The Grand Theft Auto franchise is nothing short of a cultural and gaming phenomenon. Right from its early days of the 2D top-down cops and robbers chaos to the revolutionary leap to the 3D era with GTA 3, Grand Theft Auto has shaped modern gaming like no other. While the 2D era laid the foundations, the 3D era of GTA Games defined the open-world genre of games as a whole and etched the name Rockstar Games in history. In this article, we will rank every GTA Game starting from the 3D era to the HD era, based on gameplay innovations, story, and their overall impact.
With the GTA 6 release being just a year away, it was time to pit every game against each other. And answer the question, what is the greatest GTA game of all time?
As someone who’s grown up with the GTA series and played every game along the way, this GTA Game ranking comes straight from a personal perspective. Also, the list is in no specific era order as titles are ranked on overall score rather than the era from which they originate.
Understanding the GTA Eras
Before we start, it is crucial to understand what separated the different Rockstar Games and GTA Games eras. From the first ever GTA to modern day GTA 5 and Online.
2D Era: The original GTA Games started as 2D, top-down arcade-style games.
- Grand Theft Auto – 1997
- Grand Theft Auto: London 1999
- Grand Theft Auto: London 1999 (free mission pack)
- Grand Theft Auto 2 – 1999
3D Era: Full-blown 3D environments and animations, the games evolved into an over-the-shoulder, third-person perspective.
- Grand Theft Auto III – 2001
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – 2002
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – 2004
- GTA Advance – 2004 (Nintendo Advance Release)
- Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories – 2005
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories – 2006
HD Era: More realistic graphics and physics with true-to-life animations and gameplay innovations.
- Grand Theft Auto 4 – 2008
- GTA 4: The Lost and Damned Expansion – 2009
- GTA 4: The Ballad of Gay Tony Expansion – 2009
- Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars – 2009 (PSP Release)
- Grand Theft Auto V – 2013
- GTA Online – 2013
Ranking All GTA Games from 3D to HD era
10) GTA Liberty City Stories
Release Date: 24 October 2005
Platforms: PSP, PS2
To start off the list, we have GTA Liberty City Stories, a strong contender for the very bottom of the list. LC Stories came after all three 3D era games, including San Andreas, Vice City, and III. While not a full-blown GTA title, Liberty City Stories set out as a prequel to the events of GTA 3, and was the first Grand Theft Auto to make it onto a portable handheld console.
You played as Toni Cipriani, a mob enforcer rising through the ranks of the Liberty City Mafia. Compared to other GTA titles, LC Stories was a much toned-down version of the series, even when compared to the likes of GTA 3. Released for the original PSP and later the PS2, GTA Liberty City Stories was a great PSP>GTA game for its time.
9) GTA Vice City Stories
Release Date: 31 October 2006
Platforms: PSP, PS2
The second GTA Game to make it onto a portable console was GTA Vice City Stories. Much more well-received for its improved gameplay mechanics and better-rounded story. GTA VC Stories was a big leap from the last PSP release, coming just a year later. Players took on the role of Victor Vance, the brother of Lance Vance from the original Vice City.
As a former soldier now turned criminal, players built their own empire in Vice City. From smuggling to counterfeit operations, VC Stories was praised for its empire-building mechanics and the already strong soundtrack. This puts the title above LC Stories, all because of our boy, Vic Vance.
8) Grand Theft Auto III
Release Date: 22 October 2001
Platforms: PS2,Xbox and PC
The game that started it all, the first ever 3D era title from Rockstar Games. Grand Theft Auto 3 rocked the foundations of the gaming industry on its release. Being the first game of its kind, the third GTA Game was the first ever open-world sandbox story game with endless possibilities. Players stepped into the shoes of Claude Speed in the fictional version of New York, Liberty City.
GTA 3, kicking off the 3D era of GTA Games, brought the world’s attention to the GTA name and its creators, Rockstar Games. Gaming was very different during the early 2000s, and GTA 3 just changed the entire landscape of gaming in a single day. Back then, open-world was just a mere concept, implemented on a very limited scale with bare bare-bones environment.
