GTA 6: 8 games to play to scratch that Grand Theft Auto itch

We’re so close to the Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer we can practically smell it. It smells like yearning and sun lotion. While all of us wait with bated breath for some concrete details there are plenty of games to keep us going until the launch which could be, as far as anyone knows, a year away.

GTA 6 is almost here and we're all waiting with bated breath

The GTA formula is a tried and tested one, often utilised in many games nowadays. The crime spree action may inspire these games, the vast open-worlds or the engaging cast of characters. Whatever the inspiration, these are the best game to play while we all wait for GTA6.

Saints Row

Deep Silver

You could really add any version of Saints Row here, but for the sake of ease, let’s focus on the reboot from 2022. When it first launched it was a messy game that many considered to be the worst in the franchise. Since then, the game has grown and evolved into something a lot more playable. Toe to toe, Saints Row is the closest you could come to GTA. It featured many of the same tropes including mission structure, crime sprees, personalisation, and action-packed sequences. Many hold the Saints Row franchise highly because it really leaned into the humour that GTA once left behind.

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077/credit: CD Projekt

Jumping into the far-flung future, we have Cyberpunk 2077, another game that had a rocky start. Much like Saints Row, Cyberpunk has many of the features we would usually see in a game of this genre, but there’s a lot more on offer. Along with an extensive arsenal of weapons, body mods, and abilities, Night City is a gorgeous world to inhabit. The character animations are stunning, the story is compelling and it’s backed up by a DLC pack, in Phantom Liberty, that only heightens the tension and enjoyment. With a great cast and a wealth of missions to take on, Cyberpunk 2077 is a wonderfully immersive experience.

Watch Dogs 2

Watch Dogs 2

Taking the crime spree to San Francisco, Watch Dogs 2 puts players in control of a hacker called Marcus Holloway. Imagine GTA but with lots of hacking, co-op play, and plenty of tech gadgets that would make James Bond jealous. With a fully dynamic open-world, it felt like the city was in the palm of your hand - you could seemingly hack into everything. Combine this with a great story of rebellion, interacting with NPCs throughout the world, and plenty of small side missions, you have a great GTA-lite.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Ubisoft

Okay, so maybe this entry doesn’t fit in with every aspect of the GTA-style of games but let’s be honest, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has an enormous open-world map, plus a high level of killing NPCs. Playing as either male or female, you can become a Viking legend, rather than the boss of a criminal empire. With several long threads of stories that twist and turn throughout the game, there’s a huge narrative to sink into. This Ubisoft classic is perfect for those who want to enter a game world that seemingly lasts forever, with lots to explore and plenty of great easter eggs to discover.

Red Dead Redemption 2

RDR2

This list wouldn’t be worth the pixels its written on with the exclusion of Red Dead Redemption 2. Aside from GTAV, it’s Rockstar Games’ masterpiece and it contains a lot of tech that we’ll likely see feature in GTA 6. Of course, it’s clear that the environments are completely different, we get cowboys and bandits here, but much of the Rockstar Games formula remains. One could argue that Red Dead Redemption 2 features a much more emotional story than its GTA cousins, with a smaller cast that pulls you into the narrative.

Yakuza 0

Yakuza

While Yakuza 0 does use some of the GTA formula, it’s very much its own beast. The world is smaller, and denser, with a great deal to do when not working through the fantastic story. That is perhaps Yakuza’s greatest feature - the details. Any Yakuza game. Whether it’s the hostess bars, the SEGA arcades, the sushi restaurants, the odd jobs you can pick up, or any of the collectibles found in the back streets; the city is the biggest character in this crime epic. You can dip into more Yakuza with the Like a Dragon spin-off, too.

Payday 2

Payday 2

If you don’t know why we’ve chosen Payday 2 over the more recent Payday 3, it can all be found in the launch of the most recent game. Sadly, the third iteration launched with a lot of issues, and players carried on playing the second game instead. So, why are you downloading Payday 2? If you love the heists found in GTAV, this is the perfect game for you. There’s no open-world, no deep story, just heists and they are brilliantly fun. Each heist requires planning and teamwork to succeed, so sharpen your shooting skills and dive in.

Mafia 3

Mafia 3

Epitomising the ‘anti-hero’ Mafia 3’s Lincoln Clay is a part of the Black Mob who is viciously attacked by the Italian Mafia. From here out, Clay must build a new family and lay down a path of destruction and revenge. With that tried and tested GTA formula, Mafia 3 takes us to L.A. in 1968, a city filled with danger. Much like Grand Theft Auto, you‘ll have swish cars in which to cruise, a gorgeous backdrop, and a bunch of missions to take you through a compelling narrative.

Bonus Entry - GTAV

GTAV

Okay, so we couldn’t construct this list without including the best-selling GTA game of all time, GTAV. To be honest, we could have created a list of all GTA games - there are enough to fill out each entry, plus they all deserve to be played. Including the fifth game in the series is valid as it’ll be the closest iteration to what we’ll get from the GTA 6. There will be the expansive open-world, similar gruff and violent characters, plus all the things we love from GTA, like businesses to visit, heists to pull off, and plenty of running from the law.