GTA's Creator Reveals His Favorite Game in the Series, and It's a Surprising Choice

One of the masterminds behind the Grand Theft Auto franchise has finally weighed in with his personal favorite. Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games, revealed during a recent appearance at LA Comic Con 2025 that Grand Theft Auto 4 holds a special place in his heart as his favorite GTA game he worked on.

This revelation might come as a surprise to many fans who would have expected him to choose the record-breaking Grand Theft Auto V or the legendary Grand Theft Auto III, which revolutionized open-world gaming.

That said, GTA IV is mentioned its fair share of times on lists seeking to rank the greatest games of all time, and had its own lasting effect on the industry.

For those whose memories of the game have faded over the past 16 years or weren't old enough to relate to the meme "Hey cousin, let's go bowling!", GTA 4 was the 2008 entry that marked a significant tonal shift for the franchise - one that arguably shifted right back with the next entry, or added a bit more levity back into the recipe at the very least.

The game followed Niko Bellic, a former Serbian soldier who immigrated to Liberty City with hopes of achieving the 'American Dream', only for the city to pull him back into a life of crime and violence

It told a darker tale that extended to its two DLCs, Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned and Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony.

While other entries lean heavily into satirical humor and over-the-top scenarios, GTA 4 attempted to balance that trademark chaos with a more grounded, emotionally resonant story about immigration, family, and the cost of violence. That said, the game didn't abandon what made GTA special.

The streets of Liberty City were still filled with the series' signature brand of mayhem. Radio stations featured the same collection of one-brain-cell hosts spouting ridiculous commentary. Niko's loud-mouthed cousin Roman became an instant meme with his constant phone calls about going bowling.

GTA 4 went on to achieve critical acclaim (with its lead director Obbe Vermeij showering it with similar praise), and the darker story resonated with a portion of fans.

Although it was divisive, especially after the colorful excess of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. The driving physics were more realistic but also more challenging. The color palette was grayer and more muted.

Yet over time, many have come to appreciate GTA 4's ambitious attempt to mature the series while keeping its soul intact. To date, GTA 4 remains the only game from the HD Universe and 3D Universe that isn't available to play on modern consoles.

The best way to enjoy the 2008 title at the moment is through backwards compatibility on an Xbox console.

Interestingly, there've been persistent rumors about a re-release of GTA 4. Although the talks died after Rockstar confirmed that it's all hands on deck on Grand Theft Auto 6, the rumblings have grown louder over the past year.

It's widely believed that a GTA 4 re-release is on the docket for Take-Two Interactive, perhaps after the rumored launch of Red Dead Redemption 2 on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and the Nintendo Switch 2.

With that said, knowing that one of the series' key architects holds GTA 4's storytelling evolution in such high regard might offer clues about the direction future entries could take. Will Rockstar continue to push for more mature, nuanced narratives while maintaining the chaos and humor fans expect?

Or, perhaps, with Houser long gone by the time work on GTA 6 started, as already confirmed, GTA 6 will be more of the same?

We'll find out soon enough once GTA 6 launches on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X on May 26, 2026.