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The Grand Theft Auto series has always been popular among hardcore gamers and casual gamers alike. It can be considered as one of the reasons why gaming has gone mainstream and it is also the pioneer of open-world sandbox style games with its immaculate attention to detail and graphical features. The game aims to offer a casual yet immersive simulation-style experience capturing a wide range of audiences ever since its first game was released all the way back in November 1997. Let's take a look at the best games that offer a similar sandbox-style gameplay experience for fans of the open-world genre.
Games that offer a GTA-like experience
Watch Dogs 2
In, Watch Dogs 2 you hack your way through San Francisco uncovering secrets and collapsing large corporations. This Ubisoft-made game builds upon its predecessor by featuring the city of San Francisco, where you can hack through almost the entire infrastructure creating chaos and disruption. Just like in GTA you can go in guns blazing or take a calm and collected approach through hacking. The choice is yours to make!
Sleeping Dogs
This third-person action-adventure title offers players a chance to experience the streets of Hong Kong as they juggle between playing the roles of a cop and a thug. Sleeping Dogs was supposed to be a sequel to the popular True Crime series but it was later published by Square Enix as a standalone title. The game has some really impressive hand-to-hand combat mechanics and holds up really well in terms of graphics for a game that was published in 2012
Mafia 3
Mafia 3 is the third installment of the popular Mafia series. In Mafia 3 you play the role of Lincoln Clay, fresh off the boat from the Vietnam War. The game has portrayed the late 1960s city of New Bordeaux based on New Orleans. Although the missions might feel a bit tedious compared to a GTA game, it is still very solid in terms of its simulation. If you are looking for a more short and linear experience, you can also check out the newly remade Mafia Definitive Edition.
Saints Row 4
If you thought GTA 5 was goofy, wait till you get your hands on Saints Row 4. The game takes the open-world sandbox experience and adds tons of witty, satirical elements to it making for an absolute fun time as you’re goofing around the streets of Steelport. The game packs in almost everything you would expect out of a casual open-world experience. From lasers, rocket launchers, hyper-cars to aliens, UFOs, and being the president, Saints Row 4 has got it all.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Who else can top Rockstar’s GTA than Rockstar themselves? Red Dead Redemption 2 is the magnum opus of Rockstar and rightly so. It builds up on everything that GTA 5 has to offer while also adding a compulsive storyline which left many players with tears by the end of the game. You play as Arthur Morgan, an outlaw who struggles to adapt to the new and emerging world where laws are now being implemented. Roam around the beautifully crafted streets of Saint Denis, get yourself involved in bank heists, and much more. RDR2 is the way to go if you are looking for a more mature and linear GTA-like experience.
