The countdown to November 19, 2026 is real, but four months is a long time to stare at a calendar. If you're hunting for the best games to play before GTA 6, this list is built for exactly that — a mix of Rockstar essentials, open-world crime classics, and neon-soaked mood-setters that will make the wait fly by and leave you better prepared for Leonida.
Start With the Rockstar Essentials
1. Grand Theft Auto 5
The obvious pick, but for good reason. If you haven't touched GTA 5 in years — or ever — now is the time. Its dual-city satire, three-protagonist switching, and heist structure are the direct foundation for what's coming. Playing it fresh will make the differences between GTA 5 and GTA 6 far more obvious when you finally land in Vice City. And with GTA Online's Kortz Center Heist arriving July 14, there's brand-new content to chase too.
2. Red Dead Redemption 2
Rockstar's 2018 western is the single best preview of GTA 6's design philosophy. The NPC routines, systemic world reactions, slower simulation-heavy pacing, and staggering detail density are all expected to carry forward. Our GTA 6 vs RDR2 comparison covers exactly which systems are likely to make the jump.
3. GTA: Vice City (Definitive Edition)
Going back to 2002's Vice City is the ultimate mood-setter. The geography, the beach culture, the pastel sunsets — GTA 6 is returning to this world two decades later, and revisiting the original makes the modern reimagining sweeter. We've broken down how the two versions of Vice City compare if you want the full nostalgia tour.
Open-World Crime Worth Your Time
4. Mafia: Definitive Edition
A tighter, story-first crime drama. If GTA 6's Bonnie-and-Clyde narrative is what excites you most, Mafia's tragic rise-and-fall structure scratches the same itch in about 15 hours.
5. Sleeping Dogs
Still the best open-world crime game most people never played. Hong Kong setting, brutal melee combat, and an undercover-cop story with real stakes. It's regularly a few dollars on sale.
6. Cyberpunk 2077
Post-patches, it's one of the deepest open-world RPGs ever made, and Night City remains the only modern open-world city that rivals Rockstar's craft. See how it stacks up against GTA 6's ambitions.
7. Saints Row: The Third Remastered
When you want GTA's chaos with none of its seriousness. A palate cleanser before the main course.
For the Vice City Mood
8. Hotline Miami
Top-down, ultra-violent, and dripping in 1980s Miami neon and synthwave. Two hours in, you'll understand the aesthetic DNA GTA 6 is drawing from.
9. Far Cry 6
An open-world tropical island with Caribbean-adjacent vibes, vehicles, and mayhem. Not a masterpiece, but its sun-bleached coastal energy is the closest big-budget stand-in for the Leonida Keys.
10. Yakuza 0
The best crime-drama storytelling outside Rockstar, set in a dense, interior-rich city. Its mix of serious narrative and absurd side content is exactly the tonal balance GTA does best.
How to Pace the Wait
Four months breaks down nicely: one Rockstar essential per month, with shorter games layered between. If you only have time for two, make them RDR2 (for where Rockstar is going) and GTA 5 (for where GTA has been). And once you're done, our pre-launch preparation guide covers everything else — preloads, storage space, and settings — so you're ready the moment servers open.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to play GTA 5 before GTA 6?
No — GTA games tell standalone stories with new protagonists and cities. But playing GTA 5 gives useful context for series mechanics and Easter eggs, and it remains one of the best open-world games ever made.
How long do I have until GTA 6 launches?
GTA 6 releases November 19, 2026 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with digital preloads beginning November 12. That's a little over four months from now.
What's the single best game to prepare for GTA 6?
Red Dead Redemption 2. It's Rockstar's most recent open world and the clearest preview of the simulation depth, NPC intelligence, and detail density GTA 6 is expected to deliver.
Are these games on current consoles?
Yes — every game on this list is playable on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, either natively or via backward compatibility, and most appear regularly in seasonal sales.
The Bottom Line
The wait for GTA 6 doesn't have to be a wasteland. Between Rockstar's own catalog, a handful of great crime epics, and a few neon mood-setters, there's easily four months of quality playtime here — and most of it will genuinely deepen your appreciation for what Rockstar is building in Leonida. Work through the list, keep an eye on the news, and November will arrive faster than you think.