Being a Grand Theft Auto fan in 2025 presents a bit of a mixed bag of emotions. On the one hand, the latest Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer provided tantalizing glimpses into the game’s main story and showcased impressive advancements in animation and graphics. On the other hand, the confirmation that players won’t be stepping foot in the vibrant world of Leonida as protagonists Lucia and Jason until 2026 means the wait continues. Some fans might appreciate Rockstar taking additional time to polish the game for a more complete launch, while others, understandably antsy after waiting over a decade for the sequel, may be feeling impatient. Fortunately, gamers have an abundance of excellent alternative titles to explore from various developers, including Rockstar themselves, that can help pass the time until GTA 6 arrives.
The GTA franchise fundamentally pushed boundaries in the video game industry upon its debut in 1997. Initially controversial for its depiction of “extreme violence,” leading to condemnation and even bans in some regions, the series nonetheless captivated players for nearly two decades with its expansive open worlds, engaging narratives, and distinctive style. Unsurprisingly, this success has inspired other companies to develop games with similar DNA, and some have succeeded in offering experiences that are equally fun and unique in their own right.
If the wait for GTA 6 has you itching for open-world crime and urban exploration, consider diving into these three recommended titles:
Sleeping Dogs: Undercover Action in Hong Kong
For players specifically seeking a gritty crime narrative reminiscent of GTA, Sleeping Dogs from United Front Games and Square Enix is an acclaimed action-adventure worth checking out. The game puts you in the shoes of Wei Shen, an undercover officer for the Hong Kong Police Department tasked with infiltrating and dismantling the Sun On Yee Triad organization. This mission presents significant moral challenges as Shen must commit criminal acts to earn the trust of the Triad bosses and advance his police work. The game featured an impressive voice cast, including notable Hollywood actors like Lucy Liu, Tom Wilkinson, Emma Stone, and James Hong.
Sleeping Dogs shares structural similarities with GTA’s gameplay, featuring a third-person perspective and various on-screen displays to track Wei’s health, weapons, and location. Players can also traverse the detailed recreation of Hong Kong using a variety of vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, and even boats. However, where Sleeping Dogs distinguishes itself is in its combat, which heavily favors close-quarters hand-to-hand combat. Rather than relying primarily on firearms, players will mostly use Wei Shen’s diverse repertoire of martial arts moves and combos to kick, punch, and grapple enemies into submission.
Bully: Reliving Rockstar’s School Days
Fans craving that classic Rockstar Games open-world experience, perhaps with a touch of nostalgia, should definitely give Bully a try if they haven’t already. This 2006 action game follows Jimmy Hopkins, a rebellious new student navigating the social hierarchy of the notoriously rough Bullworth Academy boarding school. Despite being the new kid, Jimmy quickly finds himself and his newfound outcast friends attempting to rise through the ranks of the school’s various cliques by completing challenges and engaging in fights.
Players have the freedom to roam the school grounds and the surrounding town, accepting missions from different factions to earn their favor. Bully also features unique gameplay elements like attending classes, which are presented as mini-games that reward players with new items and abilities upon completion. True to Rockstar form, while getting into fistfights is common, players can still get “busted” by prefects or police for causing too much trouble.
The Simpsons: Hit and Run: Parody Chaos in Springfield
Often praised by both critics and fans as an excellent parody of GTA 3, The Simpsons: Hit and Run offers a hilarious take on the open-world formula. The game captures a similar rough polygonal art style, features open-world exploration, and includes its own “wanted” system. The unique “Hit and Run” gauge fills up whenever players cause chaos by hitting pedestrians or property with their vehicles and decreases when driving safely. Filling the bar triggers pursuit by the Springfield police. Players can also engage in hand-to-hand combat and destroy environmental objects in various comical ways. It’s a wildly entertaining ride, whether you follow the game’s missions or simply choose to wreak havoc across the familiar landscape of Springfield.
While GTA 6 may still be a year away, there are plenty of fantastic games that can help scratch that Grand Theft Auto itch. Sleeping Dogs, Bully, and The Simpsons: Hit and Run each offer unique, fun, and somewhat similar experiences to the GTA games. Best of all, they are readily available on mainstream consoles and can typically run well on lower-spec PCs, often at a good price, making them accessible alternatives while counting down the days until the journey to Leonida begins.
