Grand Theft Auto (GTA) is one of the most popular video game series in the world. The latest installation in the main series, GTA 5, has been out for years now. Still, the games maintain a wide and loyal player base, even if you only count those who play on their consoles.
That said, GTA 5 still doesn’t have a mobile version available, and the GTA games that are available on app stores aren’t free. With that in mind, it’s definitely best to look for free options that will bring the same thrill as the Rockstar Games classics. The good news is that you won’t have to look any further because, in this guide, we’re giving you a rundown of the best (and free) games like GTA that you can play on mobile.
Also read: Ultimate Guide to the Best Mobile Games to Cure Your Boredom
What Is GTA?
GTA is a series of action-adventure, open-world video games launched in 1997. Published by Rockstar Games, the series currently has seven core games, four expansion packs, and four handheld games.
The settings of most of the games in the series are based on real-life cities. There’s Vice City which is modeled after Miami, Liberty City (New York City), and San Andreas (San Francisco). Grand Theft Auto, the original installation, lets players switch between these three cities. But that changed for later GTA games, which usually center on a single locale.
The main storyline depends on which installation you’re playing, but it usually revolves around a protagonist who wants to work his way to the top of the criminal underworld. However, the character’s motive for this goal changes from title to title. Driving and shooting are the two main things you do in GTA. The overall story progresses as you complete the main missions, but there are also numerous side quests for you to engage in.
Also read: Top 20 Third Person Shooters on Mobile
Best Games Like GTA
Here are the 15 best games like GTA that you can play on mobile. All of the options we included in this list are free, and some can be played offline.
1. Gangstar Vegas: World of Crime
Topping our list of the best games like GTA is Gangstar Vegas: World of Crime. Just like GTA, the gameplay of Gangstar Vegas centers on an open world with role-playing elements. You play a boxer who gets embroiled in a gang war in Las Vegas. Amidst all of it, your goal is to race against and outsmart gangsters and mafia cartels and be hailed as the gang leader.
Gangstar Vegas offers a beautiful open world for you to explore, but the missions and the racing challenges are where the fun is. In this game, you get to battle it out with crime clans in six-gun action missions, street fights, and boxing matches. You’ll also drive around Las Vegas to chase and shoot your rivals. In these racing challenges, you get to drive different types of vehicles and collect various weapons and gear.
On top of that, the developers add extra missions every season and each time there’s an update. There are also limited-time events you can participate in, so there’s always something to change things up a bit.
Download Gangstar Vegas: World of Crime on Android
Download Gangstar Vegas: World of Crime on iOS
2. Gangstar New Orleans OpenWorld
Gangstar New Orleans OpenWorld is a great option you can try out if you’re looking for games like GTA. This Gameloft’s Gangstar installation follows pretty much the same mechanics as GTA — driving and shooting are still how you move forward in the game. But this time, madness erupts in New Orleans, and dubious cops and even Voodoo priests get involved.
In the game, you’re free to roam the vast city of New Orleans where you get to collect various weapons, take part in shootouts, and take hundreds of vehicles for a ride. You choose which district to explore: there’s the historic French Quarter, the New Orleans slums, and the mystifying bayou, among many others. Whichever district you decide to visit, you’re sure to encounter unique story missions and characters.
Gangstar New Orleans also lets you take part in Turf Wars, where you defend your gang and raid your opponents’ territories. In the gangster vs. gangster challenges, your goal is to loot the others’ turfs for free resources, which you can use in future wars. You can also claim islands as your own, and here, you can build your own mansion and show off all the vehicles you’ve collected.
You have a vast array of options for customizing your character. Plus, you can fuse and upgrade all the guns and vehicles you collect in the game. Gangstar New Orleans has the feel of a console-quality game, making it one of the best games like GTA to play on mobile.
Download Gangstar New Orleans OpenWorld on Android
Download Gangstar New Orleans OpenWorld on iOS
3. New Gangster Crime
New Gangster Crime is one of the few games like GTA that you can play offline. Just like the much-beloved game from Rockstar Games, New Gangster Crime lets you take on action-oriented missions that will ultimately lead you to the top of the criminal underworld. The game is set in a modern city that was divided by rival criminal groups. In it, you play an ordinary gangster who starts off at the very bottom. Your goal is to take down the reigning gang leaders and climb the ranks. To do so, you will have to make friends, build your own clan, defend your turf, raid enemy territories, and earn resources.
This action-adventure game features a majestic, three-dimensional open world that you can explore freely. Each territory in this open world has various tasks you will have to complete. For each completed task, you get to unlock items and increase your popularity in the area. In addition, you’ll have to renovate and upgrade the buildings in the territories you visit, as well as develop its economy. Do both of these things successfully, and you’ll earn a profit for every area you develop.
Download New Gangster Crime on Android
4. Payback 2 – The Battle Sandbox
If you’re looking for games like GTA with impeccable graphics, then look no further than Payback 2 – The Battle Sandbox. This game captures the look and feel of the scenery in GTA while offering its own unique gameplay. In this action-adventure game, you get to participate in 50 different campaign events that range from street brawls to tank battles to intense helicopter races. In addition to these campaign events, the game also features nine modes, including custom mode, which lets you design your own event.
