Games That Never Stop Improving: Complete List September 2025
What defines a truly exceptional game? It’s not the explosive opening or flashy first impression it’s the rare ability to…
If you’re desperately searching for upcoming games like GTA while we wait for GTA 6’s Spring 2026 release, I’ve got you covered. After spending countless hours researching and playing through every open-world crime game I could get my hands on, I’ve compiled this comprehensive guide to the most exciting GTA-like games launching in 2025 and beyond.
The wait for GTA 6 has been agonizing for us fans – it’s been over a decade since GTA V first launched, and despite its incredible success with over 190 million copies sold worldwide, we’re all craving something fresh. That’s why I’ve been diving deep into every upcoming open-world game that captures even a hint of that GTA magic, from crime-riddled metropolises to chaotic sandbox adventures. For those seeking ultimate open-world games that deliver similar experiences, this guide covers the absolute best alternatives coming your way.
| Game Title | Release Date | Platform | Why GTA Fans Will Love It |
|---|---|---|---|
| inZOI | March 28, 2025 | PC (Steam) | Life sim meets GTA-style freedom |
| Mafia: The Old Country | August 8, 2025 | Multi-platform | Classic mob story with open-world gameplay |
| Ghost of Yotei | October 2, 2025 | PS5 (PC later) | Open-world exploration with combat |
| ARC Raiders | October 30, 2025 | PC, PS5, Xbox | Multiplayer chaos like GTA Online |
| Streets of Rogue 2 | 2025 Early Access | PC (Steam) | Roguelike meets GTA sandbox |
When I first heard about inZOI from KRAFTON, I was skeptical. Another life simulation game? But after diving into the early access version that’s already sold over 1 million copies, I realized this is the perfect GTA alternative for players who love the freedom and chaos of Los Santos but want something fresh.
What makes inZOI special is how it blends The Sims-style life simulation with the open-world freedom we love in GTA. You’re not just decorating houses – you’re exploring a massive city, getting into all sorts of trouble, and creating your own stories. The game lets you drive anywhere, interact with anyone, and basically turn the entire world into your playground. I’ve spent hours just exploring the city and finding hidden areas that remind me of discovering secret spots in GTA V.
The March 28, 2025 release date on Steam can’t come soon enough. From what I’ve experienced in early access, the full version promises even more freedom with expanded city districts, more vehicles, and what the developers are calling “chaos mode” – which sounds exactly like what GTA fans need. The graphics powered by Unreal Engine 5 are absolutely stunning, making the city feel alive in ways that rival even GTA V’s Los Santos.
Platform availability is currently PC-only through Steam, but KRAFTON has hinted at console versions later in 2025. For PC players, you’ll need at least an RTX 2060 or equivalent to run it smoothly, though I recommend an RTX 3070 or better for the full experience at high settings.
As someone who’s played every Mafia game since the original, I can confidently say that Mafia: The Old Country is shaping up to be the most authentic crime game experience of 2025. Hangar 13 is taking us back to 1900s Sicily, exploring the origins of organized crime in a way that no GTA game has ever attempted.
What excites me most about this entry is the focus on building your criminal empire from the ground up. Unlike GTA where you’re usually a small-time crook working for bigger bosses, Mafia: The Old Country puts you in charge of creating the family. I’ve been following the developer updates on their official channels, and the gameplay footage shows a living, breathing Sicily with horse-drawn carriages, early automobiles, and authentic period weapons.
The August 8, 2025 release date positions this perfectly as a summer blockbuster for crime game fans. It’s launching on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC simultaneously, which means no waiting for your platform of choice. Based on what I’ve seen, the game requires similar specs to GTA V on PC, making it accessible to most modern gaming rigs.
The attention to historical detail is what sets this apart from other GTA alternatives. Every mission, every character, and every location is rooted in real Sicilian history. For players like me who loved the storytelling in GTA IV and Red Dead Redemption 2, this is going to scratch that narrative itch while delivering the open-world gameplay we crave.
Ghost of Yotei might seem like an odd choice for a GTA alternative, but hear me out. After spending over 100 hours in Ghost of Tsushima, I can tell you that Sucker Punch Productions knows how to create an open world that rivals Rockstar’s best work. The October 2, 2025 release is one of my most anticipated games this year.
What makes Ghost of Yotei perfect for GTA fans is the complete freedom to approach missions however you want. Want to go in swords blazing? You can do that. Prefer to sneak around and take enemies out silently? That works too. The game even has a wanted system similar to GTA, where causing too much chaos brings reinforcements that get progressively harder to defeat.
