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The best game to play while waiting for GTA 6 depends on which part of the formula you want. Choose Red Dead Redemption 2 for Rockstar-level world immersion and an outlaw story, Cyberpunk 2077 for a modern-city RPG, Watch Dogs 2 for hacking, Mafia: Definitive Edition for a tightly directed mob drama, Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition for martial-arts crime action, or Saints Row for comic-book chaos.
Rockstar currently lists GTA 6 as “Coming November 19, 2026” for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Its story follows Jason and Lucia through Vice City and the state of Leonida after an easy score becomes a criminal conspiracy. The alternatives below do not copy that setting; each preserves a different part of the open-world crime fantasy.
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What GTA 6 is promising—and what these alternatives replace
GTA 6 is officially set in Vice City, USA, in the state of Leonida. Rockstar’s synopsis says Jason and Lucia are pulled into “the darkest side of the sunniest place in America” when a job goes wrong, leaving them in a conspiracy that stretches across the state. That establishes a contemporary American setting, a criminal partnership at the center, and a broad open-world structure.
No existing game can reproduce GTA 6’s exact map, cast, or production. The useful question is therefore not “Which game is GTA 6 already?” but “Which part of the promise matters most to me?” The shortlist divides into clear substitutes:
#1 Best Overall
- STUNNING VISUALS — Enhanced levels of fidelity and performance with new graphics modes featuring up to 4K resolution, up to 60 frames per second, HDR options, ray tracing, improved texture quality, and more
- FASTER LOADING — Quicker access to the action as the world of Los Santos and Blaine County load in faster than ever before.
- ADAPTIVE TRIGGERS AND HAPTIC FEEDBACK — Feel every moment through the DualSense controller, from directional damage to weather effects, rough road surfaces to explosions, and more.
- TEMPEST 3D AUDIO — Hear the sounds of the world with pinpoint precision: the throttle of a stolen supercar, the rattle of neighbouring gunfire, the roar of a helicopter overhead, and more.
- Please note that although this game is Region Free or Region Unlocked and will work on all systems, this is the European version and may differ from the local version in age rating, labeling or instructions.
- World detail and outlaw freedom: Red Dead Redemption 2.
- A dense contemporary or futuristic city with character builds: Cyberpunk 2077.
- Hacking as the main way to control a modern city: Watch Dogs 2.
- A concentrated rise through organized crime: Mafia: Definitive Edition.
- Martial-arts combat inside a crime thriller: Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition.
- Exaggerated humor and unrestrained mayhem: Saints Row.
That distinction matters because “GTA-like” can mean driving and shooting, a living city, criminal progression, side activities, satire, or simply the freedom to cause trouble. The strongest choice changes with the feature you want to replace.
Quick comparison: which game should you start first?
| Game | Setting | Crime fantasy | Core strengths | Best fit before GTA 6 | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | Western frontier | Outlaw and gang member | World immersion, freedom, detailed storytelling | You want the closest Rockstar-style sense of place | It is historical and slower-paced rather than a modern city crime sandbox |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Futuristic Night City | Mercenary navigating power struggles | Open-world RPG systems, character progression, hacking, driving and shooting | You want a city game with builds and consequential missions | Its science-fiction identity is far removed from Vice City |
| Watch Dogs 2 | San Francisco Bay Area | Hacker and activist | Hacking, stealth, gadgets and contemporary open-world experimentation | You want a present-day city where systems are the weapon | Its lighter tone and hacker premise differ from a mob-centered story |
| Mafia: Definitive Edition | Historical organized-crime city | Mob associate | Focused narrative, period atmosphere and crime drama | You value a directed story over a huge sandbox | It offers less systemic freedom than a sprawling GTA-style world |
| Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition | Hong Kong | Undercover criminal-world protagonist | Martial-arts melee, stunt action and crime-thriller momentum | You want hand-to-hand combat to matter as much as firearms | Current edition and platform availability vary by storefront and region |
| Saints Row | Contemporary open-world setting | Broad sandbox criminal | Comic tone, exaggerated weapons and chaotic activities | You want jokes and spectacle rather than grounded drama | Its exaggerated style is a poor match for GTA 6’s criminal-conspiracy premise |
Red Dead Redemption 2: the best choice for world immersion
Red Dead Redemption 2 is the first recommendation if what you miss most is the feeling that an open world exists beyond the next mission marker. Rockstar’s own title is an outlaw story rather than a modern urban crime game, but its detailed environments, freedom of approach and character-driven storytelling make it the strongest substitute for the studio’s distinctive sense of place.
Why it works as a GTA 6 waiting game
The game treats crime as a life inside a gang and a changing frontier society, not as a sequence of disconnected activities. Exploration, travel and encounters are part of the experience, so the world itself supplies the momentum between major story beats. If your priority is believable atmosphere, environmental detail and an outlaw narrative with room to breathe, this is the closest match in the list.
