Summary
- GTA Online is its own entity, owed to post-launch content and a close-knit player community.
- Players anticipating GTA 6 can explore similar games like Mafia and Yakuza for excitement.
- Various games offer a range of genres similar to GTA Online, providing ample options for fans.
GTA Online is widely considered its own entity within the Grand Theft Auto community. The success of GTA Online is attributed to its added content post-launch and close-knit community of players. The wait for Grand Theft Auto 6 is drawing to a close, and players who were hyped by this widely anticipated game's trailer will find it worthwhile to check out some other games like GTA in the meantime.
5 Most Useful Purchases In Grand Theft Auto 5 Online (& 5 Most Useless)
There are many things to purchase in Grand Theft Auto 5 Online. Here are the 5 most useful & useless purchases.
Thankfully, there are more than enough games like GTA Online out there for fans who may be tired after spending hundreds of hours in this addictive multiplayer mode. These games range from single-player experiences to chaotic multiplayer titles and everything in between. Given the wealth of genres that GTA Online messes around with, it's easy to see why many games fit the bill in this regard.
Updated on September 19, 2024, by Mehrdad Khayyat: GTA Online is one of the most popular MMO titles of the recent and current generation of consoles, and it doesn't really seem any other game can rival it other the next mainline entry in the franchise, though there are some similar experiences that can keep fans busy until Grand Theft Auto 6 arrives.
Aside from its multiplayer nature, GTA Online expands the amount and variety of activities that players can do in the city of Los Santos. Honestly, few games can provide so much content in a massive open-world universe, but there are still some good options that are worth giving a try.
27 No Man's Sky
An Endless Universe With Strong Content Support
No Man's Sky
- Released
- August 9, 2016
- Developer(s)
- Hello Games
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Nintendo Switch 2
No Man's Sky might not be the favorite game for those who love to drive around the streets with highly customized vehicles, but for those who look for a massive universe with tons of activities, this is indeed one of the best games to ever exist.
With full multiplayer support, No Man's Sky has a lot of planets to explore with numerous missions and quests to complete. Players can buy new spaceships, build their very own base, and team up with friends to hunt deadly creatures or apprehend space criminals.
26 Mafia Trilogy
A GTA-Style Franchise Set In The 20th Century
Mafia Trilogy
Mafia is a GTA clone that deserves all its plaudits for leaning heavily into the story side of things and wowing players with the amazing writing over and over again. So, it's easy to see why fans were elated to find out that this amazing series would receive a much-needed visual upgrade and allow more players to see what made the first and second games in the Mafia series so special.
Gameplay-wise, Mafia Trilogy might not provide so much variety in the amount of weapons and vehicles, but it has all the necessary tools to give players a challenging experience. The story is the beating heart of this trilogy, especially the first entry, with Tommy Angelo's time being rife with death-defying scenarios, intense shootouts, and powerful interactions that will stay with players long after they're done playing this masterful game.
25 Saints Row Series
A Modern-Day Open-World Experience With Maximum Insanity
Saints Row: The Third Remastered
- Released
- May 22, 2020
- Developer(s)
- Volition, Sperasoft
- Platform(s)
- Xbox One, PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
It's a shame that Volition doesn't exist anymore. The Saints Row series' goofy nature and over-the-top gunplay were scrapped in the reboot, which ended up being a poor decision that completely nuked all the hype for the game and turned it into everyone's favorite punching bag upon release.
It's a shame since players loved the series when it was at the height of its popularity, with Saints Row 2 being a fan-favorite that combined the best of old and new Saints Row to make for something special. The story of this title was surprisingly engaging and added a lot of emotional weight to the combat scenarios that players would be thrust into time and time again.
Saints Row 3 managed to reach an even higher peak in the franchise by improving the gameplay and adding more than enough insane features to the character creation and vehicle customization gameplay.
24 Fallout 76
After Numerous Updates, This Online Fallout Game Is Finally Worth Checking Out
Fallout 76
The runaway success of the Fallout TV series has brought more eyes to the franchise than ever before. This was a boon for Fallout 76, with many people realizing just how much this multiplayer Fallout game has improved since a launch that was lambasted for stripping a lot of what made Fallout special in a bid to cater to the MMO audience.
Now, with numerous updates, a wealth of content, and much-needed improvements, Fallout 76 has become a great multiplayer game that fans of GTA Online will love. Colluding with other players to defeat enemies and completing quests adds a social element that helps gamers feel less alone in a wasteland that is out for their blood whenever one steps into hostile territory.