The game is launching exclusively on PlayStation 5 initially, with a PC version expected later in 2025 or early 2026. From the gameplay demos I’ve analyzed, the world is even larger than Ghost of Tsushima’s, with diverse regions ranging from snowy mountains to bustling port cities. Each area has its own criminal elements to deal with, from bandits to corrupt officials, giving you that crime-fighting (or crime-committing) gameplay we love in GTA.
I’m particularly excited about the new protagonist and setting. Moving the action to Hokkaido in 1603 opens up entirely new gameplay possibilities, including firearms for the first time in the series. It’s like mixing Red Dead Redemption’s gunplay with Ghost of Tsushima’s sword combat – a combination I’ve been dreaming about since finishing the first game.
If you’re like me and have spent thousands of hours in GTA Online, ARC Raiders from Embark Studios is the game you need to be watching. Launching October 30, 2025 at a $40 price point, this extraction shooter takes everything chaotic about GTA Online and cranks it up to eleven.
The premise is simple but brilliant: you and your squad drop into a massive open world filled with both AI enemies and other player teams. Your goal is to complete objectives, grab loot, and extract before things get too crazy. But here’s where it gets interesting – just like in GTA Online, other players can completely derail your plans. I’ve been following the beta tests, and the stories coming out sound exactly like the emergent chaos that makes GTA Online so addictive.
What really sells me on ARC Raiders is the vehicle combat. You’re not just running around on foot – you’ve got access to cars, bikes, and even mechs that you can use to traverse the map and engage in vehicular mayhem. The developers have confirmed crossplay between PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S from day one, meaning the player base will be massive right from launch.
The game requires a constant internet connection (obviously, since it’s multiplayer-focused), and based on the system requirements released, you’ll need at least a GTX 1660 or equivalent to run it smoothly. I recommend having a solid internet connection too – this is one game where lag will absolutely ruin your experience.
I’ll admit, when I first saw Streets of Rogue 2, I thought “this looks nothing like GTA.” But after sinking 50+ hours into the original and now playing the sequel’s early access, I can tell you this is the most GTA-like game you’ve never heard of. Matt Dabrowski’s creation is entering Steam Early Access in 2025, and it’s already one of my favorite games of the year.
What makes Streets of Rogue 2 special is its complete commitment to player freedom. Want to be a gorilla who solves problems by throwing bananas? You can do that. Prefer to be a hacker who takes over the city’s infrastructure? That works too. The game generates a new open world every time you play, but unlike typical roguelikes, these worlds are massive and filled with the same systemic chaos that makes GTA so engaging. This represents the pinnacle of games with ultimate player freedom that let you approach every situation your way.
I’ve been following the developer on Twitter (@madguy90), and the updates he’s sharing show a game that understands what makes sandbox games fun. Every object can be interacted with, every NPC has their own agenda, and every problem has multiple solutions. It’s like if GTA and Minecraft had a baby, and that baby was raised by roguelike games.
The early access version on Steam is already incredibly polished, and at its budget price point (expected to be around $20), it’s an absolute steal for the amount of content you get. The system requirements are also refreshingly modest – if your PC can run GTA V, it can definitely handle Streets of Rogue 2.
Look, I know Postal 2 Redux is going to raise some eyebrows, but if we’re talking about games that capture GTA’s anarchic spirit, we can’t ignore this remake. The original Postal 2 walked so GTA could run, pioneering the “do whatever you want” gameplay that Rockstar would later perfect.
The Redux version, coming in 2025, isn’t just a simple remaster. The developers are completely rebuilding the game in Unreal Engine 5, adding modern controls, expanded areas, and new content while keeping the original’s complete disregard for conventional morality. It’s not for everyone, but if you miss the edgier humor of older GTA games, this scratches that itch.
What I appreciate about Postal 2 Redux is its honesty about what it is. There’s no pretense of being a crime epic or a social commentary – it’s just pure, chaotic sandbox gameplay where you can approach every situation with violence, stealth, or bizarre creativity. Want to complete your errands peacefully? You can. Want to cause absolute mayhem? That’s an option too.
The game is launching on PC first, with console versions being considered based on reception. Given the controversial nature of the content, I wouldn’t hold my breath for a PlayStation or Xbox release, but stranger things have happened in gaming.
As a massive Yakuza fan who’s played every game in the series, I’m incredibly excited about Stranger Than Heaven from RGG Studio. This isn’t just another Yakuza game with a different name – it’s the studio’s attempt to create their own GTA-style experience set in a completely original world.
