Grand Theft Auto 6now has anofficial release date, but unfortunately, it’s in May 2026, notfall 2025 as previously expected. It was set to be perhaps the biggest launch of the year, but Rockstar says it needs more time to makeGTA 6the best game it can be. While it’s a disappointment for fans, it’s probably thebest move for the game.
But if you planned to spend your fall playingGrand Theft Auto, you probably have a pretty decent gap in your gaming schedule. Rather than lament the delay, here are five other games you can try instead. These cover the spectrum of genres, but are all great options for filling the void left in your gaming schedule.
Borderlands 4
Gearbox Software’szany, over-the-top looter shooterlaunches on September 12, a full two weeks ahead of its originally predicted date. Fans suggested the launch date might have been moved because of GTA, but now we know it was just good fortune forBorderlandsfans.
The fourth entry in the series ismore multiplayer-focusedthan ever and set on a brand-new planet with plenty of enemies to kill and Vaults to explore. So far, only two of the four playable Vault Hunters have been revealed, but you can look forward to more information at the gameplay event in June.
Ghost of Yotei
Ghost of Yoteiis the follow-up to the excellentGhost of Tsushima, but set roughly 300 years after the events of the first game. You take the role of a woman named Atsu on a quest of revenge, hunting down the men who killed her family.Ghost of Yoteibrings back many of the same mechanics of the first game, but adds new activities like stargazing to capture the same moments of peace in between combat.
Ghost of Yoteireleases on October 2on PlayStation 5. For gamers who want a darker, more story-focused game,Yoteipromises to provide exactly that while scratching that samurai-movie itch at the same time.
Bungie’s hotly anticipated extraction shooterdrops September 23. The company is best known forHaloandDestiny, both offering top-tier gunplay that makes every weapon feel fantastic to use.Marathonis a sort of spiritual successor to Bungie’s originalMarathontrilogy, with references scattered throughout but no direct link (at least not a confirmed one).
Marathonis set to drop on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC at the same time. There’s no single-player mode to speak of; the entire game is a PvPvE experience, similar to other extraction shooters likeDelta Force‘s Operations mode orEscape from Tarkov.There’s no end to choices in the extraction shooter genre, but Bungie is a studio that has changed the name of the game before. Maybe they’ll do it again.
Dune: Awakening
If you are itching for a good survival MMO,Dune: Awakeningmight be just what the doctor ordered. The game launches June 10 and is the perfect way for a fan of theDunefranchise todive into the rugged, unforgiving desert worldof Arrakis. Rather than tracking hunger, players have to monitor their hydration levels and sun exposure. You also have to pay attention for incoming sandstorms, as getting caught in one is an almost guaranteed death sentence.
Dune: Awakening blends third-person shooter elements with the exploration and missions of an MMORPG, all while throwing survival elements on top of it all. And while doing all of that, it tells an engrossing story set in an alternate version of theDuneuniverse where the enigmatic hero of the books and movies was never born. If you’re eager to get started, itscharacter creator is available for downloadnow. You can play around and figure out what you want your avatar to look like and then import it afterDune: Awakeninglaunches.
Cyberpunk 2077
Is this an oldie? Yup. But it’s still a goodie, and it’s releasing on Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5. Cyberpunk 2077 is an excellent way to get the Grand Theft Auto vibe in a more futuristic setting, rubbing elbows with underworld elements while eluding the powers that be. When it first launched, thegame was a buggy messthat left fans disappointed and was practically unplayable at points. It has come a long way since then and is more than worth revisiting.
With that in mind, it’s an expansive world with excellent writing and characters, tons of different customization for different builds, and plenty of different weapons to pick from as you shoot your way through a late-stage capitalistic world taken to the extreme. It’s available on all major platforms now, although playing it on PlayStation 5 Pro or a high-end gaming PC is the best way to get the full visual effect of Night City. And if you enjoy the base game, thePhantom Liberty DLCis worth your time, too.
