Grand Theft Auto 6 is expected to be one of the most exciting game releases of the future.
Unfortunately, the game seems to be perpetually delayed, though there is now an expectation that a release is planned. In the meantime, fans of the popular series have gotten a little bit more time to wait and wonder about what this newest instalment might look like, and of course to buy those shark cards in Grand Theft Auto Online.
Most of that speculation tends to revolve around the big things: The new setting, possibly a return to the hugely popular Vice City, the core plot and game elements, and so on. But in the lengthy run-up to this game announcement, we’ve also had time to grow curious about some of the smaller things — such as what mini-games we might like to see in Grand Theft Auto 6.
It’s a series as well known for these little side bits of entertainment, from casinos to car meets. The series has produced its share of amusement outside of the core plot and gameplay, as far back as Vice City and San Andreas, both of which have recently been remastered to keep gamers interested ahead of the sixth game. With that in mind, there are some mini-games we’d love to see in the next game.
Omaha or Stud Poker
Poker is sort of an established option as a mini-game in larger video games, having appeared in Grand Theft Auto 5 and other Rockstar games. Usually, it’s the Texas Hold’em variety of the game that is used, but in the last game, it was the less popular (and more random) Three Card Poker. The same variant as we’ve seen in Red Dead Redemption would be great, because poker is fun, easy to work into a larger experience, and makes or a good way to earn some in-game cash to buy gear with. At the same time though, it would be fun to see a twist on the poker mini-game concept in the form of different varieties of the game.
The first that comes to mind is Omaha poker, simply because it’s the most similar to Texas Hold’em, and would therefore be easy for a lot of players to pick up. The games are conceptually the same, with slight differences in how many cards players are dealt and how they can make use of the communal cards. Alternatively, any version of Stud poker would make for a fun, easy inclusion.
Soccer or Baseball
One of the most appealing aspects of Grand Theft Auto series is its emphasis on building familiar locations and revisiting them, such as Los Santos and Liberty City. While these locations are fictional, they are overtly based on different US cities and tend to do a wonderful job of bringing exciting atmospheres to life.
There are a lot of ways to bring Miami to life, which is the basis for the fictional Vice City and we have no doubt Rockstar will capitalize on many of them. On the mini-game front though, it would be a ton of fun if the game included some baseball or soccer action. These are popular sports in the city, which makes this a perfectly natural idea. Then again, while the infusion of poker (Hold’em, Omaha, stud, or other) seems at least somewhat likely, a soccer or baseball side game seems much more like a Rockstar-style inclusion.
Combat Training Courses
The inspiration for this idea isn’t quite as direct as poker being in Grand Theft Auto 5 and thus making sense as a possibility in another instalment. Nevertheless, the battle arenas in Grand Theft Auto Online do provide a sort of foundation for side combat. Said arena wasn’t exactly a mini-game in the traditional sense, but it existed in a sort of in-game bubble where you could test your skill, earn new weapons, and so on.
Another version of that arena would be a lot of fun, particularly in an all-new setting and we could easily imagine an alternative to this idea in the form of combat training courses — perhaps where gangs practise, and you can join in with your character. And if a training course sounds a bit dull compared to a gladiator, we’d simply remind you of the combat training Keanu Reeves famously went through for the John Wick films, which is kind of what we envision here. That sort of thing within Grand Theft Auto 6 would be a lot of fun.
Surfing or Kitesurfing
One last way we’ve thought of to embrace the Miami / Vice City setting and provide players with a bit of side entertainment would be to incorporate a water sport such as surfing or kitesurfing. These may actually be somewhat more likely options too, because they could be used as transportation options rather than actual mini-games.
With surfing, that might be a little bit of a stretch, as one cannot simply surf alone continually in the desired direction. Kitesurfing on the other hand involves a little bit more freedom of movement. The best kitesurfers, in the real world, can change direction with ease, surf near the shore or out in the water, and float 50 feet up into the air. That sort of activity, exaggerated just a bit for a video game, could make for a cool new method of transportation akin to jet skis in other Grand Theft Auto games.
Whether or not any of these mini-games and side activities make it in, it looks like it’s going to be a blast, and we can’t wait to play it. But any or all of these ideas would help it to stand out against its predecessors, and give players even more to enjoy than usual.
