Collider has published a ranked list of the ten greatest Grand Theft Auto games, timed to build anticipation for the forthcoming Grand Theft Auto VI, which the outlet describes as one of the most eagerly awaited releases in gaming history. The list judges entries in the long-running Rockstar Games franchise on design, gameplay, narrative, originality, cultural influence and critical and fan reception, framing the ranking as essential viewing for players wanting context before GTA VI arrives.

The lower end of the countdown includes the original 1997 Grand Theft Auto, a top-down 2D game with no fixed protagonist that let players roam Liberty City, Vice City and San Andreas causing havoc; its 1999 sequel, Grand Theft Auto II, set in the fictional Anywhere City and notable for introducing a stronger narrative; and 2006's Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, a prequel following a disgraced soldier turned criminal, praised for improved graphics and expanded gameplay mechanics. The article notes these early titles, while historically important to the franchise's development, generally rank lowest against later, more polished entries.