There are seven cities to explore in Payback 2, and in each of them, you’ll encounter unique characters and take on action-packed challenges. You get to face criminals, drive a wide array of vehicles, and collect ammo and weapons while roaming these cities. The game also has multiplayer support, so you can raid territories and race against your rivals with your friends and millions of other players around the globe. Plus, you’ll never run out of tasks to complete in Payback 2, thanks to the hourly, daily, and weekly challenges that the game offers.
Download Payback 2 – The Battle Sandbox on Android
Download Payback 2 – The Battle Sandbox on iOS
5. Gangs Town Story
Like Payback 2, Gangs Town Story captures that unmistakable GTA feels. This action shooter game features a well-rendered open world that’s filled to the brim with crooked cops, gangsters, thieves, and plain chaos. Your goal in this game is to destroy the gangster mafia and create and head your own criminal state.
Along the way, you’ll have to escape the police and face rival gangs in gang wars. You’ll also have to join street fights, steal cars, raid turfs, and make sure that no one ever raids yours. Completing action missions promises you more resources, so make sure you’re armed with the best gear and weapon from your arsenal. There are hundreds of guns, grenades, and flamethrowers to choose from, and you’ll also get to drive around the city in different vehicles.
Of course, you’ll also need to defeat your enemies in style. Luckily, there are tons of clothes and accessories to choose from — just make sure that you have enough money to buy them. What’s more, these clothes and accessories don’t just serve an aesthetic purpose. If you’re looking to upgrade your skills, the premium pieces at the clothing store are your best friend since unlocking them grants you superpowers.
Download Gangs Town Story on Android
Download Gangs Town Story on iOS
6. Los Angeles Crimes
With all the action and graphics, games like GTA tend to perform poorly on low-end phones — but not this one. Los Angeles Crimes is a great option for you if you’re looking for a GTA alternative that isn’t resource-hungry. Similar to GTA, this game is also an action-adventure game that features an open world. You can explore six maps in the game, but if you’ve already played all of them and want something new, Los Angeles Crimes lets you create your very own world. Plus, you can also discover other maps that players from around the world have created.
You can play in various modes in this game, including free roam, car race, team death-match, zombie survival, and even soccer. You can also easily switch between first-person and third-person POVs during shootouts. Plus, if you have a PS4 controller, you can hook that up to your phone via Bluetooth to play this game.
Download Los Angeles Crimes on Android
7. MadOut2 BigCityOnline
MadOut2 BigCityOnline joins the ranks of the best games like GTA for its massive map, realistic car physics, and endless customization options. The game lets you take more than 40 types of cars for a ride across its scenic open world. What’s even better is that you can design these cars however you want. Of course, there are also the crimes, cops, and car chases that are characteristics of GTA.
The gameplay of MadOut2 BigCityOnline is pretty straightforward: pick up weapons, fight other gangsters, and drive the vehicle that’ll help you get away from your enemies the fastest. The game has many main missions that you can take part in. That aside, you can also go on numerous side quests that will help you collect more rewards and resources. To make it more exciting, you can join multiplayer mode where you can play with up to 100 players on a single map.
Download MadOut BigCityOnline on Android
Download MadOut BigCityOnline on iOS
8. Armed Heist
Armed Heist is also one of the best games like GTA whose graphics will blow you away. This action-packed third-person shooter game offers beautifully rendered backdrops and maps as well as customizable outfits and weapon skins.
The game takes place in a bank heist, in which you play a ruthless bank robber. Your goal in this is pretty simple: rob as many banks and armored trucks as you can, and shoot at anyone who gets in your way. Armed Heist offers more than 70 bank shooting challenges to take part in, and all of them feature dynamic scenarios. How each challenge plays out depends entirely on the gun skills and the moves you have at the moment. That means that even if you play a challenge twice, you won’t be able to win by employing the same tactics you used the first time.
In Armed Heist, you can access a 3D crime map where you get to see all the low-security armored trucks and banks that you can target. Plus, the game offers an endless number of customization options. It has a customizable weapon system, which allows you to create the most powerful guns and assault rifles imaginable. You can also choose from among various bulletproof vests, skins, masks, and outfits to dress your character however you want.
Download Armed Heist on Android
9. Grand City Thug Crime
The gameplay of Grand City Thug Crime still very much focuses on wreaking havoc. However, unlike the other games like GTA on this list, you wreak havoc around the city as a hero — not as a bank robber or any other criminal. In this open-world shooting game, gangsters have taken over, and they’re smuggling truckloads of weapons into another city. Your goal now is to foil their plans and recover these weapons before it’s too late. Just like GTA, there will be a lot of shooting and car stealing involved, so you’ll have to strap yourself in for a ton of action.
This action-adventure title has various crime missions for you to play—but be warned that each of them has a time limit. The game also lets you choose from among four different gangster modes to play in. Among these modes is the challenge mode, which takes you through ten increasingly difficult levels. Also worth mentioning are the engaging sound effects and the easy controls that the game features.
