ComicBook has selected four open-world games that may have provided design inspiration for Grand Theft Auto VI: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Cyberpunk 2077, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and Elden Ring. The analysis focuses on free exploration, regional diversity, and character and quest design.
Released in 2017, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild grants players significant freedom of movement. In theory, players can head straight for the final area after beginning their adventure, but insufficient equipment and resources drastically increase survival difficulty. Shrines, settlements, quests, and resource collection create multiple progression paths, while hazardous environments and gear requirements serve as natural constraints.Cyberpunk 2077 was selected primarily for its urban environment and district design. Following updates and the Phantom Liberty expansion, Night City features dense blocks, law enforcement conflicts, and scattered gigs. Areas like Dogtown further emphasize internal city contrasts through their unique aesthetics.
Grand Theft Auto VI is set in the fictional state of Leonida and marks a return to Vice City. Existing content showcases diverse environments, including rural areas, industrial zones, and urban settings. The article suggests that the nighttime city atmosphere and varied regional divisions may draw parallels with Cyberpunk 2077, though this influence remains speculative.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion exemplifies an open-world design focused on populating the map with characters and factions. Numerous NPCs, quests, and unique factions like the Thieves Guild and the Dark Brotherhood provide specific narratives for different locations. The article posits that this approach to character interaction could offer insights for Grand Theft Auto VI's dual-protagonist dynamic and group mechanics.
The final title is Elden Ring. After the tutorial phase, players are free to choose their destinations and targets, with most map areas accessible early on. While players may quickly encounter formidable enemies, they can decide whether to press on, change course, or retreat temporarily. This risk-based, rather than path-fixed, approach to exploration is a key reason for its inclusion.
These four titles each represent distinct design directions: natural limitations, urban zoning, character ecosystems, and non-linear exploration. Whether they have directly influenced Grand Theft Auto VI has not been officially confirmed; the connections listed here are based on comparative analysis of existing content.