What is different from Vice City
You will not get a modern metropolis, contemporary vehicles or a hacker-style toolkit. The frontier setting changes the rhythm: movement, combat and social spaces belong to a historical world. That distance is a feature if you want variety while waiting for GTA 6, but it makes the game a weaker pick for someone specifically seeking neon streets and present-day criminal infrastructure.
Choose it if
- You want a richly authored world more than a modern setting.
- You prefer an outlaw-and-gang story to a single urban criminal enterprise.
- You are happy for exploration and narrative pacing to take priority over constant spectacle.
Cyberpunk 2077: the strongest modern-city RPG substitute
Cyberpunk 2077 is the clearest choice when “GTA-like” means a large city, driving, shooting and missions that support a character build. Steam lists it as developed and published by CD PROJEKT RED, with a release date of December 9, 2020. Its store description calls it “an open-world, action-adventure RPG set in the dark future of Night City — a dangerous megalopolis obsessed with power, glamor, and ceaseless body modification.”
Why it works as a GTA 6 waiting game
Night City supplies the urban density that a frontier game cannot. You move through a metropolis shaped by competing interests, take contracts, investigate conflicts and develop a protagonist through RPG systems. Hacking, combat, driving and equipment choices let you approach problems in different ways, so the city is not merely a backdrop for linear missions.
It also provides a useful contrast with GTA 6. Instead of a contemporary Florida-inspired crime story, you get a futuristic city where technology, corporate power and body modification define the criminal ecosystem. That makes it the best pick for readers who want an urban sandbox with more explicit progression mechanics than a traditional action game.
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Where it diverges from GTA
The RPG structure changes the feel of every encounter. Your build, abilities and equipment matter, and the story is framed around a mercenary operating in Night City rather than a free-roaming criminal climbing a conventional underworld ladder. If you want satire grounded in recognizable modern America, its science-fiction setting may be too far removed; if you want systems and build experimentation, that difference is the attraction.
Choose it if
- You want the most substantial modern or futuristic city on this list.
- You enjoy improving a character and solving missions through multiple abilities.
- You prefer a darker, systemic RPG to a purely mission-driven crime game.
Watch Dogs 2: the hacking-first contemporary sandbox
Ubisoft describes Watch Dogs 2 as the story of Marcus Holloway, a young hacker in the San Francisco Bay Area who joins DedSec to take down ctOS 2.0. The official listing gives November 13, 2016 as the release date, identifies PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as platforms, and labels the genre “Action / Adventure Open World.”
Why it works as a GTA 6 waiting game
Its defining idea is that a modern city is a network of systems waiting to be manipulated. Hacking changes how you scout locations, create distractions, move through restricted areas and turn the environment against enemies. That makes the city feel interactive in a way that driving and shooting alone cannot provide.
The San Francisco setting also supplies a contemporary alternative to both Night City and Vice City. You get recognizable urban infrastructure and a lighter, more playful tone, with DedSec’s campaign focused on exposing and disrupting surveillance technology. It is a good fit when you want open-world mischief without committing to a grim mob drama.
Trade-offs to understand
The hacker premise puts technology and stealth ahead of conventional criminal power fantasy. Marcus is not being introduced as a mob recruit or an outlaw; the fantasy is collective digital resistance. The tone is correspondingly lighter than the criminal-conspiracy setup Rockstar has described for GTA 6. Players seeking jokes, improvisation and gadgets should treat that as a benefit, while players seeking grounded gang politics may find it less direct.
Platform note
The official listing names PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It does not establish a universal current-generation edition in the material available here, so confirm the storefront and platform version in your region before buying.
Mafia: Definitive Edition: the focused organized-crime story
Mafia: Definitive Edition is the right answer when the crime narrative matters more than the size of the sandbox. Steam lists Hangar 13 as developer and 2K as publisher, with a release date of September 24, 2020. Its description gives the premise directly: “An inadvertent brush with the mob thrusts cabdriver Tommy Angelo into the world of organized crime.” Steam also tags it as both Open World and Crime.
Rank #3
- STUNNING VISUALS — Enhanced levels of fidelity and performance with new graphics modes featuring up to 4K resolution, up to 60 frames per second, HDR options, ray tracing, improved texture quality, and more
- FASTER LOADING — Quicker access to the action as the world of Los Santos and Blaine County load in faster than ever before.
- ADAPTIVE TRIGGERS AND HAPTIC FEEDBACK — Feel every moment through the DualSense controller, from directional damage to weather effects, rough road surfaces to explosions, and more.
