Open-world video games have become their own genre over the past decade, with dozens released every year. However, one franchise has always pushed the genre’s freedom to the limit. “Just Cause” released the first game in its franchise in 2006, and at the time, it had one of the largest maps ever seen in a video game — and they only got bigger. From there, the “Just Cause” series pushed the ceiling of open-world games even further with “Just Cause 2” and “Just Cause 3,” offering massive spaces to explore, bigger explosions, and complete freedom in how you approach the games.
While few experiences can truly offer what the “Just Cause” series does, there are certainly elements of what makes the series great in other games. Whether it’s the large-scale open world, the movement capabilities, or the ways you can get into mischief, you can find all of this in a few select games in 2026. Below, you’ll see what those games are and how they’re similar to “Just Cause.”
Far Cry 3
“Far Cry 3” features an extremely similar setting and gameplay loop to the “Just Cause” series. Both games are set in a tropical paradise where danger lurks behind every palm tree, and one of your main jobs is to cause as much havoc as possible. However, the main difference with “Far Cry 3” is that there’s a much more memorable story featuring one of the most iconic villains in gaming history.
If you’ve played any of the “Just Cause” games, you know that the story takes a backseat to the freedom to explore as much of the map as you can. So, if you want that same kind of openness, on a smaller scale, but also want an incredibly compelling story to engage with to boot, “Far Cry 3” should be next up on your list. As a side note, most of the “Far Cry” games could have taken this spot on the list, but “Far Cry 3” is consistently voted as the best overall game in the franchise.
Grand Theft Auto 5
<img src="https://www.svg.com/img/gallery/best-video-games-like-just-cause/grand-theft-auto-5-1790892633.jpg” alt=”A nighttime view of downtown Los Santos in GTA 5″>
The parallels between “Just Cause” and the “Grand Theft Auto” franchise are easy to see. While, of course, the “Just Cause” games have a larger map and “GTA” focuses more on vehicles to traverse the map, you’re getting a very similar experience regardless of which franchise you boot up. However, “GTA 5” might be the closest standalone game to the “Just Cause” series.
For starters, “GTA 5” offers players the map of Los Santos, a sprawling world that consists of mountain ranges, downtown cities, suburban neighborhoods, and desert environments. Throughout the game, you’ll receive countless opportunities to create havoc, which always results in law enforcement chasing you down while you attempt to escape. The main difference between “GTA 5” and “Just Cause” is that your main characters don’t possess strong movement capabilities, but you can always just steal a vehicle to get across the map. You could also wait for “GTA 6,” which appears to have a wider range of movement options, like a parachute, airboat, and perhaps a wingsuit.
Dying Light 2 Stay Human
If your favorite aspect of the “Just Cause” series is the movement abilities that Rico Rodriguez has access to, then you’ll find a lot to like in “Dying Light 2 Stay Human,” which got positive reviews overall. While this is a sequel to the original “Dying Light,” you don’t have to play that game to understand “Stay Human.” The only thing you need to know is that the game’s world has been ravaged by a zombie apocalypse, but the zombies are primarily seen only during the night.
One of the primary elements of “Dying Light 2” is the parkour and other different movement options that your character possesses. In addition to a slew of agile abilities, such as wall running and sliding, you can also use a paraglider to quickly get from place to place, similar to Rico’s wingsuit in “Just Cause.” “Dying Light 2” also features a large open world to explore, extremely satisfying combat, and an interesting story centered around your fight to survive the zombie apocalypse.
Marvel’s Spider-Man
It might not seem like it at first, but once you take a peek under the hood at “Marvel’s Spider-Man,” you’ll find plenty of commonalities with “Just Cause.” The most obvious connection between the two games is the core movement, as Spider-Man has access to web shooters that act very similarly to Rico Rodriguez’s grapple and wingsuit. Both games allow you to swing and fly across the map without ever having to make a stop if you don’t want to.
Speaking of the map, “Marvel’s Spider-Man” offers an entirely open-world version of downtown New York City, straight from the Marvel universe. The map is meticulously detailed, and you can spend dozens of hours tracking down various collectibles, finding Easter eggs, and completing side activities. As is usually the case with games like “Just Cause,” there’s a much better story on offer in “Spider-Man,” with you following Peter Parker as he attempts to balance a life between his job, girlfriend, and superhero duties.
Rage 2
While plenty of games share elements with “Just Cause,” if you want the same feeling as those games, then you can (and should) play something developed by the same studio behind the franchise. Avalanche Studios has several high-profile IPs under its umbrella, and the one that comes closest to “Just Cause” is “Rage.” The original “Rage” was released in 2011, but back then it was developed by id Software. Meanwhile, “Rage 2” launched in 2019, and this one was developed by Avalanche, giving it their signature “Just Cause” feel.
Of course, the two games aren’t overly similar, as “Rage 2” is a post-apocalyptic first-person shooter that places more emphasis on guns, vehicles, and abilities. However, there is a vast and diverse open world to explore, as well as all the carnage that you can dole out. It’s not a 1:1 experience to “Just Cause” by any means, but “Rage 2” is an enjoyable game by the same developer. You might want to read some backstory about “Rage 2” before hopping in, though.
