There’s no shortage of GTA clones out there these days, but sometimes we’re looking for something a little more wholesome thanthe usual theft and slaughter of the main series.
Games like Sleeping Dogs and Red Dead Redemption certainly spin the concept in unique directions, but equally they feature their fair share of violence.
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On the other hand, some games do manage to capture the sameopen-world freedom and interesting story contentwhile remaining family-friendly and accessible to younger audiences.
The following titles take inspiration from the GTA series in one way or another, though each one is noticeably less violent and more wholesome.
7Little Kitty, Big City
A Cat’s Eye View
Little Kitty, Big City
Little Kitty, Big City is essentially what everyone had hoped Stray would be, except without the badass dystopian cyberpunk aesthetic.
This open-world feline adventure puts players in the paws of a cat searching for a way home, but not without several unexpected encounters along the way.
Although not an especially long game, Little Kitty, Big City is a creative one witha highly interactive world. Much like the GTA series,exploration and destruction are at the forefront of its gameplay.
In addition to chases, puzzles and other challenges, you will also meet various animal NPC questgivers along the way ranging from crows to chameleons.
Overall, it’s a very lighthearted game which cat lovers will be sure to enjoy, and it also brings a refreshingly laidback atmosphere to the open world genre.
6Cloudpunk
Dystopian Cyberpunk Delivery Service
Cloudpunk is a game that may have flown under your radar unless you’rea hardcore cyberpunk enthusiast like I am. This low-poly open-world adventure puts players in the shoes of a humble delivery driver, though it soon becomes clear that the packages are anything but ordinary.
Set in the strobing dystopia of Nivalis, the game featuresa great blend of futuristic driving, exploration and problem-solving, along with some interesting plots and characters.
Although it plays more like a platformer at times, Cloudpunk will satisfy your yearning for big-city exploration as well as tell a story about rising through its criminal underworld.
What makes the game so wholesomeis its pixel-art aesthetic, which helps to give a much more wholesome and lighthearted tone to the game.
A Beloved PS2 Classic
Jak 2 is what would happen if the Crash Bandicoot and GTA series had a baby. Yes, it is every bit as awesome as it sounds, particularly forthose of us who grew up in the PlayStation 2 era.
Taking direct inspiration from the success of GTA 3, Jak 2 gives players full reign over its detailed open worldand emphasizes fast-paced combat. The variety of different vehicles, known as Zoomers, also emphasize the creativity and style of the Jak universe.
The game’s charming and cartoonish aesthetics keep things light hearted, but Jak 2 is an undeniably difficult game at times.
Jak 2 was certainly ahead of its time both technically and in terms of its creative gameplay. Not only was it the first PS2 title to use a Progressive Scan feature, allowing for it to played at a higher resolution, it also raised the bar for detailed cinematic cutscenes in a way that had not been seen before.
4Tiny Terry’s Turbo Trip
Reach For The Stars
One of the most unique and memorable GTA clones to come out in recent years has to be Tiny Terry’s Turbo Trip. This humorous open-world adventure sees players take on the role of Terry, a small blue creature with a dream of one day going to space.
Though it may bea relatively short journey overall, it is a fun one throughoutand has a particular sense of humor that is very inoffensive.
What makes the game so special is the way you will have to gradually upgrade Tiny Terry’s taxi and turn it into a space ship.
This is done through collecting an assortment of parts and completing missions for NPCs in the town of Spranklewater. It’s very chaotic and clearly GTA-inspired, but all done in a very good spirit.
3SpongeBob SquarePants: The Patrick Star Game
The Ultimate SpongeBob Open World
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Patrick Star Game
The Patrick Star Game is one of the most fun children’s games I have played for years, and that’s due to the variety of different activities available in the open world of Bikini Bottom and beyond.
Whether it’s racing cars for Mrs Puff and assembling burgers at the Krusty Krab, or exploring the Glove World fun fair and paraglding with Sandy Cheeks, this game would have been absolute dream when I was growing up.
With that said,it is still fun for adults and certainly one of the most wholesome games you will come across, particularly if you grew up watching SpongeBob, as I did.
In addition to the exploration and familiar characters you will meet, the activities are tremendous fun and different from one another.
2Lego City Undercover
Presenting Lego GTA
Lego City Undercover
Unless you’ve played it already, you might think I’m exaggerating when I say thatLego City Undercoveris up there with the very best Lego games of all time.
With an open-world setting and plenty of crimes to solve,the game does a great job of balancing out more focussed missions with open-ended exploration.
The cutscenes are full of references to old police movies such as Die Hard and The Naked Gun, making it just as enjoyable for an older audience.
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If, like me, you also grew up playing with Lego, the different character designs and attention to detail can really make you feel as though you arelooking at the real figurines again.
The charming atmosphere and designs certainly make it a wholesome experience, while the dramatic and action-packed missions in an open-world setting give it a deserved GTA-clone status.
1The Simpsons: Hit and Run
The Ultimate Family-Friendly GTA Clone
The Simpsons Hit and Run
When it comes to wholesome GTA clones, it doesn’t get much better thanThe Simpsons: Hit and Run. For many of us 90s kids, this PlayStation 2 classic was a gateway drug into the chaotic, joyriding mayhem of the Rockstar series.
Widely consideredthe best Simpsons game of all time,Hit and Run lets players explore Springfield in an open world format with plenty of fun activities and questsscattered throughout.
The story features a variety of missions, ranging from collecting groceries and delivering Lisa’s science project all the way up to taking on Mr Burns and his swarm of mechanical wasps.
Fans of the TV show will certainly be at home here, with many iconic characters such as Comic Book Guy and Principal Skinner featuring as NPCs.
If there’s any Simpsons game that deserves a remaster, it’s this one. With that said, the original still holds up surprisingly well considering it was initially released in 2003.
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These locations will give players plenty of reasons to explore the open worlds of the GTA series.
