Best Rockstar Games That Lived Up To The Hype

Rockstar has been pushing boundaries in the video game industry for three decades, with their best-selling games providing some of the most compelling stories, intriguing worlds, and high-octane action. Whether announcing the next entry in a long-running series or a brand-new project, any game released under the Rockstar umbrella is sure to generate plenty of buzz.

When producing top-quality content for years, it can be difficult to live up to fan expectations, but the company has a very good track record of delivering on promises with some of the highest quality games ever made. Here are some of Rockstar’s best games that lived up to the hype, ranked based on a combination of their overall quality and popularity.

Grand Theft Auto 3

Pioneering 3D Open-World Games

The move to three dimensions was a make-or-break moment for many video game series, and in the case of Grand Theft Auto 3, it was genre-defining. Through modern eyes, it may have a few issues, but it blew the minds of players at the time, becoming one of the pioneers of open world games that remains influential to this day.

Prior entries in the series had their fans, but it was the third mainline entry that brought GTA mainstream attention, thanks to that jump to 3D. Fans were not disappointed upon release, enjoying the unprecedented levels of freedom that Liberty City offered.

Manhunt

Excessive Violence Only Increased Fan Interest

Despite the controversy surrounding Manhunt, largely due to its excessive violence, it has one of the more interesting stories of any game from that time. In fact, the brutal nature of the game only encouraged more speculation and fan interest, with several countries outright banning Manhunt, drawing more attention and creating further excitement.

While the combat mechanics are not particularly refined, the boundary-pushing story and merciless executions were enough to satisfy most players at the time, showing new levels of creativity. The overall creepy atmosphere and presentation are certainly memorable, garnering a strong fanbase that remains dedicated to this day and only enhancing Rockstar’s risk-taking reputation.

Bully

GTA In A School

Also known as Canis Canem Edit, Bully takes place in a school setting and is another Rockstar game that bred much controversy, due to some feeling that it glorified bullying and violence in schools. Much like other such attempts at censorship, it only brought more attention to the game and made fans more enthusiastic about what they viewed as “GTA, but in a school.”

That enthusiasm was rewarded, with many enjoying the narrative, gameplay, and the atmosphere of Bullworth Academy and its surrounding area. Swapping cars for skateboards, gangsters for school cliques and teachers, and guns for a slingshot, it’s not exactly GTA in a school, but it’s an enjoyable experience that many gamers still appreciate two decades later.

Grand Theft Auto 4

The Major Leap Forward From 3D To HD

A significant step-up in quality in the series, Grand Theft Auto 4 was the first new entry in the franchise to be released on the upgraded hardware of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Frustrating collectibles aside, which was a common problem with many games around that time, it certainly delivered on the expectations with a more mature narrative, vastly superior graphics and levels of detail, and some memorable characters.

Returning to Liberty City had many fans excited, too, as they had not been able to explore the fictionalized version of New York City fully since Liberty City Stories. Other innovations in this title included major decisions during story missions, which had fatal consequences for some, and an improved relationship system.

L.A. Noire

Realistic Facial Animations & A Deeply Immersive World

Rockstar promised intricate detective gameplay with L.A. Noire, which naturally had fans clamoring to get their hands on a copy, adding to the hype about the cutting-edge facial capture technology. While it may seem a bit janky by modern standards, the realism was mind-blowing to many players at the time.

It was a major part of gameplay, too, with facial expressions often providing clues about the validity of accounts during interrogations, adding to the overall detective experience that is still regarded as one of the best in all video games. The open-world recreation of Los Angeles in 1947 is also a joy to explore, capturing the vibe of the location with the soundtrack underscoring the experience perfectly.

Red Dead Redemption

The Epic Tale Of John Marston

Much like Bully, Red Dead Redemption was highly anticipated due to expectations of gameplay comparable to GTA, but this time being set in the Old West. Building on the success of Red Dead Revolver, the game was expected to be a game of the year contender and delivered on that promise, even with its polarizing conclusion.

The sprawling open world setting in a fictionalized version of the South-West USA and Northern Mexico is highly immersive, offering plenty of side activities and engaging story missions. On top of that, the “Dead Eye” targeting system made combat a blast and offered a highly cinematic experience when engaging in combat.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Even Better Than Its Predecessor

Widely heralded as one of the best games of its generation, Red Dead Redemption 2 generated plenty of buzz prior to release, with promises of improved AI, graphics, and performance. Spending almost a decade in development, the clear enhancements and attention devoted to small details make this one of the most cinematic gameplay experiences available.

Dialogue options and other choices make the narrative more interactive, and the larger world is even more detailed and immersive than its predecessor. Combat can be more strategic, too, with specific body parts being available for targeting. This allows for multiple approaches to each shootout with outlaws, and it also showcases the improved AI of NPCs who react accordingly.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

A Milestone In Video Game History

Despite its proximity to the releases of GTA 3 and Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is arguably the most important game of that time period. The ambitious scope and sheer scale of the map spanning three major cities was unprecedented, and the significant upgrade in graphics and gameplay meant that this game generated immense buzz prior to the launch day.

The characters voiced by an all-star cast, the gang warfare, and the impactful story all add to this game’s iconic status. Its cultural importance is still felt to this day, with some fans even viewing San Andreas as the best game in the series, if not the best game ever made.

Grand Theft Auto 5

Arguably The Most Hyped Game In History

Speculation and expectations were incredible before the highly anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto 5, which went on to be the fastest-selling game of all time and one of the most profitable when including its online component. Rockstar built up the hype levels by incrementally releasing snippets of information about each character and the modern-day setting.

Returning to Los Santos and the wider San Andreas area proved to be successful, providing plenty of activities and a generally enjoyable story with three memorable main characters, even when considering the expected controversies. The hype around GTA 5 can perhaps only be compared to the current hype around its successor, for which fans have had to wait even longer.