Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch Horizon Zero Dawnĭeveloper: Dontnod Entertainment/Deck Nine
A fully-fledged psychopath, played with wonderful glee by Steven Ogg, GTA finally has a vehicle for its frenzied bloodbaths in the form of an unrepentant character who couldn’t care less about ludonarrative dissonance. Knowing and loyal, you want to actively limit the damage you do when the game puts you in the role of the young carjacker. Presented as miserable and remorseful, Michael isn’t the guy you do drive-by shootouts with. Such is the quality of the voice acting and mission structure, you’ll find yourself subconsciously role-playing whoever you think Franklin and co. Thanks to its innovative character-swapping gameplay, GTA 5 lets you live three very distinct lives over the course of a single campaign.
Most of the time though, this Los Santos yarn is way too hard to pin down… and that’s a compliment. At times it’s a wisecracking take on Michael Mann’s Heat – those headline scores are incredible. The most subversive story Rockstar has ever told in GTA is also the series’ best. Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
