Updated on September 5, 2026 by Mark Sammut: As GTA 6 is right around the corner, I’ve added a section dedicated to the upcoming game. It is almost here!
Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto is the biggest open-world franchise of all time, and “open-world” might be unnecessary. Despite fairly humble origins, GTA blossomed into a cultural juggernaut once it went 3D and basically wrote the playbook for what a modern sandbox game should be. In a few months, GTA 6 becomes a reality, but it will need to be an all-time great to rank above the likes of San Andreas and GTA 5.
Rockstar hasn’t dropped a bad entry yet, but that doesn’t mean every game is roughly of the same quality. In fact, a huge gap separates the best from the worst and the most mediocre, and everyone will have their own preferences. Still, let’s try to answer the age-old question, “Which is the greatest GTA game?”
Looking Ahead: Grand Theft Auto 6 Is Almost Here
We had to wait forever for this moment, but GTA 6 is finally almost here. Recently, Rockstar staged an extended look on Netflix that showcased about 30 minutes of gameplay, granting players a closer look at the characters, core gameplay, and some of the extra activities. The fan response was mostly positive, although some people raised concerns regarding a few elements. There is a fear that GTA 6 might be a disappointment, even if that has more to do with insane expectations rather than a perceived lack of quality.
Let’s go over a few things that were confirmed in the extended look:
- Protagonists – The narrative centers on Jason Duval (an ex-military drug runner) and Lucia Caminos (fresh out of prison) in a modern Bonnie-and-Clyde dynamic. You will be able to switch between them on the fly during freeroam and missions, with in-game communication occurring via direct dialogue and phone chat systems. Jason’s dialogue drew some criticism for being generic, and the Extended Look didn’t do a great job of showcasing an interesting personality. That said, Lucia came across far better.
- Wanted System – You cannot have a GTA game without a wanted system, and the upcoming game seeks to revamp this franchise staple. This time around, police will track criminal profiles, so they might remember your car model or its license plate, your facial features, and maybe even clothes. You will need to swap cars and outfits rather than just outrun cop cars.
- Body Management – Yes, San Andreas‘ physical conditioning is back, allowing you to alter Jason and Lucia’s appearance beyond just their clothes. Eat too much fast food, and you might gain weight.
- World Interactivity – We don’t have a full picture of everything you can do in Leonida, but a few activities are kayaking, backyard wrestling, and alligator hunting.
- (Hopefully) Improved Driving and Combat – Rockstar’s gameplay doesn’t always hit a homerun, but GTA 6 will hopefully be a touch better.
12
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy Turns The Best GTA Into The Worst GTA
One Of The Most Disastrous Rockstar Launches Of All Time
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy
- Released
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November 11, 2021
Fans were disappointed to the moon and back when Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition launched. The compilation was a lackluster effort to upscale the classic 3D games for the next generation and was lambasted by fans and critics alike. The titles were plagued with bugs and, because they were based on the mobile versions, looked worse than the original games. Even with all the patches that have addressed the many issues in this title, this cash grab is still probably Rockstar’s biggest blemish when it comes to proper games.
Rockstar released several updates to address its many issues, and modders also helped fix the PC iteration, so the trilogy is playable nowadays. However, GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas deserve full-scale dedicated remasters, especially if they are going to essentially replace the original versions.
11
Grand Theft Auto Started The Legend Without Being One
The Almost Unrecognizable Originator
The game that started it all had clunky controls, which made driving nearly impossible, but it had charm regardless. The ability to get into any car made Grand Theft Auto a hit and set the bedrock for this franchise to dominate the gaming industry in a few years’ time. To this day, it’s hard to believe this series became a reality because of a simple glitch that helped developers uncover a fun gameplay loop with a ton of potential.
Driving recklessly through intersections and colliding with other vehicles provided an exhilarating experience unlike anything out there, with players having to do everything in their power to avoid the cops in breakneck chases that still feel tense to this day. This top-down game laid the foundation for what would later become one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time.
Grand Theft Auto: London 1969
Players who had a great time messing around in the original Grand Theft Auto will be glad to know that an expansion was released that let players roam around the streets of London in the late 60s. Most of Grand Theft Auto‘s gameplay is left intact, with the change in setting being the most notable thing about this expansion.
