7 Games That Are Basically Indie GTA

Grand Theft Auto 6’s delay was a sad one for fans everywhere, but on the bright side, it does give them something to look forward to in 2026. Also, there are plenty of open-world and sandbox games within the same genre to keep fans busy until May. Some obvious examples include going back to GTA classics or starting up a Saints Row game.
However, some may not know there are GTA-style indie games on Steam and other platforms that are worth checking out, too. These bite-sized experiences could help pass the time quickly until Grand Theft Auto 6 comes out and absolutely dominates the competition.
Retro City Rampage was an early indie GTA clone that rocked a lot of platforms when it was released in 2012. It's a top-down game, much like the early GTA titles, but it isn't strictly a game about committing crimes and stealing cars. Instead, it's a parody of the gaming industry as a whole, full of references to characters like Mario and The Joker, and it often breaks the fourth wall.
Sometimes the jokes get a bit out of hand, but the action is a lot of fun as the game controls better than the top-down GTA entries. There's a lot of chaos that players can muster in this 8-bit style indie game, and for a lot of GTA fans, that’s all that matters.
Shakedown: Hawaii is a spiritual successor to Retro City Rampage from the same developer, this time sporting an enhanced 16-bit visual style and taking place in Hawaii. The gameplay is similar, although the story is less focused on video game parodies and more inclined to make jokes about society as a whole, mocking everything from influencers to soda companies. It's a better tone for the game as the references don't hit players a mile a minute.
Also, the game plays a lot better than its predecessor in every department, from the shooting to the driving. There are better cars, cooler weapons, and the city is more vibrant and engaging to explore. As far as top-down GTA-like games go, this is the best one to check out so far.
Tiny Terry’s Turbo Trip is a newer indie game that is just as fun for kids as it is for older players. Terry is the titular hero of this game, and he hates doing absolutely everything. If NPCs give him a mission, he either begrudgingly agrees or flat-out says no, but players will have to do it anyway.
All Terry wants is money and a driver's license, and his quest to get what he wants is a comedic one. The characters and world feel like something out of a Rick and Morty episode, and while the designs and behavior patterns don't exactly hit the mark, that's intentional. Players can run or drive around a large city and look for treasure, take on missions, or play mini-games in a weird, albeit wholesome adventure.
Streets of Rogue focuses on the crime part of a GTA game without placing a large emphasis on stealing cars. Instead, the game focuses on randomly generated experiences wherein players can create their character, level up, and become an expert thief. They can pick locks or hack mainframes to get all the loot they are looking for.
Alternatively, walls can also be blown up, so there are many paths to becoming the best heist master in the 8-bit world. The sequel is set to release in Early Access very soon, and it will feature cars and more GTA influences. For now, players should familiarize themselves with the setup of Streets of Rogue and have fun creating mayhem in the game's many bite-sized worlds.
Hotline Miami focuses on the assassination aspect of a GTA game, specifically Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, since the two share similar 80s vibes. In each linear mission, players will have to kill every opponent in a single location, each of whom will die in one hit.
Consequently, players will also die in one hit, so missions are almost like puzzle games where players have to decide the best way to kill everyone. There are shotguns to blast through doorways or crowbars to give creeps a legging they won’t soon forget. It may not be exactly what GTA fans are looking for, but nailing the perfect kill run is satisfying every time.
Schedule 1 is one of the most chill indie experiences players can have, but it does come with a few stressors. The game primarily focuses on creating the best drugs possible and then selling them for a profit. It’s not a simulator, though, as players also have to worry about competitors, the police busting down their operations, and other crime-related dangers.
It’s still in Early Access, and while the graphics are simple, players on Steam absolutely love it. A comparable GTA experience would have to be Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars on the DS, which wasn’t so much about creating drugs as it was about selling drugs.
171 is another Steam game that is in Early Access and one that has been there for a long time. Besides some bugs and graphical issues, it does seem ready for 1.0 status, and it would be great to see it on consoles sometime soon.
The game is set in the lower economic areas of Brazil, following one man’s rise to prominence despite his lack of fortune, which is a classic setup for many of the GTA protagonists. 171 has gunplay, driving, customization options, and a whole lot more in store for GTA fans. It may lack a compelling crime drama story, but it has its moments of levity and a lot of action.