According to a Best Buy leak, GTA 6 pre-orders might be set to go live on May 18, 2026, which could coincide with the release of a new trailer that, hopefully, reconfirms Rockstar’s commitment to a November 19 release. Even if all this proves to be true, we will still have months to wait before the debut of 2026’s biggest game (by far). Therefore, let’s play a few open-world games that can help make that time pass more quickly.
Ranking Every Grand Theft Auto Game From Worst To Best
Grand Theft Auto has revolutionized video games from the very first iteration to the latest, but how do they rank against each other as the best?
What should you play during this period? The obvious answer would be to stick to the older GTA games, but most people have already played through those enough times. Therefore, we are going to focus on open-world games that share elements with Grand Theft Auto but still do their own thing. No GTA clones here.
8
Forza Horizon 6
The Biggest Open-World Game Of 2026 (So Far)
Launching on May 19, 2026, Forza Horizon 6 is one of the biggest open-world games of 2026 (along with Crimson Desert), and it will be immediately available to people subscribed to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Playground’s series is just as reliable as Grand Theft Auto, with each entry recreating another part of the world in impressive detail. The 2026 game heads to Japan, a setting that seems to always feature on everybody’s “want” list for any open-world franchise that uses real-world locations. Both franchises emphasize driving, too, and Forza Horizon 6‘s arcade-style controls and blend of realistic visuals with high-octane races and moments of absurdity make it a surprisingly great alternative to Rockstar’s classic games.
10 Upcoming 2026 Video Games You Cannot Miss
2026 is stacked with great games for all tastes, but these games are shaping up to be absolute must-plays for any gamer.
Presuming another delay doesn’t happen, GTA 6 should debut in November 2026; consequently, players might want to turn to a new release to keep them busy for the rest of the year. Subnautica 2‘s early access debut is certainly a good option for survival fans, but Forza Horizon 6 is pretty much the perfect game to throw on when you just want to relax and pass a bit of time. If you have a subscription, there is really no reason not to play this, unless you just really don’t like the series.
7
Watch Dogs 2
You Can’t Spell “Watch Dogs” Without “Chaos”
There’s something beautifully ironic about Watch Dogs 2. It’s a game about digital surveillance, data privacy, and systemic control; however, players inevitably end up speeding through San Francisco in a stolen sports car, launching grenades from drones, and accidentally taking out a hot dog stand.
Ubisoft’s pivot from the bleak, brooding tone of the first Watch Dogs to the vibrant, almost sitcom-esque chaos of Watch Dogs 2 paid off hard. Marcus Holloway is infinitely more likable than Aiden Pearce, and DedSec operates more like a bunch of rebellious college hackers than a shadowy cabal. What really makes it a perfect stopgap for GTA fans is the amount of freedom in its sandbox. Whether players want to go full-stealth with hacked cameras and RC bots, or barge into restricted areas with an arsenal of smart gadgets, the game rarely punishes improvisation.
And San Francisco is a digital marvel. From the graffiti-soaked corners of Oakland to the tech industry’s polished facades in Silicon Valley, it’s a map that doesn’t just look alive—it feels like it’s watching back. It might not have GTA’s satirical sting, but its tongue-in-cheek jabs at tech culture still land, especially when players start hijacking SUVs and launching EDM raves in quiet suburbs.
6
Saints Row 4
Superpowers, Mayhem, And A Lot Of Dubstep Guns
Out of every open-world franchise ever, Saints Row has been compared the most to GTA. The series started by telling somewhat realistic crime stories that were, clearly, inspired by Rockstar’s juggernaut. However, the Saints Row games gradually ramped up the absurdity, with the last two numbered entries featuring over-the-top action that puts fun above realism. There is also a reboot that tried to return to the franchise’s roots, with mostly mixed results.
Depending on what you are looking for, all 5 games can scratch that GTA itch. Saints Row 2 is the best option for those craving a (relatively) grounded open-world crime game that feels like an evolution of the Rockstar formula during the mid-2000s. Saints Row 3 is essentially a Hollywood action-crime epic that doesn’t take itself too seriously and captures that “mess around in a chaotic open-world” enjoyment offered by the GTA games. Finally, Saints Row 4 is unapologetically silly and over-the-top, turning this once realistic series into a superhero playground. It is the least GTA-like game in the series, but that’s why you should play it.
5
Sleeping Dogs
Players who crave the hand-to-hand combat that GTA always dabbles in but never quite commits to will find Sleeping Dogs an irresistible alternative. Set in a richly detailed Hong Kong, this criminal underworld story leans hard into martial arts combat, undercover cop drama, and neon-lit cityscapes dripping with tension.
What really makes Sleeping Dogs stand out is its melee system. Wei Shen isn’t just some street thug; he’s a trained enforcer who can string together brutal combos, environmental takedowns, and slo-mo counterattacks that feel like a Jackie Chan movie choreographed by the people behind Arkham City. Car chases, shootouts, and side missions are all here, but they exist alongside things like cockfighting rings, karaoke bars, and food vendors that boost stats when you eat from them.
