Of all of the games out there, none are more misunderstood by the general public as the Grand Theft Auto series. It's been vilified by parent groups and censored around the world. It was mentioned in a few U.S. government inquiries into the effect of gaming on kids.
At their heart, the Grand Theft Auto games put the player in the shoes of criminals to explore a living, breathing open world. It's true that these aren't games for children, as they definitely get violent. However, there really is a lot more to it than that. Here are a few common myths that need to be dispelled about these games — which are worth trying for players who haven't picked one up.
10 It's All About Killing Prostitutes, Doing Drugs, & Being Violent
The number one misconception with the Grand Theft Auto series is that it's entirely about being a criminal. This was the main question on the minds of parents around the world, when they discovered their kids beating up pedestrians in-game for the first time. Each game in the series plays out like a detailed, intricate crime movie, albeit in different settings.
These aspects, which some consider to be influential on players, are all minor parts of the games' overarching stories. They typically serve to further the plot, not to satisfy a sick urge.
9 There's Not Much To Do Online Except Grind
GTA Online is a completely different experience than the campaign. For one, there are other gamers around who can (and will) become involved in the player's game. Additionally, there are special missions, items, and even cars that players can only find through GTA online.
At a certain point, the main goal of GTA Online becomes amassing enough money to buy some higher-ticket items. However, it's not the only thing to do. There are much more fun ways to spend one's time than worrying about how quickly one can buy a Yacht — for example, participating in client jobs.
8 The Games Are Connected To Each Other
There are four main games in the Grand Theft Auto series that fans refer to – Vice City, San Andreas, GTA 4, and GTA 5. These are the only 3D games in the series, and each one has its own unique storyline following new characters and events.
There are lots of minor details present in these games that dedicated fans can find, which connect one location to another. However, characters, events, and stories from previous games almost never cross over.
7 Grand Theft Auto 5 Is The Best Of The Series...
One common sentiment heard among casual Grand Theft Auto fans is that GTA 5 is the best entry in the series. It's the most recent, and its time on the market must surely indicate how good a game it is, right?
Unfortunately, most hardcore fans actually consider GTA 5 to be lower on that list. It's the lack of meta customization like cheats, the lack of meaningful storytelling, and the reliance on visuals over gameplay that do it in.
6 ...And GTA 5 Is The Best-Selling Game Of All Time
A common misconception about the Grand Theft Auto series is that GTA 5 is the best-selling game ever made. It's been released on a variety of consoles at this point over the last 10 years, and it's just as popular as ever still.
However, GTA 5 is actually the second-most popular game of all time, right behind Minecraft. It'll take a while to topple that giant of a game, but once it happens, that game is going to be well worth the wait.
5 Grand Theft Auto 1 & 2 Aren't Worth Playing
Grand Theft Auto began as a top-down shooter with a very loose story and even looser driving mechanics. It's hard to even find the first two games in the series these days, as they were first released around the turn of the millennium.
For those who can find them, though, they're worth picking up. Players can definitely get a kick out of seeing how far the series has come. Its original concept was close to how games like Hotline Miami play but without that modern touch.
4 It's Only Worth Playing For The Open World
Grand Theft Auto games feature sprawling open worlds that only increase in size as the series goes on. It's incredibly easy to just jump into one of these games and mess around for a bit in the sandbox-like world.
There's a lot more to do than that; however, fans who struggle to get invested in the story wouldn't say as much. In some ways, the open-world can feel a bit empty – especially if the player doesn't have a goal or a narrative to follow.
3 There Are No Female Protagonists In The Series
One criticism of the Grand Theft Auto series is the lack of decent female characters, specifically female protagonists. In fact, there are whispers that Grand Theft Auto 5I will feature a woman lead; though of course, it's just a rumor at this point.
However, the original Grand Theft Auto games, the 2D ones, actually did give the player the choice to play as a woman. This criticism of the series is still valid though, as there hasn't been a female lead since the early 2000s at this point.
2 GTA Online Is A Waste Of Time
The campaign for Grand Theft Auto 5 is bombastic and involved the whole way through, making for a cinematic experience told through three lenses. After that, it might seem a bit mundane to try out GTA Online without anything cool unlocked.
However, GTA Online offers a lot that the campaign can't. It of course has other players, which leads to creative role-play situations, co-op, server-wide events, and more. These just can't be replicated in the relatively linear main story.
1 It's Impossible To Mod
One main misconception of Grand Theft Auto, especially of GTA 5, is that it's impossible to mod. As time has gone on, more and more companies are making it difficult (or bannable) to mod their games. However, that's not necessarily the case with GTA 5.
Modding used to be very easy for the game, in fact, until Rockstar decided to crack down on it. Now, mods are mostly available through customized servers, though players will need special permissions to access these private servers in the first place.