Grand Theft Auto 6 is coming, and hardcore fans cannot contain their excitement as recent leaks suggest new features in line with long-standing requests in the community, from harder carjacking to a 3vs3 basketball game mode.
Much like past rumors, such reports may prove unsubstantiated, but they’ve got web circles buzzing ahead of a much-anticipated GTA 6 release.
Gamers will need to wait until the first quarter of 2025, at the soonest, to explore the sun-soaked state of Leonida. In the meantime, they can get their hands on the following games to conjure up that GTA vibe.
Sleeping Dogs
Sleeping Dogs feels like the love child between GTA and a B-movie action flick from the 90s, all wrapped up in a Bruce Lee film.
This action-adventure title takes you to the Pearl of the Orient, where you act as a Chinese-American cop infiltrating a Triad organization calling the shots in a city that comes alive brilliantly on screen.
Although by no means realistic, Sleeping Dog’s Hong Kong is no less authentic. After completing the initial missions, you are free to navigate its seedy underworld as you see fit.
You may take Wei Shen down a righteous path or embrace more violent ways, committing crimes left and right. Plenty of side quests await in this vibrant open world, ranging from drug busts to shooting missions. Unlike GTA, you may replay any mission until you’re satisfied with its outcome.
If slightly repetitive, combat also takes center stage, allowing Wei Shen to showcase his martial arts prowess throughout an antihero journey that deserves appreciation, if only for the new ideas it brought to the genre.
Red Dead Redemption II
Red Dead Redemption II is nothing less than a spiritual successor to GTA, albeit with a distinct Old West flair. The similarities are plain as day in terms of gameplay, as players can freely wander around the American Frontier and interact with the dynamic world around them in a multitude of ways – lawful or otherwise. The parallels are so striking that some fans believe both games share the same universe.
While such connection has never been outright confirmed – nor denied – both series actively reference one another. In GTA 5, observant players can identify a book aptly-titled “Red Dead,” penned by a certain Jack Marston.
Same as his iconic predecessor, outlaw Arthur Morgan perfectly embodies the moral ambiguity the franchise is loved for.
Experiencing the harsh realities of the Wild West through Morgan’s perspective is a fantastic ride, with the second chapter in the saga seamlessly transitioning between heartfelt narrative moments and open-ended exploration.
Watch Dogs 2
The original Watch Dogs garnered mixed reactions upon its launch, but Ubisoft took notice of this criticism to release a much more well-rounded sequel. Reviewers praised the game’s tonal shift, veering toward outward satire on tech culture.
Several years later, the meta in the game is still on point, playing its goofy characters for laughs without taking itself as seriously as its predecessor.
This action-adventure also has much to offer in the gameplay department. Messing around in Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area is a treat, allowing young hacker Marcus Holloway to use the terrain to his advantage to defeat enemies.
A cleverly designed environment also beckons exploration, offering yet more activities and side content than GTA 5.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Calling Like a Dragon a Japanese GTA would be simplistic, but there is no denying that both fandoms overlap. In some aspects, Rockstar Games could even learn a thing or two from Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.
The latest adventure of reformed mobsters Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu exceeded all expectations. Venturing outside Japan, the game features a massive open-world map that never feels lifeless or empty.
The streets of Honolulu and Yokohama are brimming with fun and varied activities that may put even GTA 5 to shame while propelling the game straight into GOTY territory.
From over-the-top Pokémon-like battles to high-stakes poker games, this Hawaiian story packs hours of content. Casino minigames may even entice card sharks to take a stab at online gambling, in which event they can scan online casino bonuses with just a click.
Specialized websites monitor the best deals around, linking users to licensed casinos in their location. From sign-up packages to free spins, newcomers can grab lucrative welcome offers. No-deposit bonuses also work wonders for players wishing to navigate a platform’s portfolio of games without committing money.
Are you itching to go back to Vice City? Dropping in 2025, the next mainline title in the GTA franchise has gamers hyped up.
While you can always revisit past GTA classics, or go role-playing on GTA Online, the games above are worth exploring before GTA 6 finally drops worldwide.
