Best GTA Games of All Time, Ranked

GTA is a game series that's been around since 1997, spanning numerous console generations. It covers settings ranging from the 1960s all the way to the 2020s. Even though GTA 6 is still a subject of curiosity, the series' popularity keeps growing exponentially. We assume you're already familiar with the GTA series, since even people who've never played the games know something about them. In this article, we'll rank the series' best GTA games of all time. Let's see which one comes out on top?

Best GTA Games 2023!

Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5)

Of course, at the very top of our list is undoubtedly the series' most recently released game. Considered the most successful game in the series, GTA 5 became one of the best-selling games ever, selling roughly 150 million copies. You might be wondering what makes this game so special. Let's answer that right away! Its refined gameplay and wonderfully distinct characters are sure to stick with you. The game features three playable protagonists, each with their own personality and motivation: the original trio of Franklin, Michael and Trevor. This brought a fresh breath of air to the series while delivering clever story segments tied to the gameplay. The heist system, which lets you assemble a crew to rob a bank, is another standout feature. But we credit the game's real success to its online mode, which gives players endless ways to mess around (or mess with their friends).

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

The final game of the PS2 trilogy, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, remains a beloved GTA game to this day. It ranks among the series' best thanks to its fantastic RPG mechanics, gang warfare, writing, music, and depictions of San Francisco and Los Angeles. What might make it so famous is that San Andreas draws heavily on the 1991 film Boyz n the Hood, sharing common characters and plot elements with the movie. In-game, you can monitor how fit your character is by working out or eating, get any haircut you like, and customize your character with an impressive range of clothing. This depth of mechanical and cinematic ambition in its gameplay makes the game one of the series' best even 16 years later.

Grand Theft Auto IV

Grand Theft Auto IV is one of the most interesting games in the long-running series. Released in 2008 for PS3 and Xbox 360, it was the subject of massive hype ahead of launch. The game features improved combat with a cover-based system similar to Gears of War, along with modern touches like stunning visuals, a city that makes you feel like you're truly living in it, and a cell phone you can use to set up hangouts with in-game friends. Main character Niko Bellic, with a deep backstory that makes him feel truly alive, is arguably one of the most interesting characters in the entire series. Beyond the core gameplay features, the game also has a solid online mode that lets players freely explore the city and take part in competitive battles like races, deathmatches and other modes. We still consider this a wonderful game worth playing today.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Just a year after launching GTA III, Rockstar Games released Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, a game set in a fictionalized version of 1980s Miami. The game gained strong momentum upon release, following up on the previous game's sales. It has a bigger, more colorful world, a wider range of weapons, and a better protagonist. Lead character Tommy Vercetti has more personality than the leads of the other games, making him much easier to connect with. We can say Vice City is one of the series' best in terms of music, characters and mission variety.

Grand Theft Auto III

The most important game in the series, Grand Theft Auto III, revolutionized the 3D open-world formula, giving players a massive, living, breathing virtual space to play in. Although it wasn't the first open-world game, GTA III popularized this style of game in 2001. From its brilliantly written characters and satisfying missions to the sheer number of things to do in Liberty City, there are plenty of elements that still keep GTA III relevant today. The lack of right-stick camera controls may make this game look outdated by most modern standards, but we still think we owe a lot to GTA III.