Download Grand City Thug Crime on Android
10. Real Gangster Crime 2
Just like GTA, Real Gangster Crime 2 is an action-adventure, third-person shooter game that features a vast open world. You play a character who leads a life of crime, and your goal is to hone your gangster skills by stealing money, driving around in the cars you snatched, and completing similar dirty jobs. In the game, you’ll also get to meet the feuding factions, and you’ll have to decide which team you’ll play for.
On top of that, Real Gangster Crime 2 lets you interact with nonplayer characters (or NPCs) and accomplish specific tasks for them. You can also take part in head-to-head combat against other gang members. With every objective you fulfill, you earn rewards and money that you can then spend on gear and upgrades. Plus, there are different types of vehicles in this game at your disposal, including helicopters and military tanks. Or if you’d like to be in stealth mode, you can also just go around on foot.
Download Real Gangster Crime 2 on Android
11. Dude Theft Wars
There are also games like GTA that are low-poly and lightweight, and one of the best of that sort is Dude Theft Wars. In many ways, Dude Theft Wars is a lot like GTA in that it’s an open-world game that involves a lot of shooting, driving, and heists. That said, the developers of this game put their own distinctive twist to it. They added in physical comedy, ragdoll stunts, and a few memes, so if you’re looking for games like GTA that will make you laugh, Dude Theft Wars is perfect for you.
The game takes place in a city called Dude-O-Polis where your only goal is to cause as much trouble as you can. In Dude Theft Wars, you get to steal cars, participate in slap fights, throw grenades, raid buildings, and shoot other characters. Basically, the more damage you cause, the more points you get. However, keep in mind that with every crime you commit, the number and strength of armed forces intensify, so you’ll have to brace yourself for car chases and shootouts against the police.
Download Dude Theft Wars on Android
12. Pako 2
For those looking for games like GTA that revolve mainly around driving, then Pako 2 is perfect for you. In this arcade driving game, you play as a getaway driver who helps bandits carry out their heists. Your main goal in this game is to pick them up from their heist spots and drive them to somewhere safe. However, it won’t just be a simple drive from point A to point B; the epic car chases are where the fun is, and you can expect cops to be firing at you from every which way.
Each time you successfully complete a run, you earn money, which you can then use to buy locations and fill your garage with new cars. The more cars you have, the better your chances are at escaping the authorities in your next runs. Of course, you can’t just rely on your driving skills to outrun the police; you’ll also need sophisticated weaponry to ensure your (and your crew’s) survival.
13. Rope Hero: Vice Town
Rope Hero: Vice Town is similar to GTA in that it’s also an action-adventure, third-person shooter game with a vast open-world for you to explore. In the game, you’ll also get to drive sports cars, cross bikes, helicopters, and more to defeat your enemies. The developers recently did an overhaul of the game to include better graphics and a more extensive arsenal of weapons.
You have two choices for how you want to play the game; you can either be a crime-busting hero and work alongside the police to fight gangsters or be one of the bad guys, join the mafia, and wreak havoc across the city. Whichever role you go for, you’ll have a massive collection of powerful weapons that will help you complete your missions. You get freeze rays, flamethrowers, shotguns, and so much more. But the tool you’ll use the most is your super rope, which helps you navigate the city with great ease.
Download Rope Hero: Vice Town on Android
Download Rope Hero: Vice Town on iOS
14. Vegas Crime Simulator
Vegas Crime Simulator combines all the elements you love about GTA into one chaotic mix. Similar to Rope Hero, the game lets you choose whether you want to be one of the good guys or the bad guys. Either way, you’ll have to steal cars, get into fights with criminals, and perform various death-defying tasks to level up in the game. There is a wide variety of vehicles you can use to navigate the city. In the game, you get to drive sports cars, helicopters, military tanks, and even massive robots that turn into cars.
Vegas Crime Simulator offers lots of choices for customization. You get to customize your character and dress him up however you want. Various items in the clothing store not only improve his style but also his skills, such as strength and driving ability. Plus, there are numerous vehicles to collect. You can also upgrade them so that they endure shootouts and intense car chases much longer.
Download Vegas Crime Simulator on Android
Download Vegas Crime Simulator on iOS
15. Grand Gangsters 3D
Grand Gangsters 3D is another one of the games like GTA that are lightweight. Thus, it won’t take much of a toll on your phone. The goal of the game is similar to that of the other titles on this list: climb the ranks of criminal masterminds and wreak as much havoc as you can.
The game offers four districts for you to explore. In each of these districts, you get to accomplish numerous tasks that involve stealing cars, outrunning the police, and shooting other gangsters. Plus, there are 15 weapons to choose from and tons of auto vehicles to help you complete your missions.
Download Grand Gangsters 3D on Android
Final Thoughts
Games like GTA populate app stores, but not all of them have the same thrill and scenic views that the much-loved Rockstar Games classics offer. Luckily, there are several mobile GTA alternatives that come close to the real thing, and we’ve handpicked the best ones just for you. We hope this list helped you find your next favorite open-world adventure.
Do you know of other games like GTA that didn’t make it to this list? Let us know in the comments!
