The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →If you want a game like GTA, first decide which part you want more of: a modern city, freedom to roam, story missions, vehicles, or open-ended action. Those qualities overlap, but they do not make every open-world game a close match. This is a newly assembled set of recommendations, not a reconstruction of a verified 2022 ranking. The choices below distinguish close urban alternatives from games that share only exploration or player freedom.
What makes an open-world game “like GTA”?
“Like GTA” is a comparison, not a promise of the same crime story, driving, tone, or sandbox systems. A useful comparison looks at a game’s setting, how much freedom it gives you, its mission and side-activity structure, and whether its action or traversal resembles GTA. Similarity here is an editorial judgment across those dimensions, not a formal genre label.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Open World: Video Games and Contemporary Art | $53.94 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Ghost of Tsushima - PlayStation 4 | $22.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Mad Max - PlayStation Hits (PS4) | $18.74 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Just Cause 4 - PlayStation 4 | $11.80 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Elden Ring - PlayStation 4 | $33.32 | Buy on Amazon |
The available evidence does not establish the exact selections or order of the original 2022 article. The recommendations here are therefore a fresh, reasoned list rather than a claim to reproduce that historical ranking. Current platform availability also needs to be checked against the game’s official product page or store listing before purchase; a complete current platform matrix is not established here.
15 open-world games to consider
1. Grand Theft Auto Online
Why it fits: It is the most direct choice if what you want is more GTA. Rockstar describes GTA Online as a dynamic world playable solo or with friends on its current official site. Its connection to the series makes it a closer match for GTA’s setting and sandbox identity than any outside franchise. The official description does not establish that every activity or mode is available in every edition or platform version, so check the relevant product listing.
#1 Best Overall
2. Red Dead Redemption 2
Why it fits: Rockstar authorship and an expansive world make this a strong choice for players who value roaming, missions, and emergent activity. GamesRadar characterizes it as offering player freedom in an expansive world; that is an editorial assessment, not a measured ranking. Its American West setting changes the pace, technology, and feel substantially from GTA’s contemporary city. Rockstar’s current site describes Red Dead Online as set in the American West.
3. Cyberpunk 2077
Why it fits: Choose this for a dense, futuristic city and a role-playing game built around that setting. CD Projekt Red describes it as an open-world role-playing game set in the most dangerous city of the future. Its urban environment is a meaningful point of overlap with GTA, but it should not be mistaken for a duplicate of GTA’s driving or crime sandbox. PlayStation’s current PS4/PS5 guide also includes it among open-world examples.
4. Watch Dogs 2
Why it fits: Its contemporary urban setting and action-focused premise make it a natural candidate for someone looking beyond GTA’s particular crime story. Consider it if modern-city missions and a roaming city matter more than matching GTA’s tone exactly. The available source evidence here does not establish a current platform or edition list, so verify the specific version you intend to play.
Rank #2
- Available Now - Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, a new cooperative multiplayer experience inspired by Japanese folk tales and mythology.
- Beyond war, ancient beauty endures: Uncover the hidden wonders of Tsushima in this open-world action adventure.
- The rise of the Ghost: Forge a new path and wage an unconventional war for the freedom of Tsushima.
5. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Why it fits: This is a story- and quest-led alternative for players whose favorite GTA moments are missions and side stories rather than cars or contemporary streets. Its fantasy world and role-playing focus make it a looser thematic match. PlayStation’s current guide includes it as an open-world example for PS4 and PS5.
6. Elden Ring
Why it fits: Elden Ring broadens the list toward exploration, discovery, and action rather than city life or crime. Bandai Namco Europe categorizes it as an “Open World RPG” and lists its release date as 25 February 2022. Its fantasy setting and RPG/action focus make it a much looser GTA comparison, but it fits the 2022 part of the title directly.
7. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Why it fits: Consider it if you want a large historical setting with exploration, missions, and action, rather than a modern city sandbox. Ubisoft’s current store catalog includes Valhalla in its open-world category. That catalog is a current observation, not proof that it belonged to any particular 2022 ranking or a guarantee of availability in every region.
Rank #3
- Be Mad Max - Become the iconic post-apocalyptic warrior, crafting and upgrading Max's equipment and weapons to survive by combining melee combat, gunplay and tactical techniques. Gamers must form alliances as they work towards the goal of building their "Magnum opus."
- Immersive savage Wasteland - Explore the gritty, dynamic world while braving the treacherous landscapes, hostile weather patterns and deadly marauders.
- survive the open-world landscape - Staying alive isn't easy. Players clash with deadly factions and gangs through scores of dangerous side-missions and quests in the dynamic open-world full of exploration.
- intense vehicular combat - Engage in dynamic inter-vehicular combat, taking down enemy vehicles with a range of powerful weapons. Car combat is entirely physics-based, so no two battles are ever the Same.
