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[Certinty]

I recently jumped back into GTA IV due to it being on sale on Steam and despite the shortcomings everyone has always mentioned (mainly the gunplay), I was shocked at how well the open world held up. In fact it didn't just hold up, it blew me away even in 2024.

It's lively, the size of the overall map is great, each borough feels more than unique, pedestrians react to almost everything, the physics exploring the world are great and so on. You can literally just drive and walk around for hours as there's so much to see.

I think the biggest issue is the 'piss filter' the game has which many games around the time also had. I know Rockstar were going for the depressing vibe with the visuals but perhaps it was a bit overdone here.

Either way, I still can't believe when it comes to a city in an open world game, GTA IV is still the best. No doubt when it comes to open worlds overall V's San Andreas and especially Red Dead Redemption 2's world are better, but in terms of just a city alone, Liberty City is still unmatched in my eyes.

What do you think?

 

[VulcanRaven]

Its one of the best but I wish central island was bigger like the real Manhattan. Other great are Empire Bay (Mafia II) and Chicago (Watch Dogs).

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

San Andreas was the epitome of GTA.

 

[Chuck Berry]

Watch_Dogs’ Chicago is much better imo

 

[Klik]

I really hope physics/car deformation in GTA 6 will be more like in GTA 4

GTA 5 was kinda too arcade.

Im not saying it has too be like BeamNG but i remember putting hours and hours into GTA 4 just crashing around

 

[Certinty]

Watch_Dogs’ Chicago is much better imo

Good shout. Watch Dogs 2 San Francisco is right up there too, especially in liveliness.

Quite crazy though, these are games released in 2013 and 2016 (and GTA IV in 2008 and V in 2013) and I would say everything since has not even come close. Just looking at Insomniac's Spider-Man games which I love, the cities are just so incredibly lifeless despite the amount of cars and pedestrians.

 

[Hugare]

I think I agree with you, OP

I'm currently playing GTA IV on PC and the level of immersion is something else. It feels like a time capsule to the NY of early 2000's post 9/11

Also, be sure to install Fusion Fix for a much, much better experience on PC

Fusion Fix and other useful stuff

Watch_Dogs’ Chicago is much better imo

Watch_Dogs is an amazing franchise when it comes to immersive cities

WD 2 San Francisco was also great

 

[diffusionx]

Its one of the best but I wish central island was bigger like the real Manhattan. Other great are Empire Bay (Mafia II) and Chicago (Watch Dogs).

Real Manhattan is small especially compared to real Brooklyn and Queens!

 

[VulcanRaven]

Good shout. Watch Dogs 2 San Francisco is right up there too, especially in liveliness.

Quite crazy though, these are games released in 2013 and 2016 (and GTA IV in 2008 and V in 2013) and I would say everything since has not even come close. Just looking at Insomniac's Spider-Man games which I love, the cities are just so incredibly lifeless despite the amount of cars and pedestrians.

The cities in Spider-Man games are different because you spend most of the time web-swinging. Street level details are not as important.

 

[cormack12]

Yeah GTA V is still super realistic but the window dressing let's it down. Wd1 and wd2 are much better imo, but legion is shit.

 

[IDKFA]

GTA V pisses over GTA IV. Bigger, more vibrant, more things to see and do etc.

GTA V is the greatest open world sand box ever made.

Case closed

 

[Hudo]

Not open-world but I like City 17.

 

[Boss Mog]

Night City is the best afaic.

 

[Moses85]

Watch_Dogs’ Chicago is much better imo

With this Ubicrap

 

[HL3.exe]

From a city fidelity standpoint? Nah.
I love GTA IV for it's physics, low-level simulation reactivity and grounded tone.

I felt it's structure was dated on release, I wish you could use it's simulation to solve missions, instead of the linear scripted structure it uses (and Rockstar still uses).

But for my money, GTA IV is my fav R* title, and a huge leap from San Andreas. I'm still hoping GTA VI will finally have a open-ended approach structure in it's mission design using the world simulation and systemic rules to solve problems, MGSV/BOTW style. But I already know the answer to that wish.

