Although the story and side missions represent the bulk of the content in Grand Theft Auto games, players can participate in a plethora of other activities to occupy their time. After all, sometimes players need a break from all the chaos unfolding on screen.
These activities and hobbies, in the form of minigames, give players a fun distraction when in the mood for something lighter. Whether it's for an achievement/trophy or some other reward, taking part in these great minigames is rarely a waste of time. The following minigames are some of the Grand Theft Auto franchise's most fun (and addictive) amusements.
7 Bowling
In Grand Theft Auto 4, the Bowling minigame has become notorious due to Roman Bellic's annoying habit of bothering the protagonist with requests to hang out at Memory Lanes. This humorous irritation aside, Bowling proves to be a fun activity in GTA 4.
The mechanics of the game are simple: players choose their starting position behind the line, take their shot, and can control the angle of the ball for a brief period before it crosses the red center markings. Unfortunately, Bowling was left out of Grand Theft Auto 5, so here's hoping the minigame makes its reappearance in the next entry.
6 Tennis
Tennis is one of the many sports players may partake in throughout GTA 5 and Grand Theft Auto Online. The minigame is unlocked early in the game after completing "Complications" as Franklin. Several courts are scattered across the city, though the most convenient location is behind Michael's house.
Although not overly complicated, Tennis can take a little practice. Fans have a selection of which shot they wish to take and must constantly reposition themselves to stay ahead on defense. It can be a pretty addicting distraction, especially on higher difficulty levels.
5 Badlands Revenge II
Older fans who spent significant amounts of time at arcades may feel a little nostalgic for games like Badlands Revenge II. It's a light-gun Western shooter where players must dispatch a series of enemies while on rails. The minigame can only be played in Grand Theft Auto Online.
Accuracy is the name of the game in Badlands Revenge II. Like many retro light-gun shooters in real life, players must avoid hitting innocent civilians while aiming for the bad guys. A variety of health items, ammunition drops, and power-ups also litter the environment. There are five stages to the game, each with its own antagonists and settings, though the central objective remains the same throughout.
4 Darts
Darts is a minigame that made its franchise debut in Grand Theft Auto 4, though fans can also play it in Grand Theft Auto 5. Darts are a simple way to pass the time during a date or friend activity. Fans must reduce their score to zero as quickly as possible before their opponent does the same.
Getting the hang of Darts doesn't take long. When aiming, the player's reticle will shake quite a bit. Fans can improve their accuracy and reduce the shaking for a short time to line up the perfect shot. It's an easy game to comprehend and provides just enough challenge to keep players interested for a short while.
3 Casino Games
Why not burn some of that ill-gotten cash on a game of chance? Many Grand Theft Auto games have given the players an opportunity to gamble, most notably in GTA: San Andreas. Games like Blackjack, Roulette, Slot Machines, Video Poker, and the Wheel of Fortune, as well as interactive horse racing, made an appearance in San Andreas.
Although it's not as thrilling as winning real money, at least players can act like high-rollers and throw large sums of money around when looking to pass the time. The rules of each game are simple enough to understand and can be a fun interlude before moving on to the next mission.
2 QUB3D
QUB3D is yet another arcade game that can be played in Grand Theft Auto 4 and Grand Theft Auto Online. It's a mixture of Puyo Puyo and Tetris. Players are tasked with matching groups of four or more colored blocks before the box is filled. Fans only have a small window of time as the blocks tumble from the top of the screen.
Of course, the speed of the blocks is increased as players gain levels. Fans can utilize a variety of special abilities to counter the heightened difficulty and achieve the highest score. It's a deceptively simple premise that's more complex than it sounds. No doubt plenty of fans had a rough time gaining the highest QUB3D score in GTA 4, a requirement for achieving 100% completion.
1 Pool
Pool, specifically the 8-Ball variant, can be played in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto 4. The rules are straightforward: fans must pocket all the balls of a certain type (either stripes or solids) and then pocket the 8-Ball. However, mastering Pool is complicated, as players must often think several moves ahead to stay competitive.
Since Pool requires a fair amount of strategy and forethought, it serves as one of the more interesting minigames in the Grand Theft Auto franchise. Any activity that takes a little time and patience to master is typically a worthwhile minigame to include, especially for an open-world series like GTA.