Over the years, certain companies have created some amazing games, with some sticking around for a long time while others sadly go out of business. However, one of the most consistent has been Rockstar. Founded in 1998, the company has gone on to create some groundbreaking games, including some series that have gone on to be ranked among the greatest of all time.
While not every single Rockstar-made game has been a huge hit, the vast majority have done well. Some of these games are older, but that doesn't mean their not playable on modern systems like the Xbox Series X|S or PlayStation 5.
Updated on August 20, 2023, by Dominic Allen: Rockstar is one of the most acclaimed developers of all time, launching countless bangers throughout the decades. Since Red Dead Redemption has recently been launched on PS4 and Switch, it's a good time to update this old article to current standards.
There was one notable absent title that's now been put in, and it also helps you can play most of these games on modern consoles. It does suck when you can't play certain genre-defining titles on modern systems, but that, thankfully, isn't much of an issue here.
11 The Warriors
This is one video game that many might not know Rockstar actually created, with The Warriors often getting overlooked when people rank their favorite and least favorite Rockstar titles. While it might have been a risk to create a video game based on this movie, it is certainly one that paid off, with Rockstar showing that this kind of adaptation could be done correctly.
With incredible combat and well-done scenes, all while sticking to the source material of the popular movie, this is a game that has lasted the test of time and still remains popular to this day.
10 Manhunt
While Manhunt had some controversy over how grotesque it was, allowing you to strangle people with barbed wire or suffocate them with plastic bags, on the surface, this is a very fun game. This was Rockstar's first attempt at a stealth title, with you effectively being in a huge maze, desperately trying to survive against all manner of predators who are awaiting you around every corner.
The game has you gripped from the moment you start playing until the very end, and while its dark horror style certainly is not for everyone, for those who don't mind the violence, it is an excellent time. Manhunt is a PS2-era game, but it's both backward compatible on Xbox Series X|S and also a PS2 Classic on PS4/5.
9 Max Payne 3
The Max Payne series was a very popular one, and Rockstar took over control for the third entry. This instalment was a bold game as it threw out the ending of the second in order for a totally different idea and focus. Instead, it concentrated on Max's time in Brazil working as private security, causing misery to everyone in his way. There are some fantastic shootouts within this game that has stunning graphics to back it all up.
While it might not be the first title that people think of when it comes to Rockstar, it is certainly one that every gamer should experience once. You can't play it on modern PlayStation systems, but you can on Xbox Series X|S, and it's an amazing action game for the platform.
8 Grand Theft Auto 3
The first 3D instalment into the GTA series is one of the most important games of all time. Grand Theft Auto 3 is an excellent video game that has gone down in history as one of the very best, and not just within Rockstar's universe. This title forever changed the gaming landscape, making the groundwork for all 3D open-world games to come. GTA3 inspired some unbelievable video games to be created, with this criminal world being incredibly fun to explore.
From escaping the back of the prison truck, you are quickly tasked with working your way up the ladder of crime, whether it be through assassination or transporting illegal materials, and that's not to mention whatever madness you choose to do on your own.
7 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City just about tops GTA3 with a stronger story and a little more edge. Vice City also has one of the greatest settings for a video game ever to be created. You will gain power slower in Vice City than in previous GTA entries, but that isn't a bad thing. It builds the game better, rather than rushing through things which always makes it more enjoyable.
With a very bright and vibrant feel, the title never gets old, and Vice City also happens to boast one of the best soundtracks in gaming history too.
6 Grand Theft Auto 4
Still to this day, one of the highest-rated games on Metacritic, GTA4, again tops the bar for Rockstar, mostly. The gameplay and open-world design is fantastic and shows why Rockstar is simply the best in the business in terms of open-world titles. The story is also surprisingly good, being the first of many Rockstar games to explore the American Dream theme and still exploring it the best.
What's keeping this game the bronze medal of the series is its aged elements. The driving controls are so unwieldy today, and the graphics aren't even good for 2008. This is mainly due to the incredibly dull color palette. Saint's Row 2 was launched later in the year and legitimately looks better. The quality of GTA4 is still sky-high, especially when you put in GTA Online and the two amazing DLC expansions.
5 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The reason why Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is the second-best GTA game is that it achieved so much way ahead of its time, taking the open-world genre to a totally new level long before the likes of Skyrim. Paying homage to the '90s gang movies that became incredibly popular, the game followed CJ as he returned following the death of his mother, reconnecting with his old gang, The Grove Street Families.
This then went on to be one of the best storylines in GTA history, but it was the exploration that really took this game to a new height of popularity, with versions of LA, Vegas, and San Francisco really giving people a lot to do.
4 Red Dead Redemption
Created back in 2010, many still argue that this is the strongest of all the Rockstar games, and it's easy to see why, with Red Dead Redemption still standing out strongly to this day. Using John Marston as the hero trying to right an evil past, Rockstar created one of the best storylines of all time for a video game, which has helped it reach a cult status among gamers all over the globe.
With a huge map to search and explore, Rockstar did everything it could to make this feel as detailed as possible, capturing the essence of the Old West perfectly in what became an intriguing and beloved title.
3 Bully
The idea of creating a video game based upon school seems like a ridiculous idea on the surface. However, Rockstar managed to pull it off and create one of the greatest games of all time with Bully. It felt very much like Grand Theft Auto, but based around school, lowering the violence and making the game more relatable to people. Bully has incredible charm with marble and stink bomb weapons, all while keeping a gripping yet funny storyline.
This was certainly a risk for Rockstar, but the fact that a sequel is still in constant demand today shows that creating Bully was one worth taking, proving that the developer could branch beyond just violent and gritty franchises. You can play Bully on both modern Xbox consoles and modern PlayStation systems.
2 Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 was a mega success for Rockstar and deservedly so, with the humongous map being a joy to explore, with breathtaking graphics and a phenomenal storyline. There is nothing not to enjoy about this game, with the world created being so complex and detailed that there is something to do for hours upon hours, but it was the story that made this one stand out among the rest.
With this technically being a prequel to the original, the story is an excellent one as you work your way through the world in what's a lengthy but brilliant title.
1 Grand Theft Auto 5
While many might have Red Dead Redemption or its sequel ahead of this, the unbelievable achievement of Grand Theft Auto 5 is just something that cannot be overlooked, combining the amazing open-world experience with arguably the best storyline Rockstar has ever made. Having three single storylines that are character-unique, yet all of which unite, is an incredible achievement, with Rockstar taking the GTA series to a totally new level with this game.
Adding the improved GTA online mode also helped make this game even more fun, being able to add a totally new element to it. With one of the most vibrant open-world maps, with thousands of lines worth of dialogue recorded, this game just ticked all of the boxes.