Games That Define Rockstar’s Legacy

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Rockstar Games is one of the most impactful companies in video game history. Every game they’ve created or published has left its mark on the industry, and they’ve been consistently delivering high-quality titles – particularly open-world games – since the late 1990s and continuing into the 2020s.

Rockstar Games is back in the news, and the anticipation for Grand Theft Auto 6 is building – it’s shaping up to be one of the biggest video game releases ever! Before the new game arrives, let’s remember the five games that truly made Rockstar the company it is today and established its incredible reputation.

Grand Theft Auto

The Start Of Rockstar’s Most Famous And Iconic Franchise

Rockstar Games is now famous for massive, realistic, 3D open-world games, but the company started out differently. Originally known as DMA Design, they made all sorts of quirky and colorful games, including titles like Lemmings and Body Harvest. Everything changed in 1998 with the release of the first Grand Theft Auto game.

The first GTA took place in Liberty City and was played from a top-down view. Though the graphics and gameplay were simple, it pioneered the open-world “sandbox” style of game, letting players freely explore and earn points—even by breaking the law.

Interestingly, Grand Theft Auto started as a simple racing game called Race ‘n’ Chase, focused on police chases. However, the developers enjoyed the criminal side of things more, so they completely changed the game’s direction. While the original GTA received a mixed reaction and some minor criticism, it was a groundbreaking title that paved the way for Rockstar Games and the entire open-world genre as we know them today.

Grand Theft Auto 3

The Game That Single-Handedly Redefined The 3D Sandbox Genre

Throughout the 1990s, DMA Design created several 3D games that featured open-world aspects, such as Body Harvest and Space Station Silicon Valley. Building on that experience, they then developed the Grand Theft Auto series, bringing it into the world of 3D gaming around the year 2000.

Grand Theft Auto 3 was a remarkably ambitious and groundbreaking game when it was released. Like the original, it lets you freely roam Liberty City, steal cars, cause trouble, and complete missions. However, GTA 3 stood out because it was fully 3D and featured a huge open world, really demonstrating the power of the PlayStation 2.

Grand Theft Auto 3 was a huge hit with both critics and players, and it essentially invented the modern open-world, or “sandbox,” game. Many other games, such as Saints Row and Mafia, were directly inspired by it. For Rockstar Games, the success of GTA 3 was transformative, redefining the company and leading to the development of popular sequels like Vice City and San Andreas – games that often improved upon the original in significant ways.

Manhunt

The Most Controversial Video Game Rockstar Has Ever Made

Rockstar Games has a history of creating controversial titles, often featuring mature content, edgy humor, and the freedom for players to engage in violent acts within expansive, open worlds. However, the controversy surrounding the company significantly increased with the 2003 release of their stealth-action game, Manhunt.

Around the early 2000s, video game graphics were becoming increasingly realistic, which led to more debate about violent content. The release of the game Manhunt came at a particularly sensitive time. In it, players control a prisoner on death row who is forced to commit murder and torture others for a twisted film. Even for the PS2 era, the violence in Manhunt is excessive and disturbing.

The game Manhunt sparked significant controversy and was even banned in some countries. However, it also solidified Rockstar’s reputation for pushing boundaries. At the time, the company was known for being daring and unafraid to publish mature, experimental games aimed at adults – a move that helped change the perception of video games and break the old stereotype that they were just for children around the mid-2000s.

Grand Theft Auto 5

A GTA Game So Successful, Rockstar Didn’t Need To Release Another One For Another 13 Years

The Grand Theft Auto series was hugely successful in the 2000s, with popular PlayStation 2 games like Vice City and San Andreas. It continued to thrive with Grand Theft Auto 4, the first game in the series to appear in high definition. However, none of these games reached the massive popularity of Grand Theft Auto 5.

Released in 2013, GTA 5 quickly became incredibly popular thanks to its huge open world, packed with activities. Players could switch between three different characters whenever they wanted, and the game featured a detailed story and stunning graphics. It was the most expensive game ever created when it launched, and that investment proved worthwhile – it’s now the second best-selling video game of all time.

Like previous games in the series, Grand Theft Auto 5 set a new standard for open-world games. It’s become so closely associated with Rockstar Games and the GTA franchise that it’s often the first thing people think of when they hear those names. GTA 5 was also incredibly successful, leading Rockstar to re-release it multiple times and use it as the base for GTA Online. This allowed the developers the time they needed to create the next installment in the series.

Red Dead Redemption 2

A Beautiful Narrative-Driven Adventure That Showcased What The Studio Is Truly Capable Of

Rockstar Games is famous for much more than just Grand Theft Auto. They’ve created many other popular open-world games, including Bully and Red Dead Redemption. That’s why the 2018 release of Red Dead Redemption 2 was such a big deal – it was their first completely new game since GTA 5. Expectations were incredibly high, and the game not only met them, but exceeded them.

As you’d expect from this developer, Red Dead Redemption 2 delivers a huge and engaging open world with tons to do. But what really sets it apart is its powerful story and exceptional writing – it’s a game where you actually want to follow the plot. It also redefined the open-world genre with incredible technical detail and graphics that still impress players, showcasing the immense effort and care put into making it.

Given the incredible success and awards won by Red Dead Redemption 2, it’s no wonder expectations are incredibly high for Grand Theft Auto 6. Players are hoping it will surpass both Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 in terms of scope and quality. Considering Rockstar’s history of delivering exceptional games, GTA 6 is likely to meet—and even exceed—these expectations, potentially revolutionizing the gaming landscape.

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2025-10-23 10:35