We’re a year away from the May 2026 launch of Grand Theft Auto VI. It’ll be a lot, even though we should be able to expect more insights and announcements over the coming months to help us learn more about what to expect. That does mean that we might need one or two open-world games to welcome into our lives while we wait, but fortunately there are plenty of options to scratch the GTA VI itch.
Best Grand Theft Auto game to play while waiting for GTA VI: GTA: Vice City
I know a lot of people are going to perhaps take issue with my suggesting Grand Theft Auto: Vice City instead of GTA V as the best entry in the series to play ahead of GTA VI. Hear me out. First, this is also an absolutely exceptional open-world game. It’s among the best installments Rockstar made, right up there with GTA V and GTA: San Andreas. We also get to hear the fantastic Ray Liotta as our antihero Tommy Vercetti as deals with the mob. But even more critical is that this is an opportunity to visit Vice City again before returning to it as the new location with Lucia and Jason.
GTA: Vice City is available on the PS2, Xbox, PC, and also showed up on mobile devices.
This is another suggestion that could be controversial, but I have my reasons for it. Yes, I believe Skyrim is the superior game. However, it’s one of the most popular open-world games in the world and available on every possible platform. Odds are, you’ve played it. The original Oblivion came out in 2006, which means folks maybe missed it, and the new remaster is a fantastic update with tons of quality of life adjustments and visual enhancements based on Skyrim. It’s well worth a look if you need a game to play while waiting for GTA VI.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is available for the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC.
Best open-world game with a more modern setting to play while waiting for GTA VI: Yakuza 0
I can’t recommend Yakuza 0 highly enough. It’s a wonderful entry point for the series, due to introducing Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima. We’re seeing them as young, up-and-coming yakuza, which sometimes fits in with the characters climbing the ranks in Grand Theft Auto games. There are tons of side activities to engage in around the city, again just like in GTA. Plus, the execution makes the city and its residents feel like a priority, which is great.
Yakuza 0 is available on the PS3, PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and the Director’s Cut will come to the Switch 2 on June 5, 2025.
Best open-world game with a futuristic setting to play while waiting for GTA VI: Cyberpunk 2077
CD Projekt Red open-world games are known for the same sorts of details and optional side activities and quests as Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto games, and Cyberpunk 2077 is a good pick to play while waiting for GTA VI. It features an incredibly futuristic story with unusual modifications you can pursue. It’s far enough from its original release that it’s in fantastic shape at the moment, complete with a Phantom Liberty add-on you might have missed if you only played at launch.
Cyberpunk 2077 is available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC, and the Switch 2 version launches on June 5, 2025.
Best open-world sci-fi game to play while waiting for GTA VI: Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
Listen, I will take any opportunity to hype up Xenoblade Chronicles, and Xenoblade Chronicles X is a fantastic installment. There’s character customization. There’s a city to explore. A world to survey. Skells to pilot. Tons of mission to undertake. Allies to find. It’s a huge game with an intricate story, and the new Definitive Edition helps wrap up some loose ends.
Xenoblade Chronicles X is available on the Wii U, and Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is on the Switch.
Grand Theft Auto VI will come to the PS5 and Xbox Series X on May 26, 2025.