“Grand Theft Auto 6” is without a doubt the most anticipated video game of 2026. In fact, it’s the most anticipated video game of the decade. The upcoming title teases a return to the Miami-inspired setting of Vice City with a narrative centered on a couple making waves in its criminal underworld. As the first “Grand Theft Auto” game in 13 years, fans can’t wait for the open-world action that the Rockstar Games franchise has perfected. Taking advantage of modern hardware, “GTA 6” is poised to be more realistic than anyone expected as it pushes consoles to their limits.
That being said, there’s still a good few months to wait before “Grand Theft Auto 6” finally drops, so what are eager gamers to do in the meantime? Fortunately, there are plenty of titles to help fill that “GTA 6” shaped hole as we navigate the final stretch of what feels like the longest wait for a video game in history. Some of these games are other fan-favorite projects from Rockstar while others feature their own action-packed open-world experiences. These are the five best video games to play while waiting for “GTA 6” to finally come out.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
With “Grand Theft Auto 6” featuring a return to Vice City for the first time in 24 years, it stands to reason that fans should revisit the game that introduced that environment. 2002’s “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City” was originally released for the PlayStation 2 and has since been ported and remastered to numerous platforms. The story of “GTA: Vice City” has low-level mobster Tommy Vercetti arrive in the titular coastal setting after being released from prison in 1986. The game charts Tommy’s rise to power as the city’s biggest crime lord, contending with those in his inner circle trying to betray him.
“GTA: Vice City” feels completely different 24 years later and more than just because of the improvements made in the title’s subsequent remasters. Compared to the more grounded tone that “GTA” took on starting with “Grand Theft Auto 4,” “Vice City” features a lot more tongue-in-cheek humor. The gameplay improves upon the third-person foundation laid by “Grand Theft Auto 3” while embracing its ’80s setting, packing in plenty of pop culture references. It’s a must-play in the run-up to “GTA 6.”
Sleeping Dogs
Rockstar Games isn’t the only publisher with third-person open-world crime epics, as Square Enix’s 2012 game “Sleeping Dogs” proves. It’s set in a version of Hong Kong run by Triad crime syndicates across its four distinct districts. The game’s protagonist is Wei Shen, an undercover police officer from San Francisco who infiltrates one of the Triad outfits. Throughout the game’s story and side quests, players can choose to embrace criminal activities as part of their cover or quietly retain their law enforcement morality.
“Sleeping Dogs” provides a more action-oriented alternative to the “Grand Theft Auto” series, elevated by its neon-lit environment. Though Square Enix decided not to move forward with “Sleeping Dogs” 2, the game still holds up. This extends to a remastered edition released in 2014 for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 that contains all the DLC attached to the original version. A refreshing take on the genre with a tighter focus that doesn’t compromise its open-world scope, “Sleeping Dogs” is an underrated “GTA” contemporary.
Grand Theft Auto 5
The other obvious inclusion on this list, fans waiting for “Grand Theft Auto 6” should look back to its immediate predecessor. Compared to past installments, the 2013 game follows three protagonists instead of just one. As such, the story in “GTA 5” is more complicated than those that came before it, with the tales of all three becoming increasingly intertwined. The game returns to San Andreas and its surrounding, and it culminates in a major heist on the local gold reserve as the three leads endure intense government scrutiny.
“Grand Theft Auto 5” is packed with hidden details. It was very ambitious in its scope, taking the series to new heights. The triple-protagonist dynamic not only adds to the narrative’s depth but also encourages plenty of replayability to see different ways for the story to unfold. The game’s online multiplayer component, “Grand Theft Auto Online,” is technically a standalone experience, but derives much of its presentation and gameplay from the foundation laid by “GTA 5.” The most direct way to prepare for “GTA 6,” “GTA 5” is still a tremendous achievement for Rockstar.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Rockstar Games’ other major open-world action series, “Red Dead Redemption” offers fans a Wild West alternative. The series’ latest installment is “Red Dead Redemption 2,” which was released in 2018 and serves as a prequel to its 2010 predecessor. Set primarily in 1899, the game follows outlaw Arthur Morgan and his gang as they prepare for one last heist. It features an incredibly large and rich open-world for players to explore, filled with side quests and activities to get into.
“Red Redemption Redemption 2” is a game that feels too good to be true, standing as a significant all-around improvement over the first game. The level of detail and how immaculately it handles makes the 2018 game Rockstar’s magnum opus — at least, as it stands. Players responded in kind, with “Red Dead Redemption 2” breaking records in regard to its impressive online player counts. If Rockstar can tap into what it learned from “Red Dead Redemption 2” for “Grand Theft Auto 6,” fans are in for something truly special.
Cyberpunk 2077
If there was ever an open-world crime action game to rival the scope of Rockstar’s titles, it’s “Cyberpunk 2077.” Developed and published by CD Projekt Red, the 2020 game takes place in Night City, a sprawling metropolis run by powerful megacorporations. Players control a customized protagonist known simply as V who joins a heist that goes wrong, leaving them implanted with the digital personality of Johnny Silverhand (the voice and likeness of Keanu Reeves). Players get to choose their backgrounds, which NC factions they’re loyal to, and the types of cybernetic enhancements they’re augmented with.
The dense map of “Cyberpunk 2077” just longs to be explored, with the neon-drenched streets of Night City feeling truly lived in. After a shaky launch, “Cyberpunk 2077” got a patch that made it feel like a new game, one that realized CD Projekt Red’s original vision for the title and rescued its reputation. An ambitious open-world experience with a distinctly sci-fi twist, “Cyberpunk 2077” is an expansive masterpiece with currently unmatched breadth and depth. Will “GTA 6” unseat it from its open-world throne? We’ll find out soon enough, but for now, “GTA” fans owe it to themselves to give “Cyberpunk 2077” a shot.
