappling, parachuting, and using the wingsuit while wreaking havoc. 

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You’ll also have access to a vast arsenal of weapons and tools, from rocket launchers to programmable grappling hooks, to combat the Black Hand’s sophisticated weaponry. A weather-altering device also grants Rico additional skills, giving the game a distinctive edge. So, get your gaming gear on and prepare for adventurous gameplay!

Developers: Avalanche Studios

Publishers: Square Enix

Release date: December 4, 2018

Platforms Available: Windows, PS4, and Xbox One.

➡️ Check it out on Steam.

L.A. Noire

The captivating detective game L.A. Noire is set in 1940s Los Angeles. You take up his position as devoted LAPD officer Cole Phelps advances through the ranks. The game has a compelling noir-style plot that is full of mystery, crime, and corruption.

As Phelps, you will also snoop about crime scenes, gather evidence, and speak with witnesses to solve several horrible crimes. Your game-related choices will further have an impact on the outcome and could even endanger your career. 

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The player finds evidence while resolving crimes, such as details from non-player characters or tangible hints in or around crime scenes, interesting places, or dead bodies. So sleeve up and set your eyes on the prize in this thrilling game!

Developers: Team Bondi

Publishers: Rockstar Games

Release date: May 17, 2011

Platforms Available: PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Windows, and Nintendo Switch.

➡️ Check it out on Steam.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a vast open-world action-adventure game that takes place in late 1899. It relates the tale of Arthur Morgan, a hardened bandit and a member of the organization known as the Van der Lindes, led by the charming Dutch Van der Linde.

Players can develop relationships with their horses and embark on animal hunts, touring towns, and robbing trains. The story further examines themes of loyalty, atonement, and also survival as Arthur navigates a quickly changing society where law enforcement and bounty hunters are hot on their trail.

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You protect your gang members and engage in violent combat with various weaponry and tactical firefight decisions. Red Dead Redemption 2 delivers a unique adventure through the harsh and forgiving Wild West with breathtaking sights, an emotionally compelling storyline, and a rich multiplayer experience.

Developers: Rockstar Studios

Publishers: Rockstar Games

Release date: October 26, 2018

Platforms Available: PS4, Xbox One, Google Stadia, and Windows.

➡️ Check it out on Steam.

Mafia Trilogy

You embark on an exciting trip into the violent world of organized crime with the Mafia Trilogy. You play as Vito Scaletta, a war veteran entangled in the underworld, in Mafia 2, a game set in the 1940s and 1950s. Navigate Empire Bay’s perilous streets while engaging in captivating stories, memorable characters, and a gorgeously reproduced open-world environment.

When you play Lincoln Clay in Mafia 3, a fictionalized recreation of 1960s New Orleans called New Bordeaux, you play as a Vietnam War veteran out for the Italian Mafia’s blood. The game delivers a compelling, morality-driven revenge story with a vibrant open-world setting.

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Both games have engaging gameplay, dramatic settings, and also fascinating narrative. A visually improved version of the original Mafia is also included in the Trilogy, which increases the whole thing’s worth.

Developers: Hangar 13, D32

Publishers: 2K

Release date: May 19, 2020

Platforms Available: PS4, Xbox One, and Windows.

➡️ Check it out on Steam.

Yakuza 0

The action-adventure game Yakuza 0 will take you on a thrilling journey through the seedy underbelly of 1980s Japan. It is a precursor to the well-known Yakuza series, providing the ideal starting place for the narrative. You take on the roles of Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima, two captivating protagonists set amid the neon-lit streets of Tokyo and Osaka.

Engaging combat mechanics combine brutal fights with chic heat actions and provide you with jaw-dropping attacks and combos to use against foes. Along with the action-packed combat, the game offers amusing mini-games and side activities that will immerse you in the thriving and vivid Japanese culture of the time.

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Yakuza 0 is an enthralling journey that will always hold your attention. The game also guarantees an unforgettable gaming experience, regardless of whether you are a series veteran or a newbie. So suit up, and brace yourself for some intense gameplay!

Developers: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio

Publishers: Sega

Release date: March 12, 2015

Platforms Available: PS3, PS4, Xbox One, and Windows.

➡️ Check it out on Steam.

LEGO City Undercover

LEGO City Undercover game’s action takes place in the fictional city of Lego, and the player controls Chase McCain, an undercover cop charged with apprehending criminal Rex Fury. Chase McCain does various actions, such as swinging across poles and jumping off walls, while hunting for criminals.

Levels set in various locations are divided into 20 districts within the overworld of Lego City. To advance through each level, a set of linear goals must be met, including completing platforming obstacles, building and destroying LEGO structures, and solving puzzles.

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As the game progresses, Chase McCain acquires new skills through “disguises” that impersonate various occupations and identities; these skills are required to accomplish levels and access previously inaccessible items and places in the overworld.

Developers: TT Fusion

Publishers: Wii U, Warner Bros Games, Nintendo

Release date: March 18, 2013

Platforms Available: PS4, Xbox One, Windows, Wii U, and Nintendo Switch.

➡️ Check it out on Steam.

Final Words

The immersive and thrilling experience of playing GTA-style games can let players explore huge open areas, partake in a variety of activities, and experience extreme action. Playing the games mentioned above will also allow you to escape your busy schedule and induce a wave of fun and adventure. 

So OGs, call up your pals, get the gaming devices fully charged up, and roll up your sleeves to be immersed in open-world gaming.

Some of these games also required a huge budget to be developed. If you’re interested in knowing more, check out our list of the most expensive games of all time!

Dhruv Parmar
Dhruv Parmar
Dhruv is an enthusiastic content writer and passionate gamer developing content around latest games, tricks, and techniques to rule the gaming world. Other than gaming, he likes to talk about Freelancing, Personal Branding, and LinkedIn Growth.

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