3 Rockstar Games That Are Perfect 10/10s

Rockstar Games have been around since the late 90s and have been producing gaming magic for decades. From the early days of top-down Grand Theft Auto games to the controversially banned Manhunt series, Rockstar have never shied away from pushing the boundaries of the gaming industry. With a catalog of over 40 titles to choose from, there are three definitive titles that are absolute classics.

These three games deserve a perfect score and if you haven't played them already...then you're in for a real treat. Join us as we explore 3 Rockstar Games that are perfect 10/10s. Let's get into it!

Red Dead Redemption 2

Not only is Red Dead Redemption 2 a certifiable 10/10 game, it's perhaps one of the greatest games ever made. Certainly it's top of the charts in cowboy fantasy games. Prior to release, John Marston was one of the most beloved characters in video game history. That was until Arthur Morgan came along. Arthur's path from ruthless but loyal gang member to a man trying to put some good back into the world to appease his sins will go down in history as one of the greatest sagas ever told.

Rockstar Games didn't skimp on the budget either. In fact, Red Dead Redemption 2 is over 10 years old and still looks better than most games releasing today. The attention to detail and character animations are stunning and the world you explore feels vast and alive with wildlife and humans who have no qualms about taking you down in order to survive. Getting to see Dutch Van Der Linde's slow descent into madness and corruption also sticks out as a masterstroke in storytelling.

Amazing visuals, a gorgeous and varied open world map and themes of civilization overriding people's freedoms make for a breath-taking experience. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a game that forces you to slow down and soak in the amazingly well-written characters in Dutch's gang. The amazing writing and characters you grow to love, make the bigger plot points hit so much harder than in any other game. Red Dead Redemption 2 is an absolute classic and transcends the gaming medium. It's a tale worth immersing yourself in and it's completely unforgettable.

Bully

The elevator pitch is that Bully is like GTA for school kids, but that doesn't do the game justice. It takes all the best elements of early GTA games and crafts them into something new and fresh while sprinkling in a whole host of new features and mini-games. The melee combat alone in Bully was more in depth than anything else Rockstar Games had produced at the time. Bully (or Canis Canem Edit for our European friends) presented a depiction of high school life and teenage angst that has yet to be replicated effectively.

Everything from the time schedule to follow, to avoiding school monitors and teachers while skipping class, feels like it was lifted straight out of an American coming of age movie from the 80s. Jimmy Hopkins, at first, appears to be just a delinquent from a broken home, but as the story progresses, we see Jimmy has a soft spot for helping the weak and pushes back against bullies. Conquering each faction of school archetypes is fun and the missions feel fresh and less formulaic than most open world sandboxes of the same genre.

Bully also has a brilliant soundtrack that burrows into your brain as you play it. Recent games like Agefield High: Rock The School have tried to mimic what Rockstar Games created, but it's impossible to succeed in topping Bully as it's pure lightning in a bottle. Bullworth Academy and the surrounding areas are just as much fun to explore with a skateboard today as they were when the game released. Just swap your sniper rifles for a slingshot and your grenades for some rotten eggs, and you're in for a glorious time!

Grand Theft Auto V

You cannot mention Rockstar Games without everyone immediately thinking of Grand Theft Auto V. This was the juggernaut that shot the company into the stratosphere and still pulls in billions of dollars every year thanks to GTA Online. Rockstar Games took the learnings from GTA IV and honed their craft. Gone were the weighty cars in place of more fun arcade style driving. The city of Los Santos shines bright as a neon-soaked playground brimming with over-the-top parody and comic-like characters who will entertain, annoy and thrill the player in equal measure.

The heist missions in Grand Theft Auto V are a highlight. Taking from the success of 'The Three Leaf Clover' mission in GTA IV, Rockstar Games outdid themselves with these multi-stage heist missions that had different ways to set up and different escape route difficulties depending on your choices. But, even in GTA V's most serious moments, Rockstar Games never forgot what makes gaming great...and that's fun! Every shootout, car chase, fistfight and sweary back and forth between characters is pure chaotic fun.

Grand Theft Auto V lets you play as three main protagonists and switch between them at will. This makes for some crazy mission moments and the game, at times, feels like a cinematic action movie more so than a video game. Getting to know Franklin, Michael and the insane Trevor is a joy as the story unfolds and deciding their faith at the climax of the game might just have you reloading your saves over and over again. For the twelve video gamers alive who still haven't played Grand Theft Auto V......now is the time to jump in, you won't regret it!

And that's our list. Ping-pong didn't even make the top ten, but Rockstar Games has more gems in their catalog than most game developers. Whether you're currently analyzing the Grand Theft Auto VI leaks online or just patiently waiting for the official Netflix GTA 6 reveal on 27 August, you still have some time left to explore other Rockstar Games titles. Personally, I'll be checking out new DLC for Red Dead Redemption 2 as my adventures with Arthur Morgan will go on long past November 19 and the release of Grand Theft Auto VI.