Why GTA clones don't work anymore

When people talk about open-world crime games, the first that comes to mind is GTA. And yes, the conversation about GTA clones always pops up, especially now with GTA 6 on the horizon. Back in the early 2000s, the market was full of games that tried to ride Rockstar’s wave. Some nailed a few things, some completely missed.

But the truth is, those GTA clones no longer work effectively, and there are many reasons why.

Note: Parts of this article are subjective and reflect the writer's views.

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Back when GTA clones were everywhere

Glimpses from Mafia, True Crime: Streets of LA, Saints Row, and Sleeping Dogs (Image via 2K / Activision/ THQ / Square Enix)

You had games like Mafia, True Crime: Streets of LA, Saints Row, Sleeping Dogs, and plenty more that popped up between the early 2000s and mid-2010s. They weren’t just copies either, as each had its own spin.

Mafia went for a more grounded, story-driven mob setting. True Crime leaned into L.A. culture with licensed rap tracks and a unique cop-turned-gangster vibe. Saints Row began as a mere copy of GTA but developed into a chaotic, exaggerated sandbox that carved out its own space. And Sleeping Dogs? That game felt like a gritty Hong Kong action movie brought to life as a video game.

At the time, having these clones filled the gap between GTA releases, and they gave players options. But at some point, they just stopped showing up.

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The personalities that made them work

Take Mafia, for example. It wasn’t trying to be a complete GTA replacement. It offered a different setting, a different time period, and a more focused story. It lacked GTA’s full freedom, as customization was limited, there were fewer cars, and the open world wasn’t as expansive - but it worked because it had heart.

Same goes for True Crime: Streets of LA. Looking back now, sure, the city felt empty and the voice acting was stiff, but the game had style. The music, the vibe, even Christopher Walken popping up with a voiceover made it stand out. It felt cool in its own way.

Then there was Saints Row 2, which many people argue was the closest anyone came to making a “better GTA.” The customization was deep, the open world felt alive, and the characters had weight. The Carlos storyline, for example, hit hard because it felt personal. Saints Row 3 and 4 went completely wild afterwards as there were superheroes, aliens, chaos, but people loved it because it wasn’t just trying to copy GTA anymore.

Sleeping Dogs deserves a mention too. It came in 2012, built a believable world, and nailed the martial arts-style combat system. It didn’t have GTA’s massive customization, but it had its own story identity that made it more than “just another crime sandbox.”

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Why don’t GTA clones land now?

Gameplay stills from GTA V, Saints Row, and MindsEye (Image via Rockstar Games / IO Interactive Partners / Deep Silver)

So, why don’t GTA clones work anymore? A few reasons stand out.

• First, Rockstar has the market cornered. GTA V was released in 2013, and even without a new game for over a decade, it still dominates. GTA Online alone keeps players hooked, making it tough for any other studio to justify building a rival.
• Second, the risk isn’t justified. Imagine spending years developing a crime-focused open world, only for GTA 6 to release right after your game. That fear deters studios.
• Third, many GTA clones simply didn’t age well. Saints Row’s reboot recently demonstrated this. It attempted to modernize the formula but completely missed the mark, disappointing longtime fans. And when something like MindsEye appears, trying to compete with GTA, most players dismiss it. Check out the Steam reviews, with just one example being the plenty of bug issues.

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The missed opportunity

At the end of the day, GTA clones don’t work anymore because Rockstar made itself the only voice in the genre. The same way Call of Duty dominates military shooters for the mainstream, GTA dominates crime sandboxes.

Sleeping Dogs, Saints Row of old (at its peak), Mafia, all of them brought something unique. But today, the space feels empty, and if GTA 6 is coming in 2026, it’ll only tighten Rockstar’s grip even more.

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That covers everything about why GTA clones don't work anymore.

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