- TEMPEST 3D AUDIO — Hear the sounds of the world with pinpoint precision: the throttle of a stolen supercar, the rattle of neighbouring gunfire, the roar of a helicopter overhead, and more.
- Please note that although this game is Region Free or Region Unlocked and will work on all systems, this is the international version and may differ from the local version in age rating, labeling or instructions.
Why it works as a GTA 6 waiting game
The game concentrates on the transformation from outsider to mob associate. That gives the story a clear dramatic line and a strong period identity. Rather than scattering attention across a huge number of unrelated activities, it uses its open setting to support a directed organized-crime narrative.
This makes it especially useful preparation for GTA 6’s stated premise. Rockstar has described Jason and Lucia as partners caught in a conspiracy after an easy score goes wrong; Mafia: Definitive Edition likewise starts with an ordinary working life disrupted by contact with the mob. The scale and era differ, but both emphasize how a single job can pull a protagonist into a larger criminal structure.
What you give up
It is not the pick for endless systemic experimentation. The more tightly directed structure means fewer reasons to treat the city as a toy box between missions. Choose it when pacing, character progression through the underworld and period crime atmosphere matter more than the broadest possible collection of side activities.
Choose it if
- You want a beginning-to-end crime drama with a clear protagonist arc.
- You prefer historical organized crime to hackers, futurists or comic-book criminals.
- You want a shorter, more focused alternative to a giant open-world commitment.
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition: martial-arts crime drama
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition is the specialist choice. Comparison coverage consistently identifies it as a Hong Kong crime story built around martial-arts combat and stunt action. It preserves the criminal-world framework of a GTA-style game but changes the physical language: hand-to-hand fighting and movement are central rather than secondary to firearms and driving.
Why it stands apart
The Hong Kong setting gives the game a distinct urban identity, while martial-arts combat makes close-range encounters feel different from the usual cover-shooting loop. Stunt action adds another layer of momentum, so the crime thriller is defined as much by physical performance as by weapons or vehicles.
That makes it a strong bridge between readers who want a serious criminal story and readers who are tired of conventional gunplay. It is also a better fit than Saints Row if you want heightened action without abandoning a crime-drama tone.
Availability caution
Confirm the current edition and platform listing before purchase. Availability varies by storefront and region, and the information available here does not establish one universal platform list.
Rank #4
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- STUNNING VISUALS: Enhanced levels of fidelity and performance with new graphics modes featuring up to 4K resolution, up to 60 frames per second, HDR options, ray tracing, improved texture quality, and more
- FASTER LOADING: Quicker access to the action as the world of Los Santos and Blaine County load in faster than ever before
- ADAPTIVE TRIGGERS & HAPTIC FEEDBACK: Feel every moment through the DualSense controller, from directional damage to weather effects, rough road surfaces to explosions, and more
- TEMPEST 3D AUDIO: Hear the sounds of the world with pinpoint precision: the throttle of a stolen supercar, the rattle of neighboring gunfire, the roar of a helicopter overhead, and more
Choose it if
- You want martial arts to be a primary combat system.
- You prefer a Hong Kong crime setting to a Western city or frontier.
- You want a focused action thriller with stunt-driven energy.
Saints Row: the comic-chaos branch of the formula
Saints Row belongs on the list for one reason: it takes the open-world criminal sandbox toward exaggerated humor and mayhem. The comparison is about tone, not realism. It is a better fit for players who want absurd situations, broad criminal escapades and spectacle than for anyone trying to approximate GTA 6’s grounded criminal-conspiracy premise.
When its tone is exactly right
If your ideal waiting game lets you abandon restraint, embrace ridiculous activities and treat the city as a playground, this is the branch to choose. The appeal is the freedom to pursue comic escalation rather than the slow build of a mob drama or the moral weight of an outlaw story.
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Do not choose it because you want the closest narrative match to Jason and Lucia. Rockstar’s current description emphasizes an easy score, dependence between two protagonists and a conspiracy spanning Leonida. Saints Row serves a different fantasy: criminal chaos with the volume turned up.
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Best setting
For a realistic-feeling contemporary city, pick Watch Dogs 2. For a futuristic metropolis, pick Cyberpunk 2077. For a historical organized-crime city, pick Mafia: Definitive Edition. For a frontier, pick Red Dead Redemption 2. Sleeping Dogs supplies Hong Kong, and Saints Row is the broadest comic sandbox.
Best crime fantasy
Choose Watch Dogs 2 to be a hacker, Mafia: Definitive Edition to enter organized crime, Red Dead Redemption 2 to live as an outlaw, and Saints Row to play a deliberately broad criminal sandbox. Cyberpunk 2077 frames crime through a mercenary’s RPG progression, while Sleeping Dogs focuses on a crime thriller shaped by undercover tension and martial arts.
