Best Rockstar Video Game Franchises, Ranked

Rockstar Games is truly one of the kings of the AAA gaming space, and their franchises have many fans from across the world waiting with high hopes and plenty of patience for what they bring to the table next. While Grand Theft Auto 6 seems forever away with an unannounced date in 2025, it might be a good time to look back on why Rockstar Games have such highly anticipated releases, and how they rarely disappoint.

Over the years, Rockstar Games have brought to life some truly iconic games that have quickly become their own franchises, spawning sequels and spin-offs and a demanding clamor for more entries. Rockstar Games always cooks a decent meal in the kitchen, so the often decade absence is deserved, but hopefully, a few franchises return sooner rather than later.

5 Manhunt

A Violent Stealth Series That Glorifies Gore

A source of much controversy, Manhunt was violent and grotesque in all the ways Rockstar Games sought to be. Challenging players and disgusting parents worldwide, the Manhunt series was overly violent for the sake of violence, and its early 2000s depiction of stealth mechanics left much to be desired, but certainly room to grow into the future of gaming.

There have only been 2 Manhunt titles, but it’s a franchise that fans refuse to forget for its gory nature and its fun premise that delves deep into the early 2000s edginess. Manhunt is all about murder and violence, which provides a level of shock that could turn the franchise and the world on its head.

4 Midnight Club

A High Octane Racing Series Through Iconic American Streets

If there’s something that Rockstar Games has always excelled at, it’s the love and attention to how vehicles drive in the virtual space. The Midnight Club series champions Rockstar Games’ attention and innovation by bringing forth an arcade racing series that allows players to reach high speeds with sharp turns and exhilarating races, all the way back in 2000 to the more recent releases in 2019.

Midnight Club might not obtain the most love from Rockstar Games due to a lack of entries and evolution, but for those who adore the racing game genre, it’s certainly one to pick up and try out. Racing across urban streets in condensed cities with a myriad of fast cars brings a fan element to burning rubber.

3 Max Payne

Satisfying Gunplay and Stories in Collaboration with Remedy Entertainment

While Rockstar Games owns the IP and the publishing, developers at Remedy Entertainment are responsible for one of Rockstar’s biggest names Max Payne. This series burst onto the scene in 2001 thanks to its innovative third-person shooter mechanics that can easily be used as the blueprints for what modern shooters can do with enough talent and drive behind them.

Max Payne might be a trilogy and nothing more, but it’s a franchise worth checking out for its evolution in the gaming space, and how the stories and action drive these games forward, with a heavy emphasis on satisfying gunplay in Max Payne 3. While Remedy Entertainment is set to remake Max Payne 1 and 2, it’s safe to say that the potential for the franchise is high, and a possible remake of Max Payne 3, a spin-off, or even a Max Payne 4 could eventually happen.

2 Red Dead

Utterly Immersive Depictions of the Cowboy-era in an Open-World Space

Starting out as a black sheep for Rockstar Games, Red Dead Revolver in 2004 took players back in time to the Old West, where they must encounter an odyssey of revenge. It was a far cry from what was expected with the Grand Theft Auto series, but given enough time, it matured and evolved into the Red Dead Redemption series, where players were taken on emotional and immersive journeys through America’s lawless frontiers.

Red Dead holds its own against Grand Theft Auto thanks to its stunning visuals, incredible characters, and acting, as well as its immersive worlds for those who can’t get enough of cowboys and the Western setting. Red Dead is truly a beautiful series that goes far beyond Grand Theft Auto but with horses and revolvers.

1 Grand Theft Auto

Grand Theft Auto is the definition of humble beginnings as a franchise. What started as a top-down arcade crime game in 1997, quickly evolved into the 3D space in Grand Theft Auto 3, and never looked back. The concept of stealing cars and committing crimes was interesting enough for a game in the late 90s, so much so that in 2024, people demand yet another sequel without ever tiring of the crime-riddled mechanics that make GTA so iconic.

Grand Theft Auto is a true money maker, and Grand Theft Auto 5 continues to top the charts even a decade after its release. While Grand Theft Auto 6 is still some time away, it’s clear that this is a franchise that can dominate the market thanks to its stunning graphics, incredible detail, and exciting action in terms of driving fast and shooting anyone.