It's been over a decade, and I still don't see many games like GTA 5 that match the scale and brilliance of the Rockstar Games title. The mix of open-world freedom, memorable missions, fast cars, and complete chaos was something else. While we wait for GTA 6, there are other games like GTA 5 with amazing graphics offering hours of open-world gameplay that you can play today.
1. Cyberpunk 2077

- Release Date: December 10, 2020
- Publisher: CD Projekt
- Developer: CD Projekt Red
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, macOS
- Genre: Action RPG
This is one of our favorite games that's like GTA 5 but better in terms of world-building, graphics, and characters. If you loved cruising through a living city full of things to do in GTA 5, then Cyberpunk 2077 deserves to be at the top. Night City is a bustling city, with heavy traffic, towering buildings, and busy streets as big as Los Santos. You can steal cars, go on police pursuits, do side gigs, and extensively customize your build. Years of updates and its graphics, ray tracing, and density of cities are among the best in gaming today. Ray tracing makes this the only game like GTA 5 with ultra-realistic graphics. It's unreal.
2. Watch Dogs: Legion

- Release Date: October 29, 2020
- Publisher: Ubisoft
- Developer: Ubisoft Toronto
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Genre: Action-adventure
Instead of controlling a single protagonist, Watch Dogs: Legion lets you recruit just about anyone you come across in futuristic London. Each playable character has different skills, which affect how missions play out. Cars, motorbikes, drones, hacking tools, there's plenty of room for experimentation without forcing a single playstyle. The city of London is beautifully realized, with detailed landmarks, rainy streets, and modern lighting, making exploring the city as enjoyable as completing missions.
3. Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition

- Release Date: October 14, 2014
- Publisher: Square Enix
- Developer: United Front Games
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Genre: Action-adventure
Sleeping Dogs replaces GTA's gun-heavy action with brutal martial arts that never get old. The game is set in Hong Kong and tells the story of undercover cop Wei Shen as he infiltrates the Triads, creating one of the strongest crime stories in the genre. Driving still feels good, shootouts still feel like they happen at the right moments, and the city looks lovely with its neon streets, busy markets, and the improved visuals that come with the Definitive Edition.
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4. Mafia: Definitive Edition

- Release Date: September 25, 2020
- Publisher: 2K
- Developer: Hangar 13
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Genre: Action-adventure
Mafia: Definitive Edition replaces GTA's open-ended chaos with a tightly written crime saga inspired by classic mob films. Lost Heaven has the atmosphere of the 1930s with vintage cars, real architecture, and impressive environmental detail. The remake rebuilt the original game from the ground up with modern technology, and consequently, every single cutscene, vehicle, and neighborhood looks vastly improved. Pick this if you care as much about story as you do about open-world driving.
5. Red Dead Redemption 2

- Release Date: October 26, 2018
- Publisher: Rockstar Games
- Developer: Rockstar Studios
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Genre: Action-adventure
Why play Red Dead Redemption 2 when you're a fan of GTA 5? Simple. It's from Rockstar itself. Who can make a game like GTA 5 but with better graphics than the studio that created GTA 5? No one. Every town, forest, mountain, and river is packed with amazing detail, random encounters, wildlife, and realistic NPC behavior. You lose the modern cars and helicopters, but you gain one of the most immersive open worlds ever made. The graphics, animations, and environmental realism are still better than many new AAA games.
6. Watch Dogs 2

- Release Date: November 15, 2016
- Publisher: Ubisoft
- Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Genre: Action-adventure
Few open worlds spark curiosity like Watch Dogs 2. It’s colorful and vibrant and full of hidden shortcuts and collectibles and creative mission routes. Marcus doesn't rely on brute strength, he hacks things. So you can complete objectives using drones, RC cars, and direct combat. Driving around town has the relaxed vibe of GTA 5, and Ubisoft’s take on the Bay Area still looks good years later.
7. Mafia III: Definitive Edition

