Not Getting GTA 6? Here Are Some Great Alternatives!

“Hopefully things will be better in November – that’s when Grand Theft Auto 6 comes out.” This is a frequently repeated quote from recent South Park episodes, and if it makes into this show once, let alone several times, it is a massive cultural phenomenon. Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) is the single most anticipated and popular game release of all time. It is so large that mainstream media is anticipating many people to take off or completely skip work for weeks on end just to play this game. Whether that actually happens will be seen upon GTA 6’s release on November 19, 2026, but the hype is absolutely colossal and for good reason. GTA 6 has been in development for over a decade and has accumulated an approximate two-billion-dollar production budget, making it one of the largest entertainment projects ever. Not to mention that all the previous GTA games are widely regarded as some of the best games ever. Understandably, there is nothing but pure excitement for the release of GTA 6 and it has eclipsed every other recent game release.

That said, there are many reasons why gamers may not purchase and play this game on release. For example, GTA 6 will only be released on PlayStation and Xbox on November 19^th, so PC players are out of luck. Likewise, maybe certain gamers are waiting for the hype die down and reviews to come out – is it as good as its supposed to be and worth the $80 price? It is also being released very close to the holidays, and some gamers just don’t have time to play it on release. No matter what the reason is for not playing it on release, know that there are other newly released, AAA options for gamers to play. In no particular order, here are five of those games:

1. World of Warcraft: Forever – Released on November 4^th, this MMO is the newest version of the WOW franchise. It is effectively WOW as it was released in 2004, but with tons of content including updated graphics, new raids and dungeons, new items and gear, reworked classes, and much more. The Forever part hints at the fact that this game will get continual updates and new content over the months and years, but the level cap will remain at level 60. This means that taking a break from the game does not put the player behind the active players, their progress will always remain the same and relevant. This is available on PC for a monthly subscription of $15 a month.
2. Final Fantasy Resonance – Flying under the radar is the newest Final Fantasy franchise game that was released on October 22^nd. This game harkens back all the older JRPG Final Fantasy games with complex turn-based combat and charming pixel art sprit graphics. It boasts a new narrative story that incorporates many of the Final Fantasy staples that players have come to love, like Chocobos, and genuinely interesting world buildings. This is available on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC for $50.
3. Path of Exile 2 – Finally getting its 1.0 full release on December 12^th, this game is said to be the best ARPG of all time. It is being released with a fully completed story, an infinitely playable end game, two completely new and unique classes, a variety of different content types that all reward players with valuable loot, and much more. If not for GTA 6, this game would likely be the talk of the internet in December. This game will be available for free on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
4. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake – This is a remake of the game that put the Legend of Zelda franchise on the map was released on November 5^th. It features updated graphics and mechanics, modern design philosophy, and more while keeping the original story, gameplay, and music that many fans love. One of the most unique and coolest features is the ability to use a microphone to control Link’s Ocarina in-game. This game is available on Nintendo Switch 2 for $70.
5. Phantom Blade Zero – Mark down another epic souls-like for the history books, released on October 29^th. This game follows an elite assassin trained in Chinese martial arts and weapon styles. It showcases innovative combat, unique bosses, high-quality graphics, a captivating story, fun progression systems, and much more – all taking inspiration from the souls-like greats before it. This game is available on PlayStation and PC for $60.

This list is by no means an exhaustive list of all the games that are being released around the same time as GTA 6, just some of the largest. There are plenty of other games, especially indie games, releasing during this time and deserve attention.