GTA 3 had a proper story and a dynamic range of characters, countless missions and side activities, and, paired with the ability to cause mayhem, put the Grand Theft Auto Series on the front page of every major publication, equally drawing much controversy. But that didn’t stop Rockstar Games from selling over 6 million in its first year of release. Making it the second best-selling game of 2001, just behind Madden NFL 2002 from Electronic Arts (Back when EA knew how to make a game)
7) GTA 4 Episodes from Liberty City: The Lost and Damned
Release Date: 17 February 2009
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, and PC
The weakest of the GTA IV expansion, the Lost and Damned was a more miss than a hit with fans of the game. Released after Grand Theft Auto IV, The Lost and Damned expanded the story of IV with the introdution of Johnny Klebitz. A seasoned biker and acting president of the Lost Motorcycle Club Liberty City Chapter. The episode was highly praised for its darker tone, but missed many features when compared to its counterpart, The Ballad of Gay Tony.
While one of the best DLC’s in video games, Lost and Damned missed out on key story elements and a more woven narrative. That is why it makes it to the bottom of our list and the first HD era game to be at this spot in the GTA Games ranking.
6) Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Release Date: 27 October 2002
Platforms: PS2,PS3, Xbox 360, and PC
Vice City Baby!!!!! There is no way a GTA or Rockstar release list is complete without the mention of GTA Vice City. The second entry into the 3D universe catapulted Grand Theft Auto into a cultural phenomenon. Vice City took the players to the fictional version of Miami, set during the 80s, in the neon-soaked streets of Vice City.
This was the first time players controlled a voiced protagonist, Tommy Vercetti, voiced by the late great Ray Liotta. Vice City became a cult classic for its innovative gameplay, the brilliant story paired with a pure nostalgia soundtrack straight from the 80s. For its perfect balance of a good story, characters, vehicles, weapons, open world, and a beautiful soundtrack. Vice City takes the spot for the best era showcased in a GTA Game.
5) GTA 4 Episodes from Liberty City: The Ballad of Gay Tony
Release Date: 29 October 2009
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, and PC
The best expansion out of GTA 4 was the tale of Tony Lopez and his entourage of characters, including the flamboyant Gay Tony. The expansion added not only new characters, weapons, and vehicles but also a whole different vibe to Liberty City. Gone was the darker tone and grittier vibe in exchange for the city’s nightlife clubs and chaos.
Highly regarded as one of the best DLCs for a Rockstar Game, The Ballad of Gay Tony was a welcome return to the over-the-top GTA Mayhem and a true return to feel for the game. While both the main story and Lost and Damned were more grounded girtter tales. The Ballad of Gay Tony added the highly demanded clubs, and the mayhem that comes with it. Players finally got involved in the club management business. Making it one of the best additions to the GTA Series and a true example of what a gaming expansion needs to be. Let’s not forget they added the bloody parachute with this DLC.
4) GTA Online
Release Date: 1 October 2013
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PS4,Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC
GTA Online goes two ways: one side loves it, and the other absolutely despises it, but no one can deny the experience it provides. Releasing just two weeks after GTA 5, Online took over the world by storm, it was everything GTA, but now online with friends. Online rightfully deserves its space near the top due to the OG online lobby memories. Yes, GTA IV had its multiplayer mode, but it’s nothing compared to what Rockstar did with five.
You could join a lobby full of players and do anything you want; steal a jet, rob a bank, raid a facility, race cars of all kinds, and so much more. It was the ultimate sandbox experience, surpassing games like Minecraft and Roblox. To date, there is nothing that comes close to what GTA Online has done, except for the last few years. The only reason GTA Online isn’t any higher is due to Rockstar milking the ever-living soul out of it with shark cards. Adding lackluster content, flying bikes, shooting stars, and whatnot. But GTA Online in its initial PS3 and 360 days was golden.
