Best Mobile Games Like GTA for Android and iOS (2026)

Games like GTA on Android and iOS in 2026 are not just old mobile Rockstar clones, but also fully-fledged sandboxes with open worlds, cars, criminal storylines, and online modes. There have long been plenty of projects on smartphones where you can freely explore a city, complete missions, engage in car chases, participate in shootouts, and simply cause chaos for fun. In this selection, we've gathered the best mobile games like GTA on Android and iOS: from classic single-player action games to modern RP sandboxes and more unusual alternatives. This list is suitable both for those looking for a direct GTA 5 equivalent on their phone and for those who want a light open-world arcade game for a low-end smartphone.

This section features the most classic GTA-style games for mobile: a 3D open world, criminal storyline, missions, car theft, and shootouts with the police. Here, it's easiest to find mobile GTA analogues for Android and iOS that most closely follow Rockstar's familiar formula. And if you generally like non-linear mobile projects, check out our selection of open-world games on Android.

Gangstar Vegas is one of the most famous mobile GTA clones, featuring an open Las Vegas, a criminal storyline, and dozens of main and side missions. You can freely drive around the city using dozens of vehicles, participate in races, shootouts, and mini-activities like casinos. Visually, the game is already a bit dated, but in terms of scale and content, it still remains one of the main "mobile GTA" options.

Gangstar Rio takes the action to the criminal underworld of Rio de Janeiro, with favelas, beaches, and recognizable scenery. Structurally, it's a classic GTA-style sandbox: story campaign, side missions, car theft, shootouts, and city exploration. The interface and graphics are noticeably old-fashioned, but the atmosphere and setting are still captivating, and the lack of aggressive monetization makes the game stand out among the free-to-play competitors. The game's availability in stores may depend on your region, but if you wish, you can still find it on mobile devices.

MadOut2 BigCityOnline is often called the "Russian GTA": it's a large open map with a distinctive Eastern European vibe, where you can freely drive around, complete missions, and cause chaos. The main focus is on cars and arcade physics, with ramps and challenges scattered across the world to encourage crazy stunts. In addition to single-player mode, there's a large online mode where dozens of players drive around the city, participate in races, and engage in shootouts.

Online sandboxes and RP projects are perfect for those who want not just a GTA analogue on Android, but a living city with other players, a shared economy, races, gangs, and social interaction. Here, there is less focus on a strictly linear campaign, but much more freedom: you can role-play, earn money, buy vehicles, and create chaos together with friends. And if you're generally interested in current mobile hits, check out our top most popular games for Android.

Grand Criminal Online is an online sandbox about a big city, inspired by GTA, where players choose who to be: an office worker, a street gangster, or a business owner. It's an open world with PvP and PvE missions, heists, cars as the main transport, and a noticeable emphasis on social interaction between players. You can cruise around in free mode, team up with friends for co-op missions, or role-play on RP servers.

Vice Online (Flex City) is a multiplayer project with a large open city that combines racing, drifting, crime action, and RP elements. Players can form gangs, earn money, buy cars, participate in events, and gradually build their reputation online. The developers are actively updating the game: new businesses, events, and more character customization options are being added.

Codename Crime‑Vice Open World is a fresh GTA-inspired sandbox with a large open city where you can freely walk around, steal cars, and complete mafia missions. The game offers a variety of missions with shootouts, chases, and cutscenes, as well as the ability to simply explore the streets, trying out different vehicles and weapons. Thanks to a modern engine and optimization, the project looks livelier than many older clones and is designed specifically for mobile devices.

Black Russia is one of the most notable mobile RP projects in the spirit of GTA Online, centered around criminal Russia, open role-play, and a large number of online activities. Here you can work, join gangs, buy vehicles, interact with other players, and gradually climb the local social hierarchy. The game runs through a separate launcher and is more focused on a living role-play environment, communication, and long-term character progression rather than story.

This section features more unusual games similar to GTA — from old-school top-down projects to parody sandboxes and titles focused on vehicles. It's a good choice if you've already played enough of the direct GTA clones on your phone and want something lighter, funnier, or simply more experimental. If you need a project for an older device, be sure to check out our list of games for weak Android phones.

