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There is no single one-to-one replacement for GTA. Choose the game that preserves the part you enjoy most: Cyberpunk 2077 for a modern city with deep role-playing, Watch Dogs 2 for hacking, Mafia: Definitive Edition for a focused organized-crime story, Red Dead Redemption 2 for freedom in a criminal open world, Sleeping Dogs for martial-arts crime action, Saints Row for exaggerated sandbox chaos, or Just Cause 3 for traversal and destruction. Check the exact edition and console compatibility before buying, particularly for Xbox Series X|S and PS5.
Quick recommendations
| Game | Best match for a GTA fan who wants… | World and tone | Important platform note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | A contemporary city, driving, shooting and substantial RPG systems | Night City; futuristic, mission-rich and character-driven | GameSpot lists PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Confirm the edition shown by your regional store. |
| Watch Dogs 2 | Hacking, systemic interactions and a modern urban setting | San Francisco; playful techno-thriller | The cited platform listing is PS4 and Xbox One. Do not assume a native current-generation version; verify backward compatibility and the exact listing. |
| Mafia: Definitive Edition | A tightly directed mafia narrative and period atmosphere | 1930s Lost Heaven; historical crime drama | Check the current PS5 or Xbox Series X|S store entry and whether it is a native or backward-compatible edition. |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | Exploration, side activities, heists and a large criminal world | Western frontier; slower, more grounded and character-focused | Confirm the edition and current-console compatibility in your region. |
| Sleeping Dogs | Hand-to-hand combat and undercover-crime missions | Hong Kong; martial-arts action thriller | Availability varies by edition and storefront. Verify the specific PS5 or Xbox listing. |
| Saints Row | GTA-like crime-sandbox freedom with deliberately absurd humor | Stylized city and irreverent tone | “Saints Row” covers multiple entries. Choose a specific game, then check its platform support. |
| Just Cause 3 | Grappling-hook movement, vehicles, wingsuit traversal and destruction | Mediterranean-inspired island; spectacular rather than realistic | Verify the edition and compatibility for your console before purchase. |
What “games like GTA” can mean
GTA combines several genres that do not always travel together: a contemporary city, criminal missions, driving, gunfights, open-ended wandering, side activities and a satirical story. Most alternatives reproduce only some of that formula. A useful choice starts by identifying the feature you would miss most.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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Starfield | Standard Edition | PlayStation 5 | $44.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Clair Obscur Expedition 33 PS5 | $49.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Crimson Desert: Standard Edition - PlayStation 5 | $62.99 | Buy on Amazon |
- Modern city: Cyberpunk 2077 and Watch Dogs 2 provide urban environments, but one is a futuristic RPG and the other is a hacking-focused action game.
- Crime narrative: Mafia: Definitive Edition delivers a concentrated organized-crime story, while Sleeping Dogs uses an undercover-police premise and martial arts.
- Freedom and criminal activity: Red Dead Redemption 2 offers a broad frontier where outlaw activity and exploration matter, not a contemporary metropolitan sandbox.
- Driving and action: Cyberpunk 2077 includes vehicles and combat inside an RPG structure; Just Cause 3 emphasizes movement, vehicles and spectacle.
- Hacking and systems: Watch Dogs 2 lets you manipulate cars, phones, cameras and other connected systems.
- Role-playing depth: Cyberpunk 2077 is the clearest fit if character builds, dialogue choices and mission structure matter more than a pure crime sandbox.
- Unrestrained comedy: Saints Row deliberately exaggerates the crime-sandbox formula instead of presenting a grounded world.
None of these games should be described as having GTA’s complete combination of missions, vehicles, crime systems and sandbox freedom. The sections below explain the trade-off for each recommendation.
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Cyberpunk 2077: the strongest modern-city RPG alternative
Why it fits
Cyberpunk 2077 places you in Night City, a labyrinthine open world, as V, a mercenary outlaw. PlayStation’s open-world guide emphasizes the scale and density of that setting, while GameSpot lists PS5 and Xbox Series X|S among its platforms. You can drive through a contemporary-looking city, take on combat missions and explore side content, but progression is shaped by role-playing systems rather than GTA-style weapon and wanted-level loops.
