Introduction
The Grand Theft Auto (GTA) franchise is one of the most iconic and impactful video game series of all time. Since the first game debuted in 1997, GTA has redefined open-world gaming and pushed boundaries with its edgy themes and gameplay. The criminal stories, urban environments and freedom offered resonate strongly with players, making GTA one of the best-selling franchises ever with over 350 million units sold.
In this comprehensive guide, we will journey through GTA history, chronicling every major installment from the initial 2D games to today‘s cutting-edge expansive 3D worlds. For each game, we‘ll highlight key details around platforms, developers, setting, storylines and innovations that moved the series forward. We‘ll analyze landmark titles like GTA III and GTA V that catapulted the franchise to new heights. We‘ll also speculate on when the elusive GTA VI might finally arrive. Let‘s dive in!
1. Grand Theft Auto (1997)
Developer: DMA Design
Publisher: BMG Interactive
Platforms: MS-DOS, PlayStation, Game Boy Color
GTA started it all in 1997 with this controversial game that let players freely roam cities and commit crimes if they pleased. It featured a 2D bird‘s eye view in fictional locales inspired by major US cities. The rudimentary 3D graphics and gameplay don‘t hold up today, but it sparked public debate and set GTA on a path to stardom. Despite its niche publisher, it sold over 1 million copies.
2. Grand Theft Auto: London, 1969 (1999)
Developers: DMA Design, Rockstar Toronto
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Platform: Microsoft Windows
This 1999 mission pack expansion brought the series to London during the 1960s era. It required the original GTA but introduced 30 new vehicles, 25 missions and a gangster-themed story inspired by classic British crime films. Although not a full sequel, it displayed GTA‘s potential for diverse settings beyond US cities.
3. Grand Theft Auto 2 (1999)
Developers: DMA Design, Rockstar Toronto
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Platforms: PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Color
The last GTA entry developed by DMA Design felt somewhat dated already upon its 1999 release. The visuals remained 2D and gameplay similar to the original. However, it expanded the open world map and introduced both day/night cycles and gang factions vying for territorial control. Despite rehashed graphics, it sold over 2 million copies.
4. Grand Theft Auto III (2001)
Developer: DMA Design (Rockstar North)
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Platforms: PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, Xbox
GTA III stands as one of the most important and influential video games ever made. It popularized the "sandbox" open world genre and made GTA a global blockbuster franchise. The fully 3D Liberty City brought unprecedented scale and freedom. With its darkly humorous tone, violent gameplay and moving soundtrack, GTA III created the blueprint followed by later entries. It sold an astounding 17.5 million copies.
5. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)
Developer: Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Platforms: PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows, Xbox, iOS, Android
Vice City built brilliantly on GTA III‘s foundations, transporting players to a stunning 1980s Miami-inspired setting. Playing as a mobster, it offered huge map upgrades, new vehicles, licensed ‘80s music and a wildly popular story full of Scarface references. Refining its predecessor‘s gameplay, it became 2002‘s best selling game and brought the GTA formula to new heights with around 20 million sales.
6. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)
Developer: Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox, Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
San Andreas took the GTA blueprint into bold new territory with an early 90s California-inspired world, role-playing elements and enhanced customization. The sprawling state included cities, rural areas and deserts seamlessly traversed for the first time. Controlling former gang member CJ, innovative features like gaining weight or muscle and relationship building added new layers. It blew away critics, selling over 27 million copies and cementing itself as one of PlayStation 2‘s best games.
7. Grand Theft Auto Advance (2004)
Developer: Digital Eclipse
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Platform: Game Boy Advance
Aiming to capitalize on Nintendo‘s popular Game Boy Advance handheld, GTA Advance transported Liberty City to the portable console with mixed results. While ambitious in scope with 20 hours of gameplay, the top-down 2D visuals didn‘t utilize GBA‘s hardware well. Critics found its attempts to shoehorn the GTA III experience underwhelming. But it sold remarkably well over 3 million copies.
8. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (2005)
Developer: Rockstar Leeds, Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Platforms: PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2
Liberty City Stories was the first handheld GTA built from the ground up. Set in a pre-GTA III 1998 Liberty City, it featured hours of new missions, vehicles and weapons plus seamless integration with Vice City Stories via multiplayer. The PSP version ran beautifully but the PS2 port fared worse. Overall, its return to Liberty City was welcomed by fans who propelled sales over 8 million.
9. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (2006)
Developer: Rockstar Leeds, Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Platforms: PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2
Another prequel, Vice City Stories chronicled Victor Vance‘s rise in 1984 Vice City two years before GTA Vice City. Offering a sizable new island, motorcycles, helicopters, swimming and other advancements, its PSP graphics were a marvel for handhelds despite some glitches. The experience transferred well to PS2 unlike Liberty City Stories. With over 5 million sold, Vice City Stories highlightedRockstar‘s technical prowess on portable devices.
10. Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)
Developer: Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
After nearly 6 years, Rockstar finally delivered the stunning next-generation follow-up to GTA III and subsequent PS2 games. GTA IV radically transformed Liberty City into a breathtaking near photo-realistic metropolis for Xbox 360 & PS3. Niko Bellic‘s epic immigrant rags-to-riches story showed a maturity and depth unlike any prior game. Enhanced physics, animation, AI and environmental damage brought Liberty City alive like never before. Despite occasional roughness, GTA IV set new benchmarks selling 25 million copies.
11. Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned (2009)
Developer: Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows
The Lost and Damned marked GTA IV‘s ambitious first story-driven piece of downloadable content. Focusing on Liberty City biker gang The Lost MC, it wove a grim tale of warring factions. Enhancements included mid-air gunplay, weapons, clubs and mini-games plus new soundtrack. Despite clocking in at a full 10 hours of content, it saw only lukewarm sales, suggesting DLC wasn‘t the franchise‘s sweet spot.
12. Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony (2009)
Developer: Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows
Far more popular than Lost and Damned, Gay Tony won praise as one GTA IV‘s best expansions. The flamboyant "nightlife king" Tony Prince joins drug-addicted Luis Lopez for outrageous missions lampooning New York‘s club scene. Missions offer more outlandish stunts while parachuting and explosive ammunition added welcomed chaos. Critics adored Gay Tony‘s humor and fun factor, but it still only sold an estimated 2 – 4 million copies.
13. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (2009)
Developer: Rockstar Leeds
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Platforms: Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, iOS, Android
Chinatown Wars re-imagined Liberty City with an instantly appealing cel-shaded comic book-styled makeover for DS and PSP. Starring Huang Lee, players vied for control of New York‘s criminal underworld. Innovations like on-foot drug dealing missions, environmental interaction and addicting side jobs earned immense praise. Despite looking great, Chinatown Wars undeservedly became one of GTA‘s poorest selling console releases.
14. Grand Theft Auto V (2013)
Developer: Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
After nearly 6 year hiatus, Rockstar unleashed 2013‘s epic GTA V as the first entry developed for PlayStation 4 & Xbox One. Featuring Rockstar‘s largest open world in the sprawling San Andreas amalgamation of Los Angeles and Southern California, its technical achievements were unprecedented. Playing as three protagonists – Michael, Franklin and Trevor – allowed broader storytelling. Packed with activities and the groundbreaking GTA Online, it became the highest grossing entertainment product ever, nearing $6 billion in revenue.
The Future: Grand Theft Auto VI
With the runaway success of GTA V, speculation runs wild on what form GTA VI might take. Unsurprisingly, little concrete information exists from the notoriously secretive Rockstar Games. Analysts predict a 2024-2025 timeline for release based on past intervals between GTA launches. Rumored details range from a return to Vice City to the first female protagonist. But devoted fans will surely gobble up whatever direction Rockstar takes them on next!
GTA Games By Release Year
| Year | Game |
|---|---|
| 1997 | Grand Theft Auto |
| 1999 | Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 |
| 1999 | Grand Theft Auto 2 |
| 2001 | Grand Theft Auto III |
| 2002 | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City |
| 2004 | Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas |
| 2004 | Grand Theft Auto Advance |
| 2005 | Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories |
| 2006 | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories |
| 2008 | Grand Theft Auto IV |
| 2009 | Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned |
| 2009 | Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony |
| 2009 | Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars |
| 2013 | Grand Theft Auto V |
The Legacy of Grand Theft Auto
Looking back, Grand Theft Auto has enjoyed an unrivaled impact spanning three decades now. The early 2D GTA games pioneered open world freedom paired with unprecedented violence and moral ambiguity. GTA III birthed the sandbox genre, while Vice City and San Andreas refined this blueprint to perfection. GTA IV showed the next generation of consoles the potential for cinematic storytelling through gaming. And GTA V & GTA Online illustrate the mammoth scope and technical heights possible moving forward.
With over 350 million games sold collectively, GTA rules as the 4th best selling video game franchise ever. From controvery to transcendence, groudbreaking acclaim to monstrous profits, Grand Theft Auto sits in a class all its own. And with GTA VI no doubt steering down the pipeline, GTA‘s profound legacy shall continue for years to come.
