Rockstar Games From WORST To BEST

There are many video game developers out there that we can all count on to make incredible titles. It’s almost their calling card. For Rockstar Games, they might not have started out that way with the games they made, but they certainly ended up there! So I’m going to list the titles they developed or published in terms of quality. Just a note, GTA is getting its own video, so I’m lumping the whole series together for this list, okay? Of course, no list is perfect, these are just our personal opinions and we’re sure that your opinion will likely heavily differ from ours in some ways.

#21 Austin Powers: Oh, Behave! And Welcome to My Underground Lair!

You didn’t expect this to start the list, did you? But it’s true! Rockstar Games published not one but TWO games from the Austin Powers franchise, and they were on Nintendo platforms! Yeah, baby, YEAH!!!!

If you couldn’t guess by its positioning, these games were terrible and were panned by just about everyone. They were more like mini-game titles than an actual game about Austin Powers. Not groovy, baby.

#20 Wild Metal Country

To be fair, Rockstar Games is technically only attached to the Sega Dreamcast port of Wild Metal Country, but it’s still a game under their banner…so…I’m counting it!

Sadly, unlike many games on this list, Wild Metal Country featured you driving special kinds of tanks on other worlds to fight off other players. That sounds simple and fun, but it didn’t turn out that way. It’s one of the worst-reviewed games under the game’s name, and that’s why a follow-up wasn’t done.

#19 Manhunt 2

There are many things you can associate with Rockstar Games, but one of them is controversy, and games like Manhunt 2 were a big reason for that. Rockstar was never afraid to push the envelope, but sometimes, it just didn’t’ work out, such as with this title.

They took the original controversial entry and tried to make it bigger, better, and darker. It didn’t really work out and that’s why there wasn’t a third game.

#18 Red Dead Revolver

The irony of Red Dead Revolver is not lost on me. If you look at the critical reception of the game and the sales, it was technically a big failure. However, it would spawn two of the biggest and most important games in video game history…so…I guessed it’s fine to have a rough start.

The 2004 title put you as a Wild West bounty hunter on a quest for revenge. It was very much a “product of its time,” and that’s likely why Rockstar Games waited to make a true sequel.

#17 Manhunt

Yep, I talked about the sequel before, but it was the original Manhunt that really got Rockstar further into the “notorious” category in the eyes of many. The title was a mix of stealth and survival and featured a ton of violence, which was Rockstar’s forte at this point. But it REALLY got people talking and almost got the infamous “AO” rating.

Thankfully, the game still came out and was well-received, but many still consider it a “black spot” in the industry” because of the controversy it caused.

#16 Midnight Club: Street Racing

Every franchise has to start somewhere, and Midnight Club: Street Racing was the beginning of several racing games from Rockstar. They did their best to make an arcade-style racing title that people would want to drive in repeatedly, and it seemed to have worked.

The game was one of the best-selling PS2 titles of its year, and was more than enough to get a franchise going. Nothing else needs to be said.

#15 Smuggler’s Run

To be clear, I’m focusing on the PS2 version of Smuggler’s Run, as the GBA version had a LOT to be desired. Regardless, in the game, you play as a smuggler who has to race against the clock and numerous foes to try and deliver your stolen goods to your clients.

With massive open areas to race through, multiple modes to play in, and numerous vehicles to drive, it was a big hit on the PS2.

#14 Smuggler’s Run 2: Hostile Territory

Smuggler’s Run 2 was everything the first title was; it just improved a little bit. And I do mean…a little bit.

You’re given a new area to run around in and deliver your smuggled goods while trying to survive the cops, but there’s not much more depth than that.

#13 Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis

This is real, I promise you, and you can imagine the turned heads when Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis was announced. It was…confusing, to say the least.

And yeah, this is a straight-up table tennis title. You got to play a realistic table tennis simulator, and it was pretty good. They even ported it to the Wii to allow motion controls. There’s not much more to say, honestly, so let’s move on.

#12 Midnight Club: Los Angeles

Sadly, Midnight Club: Los Angeles was the last of the racing series by Rockstar. The game came out in 2008, and then they decided to cancel future entries in 2010. So why did this one become the last of its kind?”

Well, it wasn’t poorly reviewed, per se, however, most people noted that while the racing was still great, other elements weren’t as quality. For example, the game’s characters were called cliched, the difficulty was all over the place, and the textures didn’t load properly.

#11 The Warriors

Arguably one of the odder games on this list in terms of style and origin, The Warriors was a movie adaptation game for a film that came out in 1979! Believe it, sucka!

