Each GTA Sport Ranked

From Liberty Metropolis to San Andreas, Rockstar has constructed a wealthy world of profession criminals, lunatics, and thieves, and we’ve beloved every one. Though over 25 years outdated, the record-breaking views on the primary Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer is proof that Rockstar’s iconic recreation sequence stays one of the vital common franchises on the planet. 

From humble beginnings — the sequence initially started as top-down car-stealing video games — to creating a number of the most superior and life like open world video games within the trade, every new Grand Theft Auto recreation is worthy of celebration. So, with Grand Theft Auto 6 on the horizon, IGN has thought again on each trendy blockbusters and retro classics to create a definitive rating of all of Rockstar’s open-world crime video games and decide which GTA recreation is the very best.

15. Grand Theft Auto: Advance

After having already made the change to 3D, Grand Theft Auto: Advance returned the sequence to its top-down roots in 2004 for a Sport Boy spinoff. A prequel to the occasions of Grand Theft Auto 3, GTA: Advance efficiently brings the traditional car-jacking, crime spree gameplay of the unique video games to Nintendo’s transportable. Whereas there’s a story that ties into GTA 3, GTA: Advance is primarily gameplay pushed, giving gamers over 300 missions to finish which makes for a enjoyable tour however hardly a full GTA expertise within the trendy sense. 

14. Grand Theft Auto: London 1969

An growth pack for the unique GTA, Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 is notable for happening in the true metropolis of London versus a fictional amalgam like Los Santos (Los Angeles) or Liberty Metropolis (New York Metropolis). Like many of the early GTA video games, it’s hardly recognizable right this moment and is extra of a enjoyable retro relic of the previous. Nonetheless, London stays one of the vital fan-requested areas for the sequence to revisit. 

13. Grand Theft Auto 2

Launched two years after the primary Grand Theft Auto, Rockstar returned with an improved sequel. Set in an nearly cyberpunk-ish retro futuristic metropolis,  it boasted higher graphics and tuned-up gameplay. However this early on within the sequence, Grand Theft Auto was nonetheless principally about stealing and destroying automobiles and scoring probably the most factors. One notable factor about GTA 2 was an eight-minute lengthy quick film created by Rockstar that was used because the intro cutscene for the sport, hinting on the cinematic path the sequence would take afterward within the sequence.

12. Grand Theft Auto 1

The sport that began all of it, Grand Theft Auto 1 appears nearly unrecognizable from the sport sequence it’s right this moment. A top-down, mission-based expertise the place gamers steal automobiles to succeed in the top of a degree, Grand Theft Auto 1 was principally about operating over individuals and evading cops. Whereas GTA began as an honest-to-goodness car-stealing recreation, the wanton destruction and irreverent humorousness was a part of the sequence’ DNA from the very starting, and these traits would keep on all through because the sequence made the leap to 3D.

11. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars delves into the world of the Triads, one of many many felony factions which have appeared on the sidelines all through the sequence. It was launched through the sequence’ recognition surge of the PS2 3D period, however opted to resurrect the unique top-down design, albeit strengthened by a putting visible design impressed by GTA’s iconic field artwork. Sticking to custom, it’s yet one more story of a small-time con making it large within the felony underworld, however the principle attraction is Chinatown Struggle’s novel use of contact controls.

Whereas Chinatown Wars has since been ported to a number of handheld consoles together with PSP and iOS units, many agree that the unique DS model is the very best expertise due to the enjoyable and distinctive methods Chinatown Wars utilized Nintendo’s contact display screen. Not many different video games on Nintendo’s dual-screened system will allow you to use the display screen to hotwire a automotive.

10. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty Metropolis Tales

The primary transportable 3D GTA recreation, Liberty Metropolis Tales match Grand Theft Auto 3’s entire open world right into a handheld package deal, with out the necessity to sacrifice ambition and return to the sequence’ top-down roots. Increasing the world of GTA 3, it options a number of recurring characters together with Salvatore Leone, the Mafia Don who’s a major fixture of Liberty Metropolis throughout quite a few video games.

9. Grand Theft Auto: The Misplaced and Damned

The primary growth for Grand Theft Auto 4, The Misplaced and the Damned stars biker gang member Johnny and takes place through the occasions of the bottom recreation. Whereas the story isn’t probably the most memorable, The Misplaced and the Damned provides extra weapons and autos to GTA 4, making the massive recreation really feel even larger. Together with The Ballad of Homosexual Tony, The Misplaced and the Damned was an necessary exploration into episodic storytelling for Rockstar, one thing that might be recontextualised with its frequent GTA On-line updates.

8. Grand Theft Auto 3

Grand Theft Auto 3 took the GTA sequence into the third dimension, taking the previously top-down, level-based recreation, and turning it into the third-person, open-world sequence we all know right this moment. 

Telling the story of two-bit felony Claude and his rise within the felony world of Liberty Metropolis, GTA 3 was the muse upon which all future GTA video games can be constructed on. Riffing on the likes of The Sopranos and Goodfellas, it established the cinematic ambitions that might gasoline Rockstar for the following 20 years. Grand Theft Auto 3 hasn’t aged in addition to a number of the studio’s different early video games, however it stays a foundational textual content for the way forward for the sequence.

