Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Grand Theft Auto (GTA) has long been an icon of the open-world game genre, offering freedom of exploration, thrilling action, and a complex criminal narrative.
However, the gaming world doesn't revolve around just one title. Many other games have captured the essence of GTA's freedom and adventure, but with their own unique twists and mechanics.
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If you're looking for a fresh alternative that still offers a similar thrill, the following list of five open-world games is worth considering.
Sleeping Dogs
Sleeping Dogs is an open-world action-adventure game set in modern-day Hong Kong, placing players in the role of Wei Shen, a secret police officer infiltrating a Triad organization.
This game offers a unique open-world experience with a strong focus on martial arts-style hand-to-hand combat, often considered more complex and satisfying than the combat in GTA.
In addition to the main missions involving Triad intrigue and police work, players can explore the bustling city of Hong Kong, participating in car races, cockfights, karaoke, and various other side missions.
Watch Dogs
Watch Dogs offers an open-world experience similar to GTA, but with a unique twist: hacking capabilities are at the core of the game.
Set in a digitally connected Chicago, players control Aiden Pearce, a vigilante hacker who can manipulate the city's infrastructure, such as traffic lights, security cameras, and personal electronic devices, to his advantage.
This hacking aspect allows for a more strategic approach to missions, including stealth and environmental manipulation options to disable enemies or escape pursuit.
Mafia II
Mafia II is an open-world action-adventure game set in Empire Bay (a fictionalized version of New York City) in the 1940s and 1950s, focusing on Vito Scaletta's rise through the ranks of a Mafia family.
Unlike GTA, which often emphasizes sandbox freedom, Mafia II emphasizes a strong, linear narrative, with a storyline inspired by classic gangster films.
While players can explore the city, the open world in Mafia II serves more as an immersive backdrop for the story than as a playground full of side activities.
Yakuza 0
Yakuza 0 is a prequel to the acclaimed Yakuza series, set in Japan in 1988.
While often compared to GTA due to its open-world nature, Yakuza 0 differs significantly with its focus on intense brawler combat, a deep crime drama storyline, and a wide variety of unique and often hilarious side activities.
Players control two main characters, Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima, each with their own distinct fighting styles and intertwined stories.
The game world, consisting of the Kamurocho and Sotenbori districts, is densely packed with mini-games, restaurants, clubs, and NPC interactions that create a vibrant city feel.
Far Cry 5
Far Cry 5 is an open-world first-person shooter set in Hope County, Montana, where players assume the role of a sheriff's deputy battling a doomsday cult called Project at Eden's Gate.
Similar to GTA in its freedom to explore a vast open world, Far Cry 5 offers a beautiful yet dangerous rural American environment, teeming with wildlife, enemies, and various activities.
The game stands out for its "Resistance Points" system, which allows players to advance in the story by completing various missions and activities in any region, providing significant freedom in progression.
Combat in Far Cry 5 is brutal and satisfying, with an emphasis on gunplay, vehicle use, and the ability to recruit "Guns for Hire" or "Fangs for Hire" (AI human or animal companions) to aid in combat.