If you love GTA 5, you'll be glad to know there are genuinely great free games that capture the same open-world crime thrill — whether you want live online heists, faction warfare on city streets, or cinematic story-driven crime adventures. Several of the best GTA-style titles can be downloaded right now without spending a penny, through free-to-play models, subscription services, or past giveaways on platforms like Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Connect.
The five picks below vary in style and platform, but each one rewards the same instincts that make GTA 5 so satisfying: freedom to explore a big city, vehicles you can steal or customise, and missions that mix shooting, driving, and chaos. Here's exactly what each game offers and how to get it for free.
What to look for in a GTA 5 alternative
The things that make GTA 5 special — a living open world, a mix of missions and freeform exploration, vehicles, heists, and online multiplayer — are surprisingly rare in truly free games. The titles below were chosen because they tick most of those boxes without asking for a purchase. Some are permanently free-to-play; others were given away at no cost on major storefronts and remain playable if you already claimed them; and others are included with subscription services like PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass.
Free games that feel like GTA 5
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Section 1: Grand Theft Auto Online
GTA Online is the most obvious starting point, and the good news is that it is available as a free standalone download on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 — no copy of GTA 5 required. The full Los Santos map is yours, including every contact mission, race, deathmatch, and co-op heist in the base game. Rockstar keeps adding new content through regular free updates, so there is always something new even if you have been playing for years. On PC it is bundled with GTA 5 from the Rockstar Games Launcher, and the base game itself has been free or very cheap on that platform during promotional periods.
GTA Online: download it free on PS4 or PS5 — no GTA 5 purchase needed. -
Section 2: Saints Row: The Third
Saints Row: The Third is probably the closest single-player experience to GTA 5 that has ever been given away free. Epic Games Store distributed it at no cost during one of its weekly giveaway promotions; anyone who claimed it at that time still owns it permanently. The game drops you into Steelport, a dense open city packed with gang warfare, outrageous story missions, and a vehicle customisation system that echoes Los Santos. It has also appeared in Xbox Game Pass, making it accessible to subscribers without an additional purchase. If you missed the Epic giveaway, keep an eye on Epic's Free Games page, where the series regularly resurfaces.
Saints Row: The Third was given away free on Epic Games Store — claim it or check Game Pass. -
Section 3: APB Reloaded
APB Reloaded is a 100% free-to-play multiplayer crime game on Steam that pits Criminals against Enforcers in a persistent urban sandbox. It draws direct inspiration from the original APB concept — an open-world cops-and-robbers MMO — and fills in the gap left by GTA Online for PC players who want faction-based street conflict without a subscription. Characters and vehicles are deeply customisable, missions trigger dynamically as you roam the city, and the entire base experience is available from the Steam store page at no cost. The free-to-play model funds cosmetics, so the core gameplay loop is never paywalled.
APB Reloaded is a persistent open-world crime MMO — completely free to download and play on Steam. -
Section 4: Mafia: Definitive Edition
Mafia: Definitive Edition is a story-driven open-world crime game that has appeared in both PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass, making it free for subscribers on both platforms. Set in the 1930s city of Lost Heaven, it trades the modern Los Santos setting for a gorgeously recreated prohibition-era metropolis where you drive period cars, pull off heists, and follow a compelling mob narrative. The slower, more cinematic tone is a deliberate contrast to GTA 5's frenetic pacing, but fans of GTA's story missions tend to find it deeply satisfying. Check your current PS Plus tier (Extra or Premium) or your Xbox Game Pass library to see if it is included.
Mafia: Definitive Edition — a cinematic crime epic, free with PS Plus Extra/Premium and Xbox Game Pass. -
Section 5: Watch Dogs 2
Watch Dogs 2 was given away completely free by Ubisoft on Ubisoft Connect during a promotional period, and anyone who claimed it keeps it permanently. Set in an open-world rendition of San Francisco, it swaps GTA's guns-first approach for a hacking-centred playstyle while keeping everything else fans love: a huge driveable city, on-foot exploration, co-op heists, and chaotic open-world physics. The game has also been included in Ubisoft's subscription tiers, and it regularly goes on deep sale. If you missed the giveaway, it is worth checking Ubisoft Connect for a current promotion before paying full price.
Watch Dogs 2: Ubisoft gave the full game away free — a massive open-world alternative to GTA 5.
Tips for finding more free GTA-style games
- Watch Epic Games Store weekly giveaways. Epic has given away several open-world and crime-themed games over the years. Checking once a week costs nothing.
- Subscribe to PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass. Both services rotate large open-world titles regularly, and several GTA-style games have appeared in their libraries.
- Check Steam's free-to-play filter. Search "open world" or "crime" in the free-to-play section to find lesser-known but playable titles.
- Claim Ubisoft Connect promotions. Ubisoft periodically gives away full games during Ubisoft Forward events and other promotions — the library is worth bookmarking.
- GTA Online itself is the best answer. If you own a PS4 or PS5, the standalone GTA Online download is entirely free and offers hundreds of hours of GTA 5-quality content.
Frequently asked questions
Is GTA 5 itself free to play?
GTA 5 is not free-to-play as a standard game, but GTA Online — the multiplayer component — is available as a free standalone download on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. On PC, GTA 5 was given away free on the Epic Games Store for a limited period in 2020; it is not permanently free on PC but has been available at a low price.
What is the best free open-world game like GTA 5 on PC?
On PC, APB Reloaded (Steam) is the most consistently free option with genuine open-world crime gameplay. Saints Row: The Third and Watch Dogs 2 are excellent alternatives if you claimed them during previous giveaways on Epic Games Store or Ubisoft Connect respectively.
Are there free GTA-style games on PlayStation?
Yes. GTA Online is free to download on PS4 and PS5. Additionally, PS Plus subscribers (Extra and Premium tiers) gain access to a rotating library that has included titles like Mafia: Definitive Edition and Saints Row entries at no extra charge.
Does Xbox Game Pass have games like GTA 5?
Xbox Game Pass has included several GTA-style titles over time, including Mafia: Definitive Edition, Saints Row: The Third Remastered, and Watch Dogs: Legion. The library changes monthly, so check the current catalogue on the Xbox website for the latest additions.
Is APB Reloaded worth playing in 2026?
APB Reloaded has a smaller player base than it did at launch, but it is still actively updated by Little Orbit and maintains enough players to fill lobbies. For a completely free persistent crime MMO, it remains one of the best options on PC, especially if you enjoy deep vehicle and character customisation.
Final thoughts
You do not need to spend money to get your GTA 5 fix. GTA Online is the single best free option if you have a PlayStation 4 or 5, delivering the full Los Santos sandbox without requiring a GTA 5 purchase. Beyond that, a combination of watching Epic Games Store giveaways, maintaining a PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass subscription, and exploring Steam's free-to-play section will surface a steady stream of quality open-world crime games. The five titles above are the strongest starting points — all of them genuinely capture something that makes GTA 5 great.
