- Image of The Henchmen, Courtesy of DOSMan Publishing

The Henchman May Become the Grand Theft Auto Game Rockstar Wished It Made

Originally posted on Total Apex Gaming | By David Gilbert | Last updated Oct 4, 2025 9:28 PM ET

The final months of 2025 are on the way, with the gaming community eagerly anticipating any solid news regarding the Grand Theft Auto 6 release date. For now, players will have to settle with their imaginations, relaxing on the white sands of Vice Beach, perhaps in May, enjoying the sun and a certain level of firepower. One game that allows players to live this fantasy is called The Henchman, which is set to be released in Q2 2026. But what about the game is so exciting to players?

Introducing Grand Theft Auto’s Wild Cousin

This new game honors the classics that paved the way for titles like GTA. Not only that, but it also draws inspiration from the distinct, top-down shooter, Hotline Miami. With this combination, The Henchman has an incredibly strong selling point, as it prepares for a Steam launch. So, while this imagined scenario of beach relaxing and gang warfare remains a daydream, it does make other exciting crime simulators something worth celebrating. The game promises chaotic cops-and-robbers action reminiscent of GTA 2, paired with intense, close-quarters combat that directly echoes Dennaton’s ultra-violent hit.

That said, The Henchman‘s success rests on how well these two iconic styles blend into one. Players begin the game in the fictional borough of New Queens, tracking the protagonist’s criminal career across two distinct time periods: a snow-covered 1990 and a sun-bleached 1996. Furthermore, their rise will start in the city’s underworld, with players gradually dominating its seedy underbelly entirely. For potential players, this journey can be taken completely alone or by teaming up with a friend in a two-player co-op mode.

The Henchman Unleashes Your Inner Criminal

Image of The Henchmen, Courtesy of DOSMan Publishing

Grand Theft Auto 2 is considered the most underrated entry in the entire series by many fans within the gaming industry. Its compelling risk-versus-reward gang-notoriety system was a highlight that few games have successfully replicated in the more than twenty-five years since its original 1999 release. While co-op didn’t appear in the original GTA 2, that mode was later added by intuitive modders, demonstrating a clear player desire.

As the market is already primed for a similar cooperative experience, The Henchman couldn’t have picked a better time to be released. Players may find the twenty-five-year-old game too dated, but its clear Hotline Miami influences may hold greater appeal. The thrilling concept involves clearing a building of enemies in a violent, top-down frenzy. From there, players must escape into a getaway car and explore a full open-world sandbox. Depending on how well the developers execute this idea, The Henchman could become the next cult classic.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Gaming and was syndicated with permission.

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