Payback 2 is styled after the early GTA games with a top-down view, but focuses on short, highly chaotic modes. The game features city shootouts, races, tank battles, massive vehicle brawls, and online matches, with missions that last just a few minutes. Thanks to relatively simple graphics and flexible quality settings, it runs well even on low-end smartphones.

Dude Theft Wars is a parody sandbox in a cubic style that offers the same basic "GTA feel," but through the lens of absurd humor and minimalist graphics. Here you can freely roam the city, steal cars, cause mayhem, play mini-games, and experiment with weapons and physics without taking things too seriously. Thanks to its simple visual style, the game runs well on weak devices and doesn't overload the interface with extra buttons.

Off The Road is not technically about crime, but it’s perfect for those who value the open world and messing around with vehicles in GTA. This sandbox features large maps where you drive off-road vehicles, trucks, boats, and helicopters, complete challenges, and simply explore the environment. There are almost no story cutscenes, but there’s a lot of freedom and complex tracks to crawl through for hours.

Bully: Anniversary Edition is not a clone, but a real Rockstar game that, in structure and feel, is very reminiscent of GTA, but takes place in a private school. Instead of the mafia, there are school gangs, classes, mini-games, and missions for classmates and teachers, but the open world of the campus and city with lots of activities is preserved. The mobile version features improved graphics, reworked controls, and gamepad support compared to the original.

The closest to the classic GTA formula on mobile are Gangstar Vegas, Gangstar Rio, and MadOut2 BigCityOnline — they have a 3D open world, a criminal story, carjackings, and lots of missions. For online, Grand Criminal Online, Vice Online, and Black Russia offer similar vibes, while fans of the older games will enjoy Payback 2 and other more arcade-style GTA games.

Yes, most current GTA-like games on Android and iOS are free-to-play. MadOut2, Grand Criminal Online, Vice Online, Off The Road, Dude Theft Wars, and Black Russia can all be tried for free, though some of these titles have in-app purchases and donations. Mostly, only older premium games and Bully: Anniversary Edition are paid.

If you need a GTA analogue for a low-end phone, start with Payback 2 and Dude Theft Wars, as well as simpler arcade sandboxes without heavy graphics. Large online projects like MadOut2, Grand Criminal Online, and Vice Online are usually more demanding on hardware, especially during long sessions or with many players on the map.

Yes, there are offline options among mobile GTA-style games. Gangstar Vegas, Gangstar Rio, Bully: Anniversary Edition, and some alternative sandboxes can be played without a constant internet connection, though some features, events, or saves may require online access. If you want a live online city, look at Grand Criminal Online, Vice Online, or Black Russia.

Modern mobile sandboxes use virtual sticks, context buttons, and often support gamepads, making the controls tolerable even in dynamic shootouts and races. However, touch controls are still less precise and convenient than on console or PC, so you’ll need a bit of time to get used to them, especially if you’ve only played GTA on bigger platforms before.

Major single-player and hybrid projects like Gangstar Vegas, MadOut2 BigCityOnline, and Bully: Anniversary Edition usually have a full story campaign. In pure online sandboxes and RP projects, the story is more often replaced by a set of activities, missions, and social mechanics, with the narrative shaped by player interactions.

If you’re looking for a mobile equivalent of GTA 5, start with Gangstar Vegas and MadOut2 BigCityOnline: they come closest to the formula of a big city, cars, missions, and chaos. If online and co-op are more important, check out Grand Criminal Online, Vice Online, or Black Russia, and for a more unusual experience — Bully and Dude Theft Wars.

And what mobile GTA-style games do you think are the best? Have you found a worthy replacement for the classics on your phone? Share your favorite projects and discoveries in the comments — we’ll add the most interesting options to the next update of this collection!

If you like GTA-like games on Android and iOS, don’t limit yourself to just crime sandboxes. Smartphones and tablets have plenty of other open-world projects with exploration freedom, vehicles, co-op, and non-linear activities — from survival to science fiction. To start, check out our selection of the best open-world games for Android, which includes not only GTA clones but also strong mobile sandboxes of all kinds. And if you need something for an older device, our separate list of games for weak Android phones will come in handy. This combination of "pocket GTA" and other open-world games helps you quickly find entertainment for a short trip or a long evening at home.