Where would gaming be without the monumental success and revolutionary gameplay of Grand Theft Auto III? Noted development studio DMA Design and world-renowned publisher Rockstar Games took the gaming industry by storm when they released their massive open-world action-adventure experience in 2001.
The buzz surrounding the game’s mature content matter, amazingly detailed rendition of New York City, ruthless gunplay and mind-blowing sense of freedom forced everyone to add a PlayStation 2 to their home console lineup. Since GTA III’s genre-defining impact took hold, Rockstar Games has released several outstanding sequels and spinoffs. Grand Theft Auto V has easily become a gaming phenomenon that is still updated to this very day and always finds itself on the charts for most copies sold for a video game. With over 100 million copies sold worldwide, GTA V has earned the moniker of one of the best selling video games of all time and one of the biggest earners in any entertainment medium.
Now it’s a safe bet that we’re not going to get a good look at the next game in the much-celebrated GTA franchise for a very long time. Sticking with GTA V’s massive online suite helps make the wait less tortuous, of course. But there’s also another way that GTA fans can get their open-world fix in the vein of their beloved series. The games listed below feature the same type of huge expansive areas that call upon you to complete missions important to the story or simply cause all sorts of havoc. Prepare to pour an ungodly amount of time into these 10 picks and enjoy the many fruits that fell from GTA III’s learning tree.