7. Grand Theft Auto Vice Metropolis Tales

The second handheld GTA recreation for the PSP, Vice Metropolis Tales returns to Rockstar’s model of Miami for a prequel to the Eighties-set PS2 hit. Enjoying as Vic, the brother of Vice Metropolis’s Lance Vance, you construct up a felony empire by wresting management of institutions and organizations from rival felony gangs. Together with enormous technical enhancements over the primary PSP recreation, Liberty Metropolis Tales, the principle disadvantage in 2006 was with the ability to play a fully-fledged, 3D GTA recreation on the go, full with a recent new Eighties soundtrack and Phil Collins in-game cameo.

6. Grand Theft Auto On-line

The actual cause why we probably haven’t acquired GTA 6 sooner, GTA On-line was initially a multiplayer facet element to GTA 5 earlier than taking over a lifetime of its personal. Whereas on the floor it’s a free-for-all sandbox set in Los Sanos, GTA On-line is successfully a reincarnation of Second Life solely with extra automotive races and explosions. 

Gamers can be a part of up along with pals to participate within the addictingly enjoyable heists, however simply as simply screw all over the world, flying round in jetpacks, or crashing airplanes into one another. GTA On-line has additionally developed a sturdy role-playing group the place gamers can reside out the very best (or worst) variations of themselves in a self-contained on-line world.

5. Grand Theft Auto 4: The Ballad of Homosexual Tony

The second DLC growth for Grand Theft Auto 4, The Ballad of Homosexual Tony takes place alongside the occasions of the principle recreation however expands upon the gameplay in key methods. Enjoying as former drug vendor Luis, who Niko crossed paths with in the principle marketing campaign, you’re in a position to handle “Homosexual” Tony Prince’s evening golf equipment, an exercise that may return in Grand Theft Auto On-line afterward. Largely thought-about among the finest DLCs of its period, its plot tied up all of the unfastened threads of the GTA 4 story in a satisfying manner. 

4. Grand Theft Auto 4

As the primary high-definition Grand Theft Auto recreation, GTA 4 was a large leap for Rockstar when it comes to its technical prowess. Nonetheless, the largest development in GTA 4 was its cinematic storytelling fashion. The story of Japanese European immigrant Niko Bellic, one in every of GTA’s greatest protagonists, is a surprisingly darkish and reducing satire of the American dream.. In our unique assessment, we known as it an “Oscar-caliber drama” and the film high quality storytelling would solely grow to be higher within the sequel, GTA 5. After all, Niko’s adventures in Liberty Metropolis are greatest remembered for all of the occasions he went bowling along with his disastrous cousin, Roman – the results of a dynamic social system wherein pals and allies would name you up maybe a bit of bit too usually.

3. Grand Theft Auto: Vice Metropolis

San Andreas and GTA 5 could have overshadowed Grand Theft Auto: Vice Metropolis when it comes to scale, however Rockstar’s sendup to Miami Vice and Scarface stays one of the vital fashionable entries within the sequence. Set within the fictionalized model of Miami, Vice Metropolis stars Tommy Vercetti’s profession felony, voiced by the enduring Ray Liotta, as he units out to make a reputation for himself after getting launched from jail. The colourful storytelling and setting of Vice Metropolis confirmed Rockstar was extra than simply the makers of extraordinarily violent video games, they had been makers of extraordinarily violent video games that had been additionally cool as hell.

2. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was a turning level for the sequence, including most of the deep customization choices and wealthy techniques the sequence has since grow to be identified for. Starring gang member Carl “CJ” Johnson, San Andreas follows his return to Los Santos after spending 5 years in Liberty Metropolis, and the way he finally ends up getting dragged right into a broader gang battle over the various territories round San Andreas.

On the time, IGN known as it “the only greatest PlayStation 2 title” we ever performed with manufacturing values that had been “second to none.” Together with taking the sequence to the west coast for the primary time with a map that sprawled over no fewer than three cities, San Andreas featured the very best GTA story to-date, a wealthy customization system for CJ, an expanded cash system with dozens of outlets to spend it in, quite a few minigames, and a dynamic gang wars system, all of which mixed into one of the vital fully-featured GTA video games ever.

1. Grand Theft Auto 5

Over the many years Rockstar has constantly improved its storytelling ambitions and open-world complexity, and all of it led to Grand Theft Auto 5. Though it was first launched in 2013 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, GTA 5 has since been re-released for every successive PlayStation and Xbox system, in addition to PC; every time subtly enhanced and every time promoting tens of millions of extra copies.

Primarily a narrative of a felony crew comprising Michael De Santa, Trevor Philips, and Franklin Clinton, the explanation for GTA 5’s continued recognition is the sheer scale of its central setting, Los Santos, the place gamers can freely discover the huge open world to their hearts wishes. In IGN’s good 10 assessment, we praised the “extraordinary scope” of GTA 5 and fell in love with its “dwelling world the place something can occur.” It’s the present pinnacle of every thing Rockstar got down to obtain with the sequence, that includes one of many largest, most detailed open-world maps in gaming, boundless actions — from skydiving to avenue racing — and an engrossing, cinematic story.

That is our rating of the very best Grand Theft Auto video games of all time. Tell us within the feedback which of them had been your favorites, and be sure you try our full protection of Grand Theft Auto 6 together with 99 particulars you could have missed from the primary trailer.

Matt T.M. Kim is IGN’s Senior Options Editor. You possibly can attain him @lawoftd.