Grand Theft Auto Games With The Best Gameplay, Ranked

The Grand Theft Auto series remains one of the most dominant franchises in gaming history. Rockstar Games established a sandbox template that was revolutionary back in the day, and even now is emulated by most other open-world AAA games that have a focus on crime.

Every game in the GTA series is worth checking out for players who want to enjoy the series’ rich history for themselves. The love that players have for this series can’t be emphasized enough. These titles boast compelling gameplay loops that will keep fans coming back for more.

8

Grand Theft Auto

Some Rough Edges, But Still Fun

Grand Theft Auto was born from the ashes of a simple glitch that changed Rockstar Games’ fortunes for good. After seeing how aggressive cops were becoming in one of their projects because of a coding oversight, they found that the joy of outrunning cops was so engaging that they decided to make a title that revolved around this gameplay loop.

This led to the development and release of the first Grand Theft Auto title, and fans had a great time with it. The arcade gameplay was rough yet enjoyable as players completed missions and avoided cops, all while trying to prevent their character from being wasted or busted in a compact, detailed sandbox that was impressive back in the day.

7

Grand Theft Auto 2

Refines The Arcade Gameplay Of The First Game

The success of Grand Theft Auto prompted Rockstar Games to go all in with this franchise. They refined the gameplay loop and polished things up to develop a sequel. GTA 2 was more of the same, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Grand Theft Auto 2 was a noticeable improvement from its predecessor, and a great game that fans could sink their teeth into. The gameplay loop was cathartic and retained the arcade-like feel, making it a great title to sink some hours into. Players caused untold mayhem and destruction in this sandbox.

6

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Translates The Sandbox Gameplay Onto A Handheld Console

Trying to emulate the gameplay of modern Grand Theft Auto games on a handheld was ambitious, and Chinatown Wars deserves credit for being largely successful in this endeavor. This portable GTA game is a blast to play through and serves as a homage of sorts to the series’ origins.

The gameplay is bound to suffer from being released on a handheld console with limited power. Still, Chinatown Wars works around these restrictions to let players enjoy a fun action-adventure game with impressive production values. It may not be as memorable as the mainline GTA entries, but fans who checked out this game on the DS or their mobiles have fond memories of completing action-packed missions and evading the police.

5

Grand Theft Auto 3

Popularized Open-World Crime Games

Grand Theft Auto 3 is one of the most important and revolutionary open-world games ever made. The shift to a third-person 3D open-world game was well-received by the masses, who couldn’t get enough of this living, breathing world.

For a first attempt, it’s amazing to see how many things Grand Theft Auto 3 got right. Shooting up enemies and completing varied missions never gets old, even if some aspects of the gameplay needed to be refined in later titles.

4

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Adds New Vehicle Types & Improves Action Gameplay

The immaculate vibes of Vice City are enthralling to this day. Players love the act of sitting in two-wheelers (a new vehicle type added in this game) and roaming around an urban landscape inspired by Miami. Tommy Vercetti’s story as he regains his glory following a stint in jail is something that fans will love if they’ve seen classic gangster movies like Goodfellas and Scarface.

The inability to swim was puzzling in a game set in a coastal city, but that’s the only enduring complaint in what was a huge step forward for the GTA series. Missions had more variety, and the story had a ton of emotions that allowed players to be invested in no time. They acquired properties, performed side activities, and amassed an arsenal of impressive weaponry.

3

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

A Massive Game Full Of Things To Do

Rockstar’s final game in the 3D Universe is a title that fans can’t stop raving about to this day. With a massive world, iconic protagonist, and a compelling story that takes players to three unique cities, it’s easy to see why San Andreas is hailed by many as one of the best Grand Theft Auto games ever made.

Players could finally swim as they completed a ton of engaging open-world activities in CJ’s shoes. The role-playing elements added to this game were simple, yet immersive enough to get players invested in improving CJ by managing his food portions, going to the gym regularly, and engaging in certain activities like shooting and flying to improve his competency with these tasks.

2

Grand Theft Auto 4

Makes The Gameplay Grittier Than Ever

Grand Theft Auto 4 was a huge step forward for a series that had relied on a single engine to develop a wealth of quality GTA games. The open world needed to be smaller to keep the scope manageable, but Liberty City managed to wow players with its urban locales and amazing sights.

The gameplay is also more engaging and realistic than before, with bullets carrying a ton of weight as Niko uses a massive arsenal of weapons to take out his enemies. This action is a huge step over its predecessor. It also helps that Grand Theft Auto 4 ties all this together with what is arguably the best narrative told in a GTA game to date.

1

Grand Theft Auto 5

An Astounding Technical Achievement With Gameplay To Match

Grand Theft Auto 5 is a labor of love that clearly had a ton of hard work put into it. This technical marvel was so ahead of its time that the full capabilities of this title could only be unlocked on next-gen consoles, showing just how malleable Rockstar’s in-house engine was.

The current version of GTA 5 features two unique viewpoints, excellent shooting gameplay, a wealth of side activities to choose from, and three protagonists with unique abilities. All of this, coupled with the revolutionary GTA Online, ensures that Grand Theft Auto 5 will stand the test of time, boasting the best gameplay ever seen in this illustrious series.