Every main GTA from GTA III (2001) onward has scored 95 or higher on Metacritic, and Rockstar’s other open worlds have landed in the high 80s and 90s. GTA 6 is not out until November 19, 2026, so this is not a review: it is the scoreboard that GTA 6 will be compared to. Everything below is the headline Metascore on Metacritic’s game page, read on October 31, 2026. For the latest GTA 6 facts, see the GTA 6 hub.
Rockstar open-world games by Metascore
| Game | Released | Metascore | Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto IV | 2008 | 98 | GTA |
| Grand Theft Auto III | 2001 | 97 | GTA |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 2013 | 97 | GTA |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 2018 | 97 | Red Dead |
| Grand Theft Auto: Vice City | 2002 | 95 | GTA |
| Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | 2004 | 95 | GTA |
| Red Dead Redemption | 2010 | 95 | Red Dead |
| L.A. Noire | 2011 | 89 | Published by Rockstar; developed by Team Bondi |
| Bully | 2006 | 87 | Standalone |
A Metascore is a weighted average of critic reviews. It can vary by platform and version, and Metacritic’s page doesn’t label the platform in the data we read, so don’t treat a one-point gap as meaningful.
What the scores tell us
- Consistency: Five GTA games and both Red Dead games sit between 95 and 98.
- Peak: GTA IV’s 98 is the highest on the list, followed by a three-way tie at 97 for GTA III, GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2.
- The bar for GTA 6: Anything below the mid-90s would be a step down from the series’ own record.
What the scores can’t tell us
Past scores don’t guarantee the next one. The only GTA 6 material that exists is Rockstar’s four videos, which we cover in GTA 6 trailers reviewed, plus store listings. Nobody outside Rockstar has published a review. When the game is out we’ll score it on its own merits.
Where to start if you’re catching up
Our shortlist of the best open-world games to play before GTA 6 picks a handful for the 19 days left. GTA 6 itself costs $79.99 for the Standard Edition in the U.S.; see GTA 6 price for the regional prices we verified.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest-scored Rockstar game on Metacritic?
Grand Theft Auto IV, with a 98 Metascore on Metacritic’s page as of October 31, 2026.
What did Red Dead Redemption 2 score?
97 on Metacritic.
Has GTA 6 been reviewed?
No. It launches on November 19, 2026 and there are no published reviews.
Last checked against official sources and store listings on October 31, 2026. We update this page when Rockstar, Sony or Microsoft publish new details. We do not use affiliate links. Image: Rockstar Games.
Sources
- Metacritic: Grand Theft Auto IV (Metascore, checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Metacritic: Grand Theft Auto III (Metascore, checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Metacritic: Grand Theft Auto V (Metascore, checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Metacritic: Red Dead Redemption 2 (Metascore, checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Metacritic: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (Metascore, checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Metacritic: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Metascore, checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Metacritic: Red Dead Redemption (Metascore, checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Metacritic: L.A. Noire (Metascore, checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Metacritic: Bully (Metascore, checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Take-Two Interactive: Rockstar Games Announces Pre-Orders for Grand Theft Auto VI (June 24, 2026)