Grand Theft Auto 5 is one of the most important games of the last decade, when it launched in 2013. Even though it missed the new console launches, the game proved it didn’t matter because fans bought the game like it was going out of style. Now, GTA 5 is available on virtually every console out there.
Open-World Innovations GTA 6 Should Include
From difficulty settings to replayable missions, GTA 6 is the perfect moment for Rockstar Games to add something new to its open-world franchise.
As important as GTA 5 is, open-world games have evolved a lot since 2013, making it feel a bit outdated. Not counting GTA Online, let’s go through some things GTA 5 cannot do by highlighting open-world games that offer a lot more than just causing chaos in a big city.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Rockstar’s Big Improvement
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Red Dead Redemption 2 was Rockstar’s next big game, so it only made sense that they would want to outdo their previous work. Instead of three characters, players only had to manage one, Arthur Morgan, but they had more to say about the kind of man he would turn into. This would shape the course of the story, whether players wanted to be a bandit with a heart of gold or a downright wild villain akin to Trevor in GTA 5. The Western frontier was less populated, but it was more open to roam around, giving players a greater sense of belonging instead of being cramped within a city like Los Santos.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Build Your Own Cars
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Released
- May 12, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated E for Everyone 10+ for Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Action, Open-World
The version of Hyrule within The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is at least twice as big as the environment players could explore in GTA 5, because there were sky islands, the mainland, and the underground. Players could create various contraptions to soar around the sky, ground, or sea, plus there were horses and a glider too. Players could climb virtually any surface or warp through rocks with Link’s various powers. Between customizing Link’s clothing, cooking food, establishing homes, and inventing new types of vehicles, even GTA Online fans would blush at this game.
Cyberpunk 2077
Your Body, Your Rules
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
Cyberpunk 2077 is a more apt comparison to GTA 5 as they both take place in sprawling cities, center around criminal organizations, and there is a desert to explore outside of the city confines. Still, Cyberpunk 2077 has an edge in a few different departments.
Best Games If You Want Open-World Call Of Duty
There may not be a Call of Duty open-world game just yet, but these titles come close to what fans would want to see from one.
Customizing their character for one thing, from looks to cyborg parts. Thanks to these cybernetic enhancements, players can approach a mission in several ways, which Trevor and the gang would surely have liked for their heists within GTA 5. Also, players can make love links with characters and shape their overall story with broad narrative decisions.
Far Cry 6
Create Chaos For Good
Far Cry 6
- Released
- October 6, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
There are two types of players who get into the GTA games. Some love going through the story, while others love inciting chaos, and for the latter types, Far Cry 6 will scratch that itch. The only difference is that players will blow up bases for the goodness of their island homeland of Yara, which is now under tyrannical rule. Players can’t customize their character, but they can choose between a male or female version of their hero, Dani. Also, they can set up bases, recruit rebels, get animal companions, equip and customize various levels of gear, and more, all in the name of freedom.
Horizon Forbidden West
Don’t Steal Cars, Steal Animals
Horizon Forbidden West
- Released
- February 18, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Horizon Forbidden West is the second game in the post-apocalyptic series, and it’s kind of like a splice between Red Dead Redemption 2 and Cyberpunk 2077. The open world is filled with dilapidated buildings to explore. The world is also dangerous, as there are robots roaming around that look like standard animals, like birds or deer, to more dinosaur-like creatures. As players progress, they can start to hack these robots to ride or make them become allies. Also, players can scrap robots for parts to build their gear, from deadlier arrows to a slingshot that can freeze enemies.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Hero Heists
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Released
- June 26, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach also takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, but everyone is thriving underground. As players deliver packages to these underground facilities, they’ll get more blueprints to craft new gear for missions or ways to build things out in the world.
Best Open-World Games Available For Free On PS5
Ignore the stigma of free-to-play open-world games, because these freebies, available on PlayStation 5, are absolutely awesome.
An exoskeleton, for example, can lighten the load of packages, a giant truck can transport them faster, or players can even build personal bunkers if they need a rest in the world. Beyond crafting, there are also some opportunities to rob from the rich and give to the poor by invading and stealing packages, or even vehicles, from enemy camps. Players can approach most invasions stealthily or bloodily.
Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii
From Cities To The Seas
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
- Released
- February 21, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is one of the wilder spin-offs in the Yakuza series, taking place half in Honolulu and half in the open sea. As a former Yakuza member, Goro Majima, players can explore the city, which is ultimately not that big compared to Los Santos. Where the game exceeds GTA 5 is the open waters, as Goro is now a pirate captain. Players can sail the ocean around Hawaii to fight other pirates, look for treasure, or dock at islands to incite gang wars. Trevor and Goro would definitely get along.
Xenoblade Chronicles X
Make Life On A New Planet
Xenoblade Chronicles X
- Released
- December 4, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Animated Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Open-World
Xenoblade Chronicles X is one of the biggest and most open JRPGs ever made. Players will land with their colony on a foreign planet to create New Los Angeles. From the start, players can virtually go anywhere with their created character, also they will probably sue if they venture too far away without leveling up through missions. About a third of the way through, players will unlock their mechs, called Skells, which unlock new combat and exploration opportunities. They can even transform into cars, making them way better than anything in GTA 5.
8 FPS Games With Better Stories Than Halo
Move over, Master Chief. While the Halo series has told its fair share of excellent stories, these other FPS narratives have it beat.