Some Grand Theft Auto fans have been exploring video games from other franchises while waiting for GTA 6's release. There are plenty of choices out there, and the Mudrunner series is one that can provide tons of entertainment. For those unaware, this video game series focuses on off-road traversal and features some very interesting elements. In fact, Rockstar Games can consider adapting a few of these into the next Grand Theft Auto entry.
Although Rockstar doesn't really need to learn from others, given that it is among the top names in the industry, taking inspiration might help its upcoming title become even better. With that said, let's look at five things GTA 6 should adopt from the Mudrunner series.
Note - This article is subjective and only reflects the writer's opinions.
5 Things GTA 6 should adopt from the Mudrunner series: Winch, Co-op, and more
1) Challenging terrain
Among the most integral parts of the Mudrunner series is the challenging terrain its maps offer. Earlier entries had intense mud, whereas the most recent installment, Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, features hills, mountains, and overall rocky terrain. It isn't easy to traverse, but that's what makes these games fun, along with the right driving mechanics, of course.
Grand Theft Auto 6's map will be set in a fictional state named Leonida, and while Vice City seems like its major attraction, the trailer did show a glimpse of wilderness. Traversing those areas doesn't have to be as difficult as a Mudrunner game, but a little bit of a challenge can be enjoyable and even rewarding to conquer.
2) Winch
One of the most important features of the Mudrunner series is the winch. It can be used to drag other vehicles or get one's own car out of tricky situations. Adding this to the off-road vehicles in GTA 6 could be a neat idea.
This would give them a utility-based advantage over sports or supercars, which should anyway not be ideal for off-roading. Additionally, it might even make players put some thought into which car they would want to use in Leonida's wilderness.
3) Co-op
Another feature from the Mudrunner series that Rockstar Games should add to GTA 6 is a co-op mode. Although the latter title is expected to have a dedicated multiplayer like Grand Theft Auto Online, having a co-op in story mode would be an interesting option.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is expected to have two playable protagonists, one being Lucia, who was confirmed in the debut trailer, and the other, reportedly a male named Jason. Needless to say, having an option for co-op in such a case could make playing GTA 6 story mode a lot more fun.
4) Jack Screws
Vehicles getting flipped over is a problem in both the Mudrunner and the Grand Theft Auto series. The former utilizes a Jack Screw to help with these situations, whereas the latter's current latest entry, GTA 5, features an option to automatically overturn vehicles.
Some fans find this unrealistic and would prefer another option to get out of this situation. This is where a tool like the Jack Screw can help. However, Rockstar will have to craft realistic animations for this mechanic as implementing it just as it is in Mudrunner, which is essentially a respawn, might not fit well within Grand Theft Auto's gameplay.
5) Immersive driving
Players can feel the weight of any vehicle being driven in the Mudrunner series. Even the suspension reacts realistically to each bump and dip in the terrain, contributing towards delivering an immersive driving experience.
The driving mechanics in GTA 4 also give a similar perception of weight, but that was dropped in GTA 5 for simpler mechanics. While this isn't bad, the cars do feel light and the overall driving is arcade-like. Hence, taking some inspiration from the Mudrunner series might help GTA 6 in striking the right balance.