Top-5 Enticing Alternatives to "Grand Theft Auto Online"

With its open-world design, diverse missions, and unabashed embrace of criminal activity, "Grand Theft Auto Online" (GTA Online) has made a lasting impact in the gaming community. Despite its popularity, there's no denying that some players crave elements that go beyond what GTA Online can offer. If you love the open-world concept but desire a different setting or storyline, this article is for you. We have compiled a list of top 5 diverse games that could serve as attractive alternatives to GTA Online.

1. "Red Dead Redemption 2"

A production of Rockstar Games, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an all-time classic that can provide a viable alternative to GTA Online. It shares some similarities due to its shared creator but also provides a unique, deep cowboy experience and detailed western environment.

Gameplay, Story, and Setting

This prequel to the original Red Dead Redemption is narrated from the perspective of a saddled anti-hero, Arthur Morgan. Morgan is part of a tight-knit gang that has to navigate life amidst the decline of the Wild West. Players engage in a series of missions, ranging from organized bank heists to quiet fishing trips that develop Morgan's relationships with his gang-mates. The game offers a seamless blend of role-playing elements with a vast, interactive, and immersive open world. From snow-covered trails to bustling, grimy towns and everything in between, Red Dead Redemption 2 consistently delivers an engrossing western vibe.

2. "Watch Dogs 2"

Watch Dogs 2 is Ubisoft's offering for those seeking to take a break from the high crime levels of GTA Online. Its concept revolves around hacking as the primary weapon of its characters.

Gameplay, Story, and Setting

In Watch Dogs 2, players control Marcus Holloway, a young, skilled hacker working with the hacking group DedSec to take down the city's ctOS 2.0, an advanced surveillance system. The game takes place in a wonderfully realized open-world recreation of San Francisco Bay Area. Players can approach the many missions in multiple ways, often choosing between stealthy hacking or all-out violence. The game also features a cooperative multiplayer in which players can meet and interact with other random players.

3. "Just Cause 4"

Developed by Avalanche Studios and published by Square Enix, Just Cause 4 shares the open-world theme with GTA Online. This game provides players with an adrenaline-infused experience, much different from the grounded realism of many Grand Theft Auto missions.

Gameplay, Story, and Setting

Players take on the role of havoc-wreaking agent Rico Rodriguez in the fictional South American country Solis. The core of this game is about causing as much chaos and destruction as possible using an array of weapons and tools. Equipped with a wingsuit, parachute, and a grappling hook, Rico leaps across the game's vast environment, tearing enemies and objects apart in often ludicrously over-the-top fashion. The game's extravagant gunplay and high-octane explosions provide a change from the urban-based action of GTA.

4. "Mafia III"

Mafia III, developed by Hangar 13 and published by 2K Games, shares some thematic similarity with GTA Online. However, the change in setting and time period offers a very different, fresh experience.

Gameplay, Story, and Setting

Set in a scaled version of New Orleans (re-christened as New Bordeaux) in 1968, Mafia III is a story of organized crime, racial tension, and revenge. The game follows the story of Lincoln Clay, a Vietnam War veteran on a quest to seek revenge against the Italian Mafia. The gameplay involves gunfights, melee combat, and intense driving, and there's a real sense of impact to the violence that's evocative of the game's mature storytelling style.

5. "Sleeping Dogs"

Sleeping Dogs offers a stylish, cinematic story similar to a Hong Kong crime thriller. Developed by United Front Games and published by Square Enix, this game is perfect for those who want to explore Asian cityscapes.

Gameplay, Story, and Setting

Set in the bustling streets of Hong Kong, Sleeping Dogs tells the story of undercover cop Wei Shen as he navigates the dangerous underworld of the triads. The game combines influences from action films and RPGs, providing various martial arts combat, street races, and intermittent shootouts. The result is an action-adventure game that's unique in both flavor and atmosphere, making it a fantastic alternative to GTA Online.

Bottom Line

Each of the games mentioned above takes elements from GTA Online but molds them into different concepts. These exciting alternatives not only provide liberty to explore but also come with engaging storylines, diverse gameplay, and vibrant settings, making each of them worthy picks for GTA Online fans.