In the wake of the recent Grand Theft Auto 6 leaks, the gaming world has been buzzing with excitement for Rockstar Games’ next release. A revolutionary figure in the world of mature storytelling and astonishing violence in video games, Rockstar has a rich back catalog of classics worth revisiting.
​Long gone are the days of the studio churning out a couple of games a year. Nowadays, patience is a virtue considering the five-year radio silence on a new game between GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2. Four years on, fans are still twiddling their thumbs for GTA 6. Given the waiting time, every release is precious and there’s a variety of Rockstar entries deserving of attention later this decade.
7 Manhunt 3
Rockstar’s most controversial series caused major public outcry due to its extreme violence and sinister, arguably tasteless storyline. The first Manhunt is a cult classic from the PS2 generation boasting an atmospheric soundtrack, a suspenseful, stealth-focused mode of gameplay, and a colorful voiceover performance from Brian Cox as lead antagonist Lionel Starkweather.
The less well-received Manhunt 2 is likely the obstacle to another game being made. Banned all over the world for its sadistic gameplay, the storyline also lacked the more nuanced takes on corruption, sadism, and amorality provided in the original. A return to the John Carpenter-esque stylings of the original, coupled with a similarly grounded but horrifying plot, could be a huge hit in the horror genre in the years to come.
6 LA Noire 2
​Rockstar’s immersive journey through 1947 Los Angeles enjoyed almost universal acclaim at the time of its release in 2011. Through lead protagonist Cole Phelps, the player moves through a variety of ranks and departments in the LAPD. The investigative and forensic techniques provided in the gameplay, as well as the use of MotionScan and the complex, conspiratorial main plot, are all exciting prospects for Rockstar to revisit.
In 2022, motion capture technology has evolved significantly in both film and video game mediums. A brand new case, or even a move to another city such as New York or Chicago, could provide a similar level of mysterious, investigative thrills for the ninth generation of consoles.
5 Midnight Club 5
Midnight Club: Los Angeles ultimately marked the surprise end of the long-running driving series. Production of a potential sequel was canceled in 2010 and the series has remained on the backburner ever since. Like so many of Rockstar’s staples, Midnight Club provided a free-roam, open-world setting for players to enjoy. Each game revolves around completing high-stakes races through a variety of cities to conquer the street-racing world.
The recent release of Need for Speed: Unbound has provided an exciting look at racing on the new generation of consoles. Midnight Club’s mix of colorful supporting characters and high-intensity street races could wow players in 4K if it arrives on the ninth generation. Given the general acclaim and popularity of the original series, a follow-up could now provide nostalgic thrills for racing fans while advancing the genre in exciting, new technical directions.
4 Oni 2
​Rockstar’s lone entry in the cyberpunk genre received a polarized response from critics and players alike. The game boasted a gripping, dystopian plot centered on a one-world government and a law enforcement agent’s surprise rebellion against the system. Ultimately, many believed its quality was derailed by its under-developed environment graphics and occasionally frustrating mechanics.
In 2022, anime and manga have arguably never been more popular worldwide than they are now. The homage to sci-fi anime classics like Ghost in the Shell and Akira could garner even more interest now than it did in 2001. The change-up in genre and visual style could also provide an eye-catching change of pace for Rockstar after almost a decade of focusing solely on Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption.
3 Smuggler’s Run 3
It’s been 21 years since Smuggler’s Run 2 was first released. Focusing on the contraband-moving crimes of a smuggling ring, the series boasted high-octane car chases, joyriding, and turf wars. The sequel opted for a more fully developed plot and cast to bolster the impact of the action on offer, a decision that would bode well for a new, more developed, ninth-generation sequel should Rockstar ever give this franchise another go.
The suspense of trailblazing through a deadly mission against a potentially fatal, often scarily short time limit was exhilarating for sixth-generation players. Given the realism of its physics for the time, an update on the series two decades later could be a thrilling piece of road-focused action for car chase and crime game fans.
2 Bully 2
At this point, the notion of Bully 2 ever happening has become meme material. A boarding school-set cult classic, Bully provided a lighter, surprisingly upbeat open-world game by Rockstar standards. Rebellious teen Jimmy Hopkins’ journey through the social hierarchy of Bullworth Academy lit up the sixth generation of consoles in '06.
Despite countless rumors, purported leaks, and general fan interest, there’s no sign of Bully 2 being on the cards in the future. Curiously, Rockstar has remained completely mute on the matter for many years, leaving many hoping that, at the very least, it may not be officially canceled just yet.
1 Red Dead Redemption 3
This seems like the most obvious candidate given the pop-cultural phenomenon that was Red Dead Redemption 2. Arguably Rockstar’s second most popular franchise after GTA, RDR has several exciting creative directions to choose from for its next installment.
A direct sequel to the original, following John Marston’s son Jack past the end of the Old West, and perhaps even the eventual onset of World War I a few years later, would be fascinating. Alternatively, another prequel, heading back to the early days of Hosea Matthews and Dutch van der Linde, could be another hit for the studio. Regardless of where Rockstar Studios choose to go with it, the titanic sales of RDR 2suggest there are plenty of fans already itching for its release.