Honorable Mentions (GTA: Chinatown Wars and GTA Advance are two games that are not full-blown Grand Theft Auto Games. Only releasing for handheld platforms, both titles didn’t make the list due to their return to form of top-down angles and being unappealing as major games in the series.)
Top Three GTA Games of All Time
Picking the top three is not an easy task with a legacy as big as Grand Theft Auto. Rockstar has truly done something way more than just creating a video game. The studio has created a legacy etched in history books, not just as games but as cultural phenomena. Grand Theft Auto is pop culture, whether people like it or not. The series has broken world records, won multiple awards, and generated Billions of dollars in profit.
Each entry in the series has brought something new, from storytelling to world-building. From its wide array of characters and villains to the amazing cars and vehicles. Yet among all the chaos and criminal empires, a few stand out as the crème de la crème of everything GTA represents.
And the Top Three GTA Games of all time are…
3) Grand Theft Auto 4
Release Date: 29 April 2008
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, and PC
The return to Liberty City was more than just nostalgic; it was a tale of betrayal, revenge, and the pursuit of the American Dream. From the moment players stepped off the container ship and into the shoes of Nico Bellic, the best-written GTA protagonist ever. GTA 4 truly set the benchmark for a modern-day open-world game. It was the first to make the jump into the HD era of Grand Theft Auto Games with its realistic physics, modern graphics, and gameplay.
Players took control of Nico, and an Eastern European guy was fooled by his cousin to pursue a life in Liberty City. From the moment players hit the streets of Liberty, they get immersed in its rich atmosphere, bustling NY-style environment, and a brilliant storyline. IV not only revolutionized gameplay but also made such leaps in what video games can deliver through their stories. The tale of Nico and his quest for revenge and coming of age is one of the best-told stories in all of Grand Theft Auto, arguably making him the greatest protagonist for the series.
While Nico is no saint and players could rain mayhem through Liberty City like any other GTA Game. The implementation of new technology breathed new life into the sandbox world of the game. The ragdoll physics, euphoria engine upgrades, and surreal graphics for the year were truly breathtaking. GTA IV truly deserves its spot on this list.
2) Grand Theft Auto 5
Release Date: 17 September 2013
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PS4,Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC
September 17, the day millions of people called in sick to play the next Grand Theft Auto. GTA 5 is the game that put Rockstar Games forever in the history books of modern entertainment. The game release was more than just a video game when people called in sick, took leave, bunked school, just to play it.
For the first time ever, not one, not two, but you could control three protagonists in a single game. Combined with the open world of Los Santos and Blaine County, GTA 5 truly made gaming feel great again. The combined tale of Michael, Trevor, and Franklin was a true crime story with amazing mission structures and world-building. Players had access to the internet, stocks, websites, and so much more. Rockstar created a world within Los Santos that felt like a living, breathing city.
Whatever IV did, Rockstar upped the notch by 10 and delivered a true masterpiece of a video game. Grand Theft Auto to date has seven Guinness World Records under its belt and over 6 billion USD in profit. Added the bonus of GTA Online
1) GTA San Andreas
Release Date: 26 October 2004
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, PS3, Xbox 360, PS4, Xbox One, Android and PC
Grand Theft Auto San Andreas wasn’t just a game; it was a movement. It gave us CJ, one of the most beloved protagonists in gaming history. It introduced three fully fleshed-out cities, Los Santos, San Fierro, and Las Venturas, each with its own vibe, culture, and story. Rockstar added RPG mechanics, insane missions, a killer soundtrack, and the unforgettable cast of side characters that made the world feel alive and chaotic in the best way possible.
San Andreas was bold, ambitious, and way ahead of its time.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is the Greatest GTA game of all time, all hands, no debate, just respect.
How would you rank all these GTA Games? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and be sure to check out Driffle Blogs. Your best way to stay updated on the latest gaming news, game guides, and video game reviews.
