Best Open-World Games Where You Can Be Arrested

Summary

Where there’s freedom, there’s also punishment for those who push the limits. In the open-world genre,functional police systemsare a common feature (when the time period permits), designed to monitor players' actions and act as a countermeasure for wreaking havoc. Law enforcement can also add extra challenges during missions where players must commit crimes as part of the story.

However, not every open-world game with a police system allows players to be arrested rather than killed.

In titles likeCyberpunk 2077,Mafia 3, orSaints Row The Third, there are no special animations or cutscenes for being busted; instead, law officers simply shoot on sight after a crime is committed. With that in mind, let’s explore some of the best open-world games where players can actually be arrested or busted for their actions, adding a layer of realism and immersion to the experience.

TheGrand Theft Autoseries has long been synonymous with the crime open-world subgenre, where confrontations with the police are a core part of the experience. Whether during story missions or freeform exploration, players canprovoke police responsesby attacking civilians or simply brandishing a weapon on the streets. With the highly anticipatedGTA 6on the horizon,GTA 5still stands as the pinnacle of the series' police system, showcasing dynamic and convincing encounters that include roadblocks, intense chases, and high-stakes shootouts.

InGTA 5, players can be arrested or busted by the Los Santos Police Department, or even attacked on sight,depending on their wanted levelor the context of a specific mission. Since its release,GTA 5has boasted one of the most well-developed police systems in gaming, with few competitors matching the realism, tactics, and variety of its law enforcement AI.

In the vein ofGTA 5,Red Dead Redemption 2takes things further with an even more intricate law system, tailored perfectly to its Wild West setting.Playing as an outlawby design, players frequently find themselves dealing with sheriffs and lawmen, enhanced by unique mechanics like crime witnesses who report to authorities unless swiftly silenced. Additionally, wanted levels don’t reset over time — instead, players must pay off their bounties in each region to regain their freedom.

For those short on cash or unwilling to settle their debts, the consequences can be relentless. Lawmen and bounty hunters will track players across the wilderness, regularly disrupting exploration and other plans. Ultimately, staying wanted inRDR 2is rarely worth the hassle, as it significantly complicates gameplay.

A spiritual successor to theTrue Crimefranchise,Sleeping Dogsis a standout gem in the crime-focused open-world genre. Its unique Hong Kong setting androbust hand-to-hand combat mechanicsset it apart, while its story revolves around Wei Shen, an undercover cop tasked with infiltrating the powerful Triad organization.

Despite Wei’s role as a police officer, players can still be arrested inSleeping Dogsduring both story missions and freeform exploration. Similar toGTAorRed Dead Redemption 2, resisting arrest escalates police aggression, with officers eventually attacking on sight. Attacking or killing law enforcement in the game is not only risky gameplay-wise but also misaligned with Wei’s undercover mission, making it a choice players may want to avoid.

TheMafiaseries has often been compared toGTA, despite theiropen-world designs serving vastly different purposes. However, when it comes to a functional police system,Mafia 2stands out as one of the most convincing, drawing notable parallels toGTA 5in how police rangers react when players break the law in Empire Bay City.

Players can be arrested not only for serious offenses like brandishing a gun or hitting pedestrians but also for minor infractions like speeding or jaywalking. In these cases, patrolling officers issue a fine that players can choose to pay or resist — resistance leading to arrest. This mechanic is also present inMafia: Definitive Edition, adding a layer of realism to the gameplay. Interestingly, this system is absent inMafia 3, where police officers bypass arrest entirely and opt to shoot players regardless of the severity of their crimes.

TheNeed for Speedseries has long been synonymous with exhilarating police chases, whether in open-world entries or more linear titles likeHot Pursuit. While many open-worldNFSgamesoffer similar experiences when it comes to police gameplay, the latest installments such asNeed for Speed HeatandNeed for Speed Unboundtruly elevate the thrill of cat-and-mouse games with the cops during or between high-stakes street races at night.

Both games introduce dynamic day-night racing systems. Police are relatively passive during the day, but at night, they become relentless, pursuing players across the city and its outskirts. High-intensity chases feature roadblocks, ramming by police SUVs, and even aerial surveillance from helicopters. The games' risk-reward mechanics amplify the excitement, as getting caught by the police means losing all the rewards earned during the current session, raising the stakes for every late-night escapade.

TheWatch Dogsseries is Ubisoft’s attempt to create a modern-world, crime-focused open-world experience, drawing comparisons to theGTAandMafiafranchises, with varying degrees of success. EachWatch Dogsentry features a functional police system, butWatch Dogs 2stands out as the best in this regard. It builds on the foundation of the original, enhancing interactions with law enforcement in San Francisco, while leveraging the series' unique hacking mechanics for creative and fun encounters.

InWatch Dogs 2, police officers can arrest players during story missions or free-form exploration for minor crimes or acts of aggression. However, they may alsoresort to lethal forcein high-intensity situations. Conversely,Watch Dogs: Legionsimplifies this system (similar toMafia 3), with police in dystopian London opting to shoot at player characters who engage with law enforcement, forgoing the arrest mechanic entirely.

Influenced heavily by theGTAseries, theSaints Rowseries offers a more chaotic and exaggerated take on the open-world crime genre overall, but earlier entriesfocus heavily on gang rivalries and police confrontations.Saints Row 2features an open-world police system comparable toMafiaorGTA, where Stilwater officers can stop and bust players for minor offenses at lower wanted levels.

However, starting withSaints Row: The Third, the system becomes more simplified. Similar toMafia 3andWatch Dogs: Legion, police now default to using lethal force, shooting at players regardless of the offense. Given the series' increasingly over-the-top direction in both story and gameplay, particularly in the third and fourth entries, this shift is hardly surprising.