Being aGrand Theft Autofan in 2025 is bittersweet. On one hand, the newGrand Theft Auto 6trailer offers some breadcrumbs regarding the game’s main story and its animation and graphical breakthroughs. On another, fans won’t be able to set foot on Leonida as Lucia and Jason until next year. Some may appreciate the fact that the developers are taking their time to polish the game and give fans the finished product they deserve. Others may be getting understandably antsy, as they’ve been waiting over a decade for the sequel. Fortunately, gamers are also spoiled for choice when it comes to great alternative titles while waiting forGTA 6, from various developers and even Rockstar itself.
TheGTAfranchise pushed the boundaries of video games when its first title was released in 1997. It was controversial for its “extreme violence,” and was condemned and even banned in some countries. Nonetheless, the games’vast open-world exploration, enticing plots, and distinct styles captivated fans for almost two decades. It’s no surprise that other companies have tried to create games similar toGTA, and some of them offer similarly fun, yet unique experiences.
Tide Your GTA 6 Fever Over With These Three Games
Sleeping Dogs is an Acclaimed Crime Action Adventure
Those looking for a gritty crime story similar toGTAshould check out United Front Games and Square Enix’sSleeping Dogs. Players controlWei Shen, an undercover Hong Kong Police Department officerassigned to infiltrate and dismantle the Sun On Yee Triad. This undertaking tests Shen’s morals, as he commits crimes to earn the trust of the Triad’s bosses and further his mission. The game had a stacked voice acting cast, which featured big Hollywood names like Lucy Liu, Tom Wilkinson, Emma Stone, and James Hong.
Sleeping Dogs' gameplay is similar toGTA, with a third-person view and various heads-up displays to track Wei’s health, weapons, and location. Players can also get around Hong Kong in various cars, motorcycles, and even boats. It also has some interesting combat gameplay, as it favors close-quarters hand-to-hand combat. Players will mostly have Wei Shen using various move combos to kick, punch, and grapple enemies to subdue them instead of using firearms.
Bully is a Classic Rockstar Game for Nostalgic Fans
Fans who want the classic Rockstar gaming experience should tryBully, if they haven’t already. This 2006 action game follows Jimmy Hopkins, an indignant student at Bullworth Academy boarding school. Despite being the new kid,Jimmy and his newfound outcast friendssoon find themselves trying to ascend the ranks of the school’s different cliques through various challenges and fights.
Players are free to roam the school and accept missions from various factions to gain their favor.Bullyalso lets players take Jimmy to class, wherein players engage in mini-games to pass their subjects. Successfully passing a class gives players new items and abilities. One can also get into fistfights, but in true Rockstar Games fashion, can get busted for doing so.
The Simpsons: Hit and Run is a Hilarious GTA 3 Parody
Critics and fans have laudedThe Simpsons: Hit and Runas a greatGTA 3parody, as it has a similar rough polygonal style, open-world gameplay, and wanted system. The game has a “Hit and Run” gauge that fills up every time a player hits a person or a piece of property with their car. It decreases when the player drives without incident. When the bar gets filled up, cops will pursue the player. One can also beat people up and destroy the environment in various ways. It’s a hilarious ride for those who want to follow the game’s missions or just wreak havoc across Springfield.
Players who want to runThe Simpsons: Hit and Runhave to mod the game for it to work on PCs that run Windows 7 or later.
GTA 6is a year away, but there are other ways to scratch thatGrand Theft Autoitch.Sleeping Dogs,Bully, andThe Simpsons: Hit and Runall offersimilar experiences to theGTAgames. Best of all, players can play them using mainstream consoles and lower-spec PCs for a good price.