#1 Best Overall
- JOIN CONSTELLATION — Become part of the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy as you pursue humanity’s greatest mystery.
- CREATE YOUR EXPLORER — Customize your appearance and choose a Background and Traits as you shape your character in this role-playing game.
- EXPLORE THE SETTLED SYSTEMS — Visit more than 1,000 planets, from bustling cities and dangerous bases to wild landscapes, and meet characters, join factions, and take on quests.
- CAPTAIN YOUR SHIP — Personalize your ship, modify its weapons and shields, and assign crew members for unique bonuses. Take part in space dogfights, dock at star stations, and board or commandeer enemy ships.
- CRAFT AND FIGHT — Gather resources to craft supplies, equipment, and weapons, build outposts, and research crafting recipes. Modify weapons to suit your playstyle and use boost packs to maneuver in zero gravity.
This is the best recommendation when your ideal replacement keeps the urban atmosphere, vehicles and action while adding character builds, equipment choices and a more involved mission structure. It is not a pure crime sandbox: the futuristic setting, cybernetic abilities and RPG progression define the experience.
Choose it if…
- You want a dense city and a long list of story and side missions.
- You enjoy changing V’s skills, equipment and combat approach.
- You are comfortable with a science-fiction setting instead of a realistic present-day city.
Do not choose it if…
You mainly want unrestricted criminal mayhem, realistic contemporary satire or a game whose central loop is stealing cars and escaping police. Its open world supports those kinds of moments, but they are not the organizing principle.
Watch Dogs 2: the hacking-first modern-city option
What makes it different
Watch Dogs 2 recreates San Francisco and turns the city’s connected infrastructure into your toolkit. GameSpot describes hacking cars, phones, cameras and other systems, allowing missions to be approached through remote manipulation, stealth or direct action. That systemic interaction is the reason to pick it over a conventional shooter.
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Best for
- Players who treat the city itself as a puzzle.
- Stealth approaches that avoid a conventional firefight.
- Modern urban exploration without needing deep character-stat progression.
Trade-offs versus GTA
Hacking is the headline mechanic, so the tone and mission design differ from a traditional crime epic. Verify platform support before paying for a physical or digital copy, especially if your console is current-generation only.
Mafia: Definitive Edition: a focused organized-crime story
Setting and structure
PlayStation describes Tommy Angelo, a cab driver drawn into the Salieri crime family, in a recreated 1930s Lost Heaven. That premise makes Mafia: Definitive Edition the clearest choice for readers who want the story of joining, surviving and advancing through a criminal organization rather than a broad collection of unrelated sandbox diversions.
The historical city is the point: period cars, architecture and social context replace GTA’s modern metropolitan satire. The experience is more directed than a free-form crime playground, so expect the narrative to guide you through set pieces and missions instead of constantly asking you to invent your own trouble.
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- A coherent mafia plot matters more than unlimited side activities.
- You prefer a historical city to a present-day or futuristic one.
- You want cinematic missions and a defined protagonist.
Before buying, check the current store listing for your console and region. The available descriptions establish the game’s setting and story, but not a complete, current PS5/Xbox Series X|S compatibility matrix.
Rank #2
- Reactive Turn-based Combat: Craft unique builds for your Expeditioners that fit your playstyle via gear, stats, skills, and &character synergies
- Dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weak points using a free aim system
- With only one year left to live, join Gustave, Maelle, & fellow Expeditioners as they embark on a desperate quest to break Paintress’ cycle of death
- Explore an enchanting realm populated by adversaries; Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield
- Experience the debut game from Sandfall Interactive, fully realized in Unreal Engine 5 with stunning graphics and a heartbreaking soundtrack
Red Dead Redemption 2: maximum world freedom in another era
Why GTA fans move to it
GameSpot describes a large world containing criminal activity and heists, and GamesRadar+ highlights player freedom and an expansive world. Red Dead Redemption 2 therefore preserves the feeling of inhabiting a place where travel, encounters and optional activities can occupy as much time as the main plot.