 

[Chuck Berry]

Good shout. Watch Dogs 2 San Francisco is right up there too, especially in liveliness.

Quite crazy though, these are games released in 2014 and 2016 (and GTA IV in 2008 and V in 2013) and I would say everything since has not even come close. Just looking at Insomniac's Spider-Man games which I love, the cities are just so incredibly lifeless despite the amount of cars and pedestrians.

Fixed that WD1 release date. Was going to say about the same thing. That's the PS4 version of Watch_Dogs. Look at how atmospheric that first shot is with the cloudy rainy shitty weather and seeing the interior of the buildings. Ubi was pulling that shit off ten years ago.

It's still my favorite Ubi open world and in my top 15 ever and one that I think could never be made today. Go back to that game now and youll see how fucked and dark it is. Pre Trump era games fuckin rule.

 

[Dazraell]

Liberty City was good, but I think Night City topped it. I rarely felt as immersed in the world as I was while playing Cyberpunk

 

[Soltype]

I'd say yes, I keep installing it now and then to see the city even though the game isn't that great. San Andreas was a better game, but GTA IV's city had such a presence it almost carried the game even with its shortcomings.

 

[Kupfer]

For me, Night City it is.

The map is so packed with details and when I'm walking around there I'm constantly discovering new alleys, new paths, new levels, new POI's, the city feels like a real big city to me.
For me, night City is the most immersive and believable open world at the moment.
After that would be the map and inhabitantsof GTAIV

 

[Eimran]

I always found Liberty city the most boring city in the GTA franchise. I liked GTA IV as a game but compared to Vice City's beaches and islands and San Andreas' countryside, deserts, and diverse cities, IV was just a letdown.

I also like flying planes, for which LC, is not designed.

GTA V was much more fun.

Best formula is SA: multiple cities with each a different atmosphere seperated by countryside, desert, oceans and islands. GTA 6 seems to go back in this direction.

I also don't expect rockstar to make cities which are more linear. Those can't be milked for GTA online.

 

[Heisenberg007]

It's fantastic, but RDR 2 takes the cake for me. Absolutely mind-blowing open-world stuff in that game.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

San Andreas was the epitome of GTA.

This.
Haven't really played a GTA since (very little bit of GTA V Online).

GTA VI will be the first GTA since SA I will actually play and I have high hopes for it.
For some reason, I think it will raise the bar for the franchise.

 

[makaveli60]

Los Santos definitely feels like a downgrade after it, for sure.

 

[Hugare]

For me, Night City it is.

The map is so packed with details and when I'm walking around there I'm constantly discovering new alleys, new paths, new levels, new POI's, the city feels like a real big city to me.
For me, night City is the most immersive and believable open world at the moment.
After that would be the map and inhabitantsof GTAIV

I love this game, but Night City is all smoke and mirrors. Absolutely gorgeous to look at, but devoided of any life, even after all the patches.

This city with GTA pedestrians or even Watch_Dogs 2 would be the best, 'cause it was perfectly designed, full of personality

Every pedestrian has basicaly the same animations, few lines, show up everywhere no matter the district you are in and etc.

There arent even NPCs in bikes 'cause it was too hard to implement. So you are the only individual riding a bike in the whole city despite having bikes everywhere.

 

[stn]

Morrowind, and CP2077 have my favorite open worlds.

 

[Games of Today]

Yes for me it's GTA IV hands down.

There are minor things that don't even happened in GTA 5 or RDR2 such as NPC car accidents, sometimes they'll just start shooting at eachother which REALLY cracks me up. You can also start fights by punching someone, then run and stand on top of a car and call the cops and the cops will actually come and arrest the NPC that's perusing you.

You would think that especially in RDR2 there would consistently be NPC gun fights and even duels. That would add so much to the immersion.

Pala in Far Cry 2 gets an honorable mention. That actually feels exactly what I would expect an African city to feel like. Guys patrolling the streets with rifles, talking on phones, if you bump into them they tell you to watch where you're going, if you aim guns at them they put their hands up and tell you rethink your decision, if you fire your weapon at all every other NPC will attack you for breaking the ceasefire. It's all outstanding.

