Every Grand Theft Auto Game Ranked

From the early days of top-down mayhem to the sprawling open worlds we know and love, the Grand Theft Auto series has consistently delivered unforgettable experiences. With the hype surrounding Grand Theft Auto 6 reaching fever pitch, it’s a great time to look back at every single game in the series and rank them.

15. Grand Theft Auto: Advance

Grand Theft Auto: Advance, released in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance, marked a return to the series’ 2D, top-down origins after the groundbreaking transition to 3D. Serving as a prequel to Grand Theft Auto III, this title attempted to capture the essence of classic GTA gameplay on a handheld device. Players could experience carjacking and causing mayhem, but limitations of the hardware held it back. While the story connects to GTA III, the focus remained on completing a large number of missions. Overall, it offered a nostalgic trip for fans but did not fully capture the depth of a true GTA experience.

14. Grand Theft Auto: London 1969

Grand Theft Auto: London 1969, an expansion pack for the original Grand Theft Auto, holds historical significance as the first and only title in the series set in a real-world city outside the United States. This entry took players to 1969 London, offering a taste of British culture and criminal underworld. While the gameplay retained the top-down perspective and mission-based structure of its predecessor, the change in setting gave the game a unique identity. Despite its historical relevance, GTA: London 1969 is often viewed as a relic of its time, representing the series’ humble beginnings before its meteoric rise to open-world dominance.

13. Grand Theft Auto 2

Grand Theft Auto 2, launched in 1999, evolved upon the formula introduced by its predecessor. Set in a retro-futuristic metropolis, the game enhanced graphics and gameplay, providing a more refined top-down experience. Players navigated a city filled with rival gangs and corrupt officials, making choices that influenced their relationships and opened up new opportunities. Despite improvements over the original, Grand Theft Auto 2 still retained the core gameplay loop of stealing cars, completing missions, and causing chaos. Notably, it included an eight-minute short film as an intro, hinting at the cinematic direction the franchise would later embrace.

12. Grand Theft Auto 1

Grand Theft Auto, the game that began it all, introduced players to a world of crime and mayhem from a top-down perspective. Released in 1997, this groundbreaking title allowed players to freely roam cities, steal cars, and complete missions for various criminal organizations. The game’s simple yet addictive gameplay, coupled with its irreverent humor and over-the-top violence, quickly gained a cult following. While it may seem primitive by today’s standards, the original Grand Theft Auto laid the foundation for one of the most successful and influential video game franchises of all time, pioneering the open-world crime genre.

11. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars took a unique approach by returning to the top-down perspective while incorporating modern gameplay elements. Released for the Nintendo DS and later ported to other platforms, this title immerses players in the criminal underworld of Liberty City’s Chinatown. With a focus on drug trafficking, gang warfare, and police evasion, Chinatown Wars offers a gritty and action-packed experience. The game also utilized the DS’s touch screen for various minigames, adding a layer of interactivity that set it apart from other entries in the series. Its distinctive art style and compelling storyline made it a standout on handheld devices.

10. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories

Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories bridged the gap between the 3D era and handheld gaming. Released for the PlayStation Portable (PSP), it brought the familiar open-world gameplay of Grand Theft Auto III to a portable format. Set in Liberty City, the game follows Toni Cipriani as he rises through the ranks of the Leone crime family. With a mix of new missions and familiar faces, Liberty City Stories offered a compelling storyline and plenty of opportunities for mayhem. Its technical achievement in bringing a fully realized 3D world to a handheld console was highly commendable.

9. Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned

Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned, the first major expansion for Grand Theft Auto IV, takes players into the world of motorcycle gangs. Starring Johnny Klebitz, a member of The Lost Motorcycle Club, the expansion explores the biker subculture and its conflicts with rival gangs and law enforcement. The Lost and Damned offers a darker and more violent narrative than the main game, with a focus on brotherhood and loyalty. The expansion added new weapons, vehicles, and missions, providing a fresh perspective on Liberty City and its criminal underbelly. Many consider it to be an excellent addition to the GTA IV saga.

