If you've played any action-packed video game, then you'll be well-familiar with Rockstar Games. They are a reputable name in the video game industry, gifting us timeless video game franchises such as Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. Being one of the greatest publishers and developers out there, they are a unique gaming company. Overall, they create charming stories and video games that are complete hits one after the other.
Ever since 1997, Rockstar Games has gone on to stand out among other publishers. Interestingly enough, they're somewhat of auteurs within video gaming as they've established their carefree style within most of their games. Even though there are so many of their games out there, here are ten that can be deemed as the best of all time.
10 Red Dead Revolver
Red Dead Revolver is a niche addition to Rockstar Game's history. As the spiritual successor to Red Dead Redemption, this game feels like the classic wild west in the form of an arcade video game. It was the start of Rockstar Game's direction into a Western environment. Which, in the end, turned out wonderfully for them.
While this game is still one of Rockstar's greatest, it doesn't entirely connect story-wise to the other games. The overall plot is a mash-up of different Spaghetti Western stories, collectively forming a story that's just outright fun. In the end, Red Dead Revolver stands out from the rest of the franchise as it's goofy and entertaining at heart.
9 Max Payne 3
The third installment in the Max Payne series is the only one developed and published by Rockstar Games. After being in the development phase for years, the company announced a release date for their version of the Max Payne series that excited fans everywhere.
Max Payne 3 is an underrated title in the series. It's noticeably darker, surrounding you with an utterly grimy world. It's a ruthless ending for Max Payne, concluding with countless amounts of blood and violence. At the same time, though, there's a good balance between gameplay and story that makes this a worthy addition to the series.
8 Manhunt
Garnering a cult following, Manhunt is considerably Rockstar Game's most controversial video game. With immense amounts of violence left and right, your only goal in Manhunt is to kill. With how much blood litters your screen when playing this game, it isn't entirely shocking that it's Rockstar's most notorious addition to their company.
At the same time, however, the amount of violence in Manhunt is what makes it such a fascinating game. It's reminiscent of a classic slasher film, having almost a cinematic take to it. The difficulty in this game is nothing to scoff at, either. It's challenging, utilizing its reflection on horrific meditated violence to the max.
7 Bully
Bully is an entertaining deviation from the usual violence seen in other games from Rockstar. Setting you in the world of Jimmy, who is sent to a boarding school full of unique characters, we see how strangely fun academic life can be.
However, Bully doesn't merely have you focus on going to class and getting your homework done. Instead, the game gives you a chance to rebel, discovering how you can change your reputation in a world surrounded by judgment. Ranging from making friends with the outcasts to getting taught how to fight by an odd man behind the school, Bully's world is more than ordinary.
6 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Taking you back in time to 1986, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is reminiscent of classic films such as Scarface. Rockstar Games build upon their ever-growing skill in creating an impactful open-world game by enhancing the world in Vice City more than they did before with their previous Grand Theft Auto games.
Following the story of Tommy Vercetti and his rise to power, you're placed into a fictional world heavily based on Miami. The world is your oyster in completing missions. Everything is open-ended and features fast pacing that accomplishes endlessly capturing your attention. Of course, the soundtrack in Vice City will always be stuck in your brain for hours on end.
5 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a unique installment, incorporating both RPG and stealth elements into its gameplay. The game's map feels expansive, giving you hours of side content to explore. And, while you're following along with the main story, you're graced with a diverse story.
Besides being the first Grand Theft Auto game that allowed you to swim, it was also one that truly gave a deep look into the lives of those in the city. It showcased problems that reflected reality, telling stories of betrayal. Overall, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas might be an older game, but its impact and mass amounts of content make it timeless.
4 Red Dead Redemption
Even though Red Dead Revolver is the first Rockstar game that spawned the glorious wild west world that we have today, Red Dead Redemption expanded it. Creating a more linear and concrete story, the first Red Dead Redemption followed John Marston, who's attempting to bury his past.
After John is threatened with having his family taken away by federal agents, he must work with these agents to find his old crew and put them in jail. Exploring the vast world before you during this quest leads you to opportunities and activities that immerse you in John's tale of redemption even more than before.
3 L.A. Noire
Get ready to travel back to the late 1940s with Rockstar's take on a detective game. L.A. Noire follows a simple premise, where you take the role of Detective Cole Phelps. As you try to work your way up the ranks in the LAPD, you're tasked with solving various cases that positively raise your reputation as a detective.
These cases range from a simple story of deceit to outright murder. You have to use your intuition and the clues that you've learned along the way in your case. But it's important to note that you have to think carefully about handling each of these stories, especially when it comes to your interrogations with the suspects.
2 Grand Theft Auto 5
Grand Theft Auto V is one of Rockstar's best-selling video games of all time. Being ported to different consoles over the years, the sales for this game keep coming and coming. A large reason why this game still goes on to get so many players mainly centers around how much it is there for you to discover.
What Grand Theft Auto V does right involves its realism and deep immersion. Even if you've played this game for hours, you're still bound to get sidetracked by a newer mission or opportunity. And, oddly enough, this is a good thing. The mission design is also admirable, being a lot more than solely your run-of-the-mill heist.
1 Red Dead Redemption 2
Rockstar Games took their familiar formula of impactful stories from Grand Theft Auto and combined it with their iconic version of a classic Western video game. Acting as a prequel to the first game, Red Dead Redemption 2 lets us tag along on the exciting journey of John Marston's close friend: Arthur Morgan.
Completing Red Dead Redemption 2 won't be a walk in the park. Aside from the difficult foes that stand in your way, the game's story is lengthy and can keep you in one area for a while. However, this length works in the game's favor, with everything not feeling like you've spent hours playing it. In other words, this masterful video game is like nothing else in Rockstar Game's extensive catalog.