- Release Date: May 19, 2020
- Publisher: 2K
- Developer: Hangar 13
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Genre: Action-adventure
Mafia III stands out because revenge drives every mission instead of climbing the criminal ladder. Muscle cars, shootouts, and district takeovers make for a satisfying progression system set in a fictional 1968 New Orleans. Players also get all the expansions, which gives you a lot to do besides the main campaign in the Definitive Edition. Lighting, soundtrack, and detail of the streets create an atmosphere few crime games can match.
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8. Saints Row (2022)

- Release Date: August 23, 2022
- Publisher: Deep Silver
- Developer: Volition
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Genre: Action-adventure
Not all GTA alternatives are aiming for realism, and Saints Row proves that’s a good thing. The reboot catapults players into a colorful city filled with crazy weapons, ridiculous missions, wingsuit traversal, and over-the-top vehicular action. You can customize your character a lot more than in GTA 5. You can change almost everything about your empire of crime. The game is a mixed bag, but the stylized visuals and bright desert landscapes give it a unique identity.
9. Just Cause 4

- Release Date: December 4, 2018
- Publisher: Square Enix
- Developer: Avalanche Studios
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
- Genre: Action-adventure
Some people spend hours in GTA just wreaking havoc, and Just Cause 4 is practically built for that mentality. Rico’s grapple hook, wingsuit, and parachute make travel really fun in a giant open world full of explosions, military bases, and dynamic weather. The story is not important here. The real attraction is the opportunity to create spectacular moments in a beautiful tropical setting.
10. The Precinct

- Release Date: May 13, 2025
- Publisher: Kwalee
- Developer: Fallen Tree Games
- Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
- Genre: Action-adventure
The Precinct flips the familiar GTA 5 formula by putting you in the shoes of a rookie police officer instead of a criminal. You respond to crimes, chase suspects through city streets, investigate cases, and patrol a neon-soaked metropolis inspired by classic cop movies. Its top-down perspective is different, yet the dynamic world, destructible car chases, and cinematic lighting make it one of the freshest open-world crime games available today. It comes very close to GTA 5, but you are the good guy now.
Bonus: Far Cry 6

- Release Date: October 7, 2021
- Publisher: Ubisoft
- Developer: Ubisoft Toronto
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Genre: First-person shooter / Action-adventure
Far Cry 6 is not a crime sandbox, but it delivers the same sense of freedom that makes GTA so addictive. The massive island of Yara is packed with vehicles, helicopters, tanks, wildlife, and explosive combat encounters. Ubisoft's Dunia Engine produces dense jungles, colorful towns, realistic weather, and excellent lighting throughout the map. If you want modern graphics with plenty of action and unrestricted exploration, Far Cry 6 is an easy recommendation.
Best Games Like GTA 5 With Killer Graphics - Summary
| Game | Genre |
|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Action RPG |
| Watch Dogs: Legion | Action-adventure |
| Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition | Action-adventure |
| Mafia: Definitive Edition | Action-adventure |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | Action-adventure |
| Watch Dogs 2 | Action-adventure |
| Mafia III | Action-adventure |
| Saints Row (2022) | Action-adventure |
| Just Cause 4 | Action-adventure |
| The Precinct | Action-adventure |
| Far Cry 6 (Bonus) | First-person shooter / Action-adventure |
Why Should You Play These Games
Freedom is the priority of all the best games like GTA 5. You get big maps to explore, vehicles to drive, story missions, side activities, and enough distractions to keep you occupied for hours. Some go into crime drama, some go into hacking or explosive action, but they all have the same sandbox spirit. These are also some of the best open-world games and alternatives to GTA 5 available today.
FAQs
We personally like Cyberpunk 2077, RDR2, Watch Dogs 2, Mafia: Definitive Edition, and Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition.
Cyberpunk 2077 is the closest thanks to its open world, drivable vehicles, side activities, and immersive city.