The crucial qualification is its setting. You are in a western frontier, not a contemporary city, and the pace is generally more deliberate. Horses, camps, wilderness and period firearms shape how you move and fight. The game is a strong alternative for freedom, outlaw themes and emergent exploration, not for modern traffic, smartphones or urban satire.
Best match for
- Players who value a believable world over rapid-fire arcade action.
- Exploration, character relationships, side encounters and heist stories.
- Crime themes presented through a historical gang narrative.
Confirm which edition your PS5 or Xbox console supports in the relevant regional store. Do not infer current availability from a listing for a different platform or release.
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Core appeal
Sleeping Dogs combines an undercover detective story with Hong Kong triad politics. GameSpot describes the infiltration premise and martial-arts combat; GamesRadar+ frames it as open-world crime action expanded with martial arts and stunt-driven movement. If hand-to-hand fights are as important to you as driving and gunplay, this is the most distinctive recommendation on the list.
The setting and combat change the rhythm of the sandbox. Street fights, counters and environmental attacks are central, while the undercover identity gives missions a different dramatic pressure from a conventional gangster protagonist. It remains an older title in many store catalogs, so edition naming and compatibility require particular care.
Pick it for
- Close-quarters combat that feels more prominent than in a typical shooter.
- A dense Asian city and a crime story built around divided loyalties.
- Open-world driving and action without requiring a large RPG skill tree.
Saints Row: the exaggerated crime-sandbox route
What it preserves
GameSpot notes the series’ GTA influence while also distinguishing its style and freedom. Saints Row is the choice for players who want the recognizable crime-sandbox structure but prefer outrageous humor, exaggerated situations and a less grounded tone.
Because “Saints Row” refers to several games, do not treat the series name as a single platform recommendation. Identify the exact entry, edition and release year in your store search. The available material does not establish current console availability for every entry, so verify PS5 and Xbox Series X|S support individually.
Choose it if…
- You want criminal empires, vehicles and free roaming with deliberately comic presentation.
- Realism is less important than improvisation and spectacle.
- You are willing to compare individual entries rather than buying on the franchise name alone.
Just Cause 3: movement, vehicles and destruction over crime drama
Why it stands apart
Just Cause 3 is built around Rico’s grappling hook, wingsuit, vehicles and large-scale destruction. GameSpot’s 2025 guide reports a map of about 2,000 square kilometers; that is a secondary editorial figure, not an independently comparable map-size dataset, so use it as an indication of scale rather than a ranking against other games.
Rank #3
- Join Kliff, captain of the Greymanes, and his comrades as they embark on a relentless journey to defend Pywel and fulfill their mission.
- Along your perilous path stands both dependable allies and countless foes who will stop at nothing to see your downfall.
- Face trials to uncover the truth of the catastrophe looming over Pywel and restore peace to the continent.
- Explore the mesmerizing landscapes of the continent where mystical beings, hidden treasures, and thrilling adventures await.
- Pre-order to receive the Khaled Shield (Pre Order Code on Receipt). PS5 Editions include the Grotevant Plate Set DLC as a PS5 exclusive bonus. (In Pack DLC Voucher). Bonus DLC Includes: Grotevan Plate Helm, Grotevan Plate Armor, along with Grotevan cloak, gloves, and boots!
This is the right GTA alternative when your priority is reaching any point quickly, chaining traversal tools together and turning the environment into a playground. It is a weaker fit for a grounded organized-crime narrative. The fun comes from mobility and spectacle more than from subtle character drama or realistic criminal systems.
Pick it for
- Grappling-hook launches, wingsuit flights and improvised routes.
- Vehicles and explosive set pieces.