 

[Scotty W]

I wanted to love this game so bad, but I cannot get past the car physics. Why are they so bad? Why does this not bother some people?

 

[DaciaJC]

I wanted to love this game so bad, but I cannot get past the car physics. Why are they so bad? Why does this not bother some people?

On the contrary, the driving physics are one of IV's highlights. They were way dumbed down in V - hopefully they don't make the same mistake in VI.

 

[Sushi_Combo]

I keep going back to GTA IV, I've replayed the main story quite a few times. Even just roaming around and playing with the crazy physics engine is still fun af to this day.
Love the radio stations too.

 

[existensmaximum]

Night City.

 

[MirageMew2]

It’s the best ever NYC open-world for sure.

 

[Woggleman]

It's the best video game depiction of New York in a game.

 

[amigastar]

It's the best video game depiction of New York in a game.

This.

It's not the best GTA for me, that would be GTA V and GTA Chinatown Wars.

 

[Woggleman]

The game even nails it's depiction of North Jersey. There are so many small nuances that add up to make it a very immersive world.

 

[R6Rider]

Nah, it's not even the best in the series.

San Francisco in Watch Dogs 2 is the best for the open world sandbox style.

 

[AeonGaidenRaiden]

No, after San Andreas it felt like a downgrade. The story and controls benefited but the world itself meh. I just think at that time they had no idea how to make such a large open world on the consoles yet. GTA 5 is miles ahead of 4.

 

[Scotty W]

On the contrary, the driving physics are one of IV's highlights. They were way dumbed down in V - hopefully they don't make the same mistake in VI.

People always use this expression “dumbed down” and it is in bad faith. I simply cannot control the car. This is the only game with this problem.

 

[Thaedolus]

+1 Night City but GTA IV’s physics were insane, and V’s system was a total downgrade

 

[Rocco Schiavone]

Sleeping dogs >>>>GTA IV.

 

[Hawkeye2890]

Wouldn't know. The driving view angle and driving in general was so bad I could not get past an hour or two.

 

[BennyBlanco]

As far as recreating an actual IRL city it’s definitely my favorite. Loved going to the 1.5 blocks of little italy and fucking with the NPCs.


But Night City wins IMO for being so dense and detailed. The NPCs are nowhere near Rockstar level though.

 

[Flabagast]

In terms of design and scale Night City is obviously the right answer, everything is taller and more detailed than any other video game city



However NPC AI and behavior are less complex than GTAV, which remains the best on that front I would say (with Watch Dogs not being far at all)

 

[TheRobot]

Obligatory.

 

[Arsic]

City specific is Night City. It was the main character of Cyberpunk.

 

[Spyxos]

No.

 

[NeverYouMind]

I like Mafia III's New Bordeux, Yakuza Zero's Kamurocho, Judgment's Yokohoma, and Yakuza 5's Tsukimino better.

 

[Laptop1991]

The complaints about GTA 4 did include it was too much of a city simulator and lacked the fun of San Andreas, which Rockstar corrected with the dlc's, so it is a contender if realism is a factor

 

[Spyxos]

As far as recreating an actual IRL city it’s definitely my favorite. Loved going to the 1.5 blocks of little italy and fucking with the NPCs.


But Night City wins IMO for being so dense and detailed. The NPCs are nowhere near Rockstar level though.

I really liked the addon, but as soon as you don't have a mission this world is incredibly boring and I don't know what else to do. I never had this problem with Gta.

 

[PonyStation4]

It's fantastic, but RDR 2 takes the cake for me. Absolutely mind-blowing open-world stuff in that game.

Which city in RDR2 are you referring to?

 

[amigastar]

I like Mafia III's New Bordeux, Yakuza Zero's Kamurocho, Judgment's Yokohoma, and Yakuza 5's Tsukimino better.

Mafia III had so much potential to be something really awesome, but it was repetitive unfortunately with no varied missions at all.