When it comes to the Grand Theft Auto series, which was first released in 1997, there isn’t much to be said that hasn’t already been said. It’s been an amazing journey and I’m happy to report that I’ve enjoyed every single second of it.
Each part has a special place in my heart but one that I enjoyed way more than others is GTA V. And I feel like I’m not the only one feeling like this, 99% of players that played it, would tell you the same.
So what’s the reason behind the popularity of it? Was it something in the water when the game was released? Or is the game just that good? Stick around to find out.
LONG STORY SHORT
It’s a really great game, simple as that. Move on.
THE LONG STORY
GTA V isn’t just a game—it’s a cultural phenomenon. It launched in 2013 and has stayed on top ever since, refusing to fade into the background even as new generations of games have come and gone.
It’s been ported across three console generations, racked up over 200 million copies sold, and still dominates Twitch, YouTube, and just about every “most played” list out there.
So, how did it pull this off? What made GTA V so massive, and why is it still a force to be reckoned with over a decade later? Let’s break it down.
A Living, Breathing Open World
Los Santos isn’t just a map—it’s a whole world packed with detail, personality, and absolute chaos. The city feels alive, from the way NPCs react to your actions to the endless amount of side activities you can dive into.
Whether you’re racing through Vinewood, hiking up Mount Chiliad, or just sitting in traffic listening to Non Stop Pop, everything feels handcrafted and immersive.
But what really makes it special is the freedom.
Rockstar doesn’t force you to play a certain way—they just give you the tools and let you loose. Want to roleplay as a taxi driver? Go for it. Feel like going on a five-star rampage just to see how long you can last? No one’s stopping you. It’s the perfect mix of structured storytelling and complete player agency, and that’s a huge reason why people keep coming back.
A Story Mode That Hits Different
Unlike most open-world games that focus entirely on exploration, GTA V also delivers one of the best crime stories in gaming. Instead of sticking with a single protagonist, Rockstar introduced a unique three-character system, letting you switch between:
- Michael, a retired bank robber trying (and failing) to live a quiet life.
- Franklin, a hustler looking to move up from small-time street crime to the big leagues.
- Trevor, an unhinged, unpredictable lunatic who somehow manages to be both terrifying and hilarious.
Their paths collide in a series of high-stakes heists, betrayals, and classic Rockstar moments filled with dark humor and over-the-top action. The ability to jump between them at any time made for some of the most dynamic missions in the series, and it kept the gameplay fresh from start to finish.
Even today, people replay the story just to experience it all over again. That’s how you know a campaign is built to last.
GTA Online: The Game Inside the Game
Let’s be honest—GTA Online is a huge reason GTA V is still alive and kicking. Rockstar took everything great about the base game and turned it into an evolving online sandbox that just keeps growing.
It started off simple—heists, missions, races, and free roam chaos. But over time, it transformed into something much bigger. Now, you can:
- Build your own criminal empire with businesses, drug operations, and underground nightclubs.
- Pull off massive multiplayer heists with friends.
- Race in everything from supercars to jet-powered bikes.
- Buy a literal flying car and escape the cops in style.
- Invest in properties, customize your character, and live out your best (or worst) life.
And the best part? Rockstar never stopped updating it. They keep adding new missions, cars, weapons, and businesses, keeping players hooked long after they’ve finished the story mode.
GTA Online isn’t just a mode—it’s practically a second game inside GTA V. And for some people, it’s the only reason they keep coming back.
The Ultimate Playground for Chaos
There are a lot of open-world games out there, but none let you cause as much pure, unfiltered mayhem as GTA V.
Want to launch a car off a mountain and see if you survive? Do it. Feel like starting a street fight that escalates into an all-out police chase? Why not? Need to test just how many sticky bombs it takes to stop a train? Science demands answers.
GTA V embraces this kind of experimentation and unpredictability. It’s one of the few games where simply messing around in the world is just as fun—if not more fun—than completing missions. That’s why even people who “beat” the game never really stop playing. There’s always something wild to try.
The Mods. Oh, the Mods.
If there’s one thing that keeps GTA V fresh, even after all these years, it’s the modding community. PC players have taken the game to a whole new level, adding everything from ultra-realistic graphics to completely new game modes. Some of the best mods include:
- GTA RP (Roleplay Servers) – These custom servers let players take on specific roles, from cops to criminals to everyday workers, creating entirely new ways to play the game.
- Superhero Mods – Want to swing around Los Santos as Spider-Man? Or blast through the streets as Iron Man? Modders made it happen.
- Insane Vehicle Mods – Everything from flying buses to full-on Star Wars ships has been modded into the game.
- Visual Overhauls – Some mods make GTA V look so good that it feels like a next-gen game all over again.
Rockstar may have built the foundation, but the community has taken things to a whole new level.
The Legacy and the Future
GTA V isn’t just one of the best open-world games—it’s the blueprint for how to do it right. It’s stayed relevant for over a decade, proving that when you create a game with depth, freedom, and endless replayability, players won’t let go.
And now, with GTA 6 finally on the horizon, Rockstar has insanely high expectations to meet. Los Santos set the bar sky-high—so can they do it again?
One thing’s for sure: no matter how great GTA 6 is, GTA V will always be legendary.
