Rockstar is a household name and a top-dog in the gaming industry. The New York-based video game publisher operates various studios worldwide and serves as a home to some of the most iconic gaming franchises and titles, ranging from the Red Dead series, the Manhunt series , Max Payne 3 , to the studio’s most popular magnum opus, the Grand Theft Auto series.
This article will rank in chronological order some of the most memorable Rockstar games from the Red Dead , Warriors , and Grand Theft Auto series, although only the 3D games that were released on home consoles of the latter will be included.
The focus will be on the in-universe eras of the games, rather than the date the projects were released.
10 1880s: Red Dead Revolver
The very first game of the Red Dead franchise was titled Red Dead Revolver. Set in the 1880s, Red Dead Revolver centers around the story of Red Harlow, a cowboy and a ruthless former bounty hunter, and his quest for revenge for those responsible for his parents‘ death.
The game was released in 2004 for PlayStation 2 and Xbox systems and sold over 920,000 copies by 2010. It was the start of something magnificent. Its spiritual sequels, Red Dead Redemption 1 & 2 , were released, respectively, in 2010 and 2018.
9 1899-1907: Red Dead Redemption 2
Still from the Old West’s world, 2018’s Red Dead Redemption II follows Arthur Morgan, an outlaw and a member of the notorious Van der Linde gang, and his emotional journey to find the meaning of life. Throughout the game, Arthur faces the dilemma between his ideality and the gang that raised him, and how it ends depends on how the player progresses.
Red Dead Redemption II was released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, and Stadia. It received astonishing 5-stars reviews from almost every critics, making it one of the fastest-selling video games of all time with $725 million gross within the first week.
8 1911-1914: Red Dead Redemption
If one loves Red Dead Redemption II , then this Red Dead title is a must-play. The Old West’s glory days are long gone, and now, users play as John Marston , one of the former Van der Linde gang members. John tracks down his old gang mates and, subsequently, his former surrogate father to force them to face the consequences of their actions.
After five years of development, Red Dead Redemption was released in 2010 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It was considered by many as one of the most expensive video games of all time.
7 1979: The Warriors
The Warriors , which was adapted from the movie with the same title, skips forward to the gloomy world of New York gangs in the 1970s. During an open truce between all the gangs, The Warriors are accused of a murder they never committed, so they have to return to their turf one night. Behind them is an endless crowd of cops and deadly gang rivals, giving them no choice but to run.
Although the original movie only tells the story of that night, the game is set three months prior to the movie event. It was released for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PSP, and a remastered version was made for the PlayStation 4.
6 1984-1986: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City & Vice City Stories
Next, and chronologically the earliest game news of the Grand Theft Auto 3D __ series, is Vice City . Set in the fictional Vice City (real-life: Miami) in the 1980s, Vice City lets players take control of fresh-off-the-boat Tommy Vercetti. He is trying to survive life after prison while building his criminal empire and becoming the city’s number-one most notorious kingpin.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was released in 2002 for PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, and Xbox systems. The game’s missing puzzle, Vice City Stories , was published four years later, and it features several returning characters from Vice City .
5 1992: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
2.800 miles from the East Coast, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is set in the fictional city of San Andreas, which took some inspirations from real-life California and Nevada. It was released in 2004.
It focuses on the story of former gangster Carl ‚CJ‘ Johnson, undoubtedly the most well-known GTA character of all, as he returns home after his mother’s death. As the game progress, Carl learns that his own friends have been stabbing him in his back, and he seeks revenge while bringing back the glory of the Grove Street Families.
4 1998: Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
Set in 1998, Liberty City Stories is actually the prequel to Grand Theft Auto III . It still surrounds the theme of Italian-American mafia and follows the story of Toni Cipriani, a former mobster, as he makes his return to the City’s crime scene.
Liberty City Stories was released in 2005, four years after its sequel, EpicPlayBlog resource for PlayStation 2 and Portable, and it’s available on iOS and Android.
3 2001: Grand Theft Auto III
Claude was just a small-time, low-life criminal, but in Grand Theft Auto III , his fate changed when he met the Leone Mafia family while plotting revenge against his ex-girlfriend, Catalina (remember her, Carl Johnson?), who left him for dead during a bank heist.
The game was released back in 2001, roughly eight years before its sequel, Grand Theft Auto IV , for PlayStation 2 and Xbox systems. The game’s open-world nature, a wide variety of firearms, and the ability to commit drive-by shooting were highly ahead of its time back in the days.
2 2008: Grand Theft Auto IV & Episodes from Liberty City
Back to the gritty life of Liberty City on Grand Theft Auto IV , user play as Niko Bellic, a former Eastern European war veteran. He gets involved in the criminal world of the city while chasing the American Dream and hunting the man who betrayed him 15 years prior to the game.
Unlike V , the graphics on GTA IV are much darker and depressing, a much better fit for the game’s story. In the latter stages of the campaign, GTA IV lets the players decide Niko’s fate through the players‘ moral choices.
1 2004-2013: Grand Theft Auto V
Last but not least, there is Grand Theft Auto V . Following its 2013 release for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, the game surpassed $1 billion in sales in only three days, and it was the pinnacle of the Grand Theft Auto series.
Unlike previous GTA games, GTA V lets players control three protagonists: Michael, Franklin, and Trevor, as they’re trying to make one big final score while being pressured by the authorities before retiring from the crime scene. Hopefully, GTA VI will eventually release and surpass its predecessor, especially since it should have access to the robust PS5 and Xbox Series X systems.
Next: GTA V: The Easiest Way To Get Five Stars
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