Top 7 Games Like GTA V with a Bounty System

It’s widely known that GTA games are the best for wanted metres. Wanted metres are the systems that measure the players’ crimes and then respond accordingly by sending out the game’s equivalent of law enforcement agents. If you hit a pedestrian, you might spend only a night in jail. However, mass shootings that turn even the cops into victims will get an equal response. That is, the cops and even the army in GTA: San Andreas will treat you as a terrorist. So, they shoot to kill instead of maiming or arresting. 

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A bounty system is a mechanism that reprimands players for acting unjustly in video games. Logic says you shouldn’t hit an innocent in real life, so why practice such callousness in video games? Video games like Red Dead Redemption 2 integrate karma metre into the bounty system. So, all of your good and bad deeds will be recorded to give you a fitting ending. However, the majority of games out there aren’t that strict. 

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The 7 Best Games with Wanted Metres 

This subsection is dedicated to the games with the best bounty systems. That is, not only Rockstar Games such as GTA: San Andreas and Red Dead Redemption use this feature. However, the majority of the games on our list are developed by the New York-based game studio. United Front Games is another memorable studio that did crime games justice with its gang-related storyline.

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#1: GTA V

GTA V is the game of the decade, having lasted more than 10 years without losing too much traction along the way. Heck, the latest GTA Online represents gaming at its best because you can race other players, pull off heists, or execute assassinations. Gamers who are interested in top-notch multiplayer games can check them out here. Back to the point, GTA V is a big game with an immersive sandbox and compelling characters. Unlike other games, you’ll control three characters in GTA V, who are Michael De Santa, Trevor Philips, and Franklin Clinton.

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They all have their reasons for creating the partnership but Trevor and Michael’s are the most profound. Due reason? Because Michael stabbed Trevor in the back during a robbery and made off with the money. In many ways, Michael is working with his old friend because he wants to pay back his debt. 

That said, crime is the main profession of all three characters and players can go about that in several ways. Crowning the efforts of the developers is a bounty system that rates your crimes based on their severity. The harsher your tactics and methods are, the more brutal the punishments will be. Even sneezing wrong at an NPC can incite the anger of the cops. Using mods to balance the system or even crank it up can help you further unleash the game’s potential. Still, all eyes are on GTA 6 this time around. 

#2: Sleeping Dogs

Sleeping Dogs was created by United Front Games and published by Square Enix. You’ll control Wei Shen, an undercover cop who wants to bring down a Triad that’s involved in several murders, illegal drugs, weapons, and others. To rise in the Triad, you must be as wicked as your opponents. You’ll commit heinous crimes, beat up on targets, and even assassinate enemies on your way to the top. However, everyone at Player.com agrees that the game truly shines because of its intense martial arts fights. Combat combines punches and kicks while using environmental hazards to deal critical hits to targets. 

Besides that, we also love the wanted system, which is divided into five levels and they are: 

• Level 1: Cops will arrest you without applying too much force, but you can evade arrest and even cuff them if you’re fast enough. 
• Level 2: Cops will start shooting at you on sight. 
• Level 3: Cols will chase you with machine guns instead of pistols. You can also expect to see some officers wear special armour to bring you down. 
• Level 4: SWAT now comes after you instead of the regular police. Besides pistols, you can also expect sniping guns, assault rifles, bombs, and other types of explosives.  
• Level 5: The wave is now never-ending, so you can expect cops and SWAT at different intervals.

#3: Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a story about Artur Morgan and John Marston, whose escapades in the game are astonishing. They belonged to a gang of cowboys who didn’t fit into society and weren’t keen on abandoning their savage doctrines for the sake of civilisation. Arthur was led astray by his father figure into mugging innocents, acting as a loan shark enforcer, and even rubbing the bank. It took a disease, tuberculosis, to change his perspective on life. 

It’s an emotional journey that places the players in the shoes of a healthy man who eventually dies after being ravaged by a disease. In the later phases of the game, you’ll assume control of John Marston, the protagonist in the prequel. So, the events of Red Dead Redemption 2 occurred before the first game. This translates to a narrative-driven story that shows the ups and downs of being an outlaw in the Wild West. Back then, there wasn’t a side of the law that wasn’t brutal. 

For one, the bounty system in the game is notorious and your actions determine your karma. Karma affects the entire game, influencing sellers, townsfolk, and many other behaviours. However, the wanted system’s duality is its most endearing trait. On one side, you could hunt down targets and collect the bounty on their heads. On the flip side, kill NPCs, and you’ll start racking up stars, forcing you to skip towns. 

#4: GTA IV

GTA IV is another piece from Rockstar Games to make the list and that’s because of its compelling single-player campaign. The game was released way back in 2008, and it has certainly aged well due to the attention that modders have given it over the years. Nowadays, you can find 4K textures and visual props for the game. You’re placed in the shoes of Niko Bellic, an Eastern European war veteran who attempts to flee his past. However, no matter how hard he tries, he’s drawn back to violence and abuse, which is evident in his line of work. 