For those who haven’t seen the original film, I pity you, it’s a cult classic, and the game not only expanded on those events, but highlighted the sense of danger and thrill of the chase that the titular Warriors went through on their “night through the boroughs” of New York.

Ironically, the game was good, and it even brought back some of the original cast members to voice their characters. Can you dig it?

#10 Midnight Club II

When you’re making money with a quality racing title, why not make a true sequel, right? Midnight Club II was that true sequel, and it did its best to bring new innovations to the game, including letting you ride on motorcycles instead of just cars.

The game was praised for its tight gameplay and the thrill of racing in many modes. Again, nothing wrong with a quality racing title!

#9 Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition

I promise, this is the last game in this lineup, but I’m ending it on a high note with Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition. This title wasn’t just a collaboration with DUB Magazine, but it was the first game in the series to bring in licensed vehicles, which was a big deal.

But, even with that, the arcade-style gameplay was still in full effect, and you could even customize your cars a bit as you raced around. Curiously, the PSP version of the game sold more than the PS2 version! I don’t get it…

#8 Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne

There’s a bit of irony with Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne. You see, the game was actually good, and some consider it one of the best games ever. So why is it the first entry I’, showing instead of the last? Well, it didn’t sell that well when it came out in 2003. Plus, the PS2 port was apparently much worse than the others.

However, those who did play it got another gripping shooter with a deep noir-style storyline, and that’s what matters.

#7 Max Payne 3

It’s always hard to judge a trilogy of titles when they’re honestly all good, but you can tell when changes have been made to try and “keep them fresh.” Max Payne 3 was one such example of that. By the time this game came out in 2012, a lot of things had changed within the industry, and the franchise tried to change with it…for better and for worse.

To its credit, it was a quality title and was received well. But, some of the changes and depictions didn’t sit well with everyone. Still, it was a fitting way to end Max’s story.

#6 Bully

This one was controversial at launch and remains a divisive title despite people honestly wanting a sequel. The irony is that Bully wasn’t about being a bully, but actually trying to deal with a boarding school while also climbing the social ranks.

You would do classes, develop new skills, build relationships, and so on. This game was a classic example of that period of jumping to conclusions before a game came out.

Even with the controversy, the game sold well and was well-received. Sadly, a sequel never happened.

#5 L.A. Noire

Here’s another that threw people for a loop when it was announced, as L.A. Noire was a true detective crime story that wasn’t about shooting, but about solving crimes. You played a detective set in Los Angeles after World War II during a huge crime wave.

Your job was to investigate scenes for clues, interrogate witnesses, and find out the truth behind some gruesome deaths.

The game was incredibly popular and even got put into the VR space! So it clearly was a good move by them.

#4 Max Payne

While it may be one of the more basic franchises that they made, and the sequels didn’t live up to the original, Max Payne was a clever Noir-Style shooter that still resonates with many to this day.

As detective Max Payne, you’ll work your way through a complex maze of conspiracies and groups to find out who killed his family and who is behind a new drug that’s ravaging the streets.

With its bullet-time gameplay, it stuck out from other shooters, and that’s why it was a big hit in 2001.

#3 Red Dead Redemption

As I’ve shown you throughout this list, Rockstar Games isn’t afraid to be diverse, so when they announced Red Dead Redemption, a cowboy game of all things, people were curious how it would turn out. True to form, it was one of the best games of its generation, with a gripping story, fun gameplay, and a large Wild West to explore.

Then, just when you thought they couldn’t make it any better, they threw in zombies via Undead Nightmare! So yeah, the game was a lot of fun for all the right reasons.

#2 Red Dead Redemption 2

One thing that Rockstar Games has excelled at over the years is subverting expectations with its sequels, especially once they knew they didn’t have to crank out sequels repeatedly to get big sales and prestige. With Red Dead Redemption 2, it came WELL after the original, and yet, because they took their time with it…it became legendary.

The tale of Arthur Morgan and his game was both thrilling and haunting, and the soundtrack made every scene feel important. It might be a long time before we ever get a third entry in the franchise, but that’s okay, given how great this title was.

#1 Grand Theft Auto Franchise

Is this really a surprise? It shouldn’t be. Grand Theft Auto is the franchise that Rockstar Games is known for the most. Just as important, through the main titles and spinoffs, they have sold at LEAST 400 million+ units, has had multiple Game of the Year nominees and winners, and is currently one of the most anticipated games of 2025…should GTA 6 still come out then.

Granted, GTA may not have started as one of the biggest gaming series ever…but it got there. It’s the perfect symbol of Rockstar Games in many ways. Big, bold, controversial, and ever-adapting.