Take-Two Interactive subsidiary, Rockstar Games has crafted several of the most celebrated open-world titles ever made. Grand Theft Auto III revolutionized the entire medium, both on artistic and industry fronts, and the company has been a force to be reckoned with ever since.
To celebrate this influential developer and their contribution to open-world game design, the following list will detail their ten largest maps, going from the smallest to the biggest. One thing to keep in mind while reading - a small map does not equate to low quality. A smaller play space can mean more nuance and a livelier environment.
10 Bully
The studio always generates controversy, and Bully garnered some heavy ire from parents misunderstanding the game's messages. After all, the game was rated Teen in the United States. In addition to its change in setting and gameplay from GTA, the map also focuses more on smaller interactions, rather than traversing large environments.
Players explore a small campus and the town attached to it, but every NPC and detail is deliberately placed, making the world more alive than anything else prior. More than thirteen years later and the setting still feels vibrant. Now if they would only get to work on a proper sequel.
9 Grand Theft Auto
The debut entry in the world's most popular video game franchise did not immediately kick start the cultural phenomenon it would become. The top-down gameplay was merely a taste of what would come several years down the line.
Modern gamers may not appreciate it as anything more than a curiosity, but those who played it back in the day understood the then-unprecedented level of freedom the game offered. Even though the map is minuscule, the idea of an open-world was brand new at the time. Only large-scale RPGs like Wasteland and The Elder Scrolls let players explore on any comparable scale.
8 Grand Theft Auto II
The first sequel didn't make any radical changes to the formula. It kept the action to the top-down perspective and had almost nothing in the way of a story. In fact, the game received less than stellar reviews because of its similarities to the original.
The map was slightly larger, however, so at least that's a plus. It would be just two years later when Rockstar really blew the doors off the industry with 2001's Grand Theft Auto III.
7 Grand Theft Auto III
The series' debut on the legendary PlayStation 2 jettisoned the franchise to its current legendary status. The three-dimensional world blew people's minds, and the fully voice-acted cutscenes and storyline pleased gamers more interested in a narrative than open-world mayhem.
The graphics are ugly and the map size is tiny relative to today's standards, but it is still a surprising amount of fun to cruise around the world. Unfortunately, the wonky auto-aiming and lack of other modern conveniences makes going through the story a chore.
6 Grand Theft Auto Vice City
The second game of the PS2 GTA trilogy upped the ante in every possible way. Graphics were improved, the gameplay was smoother, and the map was significantly larger. While it had only two islands instead of three, they were both larger than any of the areas of its predecessor.
Aiding the larger map was a more fleshed out atmosphere capturing the glitz, glamour, and danger of Florida in the '80s. While the game is quaint these days, it is still worth playing for its vibe and humor. Fans are begging for a return to the city, but until then Vice City remains a masterpiece.
5 Grand Theft Auto IV
The return to Liberty City brought the series into the high definition era. Oddly enough, the map is smaller than San Andreas, but it is far more detailed and contains more indoor environments.
Every inch of it is utilized throughout the campaign, unlike the large open areas of the prior entry. Some were displeased with what felt like stripping out features, but everything within GTA IV feels great, whereas some of the minigames and side activities of the PS2 games are clunky and boring.
4 Grand Theft Auto San Andreas
The jump between Vice City and San Andreas was outstanding. Not only is the map drastically larger, but several gameplay advancements made the title age better. Players can free aim, ride bicycles, and finally swim.
Los Santos was heavily expanded upon in Grand Theft Auto V, but San Andreas still has value for its '90s setting and storyline inspired by L.A. street gangs and the issues plaguing the city at the start of the decade.
3 Red Dead Redemption
The studio's first foray into the wild west had a reportedly troubled development right up until its release. Fortunately, all worries were assuaged once players got their hands on it.
The title eschews the mayhem of its contemporaries, instead striving for a grounded experience reflecting the time period. That's not to say it doesn't have its share of bombastic moments, however. Most missions are brimming with spectacular shootouts. John Marston's story went down in gaming history as one of the finest gaming narratives to ever grace consoles.
2 Grand Theft Auto V
GTA V's success is almost indescribable. It grossed a billion dollars in just a few days, and still continues to generate tons of money more than six years after its release.
The single-player campaign alone was enough to warrant its victories, but the multiplayer went above and beyond the call of duty. Granted, it started out messy, but the company tinkered with it over time to make it the behemoth it is today.
The world is so massive, players have been exploring it all these years and have yet to grow bored. With the sheer amount of tools and gadgets to play around with in Los Santos, it wouldn't be surprising if Rockstar released the game on next-generation consoles again.
1 Red Dead Redemption 2
Their most recent open-world title was an event for the ages. Not only is the wild west unimaginable large and encompassing most of the original game's map, but it is more detailed and beautiful than most of its contemporaries.
Author Morgan can interact with most NPCs and the wilderness is brimming with tons of animals for the player to hunt. A giant world would mean nothing without a great story, and Red Dead Redemption 2 delivers in full with the main character's tragic tale.