The wait for Grand Theft Auto 6 has continued to build a wild amount of anticipation. There could always be a third delay, but as it stands, Grand Theft Auto 6 is expected to finally release on November 19 this year. Only time will tell if Rockstar actually reaches the finish line in 2026, but there’s an unexpected GTA-inspired game to check out on Steam while gamers wait for GTA 6‘s launch.
There are plenty of indie games on Steam, but GTJ: Grand Theft Japan is a ridiculously wacky title inspired by the beloved Rockstar series. It’s important to make clear that GTJ: Grand Theft Japan is a parody game, so it’s way more over-the-top and goofy than the GTA franchise’s usual brand of humor. However, gamers who are wanting a fresh take on GTA‘s gameplay that’s also unapologetically outlandish may want to give GTJ: Grand Theft Japan a try before GTA 6 gets here.
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Confirmed Features For GTJ: Grand Theft Japan
- Coastal Japanese setting
- Vehicles, including helicopters
- Stories based around real events in Japanese culture
- No cops
- Open world exploration and chaos
GTJ: Grand Theft Japan is the Closest Thing Gamers Will Probably Ever Get to Rockstar’s Canceled Tokyo Spin-Off
It may be hard for some to imagine a GTA game set in Japan, but Rockstar almost actually made this happen. A GTA game set in Tokyo was once being considered by Rockstar, but the project ultimately fell through. Rockstar North’s ex-technical director, Obbe Vermeij, revealed in an interview last year, “Another studio in Japan were going to do it, take our code and do GTA: Tokyo.” The fact that Rockstar even had a team lined up shows that the company was serious about branching out to other cities. Vermeij confirmed that other cities like Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, and Istanbul were also in consideration. Ultimately, Rockstar decided that GTA‘s humor and storytelling worked best in an American setting. GTJ: Grand Theft Japan actually stays true to this, at least partially. The indie parody may be set in Japan, but the story still follows an American character.
GTJ: Japan Revolves Around an American Experiencing Japanese Culture
In this game, the main protagonist is a U.S. soldier who is currently stationed in Japan. Since this is a game inspired by GTA, it wouldn’t be complete without some sort of corruption. In order to get into the U.S. military base, players have to keep bribing U.S. officers, or there will be some serious consequences.
Another feature that makes GTJ: Grand Theft Japan so intriguing is that cops aren’t really an issue. The Japanese police officers tend to leave the Americans in the game alone, so GTJ: Grand Theft Japan offers GTA‘s crime gameplay with fewer consequences. There is one group that players want to avoid at all costs, though: the Yakuza. The Yakuza games make up a fantastic series that explores the inner workings of Japan’s most notorious crime syndicate, but GTJ: Grand Theft Japan puts the group in a GTA-inspired world. It’s unclear how common running into the Yakuza will be, but they will definitely come after players if they dine and dash.
Even though GTJ: Grand Theft Japan is heavily inspired by GTA, its physics and chaos-focused gameplay is also influenced by Goat Simulator and Untitled Goose Game.
Stories Inspired By Actual Events in Modern Japanese Culture Help Bring GTJ: Grand Theft Japan’s World to Life
Japan has been facing a frustrating rice price surge for a few years now, and GTJ: Grand Theft Japan makes this a central part of the gameplay and story. Players can start a rice smuggling ring within the U.S. military base to make a lot of extra money on the side. GTA loves nightclubs, too, and GTJ: Grand Theft Japan honors this long-running series tradition. Players can open a nightclub that caters specifically to the U.S. soldiers in the area, further increasing the protagonist’s power and influence. With GTA 6 returning to Vice City, there is bound to be plenty of nightlife to revel in. The Japanese coast may not be as well known for intense parties as Miami-inspired Vice City, but a nightclub near a military base is still a recipe for chaos.
Watch Out For the Bears
Yes, bear attacks are part of GTJ: Grand Theft Japan. This may seem like a random addition that is simply meant to add to the game’s wild energy, but this is actually a problem that Japan has been facing in recent years. 2025 was officially the deadliest year on record for wild bear attacks in the country. Because of natural food sources becoming more scarce in the wild, bears have resorted to searching for food in residential areas. From supermarkets to schools, Japan’s bear problem has even led some locals to start carrying bear spray around just in case. By the end of 2025, there were an estimated 235 recorded bear attacks. GTA 6‘s map locations aren’t just set in Vice City. Areas like Mount Kalaga and the Grassrivers are likely to feature their own forms of dangerous wildlife encounters, like mountain lions and alligators.
GTJ: Grand Theft Japan Can Help Kill the Time While Waiting For GTA 6
- GTJ: Grand Theft Japan is slated to release in April.
There is still a little bit of a waiting period when it comes to GTJ: Grand Theft Japan, but it definitely isn’t as long as the wait for GTA 6. In only a little over a month, gamers can start wreaking havoc on the streets of Japan. So far, GTA 6‘s release date seems to be set in stone. It hopefully stays that way. In the meantime, GTJ: Grand Theft Japan will be around to let gamers antagonize the Yakuza, drive around aimlessly, and come face to face with wild bears.
GTJ: Grand Theft Japan definitely isn’t the only GTA parody game out there, but it’s one of the more outrageous premises. It may not be for every GTA fan, but those who are in the mood for the franchise’s gameplay but are also interested in a fresh setting can check out GTJ: Grand Theft Japan on Steam.
