Few video game companies out there have been as influential as Rockstar Games, seeing as every single game it has developed and/or published has made some sort of impact on the industry. And this is not something recent either, because Rockstar has been putting out countless high-quality games (most of which belong to the open-world genre) from the late 90s, all the way to the early 2020s.
This company is now back in the spotlight, with the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6 slowly shaping up to be the greatest and most exciting video game launch of all time. But, before that day arrives, it’s important to take a look back at everything that came before it, including the following five games that pretty much defined Rockstar and its ever-lasting legacy.
Grand Theft Auto
The Start Of Rockstar’s Most Famous And Iconic Franchise
Grand Theft Auto
- Released
- November 28, 1997
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action
Rockstar is synonymous with huge open-world games with 3D graphics and realistic art styles, but this wasn’t always the case. Back when the studio was known as DMA Design, it created many types of weird and colorful titles, like Lemmings or Body Harvest. However, everything changed in 1998, when DMA Design released the first Grand Theft Auto game.
Set in Liberty City, the original GTA was a 2D action-adventure game with a top-down perspective. Despite its primitive graphics and simplistic gameplay, it still laid the foundation for what the open-world “sandbox” genre would eventually become, as players were allowed to do pretty much everything they wanted to obtain points, including committing crimes.
Curiously enough, Grand Theft Auto originally began its life as a racing game about “cops and robbers” titled Race 'n' Chase, but after the developers had more fun doing crimes and running away from the police, they decided to retool the entire project. GTA had a lukewarm reception and was met with some mild controversy, but it’s safe to say that neither Rockstar nor the open-world genre would exist today if it weren’t for this ambitious little game.
Grand Theft Auto 3
The Game That Single-Handedly Redefined The 3D Sandbox Genre
Grand Theft Auto 3
- Released
- October 23, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
DMA Design made a few 3D games with open-world elements in them throughout the 90s, like Body Harvest or Space Station Silicon Valley, so its developers eventually took everything they learned to bring the Grand Theft Auto series to the fascinating world of 3D gaming, right around the turn of the millennium.
Needless to say, Grand Theft Auto 3 was incredibly ambitious and impressive for its time. Similar to the first entry in the series, players can explore Liberty City to their hearts’ content by driving cars, committing crimes, and even completing special story missions. The only difference is that this game was entirely in 3D, and its open-world was surprisingly massive, which perfectly showcased what the PlayStation 2 was capable of.
GTA 3 was a massive critical and commercial success, and it pretty much created the modern “sandbox” genre, seeing as it directly inspired the creation of many other similar titles, like Saints Row or Mafia. As for Rockstar itself, the popularity and influence of GTA 3 redefined and reshaped the company’s identity, and it would go on to develop many sequels in the following years (most of which were superior in every way), like Vice City and San Andreas.
Manhunt
The Most Controversial Video Game Rockstar Has Ever Made
Manhunt
- Released
- November 18, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
Rockstar’s games have always been very controversial, mainly due to their adult themes, their raunchy sense of humor, and their gameplay that lets players commit horrible crimes in a free-roaming open world. However, the company’s problematic reputation rose to a whole new level in 2003, when it released a stealth-action game titled Manhunt.
In the early 2000s, video game graphics were slowly getting more and more realistic, and, naturally, the public discussion about their graphic violence was also getting more heated. So, the timing of Manhunt’s release couldn’t have been more unfortunate, as this game sees players take control of a death row inmate who’s forced to participate in snuff films by murdering and torturing other criminals. And yes, the violence in it is very gratuitous and gruesome, even for the PS2.
Manhunt was extremely controversial, to the point that it was banned in several countries, but its existence also redefined Rockstar’s legacy as a whole. Back in the day, this company was seen as bold and fearless, not to mention that it was one of the few publishers that was willing to release experimental mainstream games that were designed for adults instead of children, which heavily contributed to the death of the ancient stereotype that said video games are meant for kids around the mid-2000s.
Grand Theft Auto 5
A GTA Game So Successful, Rockstar Didn’t Need To Release Another One For Another 13 Years
Grand Theft Auto 5
- Released
- September 17, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action
The Grand Theft Auto franchise thrived during the 2000s, not only with the release of PS2 classics like Vice City and San Andreas, but also with the series’ first foray into the HD generation, Grand Theft Auto 4. But, as fun and impressive as all of those entries were, none of them could even compare to the behemoth that was Grand Theft Auto 5.
Originally released in 2013, this open-world game was absolutely massive for its time, as it boasted a gigantic map full of things to do, three playable characters that can be selected at any time, a deep and complex narrative, and impressive, lifelike graphics. GTA 5 was the most expensive video game ever made at the time, and Rockstar’s investment definitely paid off, as it also became the second best-selling game of all time.
Similar to its predecessors, Grand Theft Auto 5 redefined what an open-world “sandbox” game should and could be, not to mention that, whenever someone thinks of both Rockstar and the GTA IP, this game will immediately pop up in their minds, as it has become synonymous with the company’s identity. Additionally, GTA 5 was so absurdly successful that Rockstar re-released it numerous times and even used it as the foundation for GTA Online, which allowed its developers to take as much time as they needed to make its direct follow-up.
Red Dead Redemption 2
A Beautiful Narrative-Driven Adventure That Showcased What The Studio Is Truly Capable Of
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
It’s important to remember that Rockstar Games is much more than just Grand Theft Auto, and that the company has created a variety of other iconic open-world franchises, like Bully or Red Dead Redemption. This is precisely why the long-awaited release of Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018 was such a monumental moment for Rockstar, as it was the first true new game it developed since GTA 5. Needless to say, expectations were very high, and the final product did not disappoint at all; as a matter of fact, it surpassed them.
As expected from this company, this legendary western adventure boasts a massive open world full of stuff to do, but it's also elevated by the game’s emotional story and impeccable writing. Some people actively choose to ignore the plot of Rockstar’s games, but Red Dead Redemption 2 is a notorious exception because its compelling narrative is a huge part of the experience. On top of that, this title also revolutionized the open-world “sandbox” genre (something that seemed almost impossible in the late 2010s) because it’s filled to the brim with so many impressive technical and graphical details that still blow gamers’ minds to this day, and highlights how much time and care were put into its development.
It should be no surprise to learn that Red Dead Redemption 2 has won countless awards and is often considered the best thing Rockstar has ever made. All of this explains why the expectations for Grand Theft Auto 6 are so high: gamers are hoping it’ll be bigger than both Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 combined. Based on the company’s almost-flawless track record, it’s highly likely that GTA 6 will live up to the hype and end up being a massive success that’ll change gaming forever.