Grand Theft Auto is a franchise mostly known for its open-world violence. There is a good story and the missions are well-designed, but the mayhem is what many first think about when it comes to the franchise. Grand Theft Auto Online, the multiplayer component for Grand Theft Auto V, similarly is based around engaging in anomalous activities.

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However, there is so much more to it. Numerous diversions in GTA Online would have players thinking it is more of a role-playing game than an open-world adventure. Any player who needs a break from all the killing might want to try out the activities listed below. Some might even end up being more fun than building up a criminal empire.

9 Tennis

GTA 5 tennis

Just like in the main game, players can hit the courts and engage in a friendly game of tennis. They can even play against their friends.

It is not solely about the fun of the sport and competition. Playing tennis will help increase certain stats too. It won't help real-life fitness, but stats are extremely important to making missions easier.

8 Golf

Golf plays a surprisingly big part in Grand Theft Auto. A mission in Vice City involves chasing somebody down while they are shooting some holes, and players in GTA Online first meet Dr. Dre in The Contract expansion while he is playing the sport.

All these events involve violence and intimidation. Players will be glad to know they can simply relax and enjoy a game of golf, assuming it is their wish. Golf is not exactly the most energetic sport, but it can be a tranquil pastime for those whole like it.

7 Go To The Movies

GTA online movie theater entrance

With some people being less eager to sit in cinemas these days, many prefer to stay home and enjoy movies in the comfort of their living rooms. The ability to head to a cinema in Grand Theft Auto Online might be appealing to them.

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They cannot watch real movies, but Rockstar Games made their own short films using the engine. One of the movies players can watch is Meltdown, which was produced by Michael De Santa and was a big part of the latter half of the single-player campaign.

6 Playing Darts

darts gta v

Longtime Grand Theft Auto fans will recall how annoying it was for Roman Bellic to call Niko in GTA IV to play darts or go out drinking. Many players are probably more likely to play darts if they are not being pressured by an NPC.

It is a simple, but fun, minigame requiring precision and timing. Compete with friends to see who is the best at darts before going on a mission. Final Fantasy 7 Remake also includes a fun minigame using the popular bar pastime.

5 Shooting Range

shooting range gta online

This one is riding the edge a little. Is shooting a gun an inherently violent act? Regardless of one's thoughts on the matter, there are no laws being broken by heading to the Ammu-Nation shooting range and blasting some targets.

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It is maybe not the most fun players can have shooting guns in GTA Online, but it is a solid way to increase a gun's stat without a lot of danger. The shooting range was a part of a mission in Vice City and was expanded upon in San Andreas.

4 Watch TV

tv gta online

Watching television in GTA Online works similar to watching a movie at the cinema. Fans of GTA IV will also be familiar with what kind of offering the TV has in Los Santos. They are generally aimed at parodying American television.

Some content might be outdated because the game is almost 10 years old, but some things never go out of style. In addition to the fictional programs, players can also use the TV to spectate on other players.

3 Arm Wrestling

arm wrestling gta online

It is difficult to make arm wrestling compelling in gaming and movies. In the former, it is hard to do anything except make it a button-mashing minigame. Instead of simply pressing one button, players have to move the analog stick quickly from one direction to the other.

Everybody wants to win, but players should be careful not to ruin their analog sticks. It is definitely not as prone to breaking as the minigames in Mario Party requiring players to rotate their sticks.

2 Getting Really Drunk

getting drunk gta 5

Going out drinking often seems like a fun time, but overindulging leads to trouble and health issues. There are fewer consequences in GTA Online, so players should feel free to drink to their heart's content without adverse health effects.

Drinking too much, however, will cause players to pass out and wake up in various places. It is definitely not something one will do by accident. Getting drunk is another aspect of the gameplay that goes back several games.

1 Races

races gta online

To be fair, some races are not exactly legal. Street races are generally done without proper permits and have players weaving in and out of civilian traffic. On the other hand, it is safe to say other races that take place on tracks in the sky are not a part of the canon GTA Online world.

It is a lot of fun to compete in races with either friends or strangers, with some cool adversary modes to play. One example is Sumo, which has players try and knock each other's cars off the sides of the arena. The racing in Grand Theft Auto 5 is good enough to rival most other racing games.

Grand Theft Auto Online is out now for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. The PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions are coming out on March 15th.

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