The genre is often not called GTA-like at all, usually referring only to the much broader open world game design when something is akin to GTA. This has brought out some errors in what are actually of the same genre, such as Zelda and Metroid are not despite being open world-ish.

Mandatory traits:
* Open world design.
* Vehicle or ride jacking, ability to use "any" encountered vehicle or ride instead of only few pre-designated ones; or ability to use them after disposing of their former user (e.g. shooting them while driving)
* No game transitions between on foot, vehicular, or mounted movement.
* Ability to hurt almost anyone (with possible exceptions of plot protected individuals)

Optional traits:
* Third-person perspective
* Crime fiction