- build the ultimate survival machine - Players design, customize and upgrade their ultimate vehicle-the Magnum Opus-choosing from different car chassis and a slew of upgrades including mounted weapons, armour and engines to survive another day
8. Far Cry 6
Why it fits: It is a possible choice for players who prioritize open-ended action and mission activity over GTA’s exact urban setting. Ubisoft’s current store catalog lists Far Cry 6 in its open-world category. Treat that as a current catalog fact, not as evidence of its placement in a 2022 list.
9. Horizon Forbidden West
Why it fits: This is a stronger fit for exploration and action in a large, distinct world than for GTA’s criminal or contemporary-city fantasy. PlayStation’s current PS4/PS5 open-world guide includes it among platform examples. Choose it for a different kind of open-world adventure, not as a one-for-one GTA substitute.
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10. Grand Theft Auto V
Why it fits: If your aim is a familiar GTA structure rather than a different series, GTA V remains an obvious point of reference. Its inclusion is a franchise recommendation, not a claim about a particular edition’s current availability. Check the platform store for the exact version and edition you want.
Rank #4
- Day One Edition includes Neon Racer Pack with these DLC items Neon Racer Supercar, Neon Racer Wingsuit, Neon Racer Parachute; see description for full details
- Bring The Thunder Soar through the skies with your wingsuit Skydive, Base Jump and Free Dive, as you fight your enemies harnessing extreme weather to your advantage
- Rico’s Ultimate Mission Spearhead the rebellion and defeat a hi tech private military organization; Face off against the most capable adversary yet; Uncover the mystery behind Rico’s Father’s past
- Huge South American World 100 square kilometers to explore from rainforest to desert, and across snowy mountain peaks as you explore the world of Solis from bustling cities to rural grasslands
- Creative destruction at its best Customize your new grapple hook with evolved and new capabilities; Experiment with military jets, helicopters, turbo fueled sports cars, and construction vehicles
11. Sleeping Dogs
Why it fits: A city-based action game can appeal if you are looking for urban missions and crime-oriented action beyond GTA. The evidence available for this article does not establish current platform or edition support, so confirm the store listing before choosing it.
12. Saints Row
Why it fits: Consider the series if you want a city sandbox and action with a different tone from GTA. “Saints Row” covers multiple games, however, and availability depends on the specific entry and platform; select the exact title before checking its store page.
13. Just Cause 4
Why it fits: It is a looser match for players drawn to open-ended action and movement rather than GTA’s story, city, or criminal tone. The available evidence does not establish its current platform matrix here, so verify the edition relevant to your system.
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- ELDEN RING is a fantasy action-RPG adventure set within a world created by Hidetaka Miyazaki—creator of the influential DARK SOULS video game series; and George R.R. Martin—author of The New York Times best-selling fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire
- Danger and discovery lurk around every corner in FromSoftware’s largest game to-date
- HIDETAKA MIYAZAKI: President and Game Director of FromSoftware Inc. Known for directing critically-acclaimed games in beloved franchises including Armored Core and Dark Souls
- GEORGE R. R. MARTIN: the #1 The New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire—A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast For Crows, and A Dance with Dragons
14. Mafia: Definitive Edition
Why it fits: A crime story and city setting may sound close to GTA, but the comparison should not be stretched: a similar subject does not by itself mean the same degree of sandbox freedom. Check whether the particular game’s structure and edition suit what you want before buying.
15. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Why it fits: This is a broad exploration pick, not a GTA-like crime or city game. It belongs only if the quality you want is room to explore and experiment in an open world; its setting and play style are distinctly different.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose by the part of GTA you want
| What you want | Where to start | Why the match differs |
|---|---|---|
| More of GTA’s own sandbox | Grand Theft Auto Online or Grand Theft Auto V | Closest franchise match; confirm the platform and edition listing for your system. |
| A Rockstar world with freedom to roam | Red Dead Redemption 2 | Expansive western setting rather than a contemporary city. |
| A futuristic urban RPG | Cyberpunk 2077 | City setting overlaps, but it is an RPG rather than a GTA driving/crime sandbox. |
| Quests and story over cars | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | Fantasy role-playing rather than contemporary urban action. |
| Exploration and challenging action | Elden Ring | Fantasy open-world RPG; a looser thematic match, released in 2022. |
| Open-world action in a historical or distinctive setting | Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Far Cry 6, or Horizon Forbidden West | These trade GTA’s urban crime fantasy for other settings and action styles. |
How to check platform and edition before choosing
Platform support is specific to a game, release, and edition; it should not be inferred from an open-world label or from a current editorial list. Use the official product page or your platform’s store listing to confirm that the edition is sold for your system and region, and check whether a listing refers to the base game, an enhanced version, or an online component. The PlayStation guide is explicitly a current PS4/PS5 editorial guide; Ubisoft’s open-world page is a current store catalog, and neither is a complete cross-platform availability record.
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.
