The Grand Theft Auto series has become one of the most popular and iconic open-world franchises of all time. Each iteration of the series builds upon the foundation of its predecessors, offering vast landscapes to explore, a plethora of activities to engage in, and a wealth of missions to complete. The series has gained a massive following due to its attention to detail, immersive storylines, and dynamic gameplay mechanics that allow players to experience the game's world in their own unique way.
Rockstar's legendary open-world design is one of the key factors that have made the Grand Theft Auto series so successful. Their sandboxes are filled with all sorts of secrets, being either funny or interesting in many ways. However, these games can also dial up the fear factor when required, delivering many creepy moments and unnerving secrets that players can discover as they explore the game's world.
10 The Abandoned Alderney Sprunk Factory (Grand Theft Auto 4)
The rendition of Liberty City in Grand Theft Auto 4 is absolutely dripping in atmosphere. This massive urban sprawl is full to the brim with many unique locations to explore, and one particular area that will send shivers down a player's spine is the abandoned Sprunk Factory.
The building is desolate, with only a few hobos to be found in this building. Some people have said that they've heard ghostly moans in this factory whenever they shoot their gun, although some people have chalked this off to the grunts of pain made by the homeless men here, who probably got caught by a stray bullet.
9 The Infamous Torture Scene (Grand Theft Auto 5)
The Grand Theft Auto series is no stranger to controversy, and this particular mission in GTA 5 is no exception to this rule. During the mission By the Book, players are forced into controlling Trevor as he tortures a man for information.
This scene is graphic & disturbing, and some people find it to be completely unnecessary... although such moments are to be expected from an infamous franchise like GTA. Regardless of what methods players choose to torture the target, it will leave them scarred for quite some time.
8 The Four Mysterious Hobos (Grand Theft Auto 3)
Grand Theft Auto 3 was the franchise's first attempt at a 3D open-world game. Suffice it to say, this experiment was a massive success and established Rockstar as one of the biggest developers in video game history.
Under a hidden tunnel in Portland Island, players can see four hobos mysteriously standing in a circle around a fire. They drop a molotov cocktail upon death, which makes their inclusion in the game even scarier and quite mysterious indeed.
7 The Legend Of Apartment 3C (Grand Theft Auto: Vice City)
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City brings players over to a fictional version of Miami that is clearly inspired by many gangster movies like Scarface. One of the more disturbing ways this game references these popular crime movies is via Apartment 3C, a secret location that is quite chilling.
This area references the iconic murder in the movie that is carried out with a chainsaw, with said weapon being found in a bloodstained bathroom. Out of context, the area is pretty scary, and players who happen upon this place by mistake will be quite unnerved.
6 The Heart Of Liberty City (Grand Theft Auto 4)
Grand Theft Auto 4 is probably the game that has one of the craziest and most interesting Easter Eggs in gaming history. This take on New York City features a goofy version of the Statue of Liberty with a stupid smile on its face.
If players somehow manage to reach the base of this statue through some aerial shenanigans, they can phase through the door and reach a mysterious area within the statue. A ladder lies here, and climbing it lets players reach a platform that lets players gaze at a heart bound in chains, which is truly horrifying to witness firsthand.
5 Grinding Up Men Into Hot Dogs (Grand Theft Auto 2)
The first Grand Theft Auto games haven't really been experienced by the masses, which is a shame. Both titles are pretty fun in their own right, with the second game establishing the DNA of the series in many ways.
This can be seen in a horrifying mission where players have to massacre and turn a bunch of innocent people into hot dogs before serving them to actual people. The entire job is a nightmarish moment that is pretty hard to get through because of how violent it is.
4 The Ghost Of Mount Gordo (Grand Theft Auto 5)
Grand Theft Auto 5 features the largest and most detailed open world in the franchise to date. It's no secret why GTA Online is such a massive success, utilizing this sandbox to great effect.
Most people who decide to explore Mount Gordo will be petrified by what they witness here. In the distance, there's a ghost that disappears when players get closer to it, with most people getting a good peek by looking at this ghostly figure through the scope of a gun.
3 The Ghost Car In The Back O' Beyond Woods (Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas)
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is one of the greatest open-world games of all time, with Rockstar going all out in the development of this title. The world was massive and impressive, featuring many unique locations that fans could explore to their heart's content.
The Back O' Beyond woods is a particularly notable location that gets especially creepy at night, and fans will definitely jump out of their seat when they witness an empty car rolling around aimlessly in this forest. This is actually a result of the coding in the game that gives players access to a car if they're stuck in a desolate location.
2 The Horrifying Things Niko Has Witnessed (Grand Theft Auto 4)
While this isn't a moment that players witness directly per se, it does a great job of explaining why Niko is such a hardened veteran in battle. One of the most traumatic moments he witnessed in his early years was walking into a church only to find a bunch of children who were killed in a particularly gruesome manner.
Perhaps the worst thing he has seen is the fate of Roman's mother, who was brutally raped and murdered. To save his cousin from the turmoil that he would experience, he lied instead and said that his mother had actually died in a house fire instead.
1 The Infinity Killer (Grand Theft Auto 5)
Grand Theft Auto 5's world is full to the brim with details and secrets, with some of them being more disturbing than others. Perhaps the best example of this is the Infinity Killer and his victims that are scattered all across the game world.
This twisted serial killer's eight victims are disposed of in a heinous manner. What makes it worse is that he's never mentioned directly in the game, which makes the visual of these bodies even more unnerving to behold.