Rockstar Games is one of the most easily recognizable developers and publishers out there. They produce hit after hit and have been doing it for a long time now. 1997 marked Rockstar’s entry into the gaming world, and they’ve been going from strength to strength ever since. However, it is safe to say some of their earlier games haven’t held up will in the modern generation, and many players would find them to be quite a slog. This is especially true for the relatively recent GTA 4.
Regardless, this list goes over the Rockstar games that have aged the best, in terms of mechanics, graphics, and themes. There will, of course not be any mention to recent games such as GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2.
7 GTA: San Andreas
San Andreas is widely regarded as one of the best video games ever made. It paved the way for games to truly immerse players in their open worlds and leaned heavily on themes of violence, revenge, and adult content. San Andreas follows CJ and his Grove Street crew as he tries to navigate the shady world of Los Santos.
San Andreas featured a lot of new mechanics, including character customization, personalizing vehicles, and add-ons to a new level. Unfortunately, the 3D character models don’t hold up well at all. However, the game still has its charm, the gameplay is solid, the driving mechanics are decent, and the story is still very good.
6 Max Payne 2
This 2003 third-person shooter acts as a sequel to the original Max Payne. The game is ode to fans of all things violent, all things bloody, and everything that fits in the noir genre. The story, characters and underlying themes are all executed at a high level. The game serves as a tragic tale of the cycle of death and tragedy that dictates Max’s life.
The game features comic panels for exposition, and their art style still holds up well, in the vein of Sin City in a way. Whilst there aren’t many extra game-modes or additional content, the core gameplay is works well and the gunplay is smooth. Combat and movement alike still hold up, and the graphics are fairly decent considering it’s been 20 years.
5 Midnight Club II
Midnight Club is one of the most underrated racing game franchises out there. Players drive through the streets of L.A late at night participating in various underground racing activities. The game features a multitude of cars and bikes to choose from and customize. There’s also an online multiplayer component, a somewhat novel concept for the early 2000s.
Midnight Club II paved the way for some features that racing fans are used to now. This includes cars getting damaged, and this being a visible setback. The game also features weight balancing and burnouts. Midnight Club II doesn’t have the best graphics by today’s standards, but it still feels good to play. Plus, there’s a certain charm around to driving around late at night in a sandbox L.A with shortcuts and curiosities a plenty.
4 GTA: Vice City
This might seem like a strange pick given that Vice City is the oldest title on the list, and wasn’t quite known for its graphical fidelity anyway. However, Tommy Vercetti’s rise to power is iconic and definitely a story worth treading through. The game has been ported to Android and iOS as well, making it a lot more accessible.
Vice City’s Goodfellas-esque narrative and unique collection of gangsters has aged fairly well. The game was dark, violent, and a bit controversial, but it is still one of the most memorable experiences gamers can find. The 1980s Miami drug and crime scene is represented well and glossed over with an awesome soundtrack colorful aesthetic, making it a worthwhile experience to this day.
3 Midnight Club: Los Angeles
This game has aged splendidly. While Midnight Club: LA hasn’t had a successor in 15 years, the game definitely deserves one. This is the pinnacle of sandbox racing to this day and features a wide gallery of vehicles players can customize to their liking. The driving mechanics are great and there’s a multitude of different modes to try.
The dynamic weather is a welcome addition and works well with the game's graphics, which still look decent today. The pursuit mode is fun, and the overall package is great. LA is back in all its glory and there’s a great soundtrack to complement it.
2 Red Dead Redemption
Arguably Rockstar’s magnum opus, Red Dead Redemptiontook the gaming world by storm a decade ago. John Marston’s epic saga for the survival and safety for his family is portrayed brilliantly. The voice acting, character models and graphics were incredible for their time and still look great today.
The game’s story was fantastic and built on by the sequel as well. Shooting, combat, and horse-riding mechanics all work well, and the variety in missions and side-quests makes this a very enjoyable experience. It is forever etched in video game history as one of the best games to play.
1 LA Noire
In terms of technical quality and raw graphical ability, no game from the 2010s matches up to LA Noire. The motion capture work is incredible to watch, and the character models are realistic and detailed.
In addition to the strong visuals, the story and voice acting carry the game well, and the combat mechanics are solid too. This game hasn’t aged a day, and the remaster was unnecessary. The original is still well worth playing today.