Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most wildly successful and popular video games ever released, and it’s not that difficult to see why. Rockstar’s flagship franchise has long been among the best of the best when it comes to open-world games, offering a series of breathtaking, content-rich experiences that celebrate player agency and freedom. They also essentially allow players to live a second life unshackled from the confines of the law, for better or for worse.
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The following games embrace one or many of the aspects that have made GTA such a powerhouse of a series. From exploring a vast open-world environment to running a criminal enterprise to causing widespread mayhem in a car, each of these games offers an element that will scratch a crucial itch for any GTA fan after they’ve had their fill of the core experience.
- Approximate Game Length: 24 Hours
- Genre: Third-person Shooter
- Developer: Avalanche Studios
- X|S Enhanced: No
Madness and mayhem in an open-world environment are par for the course for Just Cause 4, and it is this quality that will appeal to any hardcore GTA fan. Players are placed in the shoes of Rico Rodriguez as he once again grapple-hooks his way past a host of enemies, destroying the environment with explosions and shoot-outs galore. Though definitely less realistic than a typical Grand Theft Auto game (and that is saying something), Just Cause 4 ticks a lot of the same boxes.
- Approximate Game Length: 28 Hours
- Genre: Action-Adventure RPG
- Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios
- X|S Enhanced: No
This remake of the first Yakuza game is a stellar entry into the series. While many aspects of its gameplay will set it apart from a GTA title, there is still a lot to be learned by comparing the two. The role-playing facets of Yakuza Kiwami heighten the elements of navigating through the streets of Kamurocho, and the often hilarious side quests and minigames are a true delight. Though Grand Theft Auto and Yakuza are two franchises that stand apart, seeing how each series handles the open-world formula makes playing both a worthwhile experience.
- Approximate Game Length: 28 Hours
- Genre: Multiplayer Action-Adventure
- Developer: Rare
- X|S Enhanced: Yes
In terms of visuals, gameplay, and story content, Sea of Thieves and GTA V have almost nothing in common. However, there is one area that the two games overlap: they both let players make their own fun. While traversing Los Santos or Sea of Thieves' expansive world filled with islands waiting to be explored, the simple act of mucking around is not only encouraged but can produce moments of pure merriment. Sea of Thieves is at its best when played with others, as forming a pirate crew and sailing the high seas in search of treasure provides endless rewards.
- Approximate Game Length: 34-100 Hours
- Genre: Open-World RPG
- Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
- X|S Enhanced: No
Skyrim might seem like an odd fit at first, but dragons aside, it’s got a lot more in common with Rockstar’s flagship crime simulator than one might imagine — an expansive open world with a nearly absurd depth of content, impressive levels of player agency, and of course, the ability to go on unprecedented crime sprees at the drop of a hat. Or helmet, as it were. Players can even choose to literally walk the path of a career criminal if they join up with Skyrim’s Thieves Guild, though they’ll be breaking into Imperial strongholds and hurling fireballs as opposed to robbing banks guns blazing.
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- Approximate Game Length: 8 Hours
- Genre: Casual Delivery Simulation
- Developer: We’re Five Games
- X|S Enhanced: No
It might seem like a preposterous suggestion at first, but if hilarious vehicular hijinks and a world with almost no boundaries were among the most tantalizing aspects of the GTA experience, then Totally Reliable Delivery Service offers those elements in spades. Up to four players can explore this adorable title as mildly incompetent delivery people — do note that said incompetence is more than slightly exacerbated by the game’s purposefully obtuse and outrageously sensitive controls. Though not as expansive as a game like GTA V, Totally Reliable Delivery Service offers up physics-based comedy for friends to cooperatively enjoy.
- Approximate Game Length: 15 Hours
- Genre: Racing
- Developer: Criterion Games
- X|S Enhanced: No
An ever-present mechanic in GTA V is the player's Wanted Level; break the law enough times and Los Santos Police Department will send half its force to chase down Trevor, Michael, or Franklin. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered centers around this concept, as players have to either keep the police off their backs or, alternatively, wear the badge and pursue racers. Hot Pursuit takes place in a fun open world and features accessible controls. Please note that Hot Pursuit is available through EA Play, so it requires Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to access.
- Approximate Game Length: 27 Hours
- Genre: Action-Adventure
- Developer: Rocksteady Studio
- X|S Enhanced: No
Though the story of Batman: Arkham Knight is more linear in nature, its map layout and mission design will no doubt call to those who enjoy a classic GTA game. If anything, Arkham Knight just throws a gritty, superhero overtone into the popular open-world formula. And to make the comparison even more apt, this particular title in the Arkham series includes the Batmobile, which allows Batman to race around the streets of Gotham in a fashion that is reminiscent of cruising around in a car in GTA V.
- Approximate Game Length: 10 Hours
- Genre: Role-playing Strategy
- Developer: Romero Games
- X|S Enhanced: No
Given that it’s a strategy game at its core, Empire of Sin doesn’t pack many similarities in raw terms of gameplay. But if operating beyond the confines of the law happens to strike a chord in general, then Empire of Sin is worth a dig for the novelty of its setting. Slipping into the shoes of a mob boss making a name for themselves in Prohibition-era Chicago, players orchestrate their rise to power by amassing a roster of dirty businesses through a variety of means — whether by way of influence or more direct, violent methods that play out in turn-based encounters.
- Approximate Game Length: N/A
- Genre: Multiplayer Action-Adventure
- Developer: Rockstar Studios
- X|S Enhanced: No
It’s only to be expected that anyone who likes GTA Online will be more inclined to appreciate the world of Red Dead Online, especially given that it was also developed by Rockstar Studios. Red Dead Online trades in cars and Los Santos for horses and the open expanses of the untamed West. Though the pacing of certain activities can feel different, the freedom to explore and pursue a criminal career feel largely similar. It’s no wonder that a GTA enthusiast can enjoy Red Dead Online.
- Approximate Game Length: N/A
- Genre: Cooperative First-Person Shooter
- Developer: Overkill Software
- X|S Enhanced: No
If pulling heists was the highlight of your experience in GTA V, then PAYDAY 2’s likely to tickle your fancy to no end since that’s essentially the entirety of the gameplay loop. After selecting a mission of their choice, ranging from jewelry store stick-ups to full on bank robberies (and practically everything in-between), a cooperative team of up to four players sets about the task of pulling it off. It may not be an open-world title, but the freedom with which players can approach and plan out some of the heists themselves can be pretty impressive. Many can be pulled off silently and without a hitch if the team’s skilled in the art of stealth, but really, sometimes engaging in a thrilling, white-knuckle shootout is just what the doctor ordered.