Some people felt this expansion didn’t do much to address the issues present in the original game, but players who loved its simple arcade-like gameplay will love what London 1969 has to offer. This expansion received a standalone release in the UK, which proved that many people enjoyed this unique addition to the legacy of the game that started it all.
Grand Theft Auto: London 1961
Along with the first expansion, Rockstar launched a second freeware expansion titled London 1961 that features the same map but with a different story and characters. The map is pretty much similar to the first one, making it easy to see why Rockstar didn’t charge anything for this additional chapter.
Still, this shouldn’t take away from the sheer fun players can enjoy as they wreak havoc in London once again. This expansion may not be a huge change from the norm, but it is worth checking out for fans of GTA‘s fun gameplay, where players are encouraged to go bonkers and create as much chaos as possible.
10
Grand Theft Auto Advance Is A Solid Handheld GTA
A Less Challenging Take On The Series’ First Game
One of the lesser-known Grand Theft Auto games follows a similar style to Grand Theft Auto and Grand Theft Auto 2. Contrasting with the first two Grand Theft Auto games, Grand Theft Auto Advance has vehicle-based missions and is easier to play than the original games. Given how difficult these classic GTA games were, this was a welcome change for fans.
Smart gameplay, combined with vibrant graphics, keeps the game enjoyable. Grand Theft Auto Advance is a fun portable version of the classic GTA formula, and the only reason it’s ranked the lowest on the list is its hardware limitations rather than the quality of the title itself.
9
Grand Theft Auto 2 Perfect The Old Formula While Looking Ahead
A Fantastic Sequel, And A Clear Bridge Between GTA and GTA 3
Grand Theft Auto 2 was a notable step up from the first game, improving police chases, weapons, driving, locations, and the camera. Although it still maintained a top-down perspective, GTA 2 significantly overhauled its systems and even itstechnology, setting the stage for the rest of the franchise. Anyone looking to try a top-down GTA should start with this one.
GTA 2‘s biggest upgrades were the introduction of a Respect Meter, distinct rival gangs with territories, and a heavier emphasis on non-linear progression. Rockstar would further expand these concepts in sequels, making them foundational parts of the Grand Theft Auto experience. Anywhere City also feels closer to a genuine place, primarily thanks to way more competent AI that would actually do stuff rather than randomly walk.
Compared to everything that came after, GTA 2‘s ceiling is way lower, and there’s only so high we can rank the game. However, as far as top-down sandboxes are concerned, GTA 2 is still among the best of all time.
8
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Is Fun Handheld Silliness
A Respectable Portable GTA Experience
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is a prequel to Vice City that was released for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) and later for the PlayStation 2. One of the more forgotten GTA games, Vice City Stories is best described as “unessential,” although that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun. Considering the limitations of the PSP, Rockstar pulled off a minor miracle by creating a proper 3D open-world game that translated the GTA formula surprisingly well; however, Vice City Stories is a mixed bag.
This is the Lance Vance Dance!
Before getting to the negatives, let’s first highlight Vice City Stories‘ crowning achievement: The Empire Building system. A mechanical leap at the time, this mechanic lets you attack rival gangs, claim turf, pick a business, and defend your territory. Admittedly, the concept is better than the grind-heavy execution, but it is still a massive positive. Vice City Stories also has surprisingly good hand-to-hand combat, at least by GTA standards.
On the negative side, the campaign has some of the hardest missions in the franchise, and they aren’t a “fun” kind of hard. Vic Vance is a weird protagonist with a backstory that doesn’t match the chaotic sandbox gameplay. Finally, it’s an open-world PSP game… the performance isn’t great. The PS2 version sounds better, but Vice City Stories is far less impressive on the big screen.
7
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories Is Better Handheld Silliness
The Superior GTA Prequel On The PSP
Before Vice City Stories, Rockstar dumped Liberty City Stories on the PSP, a pretty impressive technical feat at the time. Like its successor, this 2005 game can be difficult to really appreciate today, particularly if it is played on something other than a PSP. While it doesn’t hold up compared to Vice City or San Andreas, Liberty City Stories feels like a step up from GTA 3,adding things like motorbikes, free-aiming, and improved camera controls.
