Garena Free City Pre-Registration Opens in SEA, Middle East, Africa

• Garena Free City is now available for pre-registration on iOS and Android
• Currently, you can sign up in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa
• But can this GTA-like stand out?

Garena Free City, the latest addition to Garena’s growing portfolio, is now open for pre-registration across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. If you've been eagerly anticipating a new open-world mobile experience with a rebellious edge, this one might catch your attention—especially if you're still waiting for that next big evolution in a certain iconic crime series.

Let’s be upfront: Garena Free City draws heavy inspiration from Grand Theft Auto, particularly in tone and open-world structure. Set to launch on June 30th, it’s clearly aiming to capture the same chaotic, free-roam energy that fans love. But whether it succeeds will depend on how much you value originality versus pure, unapologetic fun.

At first glance, it might seem like just another mobile take on the GTA formula. But look closer, and there are signs of ambition. The game features a deep character customization system, allowing players to tweak facial features and appearances with surprising detail—closer to what you’d expect from The Sims than a typical action title. More importantly, Garena Free City doesn’t try to mimic the gritty realism of its inspirations. Instead, it leans into over-the-top action, with giant robots, explosive power-ups, and deployable cover systems that keep the gameplay dynamic and unpredictable.

Bold & Brash
Yet, for all its flashy elements, the game still leans heavily on familiar multiplayer tropes reminiscent of Grand Theft Auto Online. That’s a missed opportunity, considering its more imaginative mechanics could have set it apart. The wilder, more surreal aspects of the game are its strongest selling points—so why play it safe with standard online modes?

Timing is another concern. With Ananta, another open-world mobile title packed with wild side quests and an expansive environment, launching soon, Garena risks being overshadowed. Ananta brings a distinct anime-inspired aesthetic and a bolder sense of identity, which may appeal to players looking for something fresh. While not every player will embrace that style, it at least stakes a claim in new territory—something Garena Free City hasn’t fully done yet.

Still, there’s potential here. For players in supported regions, pre-registering costs nothing and could pay off in exclusive in-game rewards. And if Garena continues to build on its more unique features post-launch, Free City might just carve out its own space in the crowded mobile landscape.

Want to stay ahead of the curve with the latest game releases? Check out Catherine’s regular “Ahead of the Game” feature for a look at upcoming titles you can dive into right now.