Games like GTA on PC: what to do before the release of GTA 6

Comparison of graphics engines in open world games based on the HYPERPC PC.

Main points

  • Cyberpunk 2077 And Mafia: Definitive Edition remain the most technologically advanced projects with a dense open world.
  • For comfortable gaming without microfreezes, you need an NVMe SSD of 5000 MB/s and at least 32 GB DDR5.
  • Full GTA alternatives complement the sandbox with role-playing elements, a deep combat system and vertical exploration.
  • Preparing your PC for GTA 6 requires 12–16 GB of VRAM and an Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 processor.

Introduction

The wait for the release of GTA 6 is dragging on, and the thirst to explore criminal metropolises, steal supercars and arrange large-scale shootouts is only growing. Full GTA alternatives They can not only brighten up the evenings, but also surprise with their sophisticated physics, varied plot and high-tech graphics.

Modern GTA style games have long gone beyond simply copying the mechanics of Grand Theft Auto. The developers offer unique settings - from the noir Chicago of the 1930s to the neon Night City of 2077. Before launching large-scale sandboxes, make sure that your PC is ready for increased loads: it will help you choose the optimal configuration gaming PC configurator.


1. Crime sandboxes

Projects close to GTA

Car chase scene in Mafia: Definitive Edition in 4K resolution.

Main games similar to GTA, offer absolute freedom of action in detailed virtual cities. Flagship of the direction - Cyberpunk 2077: Night City surpasses Los Santos in verticality, traffic density and architectural detail.

The second important pillar of the genre is Mafia: Definitive Edition. The project focuses on a strict cinematic narrative, where each chase feels realistic thanks to the authentic physics of cars of the first half of the 20th century. Third player - Watch Dogs 2, giving maximum freedom to interact with city systems through hacking.

Comparative analysis of top analogues

To simplify the choice, we have compared the key parameters of projects that can replace Grand Theft Auto:

Game Developer Strengths Auto physics Average FPS (RTX 4070, 1440p)
Cyberpunk 2077 CD Projekt RED Neon metropolis, deep plot, variable action Medium/Arcade 85–100 FPS (with DLSS 3.5)
Mafia: Definitive Edition Hangar 13 Atmosphere, plot drama, believable crime Realistic/Heavy 110–120 FPS
Watch Dogs 2 Ubisoft Interactive city, hacking, vertical parkour Arcade 100–115 FPS
Saints Row (2022) Volition Crazy sandbox, customization, co-op Arcade 95–110 FPS
Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition United Front Games Hand-to-hand combat, Asian flavor Drift / Dynamic 144+ FPS

Peculiarities

  • Event density: random gang shootouts, street racing and orders to eliminate targets.
  • Variability of passage: a combination of stealth, hacking or open combat.
  • Physics of transport: vehicle weight distribution, road grip and body damage.

Pros

High variability of gameplay, hundreds of hours of content, freedom of movement and high replayability.

Cons

Very high demands on the processor and storage due to constant streaming loading of objects.


2. Open world and adventure

Alternatives in spirit

Installing a high-speed NVMe PCIe 4.0 drive in a motherboard for open world games.

If you want to dilute the classic crime scene with the exploration of wild territories or other eras, pay attention to projects with an emphasis on research. Mad Max takes driving mechanics to a brutal post-apocalyptic setting open world, where customization of a combat vehicle becomes the basis of survival.

Series Like a Dragon (Yakuza) suggests looking at crime otherwise: instead of a huge map, there is a compact but entertainment-rich district of Kamurocho.

Pros and cons of popular projects

Cyberpunk 2077 (Phantom Liberty)

For: stunning graphics with Ray Tracing Overdrive, incredible storyline and large-scale city.

Against: High system requirements and arcade-style damage system for civilian vehicles.

Mafia: Definitive Edition

For: 1930s atmosphere, detailed driving and a mature dramatic script.

Against: minimal freedom outside the main story missions.

Hardware requirements

For Quad HD (2560x1440) at high settings you will need:

  • Video card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (12 GB VRAM) or AMD Radeon RX 7800 XT (16 GB VRAM).
  • CPU: 8-core/16-thread Intel Core i5-14600K or AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D.
  • RAM: 32 GB DDR5-6000 in dual channel mode.
  • Storage: M.2 NVMe SSD PCIe 4.0 with read speed from 5000 MB/s.

3. What you need from a PC

Graphics card and SSD for the open world

A HYPERPC gaming computer for modern open world games.

Modern projects with GTA-style open world generate huge amounts of data in real time. When driving fast, the system should instantly load high-poly building geometry, high-resolution textures and pedestrian models.

An outdated HDD leads to delays, freezes and dropped textures. A modern NVMe drive with DirectStorage transfers data directly to video memory (VRAM), bypassing the processor.

Amount of RAM and CPU load

RAM stores the geometry of the environment, artificial intelligence data and physical models. In 2026, 16 GB of RAM has become the absolute minimum at which stuttering is possible. More details in the manual about amount of RAM for modern games.

“The main mistake users make when building a PC for open-world projects is saving on the processor and storage. In GTA-like games, the processor calculates the logic behind the behavior of hundreds of NPCs and vehicle traffic. If the CPU can’t cope, 1% low FPS drops, and the game becomes jerky even with a powerful video card.”

Dmitry Alekseev | Chief Test Engineer HYPERPC

4. Getting ready for GTA 6

Configurations for GTA 6

A HYPERPC gaming computer for modern open world games.

To prevent the technical parameters of future Rockstar Games releases from becoming an unpleasant surprise, you should take care of the upgrade in advance.

Recommended hardware configurations (2026)

Current configurations are divided by target resolution and graphics level:

Permission Processor (CPU) Video card (GPU) RAM Storage (SSD) power unit
1080p (Full HD) Intel Core i5-13400F NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB 16 GB DDR4/DDR5 1 TB NVMe M.2 650W Gold
1440p (2K) AMD Ryzen 7 7700X NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super 12GB 32 GB DDR5-6000 2 TB PCIe 4.0 750W Gold
2160p (4K) AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Super 16GB 32 GB DDR5-6400 2 TB PCIe 5.0 850W ATX 3.0

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What to expect from future sandboxes

Developers are implementing neural network algorithms to simulate the behavior of giant crowds and the physics of liquid media. New graphics standards require hardware Path Tracing, making modern RT cores critical.


FAQ (Frequently asked questions) We have prepared the answers.

  • What to play while there is no GTA 6?
  • What games are most similar to GTA?
  • What do you need from a PC for open world games?
  • Does SSD affect frame rate (FPS)?

Conclusion

Quality games like GTA are able to completely cover the need for scale, crime and dynamic chases. While the industry awaits the biggest blockbuster of the decade, dozens of open-world projects are delivering hundreds of hours of deep gameplay.

To enjoy high frame rates and ultra settings without compromise, trust the professionals to build your system. A ready-made or custom solution is available in the catalog HYPERPC computers.


Egor Streletskiy — Head of Upgrade Center at HYPERPC

Egor Streletskiy

Author, Head of Upgrade Center
Leading technical specialist and PC upgrade expert. Under his leadership, the Upgrade Center conducts diagnostics, optimization, and configuration customization. Possesses unique experience in overclocking and fine-tuning.
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