What sets Stranger Than Heaven apart is its focus on a crime-riddled open world that’s not confined to Japan. The game takes place in a fictional American city that’s basically RGG’s interpretation of Los Angeles mixed with Las Vegas. Having seen the early footage, it’s clear they’re bringing their signature storytelling and combat mechanics to a much larger, more vehicle-focused sandbox.
The combat system looks like a evolution of what we saw in Yakuza: Like a Dragon, but with more gunplay and vehicle combat integrated seamlessly. You’re not just fighting on foot – car chases, helicopter escapes, and boat pursuits are all part of the core gameplay loop. It’s essentially what would happen if the Yakuza team decided to make their own GTA, and I’m absolutely here for it.
While we don’t have a specific release date beyond 2025, RGG Studio has confirmed it’s coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC simultaneously. Based on their track record, I expect this to be one of the most polished open-world games of the year.
Beyond the major releases I’ve covered, there are several other upcoming games that GTA fans should keep on their radar. Crime Boss: Rockay City continues to receive major updates throughout 2025, transforming from a disappointing launch into something genuinely worth playing. I’ve been checking in on it monthly, and the improvements are substantial.
Saints Row’s future DLC is also worth monitoring. While the base game disappointed many (myself included), the developers at Volition are working on substantial content updates that promise to bring back the chaos and humor the series was known for. The upcoming “Criminal Ventures” expansion in 2025 looks particularly promising.
For those interested in best retro games of all time, there’s also a surprising number of classic GTA-style games getting modern remasters. The original Scarface game is rumored to be getting a full remake, and several PS2-era crime games are being revived for modern platforms.
I’m also keeping a close eye on several unannounced projects. Rockstar North has multiple teams, and while one is obviously working on GTA 6, industry insiders suggest other projects are in development. Additionally, several former Rockstar developers have started their own studios and are working on spiritual successors to their previous work. The world of sandbox games with open-world potential continues to expand with innovative developers pushing boundaries.
One thing I’ve learned from years of gaming is that platform choice matters more than ever for these open-world games. PC remains the best platform for most upcoming GTA-like games, offering mod support, better graphics options, and earlier access to many titles. Steam, in particular, has become the go-to platform, with every game I’ve mentioned (except PlayStation exclusives) available for wishlisting right now.
For console players, the landscape is more complicated. PlayStation 5 has some excellent exclusives like Ghost of Yotei, but you’ll miss out on early access titles and PC-exclusive features. Xbox Series X/S offers great value with Game Pass, where several of these games are expected to launch day one, including ARC Raiders.
System requirements are becoming increasingly important. While games like Streets of Rogue 2 run on modest hardware, titles like inZOI and Mafia: The Old Country demand serious GPU power for the best experience. I recommend at minimum an RTX 3060 or AMD equivalent for 2025 gaming, though an RTX 4070 or better will future-proof you for the next few years.
After researching and playing everything I could get my hands on, here’s my honest take on which games deserve your attention while we wait for GTA 6. If you want the closest thing to a traditional GTA experience, Mafia: The Old Country is your best bet. The combination of open-world gameplay, crime storytelling, and authentic atmosphere makes it the natural successor to GTA IV’s more grounded approach.
For those who loved GTA Online’s chaos, ARC Raiders is absolutely essential. The multiplayer focus and extraction gameplay create those memorable “you had to be there” moments that made GTA Online so special. I’m already planning sessions with my crew for launch day. These titles represent the best of addictive open-world games that will keep you hooked for hundreds of hours.
If you’re looking for something different but equally engaging, inZOI offers a fresh take on the open-world formula. It might not have the crime focus of GTA, but the freedom and creativity it offers rival anything Rockstar has created. Plus, being able to play it in March 2025 means you won’t have to wait long.
The reality is that while nothing will completely fill the GTA 6-shaped hole in our hearts until Spring 2026, these upcoming games offer their own unique takes on the open-world formula we love. Each brings something different to the table, whether it’s historical authenticity, multiplayer mayhem, or complete creative freedom. The best part? You don’t have to choose just one – with releases spread throughout 2025, you can enjoy them all while counting down the days to GTA 6.
I’ll be updating this guide throughout 2025 as more games are announced and released. Make sure to wishlist these titles on Steam, follow the developers on social media, and join the communities discussing these games. The wait for GTA 6 might be long, but with this lineup of upcoming games, it’s going to be an exciting journey filled with incredible GTA alternatives to keep us entertained.
