Open world crime games allowing players to experience life as a member of a delinquent organization, an outlaw, and sometimes an undercover police officer, trying to take down the world's most heinous crime rings. For all that is good about this genre, some games are iconic, like GTAwhich is one of the most influential franchises of all time.
But what happens to all the other titles that are part of this select group? Some may be even better than GTA in various key areas. Some titles have better stories, characters and even combat mechanics than GTA. Some others have better scenario design and their worlds are larger and more complete. However, each title on this list has something in common with the original heist game that popularized the crime game genre, as well as a key aspect that makes them even better.
Sleeping dogs
Excellent combat system and meaningful plot
With its modest but immersive open-world sandbox, Sleeping dogs place among fans of martial arts and crime games. With a thrilling plot about returning home, revenge and finding a new path in life, this title developed by United Front Games puts the player in the role of Wei Shen, an undercover police officer tasked with infiltrating the dangerous triads of Hong Kong.
Returning to his homeland and neighborhood after years of absence weighs heavily on Shen like a looming shadow, and all encounters with remnants of his past life leave him scarred, questioning his mission while his loyalties are constantly tested. In addition, he has to deal with the Triads, who he blames for the deaths of his sister and mother. One of the aspects Sleeping dogs which is much better than any other GTA the game is hers close combat, who it has a combo/combat system similar to that of games like this Yakuza series. Combining this incredible story with the thrilling action of gang fighting in the dirty streets of Hong Kong creates a game that is bigger than its score: Highly underrated and immensely satisfying to play.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
Character customization draws the best from both RPG and crime games
Cyberpunk 2077 is a game that had a convoluted development (to say the least), but the results were so good that at the end of the day, it all comes down to how players felt when they first incarnated as Mercenary V, trying to find a cure for their “uninvited roommate”. Extra points for Keanu Reeves being one of the main characters.
Some fans of crime games would argue that this title doesn't belong in that category, but the truth is that Mercenaries in Night City is usually not on the side of the law, to say the least. The game starts off with a heist going horribly wrong, and from there it never falls short of maximum action. Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty it ended up being the perfect ending to a game much better in terms of character customization, combat system and immersion.
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
The most fun Yakuza game ever made
IN Yakuza: Like A Dragon, the series not only abandons its legendary protagonist, but also ditches its real-time combat system for a turn-based JRPG style where chaos and environmental weapons mix with parties of up to 4 characters. It's an intense experience to say the least, which should be considered a good thing in any good gamer's book. Instead of boring, repetitive hit-and-run combat, players will experience immersive tactical street fighting like never before.
Like a Dragon it's also a more compact experience, with the action shifting from the series' traditional representation of Shinjuku to another major nightlife district, or at least a fictional recreation of it: Yokohama, more specifically, the Isezaki Ijincho district. But the point Yakuza the series remains intact through all these changes. With unforgettable characters, a thrilling plot full of action and fateful encounters, and a focus on organized crime gangs fighting for supremacy in the streets of Japan. This game uses storytelling like no other crime game. The relationships between the characters and even the inner worlds of the characters and their experiences translated into the game are amazing.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Bigger in every aspect: Immersion, scenario design, combat and story
Red Dead Redemption 2 has become an absolute legend among fans of westerns and crime games. With an intense and dynamic combat system, good use of character voice acting, an unforgettable and engrossing storyline and above all: a huge world to explore. It's hard to believe how this franchise started Red Dead Revolver, ranks only second in terms of gross sales of the company it created GTA. But what readers have to take into account is the fact that with only three games (not counting the online mode RDR2), Red Dead it has achieved at least a quarter of the sales volume of its older sibling franchise.
The game is an absolute masterpiece, no matter what angle players look at it from. Although it has the upper hand in terms of design, narrative, and even combat mechanics, RDR2 it continues to be shaded GTA. But maybe that's what makes this game more interesting. after all GTA and RDR2 they are two sides of the same coin and at the same time complete opposites, appealing to different audiences. In times to come when more Red Dead Once the games launch, these differences will only grow, growing the franchise into the best IP Rockstar has ever created.
Mafia 2
Probably one of the best crime games of all time
When Mafia 2 was released back in 2010, had to compete with a lot of important titles and still became one of the best crime games of all time. Highly underrated, despite offering plenty of role-playing, customization and an interesting and engrossing storyline inspired by the Godfather movies, Mafia 2 it was defined by some as groundbreaking, while others mercilessly dropped the critical hammer on it.
Set in the fictional city of Empire Bay, loosely inspired by New York 50.where political tensions grew, Submachine guns they were ready and a thriving nightlife crowned the end of days for its residents. It's a controversial game, but one thing is certain: its environments and character designs are much better than others. GTA game ever made, and there are no “filler” missions: Each goal of the game is a never-ending rise to power from the lower ranks of a criminal organization to the leader's chair.