Niko works for several high-profile criminals and despite the severity of their tasks and demands, he is determined not to croak under pressure. The game’s defining feature is the huge sandbox, which comprises three islands. The islands are called Liberty City and players can cause all manner of mayhem around the region. However, no matter where you go, your actions bear consequences. 

If you stealthily approach missions, cops won’t show up to brutally murder Niko, a refugee in a fictional city that’s based on New Jersey, U.S. 

#5: Mafia: Definitive Edition

Mafia: Definitive Edition is a remake of the original game that’s based on the activities of Tommy Angelo, who rises to the top of the Salieri family, an Italian crime gang. He eventually falls, but we don’t want to spoil the rest of the storyline because our focus today is the bounty system. As a Made Man, you’re tasked with completing different missions and more often than not, they’re crimes. For that, a five-star ranking system for crime is used. 

• 1 Star: You’ll receive a Ticket from the cops.
• 2 Stars: Cops will arrest you.
• 3 Stars: Cops will shoot Tommy on sight.
• 4 Stars: Cops will use a variety of weapons to eliminate Tommy. They’ll now wield shotguns and sniping rifles.
• 5 Stars: The police now want you dead so you can expect Thompsons and SWAT trucks (Armoured trucks).

Likewise, witnesses are now returning and they will report a crime and even share your last known location with the police. Arrests can also be unforgiving, so you don’t have the opportunity to cuff cops like Sleeping Dogs’ protagonist. However, you can still resist arrest by pushing the prompt button. You can check out the Mafia games, ranked here. 

#6: Watch Dogs

Heat levels in Watch Dogs are more unique than you can imagine. In regular titles such as GTA V, you’re not a known criminal out for blood and secrets. In this entry, you’re well-known in many criminal circles because of your exploits and hacks. So, they’re constantly on the lookout for you. As a result, there are four heat levels in the game and they’re called phases. 

• The First Phase: The first phase begins with Aiden antagonising NPCs with his shady behaviour and forcing them to call 911. An icon will appear atop the NPC who’s calling the police so you still have a chance to convince them otherwise. To do that, you can knock the phones out of the NPC’s hands, kill them, or jam their networks. 
• The Second Phase: You’ll soon enter the second phase after killing an NPC and being reported by another NPC. At this point, many cops will be looking for you, hoping to push your pursuit to the next phase. The biggest indicator that you’re in the second phase is that your immediate environment will be scanned by the cops. Committing a crime in the scan zone will lead to a fervent search that brings you directly to the third phase. 
• The Third Phase: The third phase starts when a police officer catches you while you’re committing a crime. During the second phase, the police scan must not reach 100% but if it does, they’ll actively try to arrest you. The more you resist, the more drastic their approach to catching becomes. Heck, killing an officer will bring in the SWAT, who are equipped with machine guns and rifles equipped with laser targets.  

Players are far from helpless from the police, capable of fighting back via hacks that’ll raise the bridge, spikes, and blockers. You’ll also be able to jam their networks and even blow up steam pipes. 

#7: Need for Speed: Most Wanted

Need for Speed: Most Wanted is the only racing game on the list because of its intricate heat levels and the system behind them. They’re called conditions in-game, of which there are seven to fit your rising notoriety in the racing underworld. 

• Condition 1: Condition 1 is the lowest heat level in Need for Speed: Most Wanted for a reason. District police will use cruisers that look like the Ford Crown Victoria to hunt you down. 
• Condition 2: Here, cops will chase you down using black, unmarked police cruisers. These cars are also similar to the Ford Crown Victoria. 
• Condition 3: At this point, only state police will chase you down and this time, they’ll use Pontiac GTO cars. 
• Condition 4: Pontiac GTO police cars will hunt you down but this time, they’ll be black and unmarked. 
• Condition 5: This is one of the best heat levels because cops will finally start using Chevrolet Corvette C6s. These cars won’t only keep up with your pace; They’ll also form roadblocks to stop your rampage. Look out for Sergeant Cross’s team too. 
• Condition 6: Black, unmarked Chevrolet Corvette C6s will pursue you along with Rhino SUVs. Sergeant Cross himself will also join the pursuit this time around. 
• Condition 7: Only heavy Rhino SUVs will pursue you and they pack a lot of punch. So, the best evasive measure for them is to keep racing at high speeds. 

Our Final Say: Play GTA IV First

GTA IV is a classic because of its compelling campaign, which stars a complex character with a dark background. Thankfully, the in-game policing system recognises him as a threat and won’t hesitate to send forth cops to crush him. So, just watch yourself and enjoy the game. You can also check out eight isometric games if you seek a different experience in between your gaming sessions. 

Also, let’s talk about mods and cheats, which can influence your gameplay in unimaginable ways. You can use a cheat to remove or increase your wanted status at will. Some will even tweak the police’s response to crimes, giving you time to resist arrest or even stop NPCs from reporting your crimes.