7 Best Open-World Games Set In The Modern Day, Ranked
Prior to GTA 6, these are the best open-world games with modern explorable maps available today.
Unlike a lot of open-world games, it tells a surprisingly mature story. Wei’s loyalty to the triads versus his duty as a cop slowly tears him apart, and players feel that strain every time they have to balance brutal enforcement with maintaining their cover. It may not have the sprawling size of GTA 5, but its densely packed streets and tight narrative give it a sharper edge.
4
Just Cause 3
The One Game That Might Actually Be More Fun Than GTA
GTA‘s brilliance lies in just how fun it is to exist within each game’s world. Sure, the stories and characters tend to be fantastic, but they are just a nice bonus to accompany the addictive gameplay loop that defines each entry. GTA 6 seems set to blow every other open-world game out of the water in terms of sheer scale, ambition, and depth; however, it would need something a bit different to be more fun than Just Cause 3.
Right from the start, this series revels in excess, which can also be said about GTA. Just Cause casts players as, effectively, an ’80s action hero who is a one-man army capable of bringing dictatorships to their knees, one explosion at a time. The second and third games are overall the best, but I would recommend Just Cause 3 since it adds a few tools and mechanics that aren’t in its predecessor.
3
Mafia: Definitive Edition
A Mafia Story That’s All About Atmosphere
There’s a haunting beauty to Mafia: Definitive Edition that most crime games can’t quite match. It’s not about throwing players into a freeform sandbox full of distractions. It’s about placing them in the tailored suit of Tommy Angelo, a cab driver turned mob enforcer in 1930s Lost Heaven, and dragging them through a life of loyalty, betrayal, and consequence.
This remake of the 2002 cult classic doesn’t try to modernize its structure, but it embraces it. Missions are tightly crafted, often linear, but packed with tension and emotional punch. Driving through the rain-slick streets in a classic Packard while old jazz music plays on the radio might not feel like GTA’s brand of chaos, but it scratches a different kind of itch. One that values tone, setting, and slow-burn storytelling.
Lost Heaven itself might not be filled with minigames and distractions, but it’s meticulously built. The architecture reflects a nation between wars. The cars handle like they’re made of bricks and raw horsepower. Even the police behave realistically, pulling over players for running red lights or driving recklessly. It’s a different pace, but one worth settling into.
2
Cyberpunk 2077
Night City Might Be A Dystopic Mess, But It’s Also Brilliant
When Cyberpunk 2077 launched, it didn’t so much arrive as it did explode in a fireball of broken promises and hilarious bugs. But time, patches, and the Phantom Liberty expansion have been kind to it. In its current form, Night City is a dense, dangerous, and deeply immersive place to get lost in.
7 Best Open-World Games That Play Like GTA
Grand Theft Auto is a game franchise that did a lot to promote the adoption of open-world maps, which these other titles used as inspiration.
Players who love GTA for its crime drama and emergent chaos will find plenty to chew on here. V’s story is deeply personal, but filled with side quests that rival Witcher 3 in complexity. Whether it’s hacking through corpo networks, gunning down cyberpsychos in back alleys, or getting caught in a heist gone very wrong, the game delivers that underworld fantasy through a futuristic lens. And unlike most open-worlds, verticality plays a huge role. Rooftops, neon-lit alleyways, high-end nightclubs, and grimy megabuildings all feel distinct.
Plus, the combat finally feels punchy. Guns kick hard, melee weapons are brutal, and hacking gives players another avenue for chaos. Cyberpunk isn’t perfect, but it’s gotten close enough that stepping into a futuristic GTA-style crime spree feels natural, not wishful thinking.
1
Red Dead Redemption 2
The Peak of Rockstar’s Craft
In a move that was frustrating at the time, GTA completely skipped the PS4 and Xbox One generation, with Rockstar mostly focusing on GTA 5 and, especially, GTA Online. However, players weren’t left completely empty-handed as they got the next best thing: A follow-up to 2010’s Red Dead Redemption. The 2018 prequel represents the pinnacle of Rockstar’s open-world design at this point, with a huge world to explore, incredible writing that reveals any other game in existence, solid third-person shooting gameplay for sections that call for gunfights, and organic optional content.
RDR2 emphasizes realism far more than any other Rockstar game, particularly in its controls, intricate animations, weather effects, and wildlife AI. Rockstar clearly dedicated a lot of work hours to developing these mechanics and ideas, so it seems like a safe bet that they will feature once again in Grand Theft Auto 6. In fact, wildlife is confirmed for GTA 6.
7 Most Ambitious Games By Rockstar, Ranked
From Red Dead Redemption to Grand Theft Auto, Rockstar has developed many incredible games.
