6 Sandbox games like Grand Theft Auto Online that you should try

Games like Grand Theft Auto Online · Find similar →

We filtered the 50 games similar to Grand Theft Auto Online down to the 6 that fit the “Sandbox” category. theHunter: Call of the Wild™, Tower Unite and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Grand Theft Auto Online.

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GenreShooterSubgenreFPS

The best sandbox games like Grand Theft Auto Online

6 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Grand Theft Auto Online. Each one has been evaluated across 12 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1theHunter: Call of the Wild™

iRank75

GenreShooterSubgenreFPS

MultiplayerCo-opSoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 89%· 197KRAWG👍 62%· 227MC74IGDB74· 5OC68· 26

Year 2017Dev Expansive Worlds · Astragon EntertainmentPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are first-person shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with sports simulation, deep simulation and survival mechanics, while skipping visual third person

GenreShooterSubgenreFPS

MultiplayerSoloCo-opSandbox WorldOpen WorldExplorationThird PersonFirst Person

Steam👍 90%· 22KRAWG👍 69%· 60

Year 2016Dev PixelTail GamesPlaytime ~7hOn PC

✓ Both are first-person shooters — sharing shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: racing gameplay, deep simulation and card game strategy

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Steam

#3S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat

iRank88

GenreShooterSubgenreFPS

SoloMultiplayerOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationFirst Person

Steam👍 96%· 31KRAWG👍 90%· 947MC80IGDB79· 3

Year 2009Dev GSC Game WorldPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the first-person shooters cluster, with shooter, first-person shooting and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with survival mechanics, deep RPG systems and horror tension, while skipping co op

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Steam GOG Xbox

#4Red Dead Redemption

iRank89

GenreShooterSubgenreFPS

SoloMultiplayerOpen WorldSandbox WorldExplorationThird Person

Steam👍 92%· 19KIGDB92· 8OC79· 62

Year 2010Dev Rockstar North · Rockstar GamesOn PlayStation 3 · PC

✓ Same family of first-person shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with third-person shooting, deep RPG systems and strong narrative focus, while skipping co op

GenreShooterSubgenreFPS

SoloMultiplayerSandbox WorldFirst PersonThird Person

IGDB70· 2

Year 2003Dev Digital Anvil · Microsoft Game StudiosOn PC

✓ Same family of first-person shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings deep simulation, setting scifi and visual isometric, while skipping open world exploration

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#6Max Payne 3

iRank88

GenreShooterSubgenreFPS

SoloMultiplayerSandbox WorldThird PersonMelee

Steam👍 87%· 63KIGDB89· 12

Year 2012Dev Rockstar New England · Rockstar GamesOn PlayStation 3 · PC · Mac

✓ Same family of first-person shooters: shooter, first-person shooting and sandbox freedom

≠ Stands apart with third-person shooting, strong narrative focus and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping open world exploration

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Steam Xbox

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