TheGrand Theft Autoseries remains one of the most dominant franchises in gaming history. Rockstar Games established a sandbox template that was revolutionary back in the day, and even now is emulated by most other open-world AAA games that have a focus on crime.
Every game in theGTAseriesis worth checking out for players who want to enjoy the series' rich history for themselves. The love that players have for this series can’t be emphasized enough. These titles boast compelling gameplay loops that will keep fans coming back for more.
Grand Theft Autowas born from the ashes of a simple glitch that changed Rockstar Games' fortunes for good. After seeing how aggressive cops were becoming in one of their projects because of a coding oversight, they found that the joy of outrunning cops was so engaging that they decided to make a title that revolved around this gameplay loop.
This led to the development and release of the firstGrand Theft Autotitle, and fans had a great time with it. The arcade gameplay was rough yet enjoyable as players completed missions and avoided cops, all while trying to prevent their character from being wasted or busted in a compact, detailed sandbox that was impressive back in the day.
The success ofGrand Theft Autoprompted Rockstar Games to go all in with this franchise. They refined the gameplay loop and polished things up to develop a sequel.GTA 2was more of the same, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Grand Theft Auto 2was a noticeable improvement from its predecessor, and a great game that fans could sink their teeth into. The gameplay loop was cathartic and retained the arcade-like feel, making it a great title to sink some hours into. Players caused untold mayhem and destruction in this sandbox.
Trying to emulate the gameplay of modernGrand Theft Autogames on a handheld was ambitious, andChinatown Warsdeserves credit for being largely successful in this endeavor. This portableGTAgame is a blast to play through and serves as a homage of sorts to the series' origins.
The gameplay is bound to suffer from being released on a handheld console with limited power. Still,Chinatown Warsworks around these restrictionsto let players enjoy a fun action-adventure game with impressive production values. It may not be as memorable as the mainlineGTAentries, but fans who checked out this game on the DS or their mobiles have fond memories of completing action-packed missions and evading the police.
Grand Theft Auto 3is one of the most important and revolutionary open-world games ever made. The shift to a third-person 3D open-world game was well-received by the masses, who couldn’t get enough of this living, breathing world.
For a first attempt, it’s amazing to see how many thingsGrand Theft Auto 3got right. Shooting up enemies and completing varied missions never gets old, even if some aspects of the gameplay needed to be refined in later titles.
The immaculate vibes ofVice Cityare enthralling to this day. Players love the act of sitting in two-wheelers (a new vehicle type added in this game) and roaming around an urban landscape inspired by Miami. Tommy Vercetti’s story as he regains his glory following a stint in jail is something that fans will love if they’ve seen classic gangster movies likeGoodfellasandScarface.
The inability to swim was puzzling in a game set in a coastal city, but that’s the only enduring complaint in what was a huge step forward fortheGTAseries. Missions had more variety, and the story had a ton of emotions that allowed players to be invested in no time. They acquired properties, performed side activities, and amassed an arsenal of impressive weaponry.
Rockstar’s final game in the 3D Universe is a title that fans can’t stop raving about to this day. With a massive world, iconic protagonist, and a compelling story that takes players to three unique cities, it’s easy to see whySan Andreasis hailed by manyas one of the bestGrand Theft Autogames ever made.
Players could finally swim as they completed a ton of engaging open-world activities in CJ’s shoes. The role-playing elements added to this game were simple, yet immersive enough to get players invested in improving CJ by managing his food portions, going to the gym regularly, and engaging in certain activities like shooting and flying to improve his competency with these tasks.
Grand Theft Auto 4was a huge step forward for a series that had relied on a single engine to develop a wealth of qualityGTAgames. The open world needed to be smaller to keep the scope manageable, but Liberty City managed to wow players with its urban locales and amazing sights.
The gameplay is also more engaging and realistic than before, with bullets carrying a ton of weight asNiko uses a massive arsenal of weaponsto take out his enemies. This action is a huge step over its predecessor. It also helps thatGrand Theft Auto 4ties all this together with what is arguably the best narrative told in aGTAgame to date.
Grand Theft Auto 5is a labor of love that clearly had a ton of hard work put into it. This technical marvel was so ahead of its time that the full capabilities of this title could only be unlocked on next-gen consoles, showing just how malleable Rockstar’s in-house engine was.
The current version ofGTA 5features two unique viewpoints, excellent shooting gameplay, a wealth of side activities to choose from, and three protagonists with unique abilities. All of this, coupled withthe revolutionaryGTA Online, ensures thatGrand Theft Auto 5will stand the test of time, boasting the best gameplay ever seen in this illustrious series.
