Every GTA Game, Ranked Worst to Best

GTA has become one of the biggest gaming series in history, and Grand Theft Auto 6 is preparing to change the industry in revolutionary ways. With pre-orders now open for the most anticipated release of the year, it’s time to take a stroll down the Grand Theft Auto lane and see which entries have stood the test of time to become iconic in their own right. With that said, here’s every GTA game ranked from worst to best.

12 Grand Theft Auto: Advance

GTA: Advance on the Game Boy Advance marked a return to the series top-down perspective, despite embracing 3D visuals in the previous releases. As a prequel to GTA III, it featured small-time crook Mike embarking on a revenge quest to avenge his partner Vinnie. Set in Liberty City, it’s reminiscent of the older games, and the Game Boy Advance’s limitations held it back hard. While it offered fun to some extent, it isn’t what anyone would’ve expected after GTA III, so unfortunately, it ranks last on our list.

11 Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition

GTA: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition included modern remasters of III, Vice City, and San Andreas, and the launch was disastrous enough to make players return to the original with dated visuals and gameplay. Technical issues, questionable visuals, and the loss of the original atmosphere contributed to some of the problems it had and “The Definitive Edition” title wasn’t helping it since it looked worse than the originals.

Developer Grove Street Games released updates after launch to fix some of the glaring issues, but let’s be honest, despite the updated visuals and lighting, nothing can compare to the original trilogy, so this remaster failed to stick the landing.

10 Grand Theft Auto 2

GTA 2 served as a sequel to the first Grand Theft Auto, improving on the predecessor and letting players explore a retrofuturistic open-world metropolis. It’s a far cry from the type of games the series would later go on to produce, but the live-action scenes filmed by Rockstar for the intro planted the seeds for cinematic storytelling. Top-down perspective, simple mission-based gameplay, and a solid soundtrack make it an outing that isn’t the worst in the series, but not the best either.

9 Grand Theft Auto 1

GTA 1 is the game that gave birth to the legendary series, and it doesn’t even look remotely similar to the games we are now accustomed to. Boasting a top-down perspective and set inside an open-world environment, the game followed a very basic mission structure, with players having to gain points to progress. However, the concept of playing as a criminal and evading authorities is something that still exists within the series.

Overall, it was a simple game that led to the rise of one of the most legendary series in gaming history. It received two expansions with London 1969 and London 1961, both of which are bite-sized expansions of the base game.

8 Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

GTA: Chinatown Wars was a solid handheld entry in the series, which brought the Triads to the frontlines by following Huang Lee’s quest to recover a stolen sword. Bringing back the traditional top-down perspective, Chinatown Wars offered gorgeous artistic visuals and touch-screen controls for the Nintendo DS version, which made it a blast to play. It was a unique experience which released during a time when GTA IV cemented the series’ identity, so we consider it an underrated gem.

7 Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories

GTA: Liberty City Stories was the first-ever 3D title to be released on handheld devices, and for what it’s worth, it was an impressive adaptation that delivered a classic Grand Theft Auto experience portably. Serving as a prequel to GTA III and set in Liberty City, the game focused on Toni Cipriani’s rise to power against other Mafia organisations. Overall, it’s fun, action-packed, and it remains a standout PSP title.

6 Grand Theft Auto III

GTA III revolutionized gaming by becoming the first 3D game in the series, breaking ground with an immersive open world in Liberty City brimming with unique activities. It laid the foundation for the remaining titles in the series and gave the series its identity that we know and love. Claude might not have been the best protagonist, but the open-world design, missions, and ambitious scope made up for it. It remains a top-tier entry that pushed the series to new heights.

5 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories

GTA: Vice City Stories is highly underrated as a prequel to Vice City, and it marked the second handheld game in the series for the PlayStation Portable. Despite its technical limitations, the visuals were fully rendered in 3D, the traditional gameplay was improved with an empire-building mechanic, and the 1980s soundtrack was one to remember. It didn’t have the same impact as GTA Vice City did it but it remains an incredibly enjoyable chapter in GTA, especially as a handheld offering.

4 Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition

GTA IV: The Complete Edition features three stories: Niko Bellic’s in the base game, Johnny Klebitz’s in The Lost and The Damned, and Luis Lopez’s in The Ballad of Gay Tony. Niko’s dark and mature narrative, focusing on him trying to escape his past, combined with cinematic storytelling and high-definition visuals, turned GTA IV into one of Rockstar’s greatest offerings ever.

The open world of Liberty City is immersive, with lively NPCs and activities, and the gameplay, while refined, becomes unintentionally hilarious thanks to the physics. Moving on to The Lost and The Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, both episodes made meaningful improvements to the gameplay, and their stories are memorable enough to make GTA IV: The Complete Edition a win in our books.

3 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

GTA: Vice City is undeniably stylish, putting players within the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and inside the shoes of legendary protagonist Tommy Vercetti, whose rise to power through the criminal underworld remains one of the series’ strongest narratives. Sure, it isn’t as ambitious as San Andreas, but its storytelling and Vice City setting make it stand out, along with its basic yet effective gameplay. It’s incredibly cool, oozing with charm, and the influence of Miami Vice and Scarface makes GTA: Vice City deserving of all its flowers.

2 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

GTA: San Andreas is an unforgettable classic, introducing the world to CJ and the Grove Street Gang. Despite dated visuals and a small map, Rockstar’s 2004 outing is regarded as one of the best in the series due to unforgettable moments, a memorable cast, diverse activities and customization options, and unparalleled attention to detail. It’s honestly timeless, and even the outdated gameplay mechanics don’t hurt the vibe that GTA: San Andreas still offers.

1 Grand Theft Auto V

GTA V is hands-down the best Grand Theft Auto title yet, combining a satirical and cynical narrative with a lively open world packed with activities and side missions. The main trio of Michael, Franklin, and Trevor has become iconic, thanks to their hilarious dynamic, while Los Santos remains one of gaming’s most breathtaking maps. Over a decade and a remaster later, GTA V has held up impeccably well, becoming one of Rockstar’s most prominent offerings, further elevated by the addition of GTA Online.

Which is your favorite Grand Theft Auto game? Will you replay these games before GTA 6? Let us know your thoughts and opinions on our ranking in the comments section below.