Ever since Grand Theft Auto 6 was formally revealed, I've been yearning for a new city-sized sandbox. But Rockstar's latest crime epic is still months away at least, and outside of GTA, the industry doesn't really make games where you can lead the police a merry dance through a chunk of Urbania anymore. The last true open-city game (as opposed to an open-world game), was the disappointing Saints Row reboot from 2022. I suppose Cyberpunk 2077 also counts, though its priorities are very different from a GTA-style simulation.
Steam's algorithms must have sensed my longing, however, as over the last few weeks they've repeatedly recommended a game to me called Vivat Slovakia. Set in 1990s Bratislava and currently in Steam early access, it's basically a Slovakian studio's attempt to create their equivalent of Grand Theft Auto. Having passed on it numerous times already, this week I finally took the plunge. I'm not sure it was a good city break, but it was certainly a memorable one.
