10 Best GTA Games That Aren't GTA Games
2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
It took CD Projekt RED three games to get there, but everything it learned about open-world action RPGs finally culminated with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in 2015. Bursting with superbly-written dialogue, unparalleled characterization of the narrative's major players, and commendable (if slightly lacking) combat, every major component of Geralt's third outing mixed perfectly to deliver a concoction smoother than a digestif.
Strictly speaking, Wild Hunt is an outlier here, as its setting doesn't exactly exhibit overt similarities to GTA, though both titles prioritize player freedom outside of their respective campaigns. You're free to go and do whatever you please when not actively searching for Ciri's whereabouts and, thanks to the added gameplay depth that RPG systems allow, can curate Geralt's attire, powers, and moral compass to your liking.
If your adoration of GTA is born specifically from its setting and satirist nature, Wild Hunt might not be your cup of tea. On the other hand, if a well-realised fictional world reinforced with exploration and industry-best writing is your bread and butter, then The Witcher 3 is here to suit your every need.