Focusing on the fall of Liberty’s mafia families and the rise of the Triads and Forellis, Liberty City Stories provides quite a bit of context for GTA 3, justifying a playthrough on its own. However, you need to sit through repetitive missions, an underwhelming protagonist, and uneven performance, all of which were easier to look past in 2005 than they are in 2026.
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6
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Is The Best Version Of Classic GTA
A Fusion Of Old And New, And An Elegant Look Back At The Series’ Roots
Chinatown Wars is the best Grand Theft Auto spin-off game. Created for the Nintendo DS and PSP, Chinatown Wars marries classic-era GTA with the more popular modern releases, providing a top-down open-world experience that comes really close to capturing the chaotic magic of mainline entries like GTA 4. The change in perspective takes a while to get used to, but fans who love the GTA gameplay loop will get familiar with Chinatown Wars in no time.
Chinatown Wars is played from a top-down perspective, providing an experience reminiscent of the first two Grand Theft Autos but more profound. Leaving a trail of destruction in the player’s wake in Chinatown Wars is GTA lunacy at its finest. To this day, players find it hard to believe that this cathartic open-world action-adventure game ran on portable hardware despite how ambitious it was.
5
Grand Theft Auto 3 Changed Gaming Forever
The Most Groundbreaking Grand Theft Auto Game
Grand Theft Auto’s first adventure in 3D was way ahead of its time, and it basically wrote the blueprint for modern open-world games. Now, like nearly every pioneer, GTA 3 was surpassed quickly by its successors, including Rockstar’s own Vice City and San Andreas. Nowadays, Liberty City is not only tiny but also devoid of much life; however, we cannot analyze GTA 3 just from a 2026 lens. In 2001, no other PS2 game was as massive, ambitious, and jaw-dropping as this masterpiece, and its legacy far overshadows its longevity.
Welcome to Liberty City. Where it all began. – Rockstar
Should you play GTA 3 nowadays? Yes, but keep expectations realistic. Clause’s entry in the Leone family makes for a pretty darn solid crime story, even if it might not be quite as iconic as some of the later entries. Despite its limitations, the sandbox is still fun to mess around in. That said, if you don’t enjoy GTA 3, that doesn’t mean you should skip Rockstar’s other PS2 GTA games.
4
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Improved On GTA 3 In Nearly Every Way
The True Originator Of The Modern Day GTA
In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, players rise from rags to riches as Tommy Vercetti. Including an airport, marinas, and a taxi cab company, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City captures the essence of Miami. The ability to purchase companies that generate money gave the game more replayability.
One feature that makes Grand Theft Auto: Vice City stand out is its shopping mall. An even more interactive shopping mall should be a part of the next Grand Theft Auto game. Whether players are doing pizza boy deliveries, taking the law into their own hands during its vigilante missions, or searching the locale for stunt jumps, there is plenty of content to keep players busy in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
3
Grand Theft Auto 5 Has Been The Game For 13 Years
The Most Successful Game Of All Time, And The Biggest GTA Game (So Far)
Well, here it is, the biggest entry in the franchise so far. Rockstar has been living off GTA 5 and GTA Online for more than a decade, releasing the base game across three console generations. Frustratingly, the single-player portion never received an expansion as the focus went entirely into the online mode; fortunately, the base content is more than great enough to hold its own.
Surviving is winning, Franklin. – Michael
Switching to a three-protagonist system, GTA 5 lets you swap between Michael, Franklin, and Trevor at nearly any time, which helps cut the tedious downtime between the actual fun bits. The campaign’s biggest missions revolve around heists, requiring crew recruitment, setup plans, and choices, and these generally deliver fantastic set pieces that are worth the price of admission on their own. Although the combat and driving could still use a bit of work, they are far ahead of anything else in the franchise.
GTA Online
There’s a reason episodic DLCs didn’t make the cut for Grand Theft Auto 5, despite many reports stating that Rockstar planned to pursue this course of action. The rampant success of GTA Online pushed Rockstar to devote all its resources to make this game mode as perfect as possible, with players loving the idea of exploring this massive world with their friends and allowing players to live out a virtual life that is laden with crime off the wazoo.
Players can engage in heists, race around, and just kill players without a care in the world if they wish. There’s something infinitely enjoyable about this game mode, making it clear why Grand Theft Auto 5 has been released on three separate console generations — the online component is that popular and continues to draw in numerous fans to this day.