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Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

50 Games like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas that you should try

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Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is hard to replace: few games combine adventure storytelling, strong narrative focus and open world exploration in quite the same way. The NextGameLike team compared Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas against over 6,700 titles across 19 gameplay attributes and found 50 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Watch Dogs 2, Saints Row: The Third and Watch Dogs lead the list, with Watch Dogs 2 reaching a 89/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas special.

NextGameLike92/ 100

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GenreActionSubgenreOpen World Action
Tags
NarrativeDarkSoloCo-op
Year 2004Dev Rockstar North

Quick answer

The closest game to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is Watch Dogs 2 — scoring 89/100 on our similarity scale. Saints Row: The Third and Watch Dogs follow close behind.

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Top games similar to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

50 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Each one has been evaluated across 19 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

1

Watch Dogs 2

89
NGL82
Watch Dogs 2
Closest overall match
ActionOpen World Action
SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeStealthDarkNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2016Dev Ubisoft Montreal · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

If Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas worked for you because of dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and melee combat, the same is here. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. The distance is in visuals — its own ground is a sci-fi setting and skill tree progression.

Released 12 years after Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100World100Combat85Progression78
2

Saints Row: The Third

84
NGL92
Saints Row: The Third
ActionOpen World Action
SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeDarkOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2011Dev Volition · Square EnixOn PlayStation 3 · Linux · PC

Genre puts it alongside Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and so does dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and melee combat. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and co-op play. The distance is in combat and visuals — its own ground is skill tree progression and 2D presentation.

Released 7 years after Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Genre100World100Game mode87Tone69Progression60Visuals49
3

Watch Dogs

85
NGL80
Watch Dogs
ActionOpen World Action
SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeStealthNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2014Dev Ubisoft Montreal · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · PC

On paper it is what Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is — strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and co-op play. Where the two diverge is tone and visuals: a sci-fi setting and skill tree progression.

Released 10 years after Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Genre100Game mode100World100Combat85Progression78Visuals65
4

Grand Theft Auto IV

82
NGL90
Grand Theft Auto IV
Closest on progression
ActionOpen World Action
MultiplayerSoloCo-opMeleeRangedNarrativeDarkOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2010Dev Rockstar Toronto · Rockstar GamesOn PC · PS · Xbox

If Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas worked for you because of strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat, the same is here. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and multiplayer gameplay. Where they diverge is visuals.

Released 6 years after Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100World100Progression100Combat71
5

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

81
NGL93
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
ActionOpen World Action
SoloMultiplayerMeleeRangedNarrativeDarkOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2002Dev Rockstar North · Rockstar GamesPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Xbox

If Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas worked for you because of strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat, the same is here. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. The distance is in game mode and visuals — its own ground is puzzle design.

Same studio: Rockstar North.

Genre100Tone100World100Progression100Combat72Visuals65
6

Rise of the Tomb Raider

81
NGL90
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Closest on combat
ActionOpen World Action
SoloCo-opMultiplayerMeleeStealthRangedNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationThird PersonFirst Person
Year 2015Dev Crystal Dynamics · Microsoft StudiosOn PS4 · Linux · PC

What brings it close to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. The common ground extends to a third-person camera and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is progression and tone: loot and gear systems.

Released 11 years after Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100World81Tone69
7

Far Cry 3

81
NGL89
Far Cry 3
ActionOpen World Action
SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeStealthRangedNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationFirst Person
Year 2012Dev Ubisoft Montreal · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PC

It shares the essentials of what Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas does: strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. Where the two diverge is progression and tone: loot and gear systems.

Released 8 years after Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Genre100Combat100World100Game mode93Visuals70Tone62
8

Mafia II (Classic)

82
NGL85
Mafia II (Classic)
ActionOpen World Action
SoloMultiplayerMeleeStealthRangedNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2010Dev 2K Czech · 2K GamesPlaytime ~13hOn PC · PS · Xbox

It shares the essentials of what Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas does: strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat. The common ground extends to a third-person camera and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is game mode and visuals: puzzle design and fantasy world.

Released 6 years after Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Genre100Combat100World100Progression100Tone75Visuals65
9

Hitman 3

81
NGL86
Hitman 3
ActionOpen World Action
SoloMultiplayerStealthMeleeNarrativeDarkSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2021Dev IO InteractiveOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

What brings it close to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is strong narrative focus, a sandbox world and stealth mechanics, and the two track each other on genre, tone and world. The common ground extends to a third-person camera and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is visuals and game mode: puzzle design and tactical combat.

Released 17 years after Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Genre100Tone100World100Progression100Combat72Game mode66
10

Saints Row 2

84
NGL74
Saints Row 2
ActionOpen World Action
SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeRangedOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2008Dev Volition · Deep SilverPlaytime ~2hOn PC · PS · Xbox

It meets Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on open world exploration, melee combat and single-player focus. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is visuals: online features and skill tree progression.

Released 4 years after Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Genre100World100Game mode90Combat73Progression71Visuals65
11

Sunset Overdrive

81
NGL86
Sunset Overdrive
ActionOpen World Action
SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeDarkOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2014Dev Insomniac Games · Microsoft StudiosOn PC · Xbox

The genre is the same as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas’s, and with it dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and melee combat. To that it adds a third-person camera and single-player focus. They part company on combat and progression: this one brings skill tree progression.

Released 10 years after Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Genre100Game mode100World100Tone72Visuals65Progression50
12

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

82
NGL83
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
ActionOpen World Action
SoloCo-opMultiplayerMeleeStealthNarrativeDarkOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2018Dev Eidos Montréal · Square EnixOn Xbox · PS4 · Linux

What brings it close to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and tone. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and multiplayer gameplay. The distance is in visuals — its own ground is puzzle design and historical setting.

Released 14 years after Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Progression100Combat85World80
13

Mafia III

87
NGL61
Mafia III
ActionOpen World Action
SoloMultiplayerMeleeStealthNarrativeDarkOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2016Dev Hangar 13 · 2K GamesOn PS4 · PC · Mac

If Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas worked for you because of strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat, the same is here. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and multiplayer gameplay. Where they diverge is game mode and visuals.

Released 12 years after Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Genre100Tone100World100Progression100Combat82Visuals65
14

Far Cry 4

80
NGL85
Far Cry 4
ActionOpen World Action
SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeStealthRangedNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationFirst Person
Year 2014Dev Ubisoft Montreal · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · PC

On paper it is what Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is — strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds a first-person view and single-player focus. They part company on progression and tone: this one brings loot and gear systems.

Released 10 years after Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Genre100World100Game mode89Combat83Visuals70Tone68
15

Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell

83
NGL70
Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell
ActionOpen World Action
SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeDarkNarrativeOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2015Dev High Voltage Software · Deep SilverOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · Linux

What brings it close to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and melee combat, and the two track each other on genre, tone and world. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is combat and visuals: horror setting and online features.

Released 11 years after Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Genre100Tone100World100Progression100Game mode92Visuals65

More similar-games lists to keep going

Found one on the list you already love? Open its own list: the games that play most like it, ranked, with the reason for each.

Explore games similar to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas by category

If Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas left you wanting more, this is where you narrow it down. Was it the racing or the shooter that hooked you? There is a list of just that. And if you play on Nintendo Switch, PS5 and Xbox, filter by platform and skip the games you could not play anyway.

Rankings in the same genre

Sometimes what you want is not a Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas look-alike but simply the best Open-World Action Games there are. That is what these rankings are for: no comparison to anything, just the highest-rated games. And if you feel like widening the net, the Action Games ranking is a good way to run into something you were not expecting.