GTA 6 arrives November 19, 2026, and the months between now and then are some of the best gaming time you will ever have. The backlog is stacked, the genre Rockstar built is richer than it has ever been, and several 2026 releases have raised the bar for open-world design in ways that will make Vice City hit even harder when it finally opens.
The games below are not ranked by score or popularity but by how well they prepare you for what GTA 6 is about to deliver: dense urban sandboxes, criminal storytelling with real emotional weight, driving that feels like freedom, and open worlds built for players who want to live inside the map, not just complete it. Some are Rockstar homework. Others are modern open-world experiences that share DNA with the Grand Theft Auto formula, and all of them are worth your time before November.
Rockstar Essentials
Red Dead Redemption 2
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No game on this list matters more. Red Dead Redemption 2 is the closest thing to a GTA 6 preview that exists, because it was built by the same studio on the same philosophy: world detail above all else. NPCs have daily routines, mud sticks to boots, storms change animal behavior, and the interaction system lets you greet or antagonize every stranger on the road. The story of Arthur Morgan is one of the most emotionally devastating narratives in gaming, and the level of environmental reactivity is the direct blueprint for what Leonida is expected to deliver.
If you have not played Red Dead 2, start here. If you already finished it years ago, a second playthrough with fresh eyes reveals details you missed the first time. The game aged like a whiskey barrel, not like a graphics card.
Grand Theft Auto V
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Replaying GTA 5 in 2026 is not nostalgia chasing. Revisiting Los Santos with the knowledge that GTA 6 introduces dual protagonists (Jason and Lucia) makes the three-character system feel like a prototype. The heist setups, the character-switching mechanic, and the satirical tone are all seeds that GTA 6 is expected to grow into something larger. GTA Online remains one of the most populated multiplayer sandboxes in gaming, and the community is at peak activity with GTA 6 hype driving player counts up across every platform.
For a deeper look at what is changing between the two games, our GTA 6 vs GTA 5 comparison covers the confirmed differences in setting, protagonists, and world design.
Modern Open-World Crime Games
Cyberpunk 2077
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Night City is the closest any game has come to building a truly next-generation urban sandbox. After years of post-launch updates and the Phantom Liberty expansion, Cyberpunk 2077 is now the definitive reference point for dense, vertical, atmosphere-soaked city design. The gig-based criminal progression loop, the vehicle collection, and the neon-drenched satire of American consumerism all rhyme with what GTA has always done, dialed into a futuristic key. Playing Cyberpunk before GTA 6 sets a visual and atmospheric baseline that will make every comparison richer.
Mafia: Definitive Edition
For players who want their crime stories slow-cooked and story-first, Mafia: Definitive Edition is the sharpest option. The 2020 remake rebuilt the original from scratch with tighter controls, better writing, and a visual overhaul that holds up in 2026. Set in a 1930s American city, the game focuses on consequence-driven organized crime storytelling in a way that GTA rarely does. Where GTA lets you cause chaos, Mafia forces you to feel the weight of every decision. A strong palate cleanser before Vice City opens up.
Sleeping Dogs
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Set in Hong Kong, Sleeping Dogs transplants the open-world crime formula into a martial arts film. You play as Wei Shen, an undercover cop torn between duty and the Triad code. The combat is brutal, Batman-style hand-to-hand rather than gun-heavy, and the atmosphere of the night markets is unmatched. Sleeping Dogs is often overlooked in "best open-world" conversations, but fans of the GTA formula who have not played it are missing one of the strongest story-driven crime games ever made.
Driving Games That Scratch the GTA Itch
Forza Horizon 6
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Released May 19, 2026, and set in Japan, Forza Horizon 6 is the open-world driving game of the year. The arcade-style controls, the enormous car roster (550+ vehicles at launch), and the freedom to explore Tokyo streets, mountain passes, and coastal highways make it the perfect warm-up for GTA 6's vehicle-heavy gameplay. Few games capture the pure joy of driving through an open world as well as Forza Horizon, and the Japan setting adds a visual and cultural dimension the series has never explored before. Available on Xbox Game Pass day one. Our guide on every new feature in Forza Horizon 6 covers the full breakdown.
