Open-world crime games in the style of GTA have long become a genre benchmark: they allow players to spend hours completing missions, fleeing from police, engaging in criminal showdowns, and exploring a vast city. However, the genre is not limited to one franchise; there are a number of projects that offer equally interesting adventures with vibrant characters and unexpected plot twists. Styler editor Yuliya Lyushneva has compiled a selection of five games for fans of story-driven missions, chases, and crime dramas, and each of them offers its own perspective on the familiar open-world formula.
Mafia II: Post-War America and a Mafia Career
Mafia II transports players to the American city of Empire Bay in the 1940s and 1950s. The protagonist, Vito Scaletta, returns from the war and tries to earn money to pay off his father's debts, but gradually sinks deeper into the world of organized crime. Together with his friend Joe, he takes on dangerous assignments, meets influential mobsters, and climbs the criminal hierarchy. Players will encounter gunfights, car chases, and tasks where not everything goes according to plan. The distinct mood is created by vintage cars, music, and the atmosphere of post-war America; unlike GTA, Mafia II focuses on a linear story development rather than a large number of side activities.
Sleeping Dogs: Hong Kong, Triads, and Martial Arts
In Sleeping Dogs, the action unfolds on the streets of Hong Kong, where neon signs, crowded markets, and busy roads hide the activities of dangerous criminal organizations. The protagonist, Wei Shen, is an undercover cop whose task is to infiltrate the Triads, gain the criminals' trust, and help law enforcement destroy the criminal organization from within. A key feature of the project is the combat system: instead of constant shootouts, you often have to fight with your bare hands, using martial arts techniques and surrounding objects. In addition to story missions, players have access to illegal races, riding motorcycles and cars around the city, and free exploration of Hong Kong districts.
Saints Row 2: Chaos, Humor, and the Fight for the City
Saints Row 2 is perfect for those who appreciate not only the plot in GTA but also the opportunity to wreak real havoc in an open world. The events take place in the city of Stilwater, where different gangs fight for territory and influence, and the protagonist must restore the power of the Third Street Saints gang and reclaim control of the city. The player performs tasks for criminal factions, participates in shootouts, steals cars, and expands their gang's territory. The project does not strive to be overly serious: it contains plenty of absurd humor, unusual side tasks, and opportunities for experimentation—from customizing the character's appearance and vehicle tuning to purchasing real estate. Available transport even includes planes, helicopters, and boats.
Watch Dogs: Hacking Against the City System
Watch Dogs offers an unusual take on crime adventures: instead of a typical criminal or police officer, the player controls Aiden Pearce, a hacker who uses technology to confront enemies. The events unfold in Chicago, where urban infrastructure is connected to a computer system called ctOS. Thanks to a smartphone, the protagonist can intervene in the operation of various objects and use this while completing missions—for example, switching traffic lights to stop pursuers or influencing city systems to gain an advantage over opponents. The game has plenty of car chases, shootouts, and open-world exploration, but the main difference from GTA is that many situations can be solved with digital tools; it is this combination of hacking city systems, pursuits, and Aiden's personal story that sets Watch Dogs apart from other adventure games.
Bully: School Hierarchy as an Open World
Bully: Scholarship Edition might seem like a surprise in this selection, as it features a seemingly ordinary school instead of a criminal city. However, in terms of freedom of action, humor, and mission structure, it resembles GTA. The protagonist is 15-year-old Jimmy Hopkins, who is sent to Bullworth Academy, where he must find common ground with students, stand up to school bullies, and navigate conflicts between different cliques. Instead of robbing banks, the player performs school errands, plays pranks, participates in fights, and tries to gain authority among peers. At the same time, Jimmy needs to attend classes, explore the academy grounds and the surrounding town, and as the game progresses, new activities, locations, and adventure opportunities open up. The main goal is to survive the school year, learn to stand up to bullies, and find his place in the school hierarchy.
Thus, this selection demonstrates how diverse the open-world crime formula can be: from a serialized mafia drama and street martial arts to a hacker thriller and a satirical school saga. Each of the five projects retains the core of the genre—freedom of movement, missions, and vivid characters—but adds its own mechanical and narrative emphasis, making them an interesting alternative for those seeking adventures in the spirit of GTA beyond the franchise itself.
