PlayStation 3-5, Xbox 360-Series X|S, and Windows
Grand Theft Auto V has had a profound effect on video games as a whole, through its staggeringly realistic open-world design and eclectic mix of storytelling and goofiness. The beloved crime series weaves a fascinating tale that involves three unlikely heroes — psychotic Trevor, naive Franklin, and smarmy Michael — while creating an online ecosystem that encourages everything from role playing as cops and robbers to pulling off a daring casino heist.
The single-player campaign is revolutionary on its own, but GTA Online spread the game’s influence further and helped define the idea of a live-service multiplayer. GTA V is not just a masterful subversion of American society, but with its tackling of corrupt politicians, cocky influencers, kids who won’t leave home, and even extreme patriotism, what was on the nose in 2013 feels even more prescient by today’s standards.
Between that timely commentary and an unstoppable multiplayer machine, GTA V has easily secured its spot among the greats.
