{
  "id": 18852699,
  "title": "Six open-world crime games to play while you wait for Grand Theft Auto VI",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/six-open-world-crime-games-to-play-while-you-wait-for-grand-theft",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-08T03:12:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/2026/11/08/six-open-world-crime-games-to-play-while-you-wait-for-grand-theft-auto-vi/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For gamers eagerly anticipating the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI release on November 19, there are several open-world crime games worth exploring in the meantime. Sleeping Dogs, released in 2012, stands out as a particularly notable GTA clone, transporting players to Hong Kong where undercover police officer Wei Shen infiltrates the city's dangerous Triad organizations. Saints Row 2, released in 2008, offers a more absurd take on the genre, focusing on wacky missions and chaotic activities in the city of Stilwater. Scarface: The World Is Yours, released in 2006, provides players with an intriguing premise of Tony Montana surviving the film's fatal ending, as he struggles to rebuild his drug empire in Miami. The Saboteur, released in 2009, introduces a unique twist by setting the game during the French Resistance during World War II, with the protagonist Sean Devlin fighting against the Nazis in occupied Paris. Watch Dogs 2, released in 2016, innovates by incorporating hacking mechanics, allowing players to manipulate the environment through connected technology in a vibrant recreation of San Francisco. Finally, Mafia II, released in 2010, captures the atmosphere of a specific period with its WWII-inspired setting, delivering a gritty and immersive crime experience. These games offer a variety of engaging experiences that capture the essence of the open-world crime genre while providing alternatives to the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI.",
  "summary": "Few video game franchises have been as influential as Grand Theft Auto . When Rockstar Games released GTA III in 2001, it helped redefine what an open-world game could be, enabling players to explore a sprawling city, steal vehicles, carry out criminal missions and generally cause havoc at their leisure. Its success inspired an entire generation of imitators, as developers scrambled to create…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}