TheGrand Theft Autoseries has sold hundreds of millions of copies since making its debut back in the late nineties and has had a huge influence on the open-world genre. Some of the franchise’s more recent installments have placed a heavy emphasis on storytelling too, offering players much more than just mindless (yet highly enjoyable) fun.
The bestGTAstorylines find ways to complement the chaos for which the series is best known, allowing players to better understand the playable protagonists through whom they carry out all of the aforementioned carnage. Whether these characters are motivated by revenge, greed, or an unquenchable thirst for power, their respectiveGrand Theft Autonarratives are well worth experiencing at least once.
7Grand Theft Auto 2
Grand Theft Snore-to
The limitations of the era definitely held back the first couple ofGrand Theft Autogames when it came to storytelling. However, even had the technology allowed for voice acting and more cinematic cutscenes, the narratives on offer in the series' first few outings were nothing to write home about and were fairly generic when compared to those found in more recentGTAtitles.
Much like its predecessor,Grand Theft Auto 2had players picking up odd jobs for various criminals and ne’er-do-wells in animpressive open-world sandbox, though these characters and the plot they drove served more as a vehicle to facilitate the carnage than anything else. The warring gangs storyline certainly had potential, but it ultimately got lost amidst the chaos.
6Grand Theft Auto
Fuhgeddaboudit
There are eight playable characters in the firstGrand Theft Autogame, though the one that players choose ultimately has very little impact on the game’s narrative. Working for the Vercotti family does at least provide a bit of consistency though and allows players to get to know the people for whom they’re working a little better, which is something that was arguably lacking in the game’s 1999 sequel.
The decision to focus on two rival crime families rather than multiple gangs also worked in the game’s favor, allowing the developers to delve much more deeply into this single rivalry and avoid spreading the story too thinly. As is the case in the game’s sequel, though, the lack of voice acting and basic visuals can make it difficult for players to get too heavily invested in the narrative when all’s said and done.
5Grand Theft Auto 3
Silent Revenge
Grand Theft Auto 3was the first 3DGTAgame and one ofthe earliest open-world games to arrive on console. It tells the story of Claude: a silent protagonist who is seeking revenge after being betrayed by his unhinged girlfriend, Catalina. Players meet plenty of interesting characters on their way to the story’s epic climax, many of whom are voiced by famous Hollywood actors.
The format of the game remains true to its predecessors, but the introduction of voice acting makes a huge difference to the experience; making it much easier for players to get invested and immersed in Claude’s affairs. Each of the factions that players meet feels unique and well-realized too, while the missions that they’re tasked with completing mesh much more seamlessly with the game’s plot.
4Grand Theft Auto 5
Too Many Cooks
AlthoughGrand Theft Auto 5was a huge step forward for the seriesin a lot of different ways, its storyline is actually fairly generic and serves as proof that having interesting characters doesn’t always result in an interesting plot. Everything that happens feels as though it does so just to provide some setpiece moment or introduce a new mechanic, resulting in a storyline that is ultimately quite forgettable.
The developers deserve a lot of credit for how seamlessly they integrated the character-switching mechanic and how all three characters remained central to the plot. However, one can’t help but wonder whetherGTA 5’s story would have hit a little harder had it revolved around a single primary protagonist rather than attempting to wrap itself around threevery different personalities.
3Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Vercetti’s Way
Grand Theft Auto: Vice Citytells the story of Tommy Vercetti and his meteoric rise to the top of the titular city’s criminal underworld. The character is expertly brought to life by Ray Liotta, whose portrayal of real-life mobster Henry Hill inthe 1990 movieGoodfellasseems to have provided plenty of inspiration for the popular playable protagonist.
Much ofVice Cityseems to have been inspired by classic gangster movies, both when it comes to the setting and the many characters who help to bring the story to life. The game features its fair share of Easter eggs and movie references too, including not-so-subtle nods toiconic Al Pacino flicks likeScarfaceandCarlito’s Way.
2Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Brotherhood & Betrayal
Many considerGrand Theft Auto: San Andreasto be the best of the original 3D trilogy, and there’s very good reason for that. Its map is considerably larger than those found in either of its predecessors and its main storyline is around double the length. It also boasts plenty ofgreatGTAcharacters, including Big Smoke, Officer Tenpenny, and the game’s main protagonist Carl “CJ” Johnson.
Like many of theotherGTAgames, the storyline centers around gang warfare and police corruption, but there are also plenty of interesting little subplots to keep players entertained. Big Smoke’s betrayal remains one of the series' most memorable moments even to this day, while CJ himself is still one of its best-ever playable protagonists. Almost everything aboutSan Andreasstands the test of time, but whether or not it has the bestGTAstoryline remains a matter of debate.
1Grand Theft Auto 4
The American Nightmare
Most of theplayable characters inGrand Theft Autogamesfeel like over-the-top caricatures, which can make it difficult to take them too seriously at times and almost impossible to relate to. In some ways, Niko Bellic is a walking stereotype as well, yet there is also plenty of depth to the war veteran and a surprising amount of character growth as the game’s narrative begins to unfold.
Niko’s motivations are just as self-serving as those of his fellowGTAprotagonists, but the fact that he commits crimes in pursuit of truth and vengeance makes for a welcome change of pace from those who are simply looking to get rich. That the game opts to explore the harsh realities of the American dream as opposed to being yet another game about gangs or organized crime is equally refreshing and really helps tosetGTA 4apart from otherGTAgames.