Best systems
Cyberpunk 2077 is the strongest systems-heavy option because RPG progression and multiple abilities shape how you approach missions. Watch Dogs 2 is the specialist for hacking and stealth. Sleeping Dogs is the combat specialist for melee and stunts. Red Dead Redemption 2 emphasizes exploration and world simulation, Mafia: Definitive Edition emphasizes directed story progression, and Saints Row emphasizes comic activities and mayhem.
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Mafia: Definitive Edition is the most concentrated dramatic crime story. Red Dead Redemption 2 is an expansive outlaw drama. Cyberpunk 2077 is dark and futuristic. Watch Dogs 2 is lighter and more playful. Sleeping Dogs is an action-focused crime thriller. Saints Row is intentionally exaggerated.
Best Value
- ATEMBERAUBENDE GRAFIK: Visuelle Verbesserungen und eine hhere Leistung mit neuen Grafikmodi, die eine Auflsung bis zu 4K, bis zu 60 Bilder pro Sekunde, HDR-Optionen, Ray-Tracing, verbesserte Texturqualitt und mehr bieten
- SCHNELLERE LADEZEITEN: Rascherer Zugang zur Action, da die Welt von Los Santos und Blaine County schneller geladen wird als jemals zuvor
- 3D-RAUMKLANG: Geniee die Klangkulisse der Welt mit hchster Przision: den Motor eines gestohlenen Supersportwagens, das knatternde Gewehrfeuer um die Ecke, das Drhnen eines Helikopters ber dir und mehr
- NEUES MEN-DESIGN: Erlebe ein komplett berarbeitetes Men-Design fr verbesserte Navigation und Benutzerfreundlichkeit auf Xbox Series X|S
- ZUGANG ZU ALLEN AKTUELLEN UND FRHEREN UPDATES: Profitiere von allen Gameplay-Verbesserungen, Erweiterungen und Inhalten, die seit Verffentlichung von GTA Online hinzugefgt wurden
A practical play order before GTA 6
If you have time for more than one game, use contrast rather than trying to imitate GTA 6 six times. This order moves from the closest match in world-building to the most specialized alternatives:
- Start with Red Dead Redemption 2 if you want Rockstar’s strongest lesson in environmental detail, freedom and outlaw storytelling.
- Move to Cyberpunk 2077 for a dense city and deeper RPG systems.
- Play Watch Dogs 2 when you want a contemporary setting and hacking-driven experimentation.
- Choose Mafia: Definitive Edition for a focused organized-crime narrative rather than another huge sandbox.
- Use Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition when you want a combat change through martial arts and stunt action.
- Finish with Saints Row if you want the most openly comic version of open-world criminal chaos.
If you only have time for one, make the decision by fantasy: Red Dead Redemption 2 for Rockstar immersion, Cyberpunk 2077 for city RPG systems, Watch Dogs 2 for hacking, Mafia: Definitive Edition for mob drama, Sleeping Dogs for martial arts, and Saints Row for jokes and mayhem.
Dates, platforms and buying checks
GTA 6’s current official target is November 19, 2026, with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S listed by Rockstar. That is the only release information in this comparison that comes directly from Rockstar’s current official page.
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| Game | Date or platform information established here |
|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Steam release: December 9, 2020 |
| Mafia: Definitive Edition | Steam release: September 24, 2020; developed by Hangar 13 and published by 2K |
| Watch Dogs 2 | Release date: November 13, 2016; official listing names PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | Official Rockstar title and publisher established; no additional platform detail is stated here |
| Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition | Current edition and platform availability vary by storefront and region |
| Saints Row | Specific edition and platform details are not established here |
Check the exact edition, supported platform, storefront and region before purchase, particularly for Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition and any game you plan to play on newer hardware. A game’s inclusion in this list does not by itself establish a current-generation version.
Final recommendation
Pick Red Dead Redemption 2 for the closest overall substitute for Rockstar’s world-building, Cyberpunk 2077 for the best modern-city RPG, and Mafia: Definitive Edition for the most direct organized-crime drama. Add Watch Dogs 2 if hacking is the feature you want GTA 6 to improve, Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition if you want martial-arts combat, and Saints Row only when comic chaos is more important than a grounded conspiracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which game is closest to GTA 6 overall?
Red Dead Redemption 2 is the closest overall match for Rockstar-style immersion and freedom, but it is a Western outlaw story rather than a modern Vice City crime game.
Which alternative has the best modern city?
Cyberpunk 2077 offers the strongest modern or futuristic city substitute, with RPG progression, hacking, driving and shooting built into its Night City setting.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
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Is Watch Dogs 2 available on current consoles?
The official listing cited here names PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Confirm current storefront compatibility in your region before purchasing.
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.
