Grand Theft Auto to GTA V: A look at how Rockstar’s grand open world game evolved

It’s been 10 years since Grand Theft Auto V launched. The game at the time, and perhaps even today, is referred to as revolutionary, setting the benchmark for not just future Rockstar titles, but also open world games in general, whether on laptops, gaming consoles, or desktops. GTA V, however, isn’t the only feather in Rockstar Games’ cap. As we mark the 10th year anniversary of this iconic game, it is only appropriate to look back at all the games that form the Grand Theft Auto legacy.   

Grand Theft Auto (1997)

Released in 1997, Grand Theft Auto provided a storyline, map, and features as rich as the era’s hardware allowed. It took place in three locations – Liberty City, Vice City, and San Andreas. Though the top-down 2D view looks dated today, it was revolutionary at the time offering gamers the ability to drive around cities, get into gang wars, assassinations, bank heists, and much more. 

Grand Theft Auto 2 (1999)

GTA II was quite unlike any other installment in Rockstar Games’ universe. The game took place in a futuristic metropolis, known as Anywhere City, which bared no resemblance to any other location in the series. That said, it improved everything introduced in the series’ first installment. The visuals were cleaner, the game felt faster, and there were new features like the ability to save the game during a playthrough. 

Grand Theft Auto III (2001)

GTA III brought about the biggest change in the franchise by moving from a top-down view to a third-person view. This provided an immersive gameplay experience, and the game received critical acclaim. You played as Claude, a silent protagonist, which as per Rockstar, allowed gamers to relate with him more. The game introduced new vehicles, gangs, and a large open Liberty City to play in.  

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)

The second installment in the 3D universe, the game was set in Vice City, a recreation of Miami in 1984. Gamers followed mobster Tommy Vercetti’s rise to power, and GTA Vice City was considered leaps and bounds ahead of previous installments. It introduced many new features including the ability to ride motorcycles, fly airplanes, and also drive boats. Add to it the customisable outfits, and previously unheard-of weapons for combat, meant that Vice City was considered a game changer not just with open-world games in general, but also in the series itself.  

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)

Arguably the most loved game in the franchise, GTA San Andreas took everything good from the previous titles and blew them up to another level. To start with, the world of San Andreas had three full-size cities – Los Santos, Las Venturas, and San Fierro, drawing inspiration from the modern-day cities like Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco respectively. Add to that the sheer number of player customisation options (clothing, haircuts, tattoos, body shape), and side activities and you could spend hours in the virtual world. A strong storyline with plenty of twists and turns made GTA San Andreas nothing short of a big-budget Hollywood blockbuster.  

Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)

The first game in the HD universe, GTA IV brought players back to Liberty City, but with a new protagonist. Gamers played as Eastern European war veteran Niko Bellic who had landed at the Liberty City shores to escape his past. The game ran on the Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE) and was loved for its physics. Visual upgrades along with new gameplay features made this among the most immersive and realistic titles in the GTA franchise.  

Grand Theft Auto V (2013)

GTA V was again a big step up in the franchise as it allowed gamers to control not one, but three protagonists, each with their own back story and characteristics. They included retired bank robber Michael De Santa, street gangster Franklin Clinton, and drug dealer and gunrunner Trevor Philips. One could switch between the three in an instant at any given moment of the game. This allowed gamers to not only experience, but also play through the entire game from three different perspectives. Add to that a ginormous virtual world to play in, and the game has stood the test of time. What’s more, once the gamers were through with the lengthy single player campaign, they could endlessly enjoy the game in multiplayer mode.  

Grand Theft Auto spin-offs and remakes

Besides the main titles, there were also a few spin-offs, each adding a little twist and fun features to the overall franchise. These include GTA: London 1969, GTA: London 1961, GTA IV: The Lost and Damned, Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony, GTA Advance, GTA: Liberty City Stories, GTA: Vice City Stories, and GTA: Chinatown Wars. 

ALSO READ: Love gaming? 5 top game streaming accounts you should follow

Not just that. Back in 2018, Rockstar Games also released Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition. This consisted of remastered versions of GTA III, GTA Vice City, and GTA San Andreas with enhanced graphics, providing a much richer audio-visual experience and more immersive gameplay. 

GTA 6

The next installment in the Grand Theft Auto franchise, GTA 6 is among the most awaited games. Ever since its official announcement, gamers have been waiting with bated breath for an official trailer or launch date. Instead, we’ve so far been treated to supposed leaked gameplay footage that gives a glimpse at what we can expect. All we know is that the next game will arrive with a map of a size we haven’t seen before, with next-gen visuals, and plenty of new features.