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If you want the closest match to Rockstar’s world-building, start with Red Dead Redemption 2. For a contemporary city, vehicles, crime activities and RPG progression, choose Cyberpunk 2077. The other picks below suit more specific moods—from difficult fantasy exploration to co-op heists—rather than reproducing GTA’s full mix.
Rockstar’s GTA VI page places Jason and Lucia in Vice City and the wider state of Leonida. As of October 4, 2026, Rockstar Support lists November 19, 2026 as the launch date in its platform and editions guidance. If you’re filling the gap before then, pick by the part of GTA you actually want more of: an inhabited world, city driving, crime stories, exploration, or multiplayer action.
| # | 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 |
Which open-world game should you play while waiting for GTA 6?
| If you want… | Try… | What makes it a fit | How it differs from GTA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockstar-style world detail and a long story | Red Dead Redemption 2 | Player freedom, a detailed frontier, random encounters and a story-led open world. | A period western with a slower pace, not a modern city crime sandbox. GamesRadar+; PC Gamer. |
| A modern city, driving, crime activities and RPG progression | Cyberpunk 2077 | Night City, vehicles, gigs and RPG systems. | A futuristic RPG structure rather than GTA’s crime-sandbox loop. GamesRadar+; PC Gamer. |
| Exploration and demanding combat | Elden Ring | A world that rewards organic discovery and challenging encounters. | A fantasy action RPG, with no GTA-style crime or driving focus. PC Gamer. |
| Hacking and contemporary satire | Watch Dogs 2 | A city setting and hacking mechanics. | Its tone and systems differ from GTA. GamesRadar+. |
| Martial arts in a crime story | Sleeping Dogs | Crime drama paired with martial arts and stunt action. | An older release; check availability for your platform. GamesRadar+. |
| Co-op heists | Payday 2 | Squad-based robberies and planning. | Focused on co-op heists, not a single-player open-world campaign. GamesRadar+. |
| Traversal and sandbox chaos | Just Cause 4 | Wingsuit, grappling hook, stunts and large-scale destruction. | GamesRadar+ identifies its story and polish as weaker than Rockstar’s. GamesRadar+. |
| A grounded crime narrative | Mafia 3 | Organized crime, a character-led story and side activities. | More focused on its narrative than GTA’s broad sandbox. GamesRadar+. |
| A compact city full of side activities | Yakuza 0 | Varied activities and an offbeat story. | Its city is more compact than GTA’s world. GamesRadar+. |
The closest match for Rockstar’s world-building: Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is the strongest pick here if what you want is the feeling of inhabiting a carefully built Rockstar world. Its frontier setting is presented as expansive and lively, with freedom to roam and random encounters along the way. PC Gamer also highlights its detailed setting and long story. See GamesRadar+’s GTA-adjacent recommendations and PC Gamer’s open-world coverage.
It is not a substitute for driving through a contemporary city or playing a modern crime sandbox. The western period setting and slower rhythm make it a better choice for players who want character, atmosphere and a substantial story than for anyone seeking GTA’s exact activities.
#1 Best Overall
The modern-city RPG choice: Cyberpunk 2077
For a city, vehicles and criminal jobs, Cyberpunk 2077 is the clearest alternative. Its Night City setting offers gigs and crime activities, but its core identity is that of an RPG. PC Gamer describes the open-world RPG as improved following updates and the Phantom Liberty expansion. That makes it a useful pick if you’re happy to trade GTA’s sandbox formula for character progression and a futuristic role-playing structure. Sources: GamesRadar+ and PC Gamer.
Check the edition before buying: platform availability and whether Phantom Liberty is included depend on the listing. The recommendations here are genre guidance, not a platform-by-platform availability guarantee.
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.
Choose by the activity you want, not just the open world
For discovery and a serious challenge: Elden Ring
Elden Ring is the choice when you want to wander, find your own route and face demanding encounters. PC Gamer emphasizes its organic exploration and challenging world. It has little in common with GTA’s crime, cars or contemporary setting, so treat it as a change of pace rather than a close replacement. PC Gamer.
For hacking and satire: Watch Dogs 2
Watch Dogs 2 offers a contemporary city and hacking, with a satirical tone. It shares some broad urban-crime territory with GTA but uses different mechanics and a different voice. GamesRadar+.
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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
For martial arts and crime drama: Sleeping Dogs
Sleeping Dogs combines a crime story with martial arts and stunt action, making it a good fit if hand-to-hand combat matters more to you than an expansive driving sandbox. It is an older game, so confirm that the edition you want is currently available on your platform. GamesRadar+.
For co-op robberies: Payday 2
If your priority is planning and pulling off jobs with friends, Payday 2 centers on squad-based heists. It is not an open-world, single-player campaign in the GTA mould; choose it for co-op robbery scenarios. GamesRadar+.
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
For stunts and destruction: Just Cause 4
Just Cause 4 leans into traversal and spectacle, including a wingsuit, grappling hook, stunts and large-scale destruction. That makes it the pick for playful sandbox chaos, not a strong story match. GamesRadar+ rates its story and polish below Rockstar’s standard. GamesRadar+.
For crime stories and character focus: Mafia 3
Mafia 3 offers a grounded organized-crime setting and a character-led narrative with side activities. Its story focus is tighter than GTA’s broad sandbox, which may suit you if you want crime drama more than open-ended activity. GamesRadar+.
Best Value
- 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
For a dense city with varied side activities: Yakuza 0
Yakuza 0 packs varied activities and an offbeat story into a smaller-scale city experience. It is a better fit for players who enjoy lively side content than for those looking for a world on GTA’s scale. GamesRadar+.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check platform and edition details before you buy
GamesRadar+ lists platform sets for the games it covers, but storefront availability and editions can change. Check the current store listing for your console or PC, especially for older releases such as Sleeping Dogs and for bundles or expansions such as Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.
There is also a practical point for anyone buying ahead of GTA VI: Rockstar Support currently says the physical GTA VI version is a box containing a download code, not a disc. Its redemption rules depend on platform and region, and Rockstar advises buying from a retailer in the country associated with your platform account to reduce the risk of activation problems. Confirm the latest Rockstar Support guidance before purchasing, as release and retail details can change.
PlayStation’s June 24, 2026 announcement says GTA VI will play best on PS5 and describes use of DualSense features, Tempest 3D AudioTech and the PS5 SSD. That is PlayStation’s promotional position, not an independent comparison of platform performance. PlayStation Blog.
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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.
