If you want an open world like Grand Theft Auto with a sharp sense of humor, start with Watch Dogs 2. For bigger, sillier criminal mayhem, pick Saints Row; for martial-arts crime action, try Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition; and for a futuristic city with deeper role-playing, choose Cyberpunk 2077. None is an exact GTA substitute: the best fit depends on whether you want contemporary satire, broad comedy, serious crime drama, or an RPG.
Which GTA-like game best matches what you want?
| Game | Best fit | How it differs from GTA |
|---|---|---|
| Watch Dogs 2 | A contemporary city, hacking, and a satirical tone | Hacking and technological systems are central. The satire comparison is an editorial judgment; Ubisoft’s description establishes the city-system hacking premise. |
| Saints Row | Customization and an exaggerated criminal sandbox | Its official description emphasizes self-expression, vehicles, weapons, and factions. Calling its tone more outrageous is a useful comparison, not an official label. |
| Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition | Crime-story action with martial arts | Combat and action-movie style distinguish it from GTA’s broader mix of activities. The Definitive Edition integrates 24 previously released DLC extensions. |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Futuristic city exploration and role-playing | It is an open-world action-adventure RPG set in Night City, with character and playstyle customization and story-shaping choices. Its tone and RPG structure differ from contemporary crime satire. |
Watch Dogs 2: the closest match for modern-city satire
Watch Dogs 2 is the strongest pick if you want a present-day urban setting and a story built around hacking connected systems. Ubisoft’s official Watch Dogs page describes the first game’s Chicago as “the ultimate weapon for a man bent on revenge” and explains how protagonist Aiden Pearce manipulates city systems. That is publisher copy about the original game, not an independent judgment about its satire.
The sequel is the better recommendation here for readers seeking a satirical contemporary setting; that comparison is editorial rather than a claim made by Ubisoft’s product description. The key difference from GTA is that hacking and the city’s technology are core to the play, rather than just one activity among many. Ubisoft lists the original Watch Dogs release date as May 27, 2014; that date should not be confused with the sequel’s release.
Saints Row: customization and absurd criminal mayhem
Choose Saints Row if your priority is shaping your character and rides, then taking on a heightened crime sandbox. The official Saints Row site highlights clothing, vehicle customization, weapon appearance, and rival factions. Its appeal is closer to broad, exaggerated comedy than pointed social satire, so it is a better fit for players who want criminal chaos than for those specifically looking for GTA-style commentary on contemporary culture.
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- This product contains a download code inside the box — no disc is included. Customer shipments will begin arriving November 12 for pre-load; game is playable starting November 19.
- Pre-order to receive the Vintage Vice City Pack.
- Grand Theft Auto VI is a single-player experience.
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition: crime drama with martial-arts combat
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition offers an open-world crime story with a combat identity built around martial arts and action-movie-style fighting. It is the choice if hand-to-hand action sounds more appealing than hacking or extensive RPG progression. PlayStation’s game page says the Definitive Edition integrates all 24 previously available DLC extensions. That inclusion applies to this edition; check the store listing for the platform and region you plan to use.
Cyberpunk 2077: a different kind of open-world city
Pick Cyberpunk 2077 if exploring a dense futuristic setting and developing a role-playing character matter more than contemporary satire. CD PROJEKT RED describes it as an open-world action-adventure RPG in Night City, where character choices and playstyle shape the experience. Its science-fiction setting and RPG structure make it a less direct GTA match, even though both offer city exploration and action.
Rank #2
- Grand Theft Auto III: It all starts in Liberty City. With the revolutionary freedom to go anywhere and jack anyone, Grand Theft Auto III puts the center of the criminal underworld at your fingertips, if you have enough guts to take it.
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City: Welcome to the 1980s. From the decade of big hair and pastel suits comes the story of one man's rise to the top of the criminal pile.
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: Five years ago, Carl 'CJ' Johnson escaped the haze of Los Santos, San Andreas...a city tearing itself apart with gang trouble, drugs, and corruption.
Availability depends on platform and edition. Bandai Namco and CD PROJEKT RED announced that Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition arrived on Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025; consult the official Cyberpunk 2077 news page and your regional store for current edition details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose between them
- For a modern city and technological satire: start with Watch Dogs 2.
- For a customizable, exaggerated crime sandbox: choose Saints Row.
- For crime action led by martial arts: choose Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition.
- For futuristic exploration and RPG progression: choose Cyberpunk 2077.
Before buying, check the exact platform and edition on the relevant store: listings and availability can vary by region. Ratings are edition-specific, too. For example, the ESRB rates Watch Dogs Complete Edition Mature 17+ and lists blood, intense violence, nudity, strong language, strong sexual content, and use of drugs and alcohol, along with user interaction and in-game purchases. Those descriptors apply to that edition, not automatically to the other games or editions; check each game’s rating separately.
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Rank #4
- Grand Theft Auto III: It all starts in Liberty City. With the revolutionary freedom to go anywhere and jack anyone, Grand Theft Auto III puts the center of the criminal underworld at your fingertips, if you have enough guts to take it.
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City: Welcome to the 1980s. From the decade of big hair and pastel suits comes the story of one man's rise to the top of the criminal pile.
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: Five years ago, Carl ‘CJ’ Johnson escaped the haze of Los Santos, San Andreas...a city tearing itself apart with gang trouble, drugs, and corruption.
Rank #3
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