36 Narrative games like Grand Theft Auto IV that you should try

If Grand Theft Auto IV worked for you because of strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat, the same is here. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on visuals: this one brings a first-person view.

The resemblance to Grand Theft Auto IV is about as close as this list gets: they line up on genre, combat and tone. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. It sets itself apart with racing gameplay.

It shares the essentials of what Grand Theft Auto IV does: dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and melee combat. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and co-op play. Its own ground is first-person shooting and horror setting.

What brings it close to Grand Theft Auto IV is dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and melee combat, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and tone. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and co-op play. Where the two diverge is combat: stealth mechanics.

It shares the essentials of what Grand Theft Auto IV does: strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on combat: this one brings stealth mechanics.

What brings it close to Grand Theft Auto IV is dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and melee combat, and the two track each other on genre, tone and world. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Its own ground is first-person shooting.

If Grand Theft Auto IV worked for you because of dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and melee combat, the same is here. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on game mode and visuals: this one brings an isometric view.

What brings it close to Grand Theft Auto IV is dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and melee combat, and the two track each other on genre, combat and tone. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is game mode and visuals: a first-person view.

Matches like this one are rare: it meets Grand Theft Auto IV on genre, tone and world. To that it adds a third-person camera and single-player focus. They part company on combat: this one brings stealth mechanics.

It shares the essentials of what Grand Theft Auto IV does: dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and melee combat. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. It sets itself apart with first-person shooting.

It shares the essentials of what Grand Theft Auto IV does: dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and melee combat. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. What it adds of its own: first-person shooting and a sci-fi setting.

It shares the essentials of what Grand Theft Auto IV does: strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and multiplayer gameplay. The distance is in combat — its own ground is stealth mechanics.

What brings it close to Grand Theft Auto IV is strong narrative focus, open world exploration and ranged combat, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on visuals: this one brings a first-person view.

Its point of contact with Grand Theft Auto IV is dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and melee combat. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and co-op play. Where the two diverge is visuals: an isometric view.

If Grand Theft Auto IV worked for you because of dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and ranged combat, the same is here. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and multiplayer gameplay. The distance is in game mode and tone — its own ground is punishing difficulty and online features.