8. Grand Theft Auto 3

Grand Theft Auto III revolutionized the series by transitioning to a 3D open-world environment. Released in 2001, this groundbreaking title allowed players to freely explore Liberty City, steal cars, and complete missions from a third-person perspective. With its cinematic storyline, realistic physics, and diverse range of activities, Grand Theft Auto III set a new standard for open-world games. The game’s impact on the industry cannot be overstated, as it paved the way for countless clones and inspired a generation of game designers. Its influence can still be felt in modern open-world games.

7. Grand Theft Auto Vice City Stories

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, a prequel to Vice City, brought the neon-soaked 1980s setting back to life on the PSP. Following Vic Vance, players built a criminal empire by taking over businesses and battling rival gangs. The game delivered a compelling storyline, a vibrant soundtrack, and the addictive gameplay that the series is known for. Despite being a handheld title, Vice City Stories offered a surprisingly deep and engaging experience. The ability to manage businesses and build a criminal empire added a strategic layer to the gameplay.

6. Grand Theft Auto Online

Grand Theft Auto Online has evolved into a phenomenon of its own, separate from the single-player experience. Launched as a multiplayer component to Grand Theft Auto V, it allows players to create their own characters, team up with friends, and explore the vast open world of Los Santos together. With a constant stream of updates, new content, and events, Grand Theft Auto Online has become a living, breathing world where players can engage in heists, races, business ventures, and more. The game’s success has been unprecedented, making it one of the most popular and lucrative online games in history.

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

Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony injected a dose of over-the-top action and humor into the darker and more serious tone of the main game. Playing as Luis Lopez, the bodyguard of nightclub owner Tony “Gay Tony” Prince, players were immersed in the glamorous and chaotic world of Liberty City’s nightlife. With a focus on extravagant missions, explosive set pieces, and a vibrant soundtrack, The Ballad of Gay Tony offered a refreshing and exhilarating experience. It expanded the gameplay mechanics of GTA IV, adding new vehicles, weapons, and activities to the mix.

4. Grand Theft Auto 4

Grand Theft Auto IV marked a significant leap forward for the series with its enhanced graphics, realistic physics, and mature storyline. Released in 2008, the game introduced players to Niko Bellic, an Eastern European immigrant seeking a better life in Liberty City. However, he soon becomes entangled in the city’s criminal underworld. Grand Theft Auto IV explored themes of the American Dream, family, and the consequences of violence. Its immersive open world, coupled with its compelling narrative and memorable characters, made it a critical and commercial success. The game set a new benchmark for storytelling in open-world games.

3. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City transported players to a neon-drenched, 1980s-inspired world of crime and excess. Set in the fictional Vice City, based on Miami, the game follows Tommy Vercetti as he rises through the ranks of the criminal underworld. With its vibrant soundtrack, stylish visuals, and over-the-top characters, Vice City captured the essence of the 1980s in a way that few games have. The game’s memorable missions, combined with its open-world freedom, made it an instant classic. The style and atmosphere resonated deeply with players.

2. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas expanded upon the open-world formula with its vast map, deep customization options, and compelling storyline. Released in 2004, the game follows Carl “CJ” Johnson as he returns to his hometown of Los Santos and becomes entangled in gang warfare, police corruption, and personal tragedy. With its sprawling map encompassing three cities and vast countryside, San Andreas offered a level of freedom and exploration that was unprecedented at the time. The game’s RPG elements, such as character customization and skill progression, added a layer of depth to the gameplay.

1. Grand Theft Auto 5

Grand Theft Auto V is the pinnacle of the series, combining a compelling storyline, a vast open world, and a wealth of content. Released in 2013, the game follows the intertwined stories of three protagonists: Michael De Santa, Trevor Philips, and Franklin Clinton. Set in the sprawling metropolis of Los Santos and its surrounding countryside, Grand Theft Auto V offers a level of detail and immersion that is unmatched. With its heists, side missions, and countless activities, the game provides endless hours of entertainment. The three-protagonist setup adds an extra layer to the gameplay experience.

Grand Theft Auto: The Complete Playlist

From its humble beginnings in 2D to its current status as a genre-defining blockbuster, the Grand Theft Auto series has consistently pushed the boundaries of open-world gaming. As we eagerly await the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, now is the perfect time to revisit the games that have shaped the franchise and cemented its place in video game history.