Watch Dogs 2
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Ubisoft's second attempt at the Watch Dogs formula traded the brooding first game for a vibrant, hacker-comedy version of San Francisco. The open-world sandbox gives you tools (drones, remote hacking, traffic light manipulation) that create emergent chaos GTA fans will love, and the Bay Area setting is one of the most colorful maps in the genre. Watch Dogs 2 is lighter in tone than GTA, but the driving, the mission variety, and the sense of freedom in a dense city make it a strong bridge game for the wait.
2026 Releases Worth Your Time
Crimson Desert
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Pearl Abyss delivered one of the most ambitious open-world games of 2026 with Crimson Desert. The medieval fantasy setting is worlds apart from Vice City, but the sense of scale, the demanding combat system, and the sheer density of the open world share DNA with what players expect from a Rockstar game. For players who want an open-world grind that fills the months before November, Crimson Desert offers 60+ hours of exploration and combat.
Resident Evil Requiem
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Not an open-world game, but one of the strongest narrative experiences of 2026. Resident Evil Requiem features two protagonists with two distinct gameplay styles, a structure that echoes GTA 6's dual-protagonist approach. The survival horror atmosphere and the quality of the writing make it a strong contrast to the open-world sandbox games that dominate this list.
For even more 2026 releases, our full upcoming games schedule covers every major title by month and platform.
How to Prioritize Your Backlog
With GTA 6 roughly five months away, time management matters. Here is a realistic framework.
If you have 10+ hours per week to game: Red Dead Redemption 2 plus Cyberpunk 2077. Both are 60+ hour commitments that reward full playthroughs, and together they represent the two strongest open-world experiences available before GTA 6.
If you have 4 to 8 hours per week: Pick one large game (Red Dead 2 or Cyberpunk) and pair it with one shorter title (Mafia: Definitive Edition or Sleeping Dogs at 15 to 25 hours each).
If you have under 4 hours per week: Forza Horizon 6 is the best low-commitment option because sessions can be as short or long as you want, and the game never punishes you for stepping away. Alternatively, replay GTA 5's story mode to refresh the baseline before November.
Do not try to finish everything. Pick one or two and commit. A completed Red Dead 2 playthrough is worth more than three abandoned open worlds.
Long backlog sessions need steady fuel. A 40-serving Energy Formula tub keeps you locked in from the first chapter to the final mission, and the zero-sugar formula means no crash at the halfway mark. Staying focused during long gaming sessions covers why steady energy beats spike-and-crash patterns for the kind of deep-session gaming these titles demand.
Fuel the Wait, Own the Launch
November is coming, and the players who show up for GTA 6 with fresh eyes and full context will appreciate Leonida, Jason, and Lucia more than anyone sprinting in cold. Play the backlog, fuel the sessions, and be ready. A scoop of a clean energy formula before every session keeps you sharp, and a classic flavor on the desk makes the wait feel shorter. Rotate in a new arrival when the rotation starts to feel stale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the best game to play before GTA 6?
Red Dead Redemption 2 is the single most important game to play before GTA 6. Built by the same studio, it showcases the world-building philosophy, NPC reactivity, and storytelling approach that GTA 6 is expected to evolve.
Q. Should I replay GTA 5 before GTA 6?
Yes, especially the story mode. Replaying GTA 5 with the knowledge that GTA 6 features dual protagonists and a reimagined Vice City highlights the systems and design choices Rockstar is building on. GTA Online also remains active and relevant.
Q. Is Cyberpunk 2077 worth playing before GTA 6?
Absolutely. After years of updates and the Phantom Liberty expansion, Cyberpunk 2077 features the densest urban open world in gaming. Night City sets a visual and atmospheric baseline that makes every GTA 6 comparison richer.
Q. What 2026 games should I play before GTA 6?
Forza Horizon 6 (open-world driving in Japan), Crimson Desert (ambitious medieval open world), and Resident Evil Requiem (dual-protagonist narrative) are the strongest 2026 releases to play before November.
Q. How do I manage my gaming backlog before GTA 6?
Pick one or two games and commit rather than starting several and finishing none. Red Dead Redemption 2 plus one shorter title (Mafia or Sleeping Dogs) is the ideal combination for most players with limited weekly gaming time.
Q. When does GTA 6 come out?
GTA 6 launches November 19, 2026, on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. A PC version has not been dated. Pre-orders are live now on all major storefronts and retailers.