23 The Saboteur
An Open-World Action-Packed Game Set In Nazi-Invaded France
The Saboteur
- Released
- December 8, 2009
- Developer(s)
- Pandemic Studios
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Open-World
Just like Sleeping Dogs, The Saboteur was also a hidden gem among the open-world game that never received a sequel after the closure of its developer by Electronic Arts. The game chooses a pretty interesting location for its setting in a turbulent era.
Depicting France while at war with the Nazis gave The Saboteur a unique setting. Driving in the streets of the city and helping resistance groups to liberate the neighborhoods one by one was the main progression path in the game. The Saboteur was a story-heavy game with some interesting gameplay mechanics. The protagonist can sneak up to the rooftops like an assassin and sabotage the Nazi devices or terror them in silence.
22 Yakuza 0
An Excellent Open-World Game That Popularized The Yakuza Series In The West
Yakuza 0
- Released
- January 24, 2017
- Developer(s)
- Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
The Yakuza series wasn't all that mainstream for the longest time, and the weird structure of the game didn't help things. So when RGG Studio decided to work on a prequel to the main narrative, they had no idea just how much of a success this title would be.
Both Kiryu and Majima are two excellent characters who have compelling narratives that run in tandem. It's one of the easiest Yakuza narratives to follow, which is a huge achievement for people who know how convoluted the stories can get, and the combat styles do a great job of making the gameplay feel fresh and engaging.
21 Bully
Taking The Grand Theft Auto Ideas To A High School
Bully
Bully is by far one of the most creative open-world games to ever exist. Few games have touched on the student life of people, and Rockstar really nailed it with Bully, a game that was indeed so much ahead of its time, and it is a shame that there has not been a sequel to it so far.
In Bully, players take control of a school student, Jimmy, in an open-world environment. The players need to keep their grades high while running errands in the school for almost everyone. There are so many engaging activities in Bully that the player can barely get bored by playing it.
20 L.A. Noire
A Collaboration Between Team Bondi And Rockstar Games With Revolutionary Facial Animations At The Time
LA Noire
When L.A. Noire came out, it was a product of cutting-edge innovation that wowed players with its amazing mocap technology. While the other pillars of this title's gameplay were far from refined, the detective gameplay of the series coupled with an interesting story allowed players to experience a masterful title that many fans still can't stop raving about to this day.
GTA Online: The Most Expensive Things In The Game
Players can buy all sorts of amazing things in GTA Online. These items stand out as the most expensive things players can buy in the game mode.
Cole Phelps is an excellent protagonist who is on the verge of uncovering a major conspiracy, only for his career to be derailed after details of an affair come to light. However, the tenacious detective doesn't give up even after this setback, leading to a pulse-pounding conclusion that will remain in the minds of fans long after they've finished playing this incredible game.
19 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
A Massive Open-World With Memorable Characters, Great Action, And A Ton Of Things To Do
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Released
- May 19, 2015
- Developer(s)
- CD Projekt Red
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
CD Projekt Red is a master of their craft when it comes to developing incredible RPGs, and no game personified this more than The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The title is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that fans of incredible fantasy games need to check out. The next-gen update allows players to experience this amazing game with a fresh coat of paint for those who want an excuse to get into this title and see what the hype is all about.
Geralt is easily one of the most beloved video game protagonists of all time, with the side characters also doing a great job of letting players enjoy the many interactions that they'll have with them throughout this adventure. The writing, quest design, open world, and combat are all pretty sublime in their own right. Fans of GTA Online who want to check out a game that is steeped in a fantasy world can't go wrong with this legendary title.
18 Red Dead Redemption Series
Rockstar's Western Open-World Game That Turned Into A Massive Success
Red Dead Redemption
- Released
- May 18, 2010
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar San Diego
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Android, iOS
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Adventure
The first Red Dead Redemption title is a game that was stuck on past-gen consoles for the longest time before Rockstar finally ported it to modern systems. Players could finally experience John Marston's story after leaving Dutch's gang, which was even more emotional and interesting for those who played Red Dead Redemption 2, revealing exactly how his bonds with the gang evaporated throughout their harrowing adventures.
Most of today's gamers, however, adore Red Dead Redemption 2 not only for its amazing story but also for all the jaw-dropping details in the visuals of the game that turned it into one of the most realistic experiences ever made. The second iteration did come with an online mode that became popular just like GTA Online, though Rockstar stopped supporting it with new content sooner than expected. It's been a long time now that Red Dead Online has not received a content update, but the universe is still worth it to hang around in sometimes.