If all goes according to play, Grand Theft Auto 6 is expected to be the biggest game of not only the year, but the past decade. The hype surrounding Grand Theft Auto 6 has continued to grow since it was confirmed, and gamers are finally in the home stretch. The game has already been delayed twice, and the possibility of a third one shouldn’t be taken off the table quite yet. However, the current signs are pointing to Rockstar’s next game being on track for its November 2026 launch.
At this point, GTA 6‘s release date feels closer than it ever has. Only a few months stand between gamers and protagonist Jason and Lucia’s crime-fueled adventure through Vice City. To make the wait easier, some gamers have been hopeful about lower-budget titles that have been dubbed as GTA clones. Unfortunately, most of these GTA clones have failed to satisfy that craving. One of the most recent is developer Liquid Swords’ debut game Samson. The gritty action title generated an impressive amount of hype, but the reviews have been less than ideal.
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Samson Isn’t the GTA 6 Appetizer That Many Were Hoping For
To be fair, Liquid Swords wasn’t necessarily marketing Samson as a GTA clone. The former is a more grounded, gritty world that embraces a focused linear storyline and smaller scale. However, the similar vibes it had to GTA 4‘s version of Liberty City and the crime-focused story had a lot of gamers hopeful that it would at least feel like a bite-sized GTA experience. The Samson reviews from both critics and players have been heavily mixed. While more positive takes have claimed the game is solid when expectations are lowered, others have found it a repetitive and buggy mess. GameRant’s official review of the game had this to say:
I take no joy in lambasting a studio’s debut, but to downplay Samson’s fundamental flaws would be to misrepresent it. I could say that you might enjoy the game if you temper your expectations, or that it will be improved once Liquid Swords fixes its devastating bugs, or even that beneath its repetitive gameplay and bland story is the beating heart of passion, but the reality is that Samson is more than just a decent-but-flawed game. It’s a passionless, joyless, derivative chore, and I wouldn’t suggest playing it unless you’re being paid to do so.
Balance the critic averages
Balance the critic averages
Easy (6)Medium (8)Hard (10)
Liquid Swords’ crime thriller simply failed to connect with a lot of people. Samson‘s repetitive missions and lack of story have disappointed those who were hoping for a richly dark and compelling story about a man trying to clear his debts and save his sister. Unfortunately, the game’s shallow characters hold back the story from reaching its full potential. A flat protagonist combined with clunky and buggy hand-to-hand combat have left a lot of gamers frustrated, because the setting and general premise held solid promise. Liquid Swords has already reassured players that Samson bug fixes are planned for the future, but that can’t fix the narrative and character flaws.
Samson’s Story and Characters Don’t Live Up to Its World
There is one bright side that many reviews have been citing, and that’s Samson‘s environmental design. The titular protagonist’s story takes place in the rundown and dangerous town of Tyndalston, and it’s one of the main features that initially kickstarted Samson‘s GTA comparisons. Samson‘s gritty setting looks impressive, but the other pieces of the puzzle just don’t seem to fit.
GTA Clones Have Struggled Ahead of GTA 6’s Release
Last year featured a notorious GTA-like that became one of the worst reviewed games of 2025. MindsEye was developed by Build a Rocket Boy, which was founded by ex-Rockstar dev Leslie Benzies. This game takes place in a futuristic Las Vegas-inspired city called Redrock. The premise was cool, the gameplay previews were intriguing, but it launched in a bug-riddled state. Even months later, the MindsEye controversy has spiraled into claims from Build a Rocket Boy that the game was purposefully sabotaged by sources within the company.
Liquid Swords isn’t claiming internal sabotage, but Samson‘s disappointing launch parallels MindsEye‘s ill-fated release. Games like GTA are hard to come by, and the hope that Samson could be the indie version of Rockstar’s formula has quickly fizzled out. Samson does offer a small-scale crime drama, but it’s just lacking the depth that could take it to the next level.
A Brief Look at Some of the Most Successful GTA Clones
- Mafia
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- Saints Row
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What Games Like Samson and MindsEye Mean for GTA 6’s Release
It’s really hard to predict what a game’s release is going to be like. GTA 6 seems like a shoo-in to be a groundbreaking success, but surprises can always happen. There are a few things that feel close to certain, though. GTA 6 is bound to have a major impact on the industry, whether that’s good or bad, and games like Samson and MindsEye missing the mark are likely going to make the cravings for a new GTA game even stronger. Tons of gamers are eager for more GTA 6 news, and if the game’s final stages of development are going smoothly, then Rockstar is getting ready to ramp up its marketing ahead of November.
GTA 6’s Elusive Third Trailer and Summer Plans
The wait for a new GTA 6 trailer has almost been just as wild as the wait for the game itself. Rockstar has released two record-breaking cinematic trailers that feature Jason, Lucia, and the cast of side characters reveling in the wild fictional state of Leonida. There’s no telling what Trailer 3 will showcase, but plenty of gamers are going to flock to it whenever Rockstar finally decides to share the next sneak peek. GTA 6 trailer theories have been a continuing trend, and the next one can hopefully live up to the hype.
Beyond the third trailer, Take-Two Interactive’s February 2026 earnings call revealed that GTA 6‘s marketing is expected to fully kick off this summer. Details like price, pre-orders, physical copies, and a potential online counterpart have yet to be confirmed, so there is still a lot of information that the public is completely unaware of. GTA 6‘s price is one of the biggest questions that gamers are eager to have answered. Rockstar’s upcoming title has the potential to change more than just the standards for open-world RPGs. It could influence the price points of AAA games that follow after its launch. Nearly the entire industry has its eyes set on GTA 6 to see how it can potentially shape the future of gaming. The clock is ticking, and long-awaited answers are hopefully waiting around the corner.
- Released
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November 19, 2026
- ESRB
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Rating Pending – Likely Mature 17+
