If there is one game series that is universally acclaimed, with every release guaranteed to be ahit on release, it’s the Grand Theft Auto franchise. Starting from humble beginnings, the franchise turned into a money-making machine thanks to the integration ofGTA Onlineinto GTA 5’s world.
8 Best Ways to Make Money in GTA V
Earning money in GTA 5’s story mode is pretty easy, and these 8 activities give the biggest payout.
With Grand Theft Auto 6 on the horizon, players can only wait patiently for more news regarding the game’s launch. And what better way to bide time for GTA 6’s release than to dive into some of the other amazing GTA games, almost all of which were a huge deal when they were released?
8Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Ruling Vice City Before Vercetti Even Landed In it
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
For those who wondered what Vice City was like before Tommy Vercetti made it his personal empire, Vice City Stories is the answer. Set two years before Vice City, this game follows Victor Vance, brother of the ill-fated Lance Vance, as he rises from being a military man trying to support his family to becoming one of the city’s most ruthless criminal powerhouses.
The game introduced a unique empire-building mechanic that allowed players to take over businesses and expand their criminal empire. Plus, jet skis made their series debut here, adding more variety to the already thrilling exploration of its sun-soaked beaches and neon-lit streets. While the story doesn’t reach the heights of other GTA titles, Vice City Stories is perfect for thehandheld consolesit was released on, letting players lose in a sandbox open world, on the go.
7Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
Same City, New Secrets
Taking place three years before the events of GTA 3, Liberty City Stories puts players in the shoes of Toni Cipriani, a mob enforcer clawing his way up the ranks of the Leone family. This prequel offers a fresh perspective on Liberty City, exploring its gritty underworld before Claude’s infamous arrival that shook the gaming industry.
What set this game apart was how it streamlined GTA’s gameplay for handheld devices without sacrificing the series’ signature chaos. It wasn’t just a port but a fully-fledged entry with a tighter map, smoother mechanics, and a focus on narrative-driven missions. From taking out rival gangs to dealing with shady politicians, every mission felt like a page out of a gritty mob drama.
6Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
An Underrated Gem For Handhelds
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Rockstar took a bold risk with Chinatown Wars, opting for a top-down perspective that hearkened back to the series’ roots while infusing it with a modern twist. Following Huang Lee, a young Triad member seeking vengeance and power in Liberty City, the game masterfully blended humor, grit, and fast-paced action into a package that was perfect for portable play.
What made Chinatown Wars special was its unique mechanics. Players could hot-wire cars, deal drugs, and engage in street-level chaos in ways that felt refreshingly hands-on. Its cel-shaded graphics stood out in a series known for realism, and its focus on touchscreen-based mini-games on the DS and mobile versions gave it a distinct flavor. It’s not as sprawling or cinematic as the mainline entries, but its bite-sized missions and clever innovations make Chinatown Wars one of the most creative experiments in GTA history.
5Grand Theft Auto 3
The Game That Changed Everything
Grand Theft Auto 3
Before GTA 3, theopen-world genrewas a niche experiment at best. After it? A phenomenon. This was the game that catapulted the series into 3D, giving players an unprecedented amount of freedom in the gritty streets of Liberty City.
10 Open-World Games With The Best Story
These open-world games are the best when it comes to narrative chops!
Playing as the silent protagonist Claude, players climb through the ranks of Liberty City’s criminal underworld in a story filled with betrayal, revenge, and mayhem. The game was groundbreaking for its time, offering players a living, breathing city where pedestrians walked the streets, cars filled the roads, and chaos was just one rocket launcher away. Sure, its mechanics feel dated now, but the DNA of GTA 3 lives in every open-world game released since. This was the moment Rockstar redefined what video games could be, and for that, it will always have a place in gaming history.
4Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Where Neon Lights And ’80s Beats Make Crime Irresistible
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
There’s a reason why Vice City remains one of the most beloved entries in the franchise. Inspired by Scarface and Miami Vice, this game’s vibrant 1980s aesthetic made every mission a nostalgic dive into excess. Whether players were speeding down Ocean Beach on a motorcycle or blowing up gangsters to the sound of “Billie Jean” playing in the background, every moment was pure magic. These were the days when gaming used to be pure, not riddled with greedy microtransactions and a race to get thebest graphicson the player’s screen at the cost of fun.
The story follows Tommy Vercetti, a mobster fresh out of prison, as he builds a criminal empire in the sun-soaked streets of Vice City. Its focus on property acquisition and business management gave players a taste of what it’s like to run a crime syndicate while still leaving plenty of time for chaos.
3Grand Theft Auto 5
Three Protagonists, One Insane Roller Coaster Ride
Grand Theft Auto 5
GTA 5 broke new ground by letting players switch between Michael, Franklin, and Trevor, each with their own personalities, skills, and chaotic lives. Set in the sprawling world of Los Santos, the game offers a staggering variety of activities. From heist planning to skydiving to just sitting on the character’s couch and watching the surprisingly detailed in-game TV, GTA 5 was a game that did more than anyone could’ve imagined. The online component only added to its longevity, allowing players to wreak havoc together in ways Rockstar probably never intended.
While some argue the game leaned too heavily on satire, it can’t be denied that GTA 5 remains one of the most polished and ambitious titles in the series.
2Grand Theft Auto 4
A Darker, Grittier Tale In The Heart Of Liberty City
Grand Theft Auto 4
If Vice City was all neon and glamor, GTA 4 was its shadowy counterpart. Following Niko Bellic, a war-torn immigrant seeking a fresh start in America, this game delivered one of the most fleshed-out, grounded, and emotional stories in the franchise. Liberty City felt alive in a way no other GTA map had before, with its bustling streets and endless opportunities for chaos.
GTA 4 also introduced the Euphoria physics engine, which not only made every crash and punch feel realistic but paved the way for some hilarious in-game moments. It traded some of the zanier elements of its predecessors for a grittier tone, and while not everyone appreciated that shift, the game is often considered the very best one in the franchise by a lot of fans.
1Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The King Of Open-World Games
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Rockstar didn’t hold back when it released GTA San Andreas, and the game was an instant hit when it came out. People used to line up in queues to get the copy as soon as it was released at midnight, and when they plugged the game into their PS2, a console that had been 4 years old at that point, they were blown away by the game.
It wasn’t an incremental jump, but generational, and not just in visuals, but the story, gameplay mechanics, and the size of the world, and that too on the very same console on which Rockstar released their previous game. The gaming world changed in 2004, and Rockstar permanently etched their names as one of the greatest developers of all time.
GTA San Andreas put players in the shoes of CJ as he returns to his hometown, uttering one of themost iconic memedialogues, to uncover the truth behind his mother’s murder while navigating gang wars, corrupt cops, and a rapidly changing world. The RPG-like elements, such as working out, eating, and customizing your character, gave San Andreas a personal touch that was ahead of its time.
While GTA 4 gave San Andreas tough competition for the top spot, the shoes of its predecessor were a tad too big for it. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Grand Theft Auto San Andreas is one of the greatest games of all time.
10 Strategy Games with the Best Graphics
In some cases, you’re able to judge a book by its cover. Or a game by its graphics.
