Games

Best Open-World Games Where You Can Be Arrested

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2 minutes ago

January 20, 2025

Christoph Rediske

best open world games where you can be arrested

Summary

Table of Contents

Modern open-world titles often feature dynamic and convincing police systems, adding a layer of realism and tension to the gameplay.
In crime-focused games like GTA 5, Sleeping Dogs, and Saints Row 2, players are constantly at risk of being busted during missions or free exploration, with police aggression escalating if they choose to resist.
Mafia 2 and Red Dead Redemption 2 arguably boast the most realistic and grounded police systems, requiring players to adhere to the law whenever possible to avoid trouble.

Where there’s freedom, there’s also punishment for those who push the limits. In the open-world genre, functional police systems are 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.

8 Best Police Systems In Video Games, Ranked

These police systems in video games stand out from the rest due to their unique systems.

In titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Mafia 3, or Saints 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.

1

Grand Theft Auto 5

The Gold Standard Of Police Systems In Open-World Games

Systems

Released: September 17, 2013
Developer(s): Advertisement

Rockstar North
OpenCritic Rating: Mighty
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The Grand Theft Auto series 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 can provoke police responses by attacking civilians or simply brandishing a weapon on the streets. With the highly anticipated GTA 6 on the horizon, GTA 5 still stands as the pinnacle of the series’ police system, showcasing dynamic and convincing encounters that include roadblocks, intense chases, and high-stakes shootouts.

In GTA 5, players can be arrested or busted by the Los Santos Police Department, or even attacked on sight, depending on their wanted level or the context of a specific mission. Since its release, GTA 5 has 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.

2

Red Dead Redemption 2

Playing As An Outlaw Means Always Being Ready To Evade Arrest

Released: October 26, 2018
OpenCritic Rating: Mighty

In the vein of GTA 5, Red Dead Redemption 2 takes things further with an even more intricate law system, tailored perfectly to its Wild West setting. Playing as an outlaw by 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.

Split image of Deadly Premonition, Resident Evil 4, and Alan Wake 2

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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 in RDR 2 is rarely worth the hassle, as it significantly complicates gameplay.

3

Sleeping Dogs

Even An Undercover Cop Can Get Busted If They Behave Carelessly

Systems

Released: August 14, 2012
Developer(s): United Front Games

A spiritual successor to the True Crime franchise, Sleeping Dogs is a standout gem in the crime-focused open-world genre. Its unique Hong Kong setting and robust hand-to-hand combat mechanics set it apart, while its story revolves around Wei Shen, an undercover cop tasked with infiltrating the powerful Triad organization.

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Despite Wei’s role as a police officer, players can still be arrested in Sleeping Dogs during both story missions and freeform exploration. Similar to GTA or Red 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.

4

Mafia 2

A Surprisingly Grounded And Realistic Police System

Systems

Released: August 24, 2010
Developer(s): 2K Czech
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The Mafia series has often been compared to GTA, despite their open-world designs serving vastly different purposes. However, when it comes to a functional police system, Mafia 2 stands out as one of the most convincing, drawing notable parallels to GTA 5 in 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 in Mafia: Definitive Edition, adding a layer of realism to the gameplay. Interestingly, this system is absent in Mafia 3, where police officers bypass arrest entirely and opt to shoot players regardless of the severity of their crimes.

5

Need For Speed Unbound

High-Octane Police Chases With Risk-Reward Thrills

Systems

Released: December 2, 2022
OpenCritic Rating: Advertisement

Strong

The Need for Speed series has long been synonymous with exhilarating police chases, whether in open-world entries or more linear titles like Hot Pursuit. While many open-world NFS games offer similar experiences when it comes to police gameplay, the latest installments such as Need for Speed Heat and Need for Speed Unbound truly elevate the thrill of cat-and-mouse games with the cops during or between high-stakes street races at night.

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These open-world games excel in environmental storytelling, rewarding players who pay close attention to their surroundings.

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.

6

Watch Dogs 2

A Modern World With A Unique Hacking Layer To Use Against The Police

Open-World

Action

Adventure

Released: November 15, 2016
OpenCritic Rating: Strong
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The Watch Dogs series is Ubisoft’s attempt to create a modern-world, crime-focused open-world experience, drawing comparisons to the GTA and Mafia franchises, with varying degrees of success. Each Watch Dogs entry features a functional police system, but Watch Dogs 2 stands 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.

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

7

Saints Row 2

A Classic Police System In A Crime-Focused Open World

Open-World

Third-Person Shooter

Systems

Released: October 14, 2008

Influenced heavily by the GTA series, the Saints Row series offers a more chaotic and exaggerated take on the open-world crime genre overall, but earlier entries focus heavily on gang rivalries and police confrontations. Saints Row 2 features an open-world police system comparable to Mafia or GTA, where Stilwater officers can stop and bust players for minor offenses at lower wanted levels.

However, starting with Saints Row: The Third, the system becomes more simplified. Similar to Mafia 3 and Watch 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.