- An open world designed for experimentation and destruction.
Check the exact edition and current compatibility for your PS5 or Xbox Series X|S before purchase; the available comparison does not provide a complete current-generation matrix.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Compare the games by the GTA feature you miss
| If you miss this GTA element | Start with | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Modern city driving and action | Cyberpunk 2077 | The city is futuristic and progression is RPG-based. |
| Manipulating traffic, devices and surveillance | Watch Dogs 2 | Hacking and stealth replace much of the conventional crime-sandbox loop. |
| A mafia rise-and-fall story | Mafia: Definitive Edition | The structure is more directed and the setting is 1930s America. |
| Freedom, outlaw life and heists | Red Dead Redemption 2 | The frontier setting is slower and built around horses and wilderness. |
| Hand-to-hand crime action | Sleeping Dogs | Martial arts and undercover missions define the tone. |
| Absurd criminal sandbox comedy | Saints Row | You must select and verify a particular entry. |
| Traversal and destruction | Just Cause 3 | Mobility and spectacle matter more than grounded crime storytelling. |
How to verify PS5 and Xbox Series X|S support before buying
Platform information in older editorial lists can be incomplete or dated. Use the current console store or the publisher’s listing for the exact product, and treat “playable” and “native” as separate questions.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →- Search the exact title and edition. Include “Definitive Edition,” a remaster label or the specific Saints Row entry when applicable.
- Open the product details on your console’s regional store. Confirm that the page is for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or a clearly identified backward-compatible version.
- Check ownership and upgrade language. A bundle may contain a previous-generation copy, a current-generation upgrade, or both.
- Match the physical disc to your hardware. A disc edition may require a disc drive, and region-specific packaging can differ from the digital listing.
- Confirm the seller’s stock and edition immediately before checkout. Availability can vary by country and can change after an article is published.
For Watch Dogs 2 in particular, the cited platform information is PS4 and Xbox One, so verify backward compatibility or a current re-release rather than assuming a native PS5 or Xbox Series X|S build. For Saints Row, Sleeping Dogs, Mafia: Definitive Edition, Red Dead Redemption 2 and Just Cause 3, verify the individual edition because the available comparisons do not establish one universal current-console status.
Three decision paths
You want the closest modern-city feeling
Start with Cyberpunk 2077 if RPG systems are welcome. Choose Watch Dogs 2 instead when hacking and stealth interactions are more important than character builds, but verify its older platform listing first.
You want crime storytelling rather than a giant toy box
Choose Mafia: Definitive Edition for a period mafia narrative or Sleeping Dogs for an undercover story with martial-arts combat. Both are more focused in identity than a game chosen solely for unrestricted roaming.
You want to create your own chaos
Choose Red Dead Redemption 2 for a slower, immersive outlaw world, Saints Row for exaggerated comedy, or Just Cause 3 for traversal and destruction. The right choice depends on whether “freedom” means emergent exploration, comic sandbox antics or physical experimentation.
Bottom line
For most PS5 and Xbox players seeking a modern open-world substitute, Cyberpunk 2077 is the broadest recommendation because it combines a dense city, vehicles, action and meaningful RPG depth. Pick Watch Dogs 2 for hacking, Mafia: Definitive Edition for a concentrated mafia story, Red Dead Redemption 2 for frontier freedom, Sleeping Dogs for martial arts, Saints Row for outrageous crime-sandbox humor, and Just Cause 3 for grappling-hook traversal and destruction. Always verify the exact edition, regional listing and PS5/Xbox Series X|S compatibility before purchasing.
Sources and scope
The game descriptions and comparisons above are based on PlayStation’s “The best open world games on PS4 and PS5” guide, GameSpot’s “20 Best Games Like GTA To Play In 2025,” and GamesRadar+’s “10 Games like GTA you need to play while waiting for GTA 6,” accessed October 13, 2026. Platform listings in those guides may not reflect every current regional edition, so the console-store verification steps are part of the recommendation.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
