Grand Theft Auto V (2013)

Grand Theft Auto V is a great game—fun, detailed, and still visually impressive today, especially with the enhancements in the upgraded version. I spent a lot of time just getting lost in the world, doing side missions and running into random encounters that are surprisingly well-written and well-acted. There’s clearly a lot of effort put into content that many players might never even see.

The world itself is massive and full of things to do, and I actually like how easy it is to miss content. It makes the game feel more alive, like things are happening whether I’m part of them or not.

That being said, I think the tone is a bit of a miss. The satire doesn’t land as well as it should because it’s often too on-the-nose. For example, something like “LifeInvader” as a parody of social media feels overly obvious, and the game relies too much on that kind of humor.

The game is also very long—and it shows. There’s just too much driving. After a while, it becomes tedious, to the point where I started using taxis just to skip it. While the story is entertaining, by the end it feels like it has nothing meaningful to say. Similar to GTA III and Vice City, it leans heavily into chaos and violence without much depth, moral consequence, or real character development. Progression also feels off, since you don’t really get to enjoy most of the money you earn from heists until the very end.

Overall, it’s a good game carried by its technical achievements, detailed world, and fun mission design—but in the end, it feels like a lot of wasted potential.

The fifth GTA title is an ambitious open-world action game that masterfully blends storytelling, satire, and chaos. Set in the sprawling, sun-soaked city of Los Santos and its surrounding countryside, the game lets you switch between three distinct protagonists: Michael, Franklin, and Trevor, each offering a different perspective on crime, greed, and personal dysfunction.

This was not a very unique narrative trait at the time, but the standout was how lived-in the surrounding world of these characters was, and that you could switch between them on-the-fly, this was a very unique gameplay feature. The PC version shines with enhanced graphics, a first-person mode, and mod support, delivering smooth performance and breathtaking visuals for its time.

Particularly I never used any mods and I focused on finishing the main story, while also playing a couple of side-missions. Though I highly recommend experimenting since the modding community is still strong on this one every it's PC release, yet to this day, the same level of something like Fallout, STALKER and Elder Scrolls.

The game's missions are varied and cinematic, while side activities and dynamic events keep the world feeling alive. Its multiplayer mode, GTA Online, has grown into a juggernaut of content and chaos, though again, this was not something I experienced very much, but I recognize it's quality, regardless of my experience with it.

This is a modern classic, GTA V is a technical and narrative milestone that still holds up remarkably well. By far, the best thing about this title, in my opinion, are the three main characters, Rockstar really focused on making the most unique story-line up until this point. This is one of the best games of all time, and I highly recommend not skipping it, on any platform possible.

Rating: 5/5

Grand Theft Auto V is, without a doubt, one of the most iconic and ambitious games ever made. From the moment you enter the sprawling city of Los Santos, you're dropped into a living, breathing world that feels endlessly alive and full of possibilities.

The game's story mode is a cinematic experience with three distinct protagonists—Michael, Franklin, and Trevor—each with their own personality, background, and motivations. The way their narratives intersect is brilliantly executed, making you feel like you're part of a high-stakes action film. Every mission is memorable, from adrenaline-pumping heists to emotionally charged moments that explore deeper themes like family, loyalty, and the American Dream.

Where GTA 5 truly shines is in its open-world design. The attention to detail in Los Santos and Blaine County is astonishing. Whether you’re cruising down the highway, flying over mountains, or just people-watching in the city, the world never feels static or artificial.

The game also offers endless content outside the main story. From races and parachuting to investing in the stock market, customizing cars, and playing mini-games like golf or tennis—GTA 5 delivers value well beyond its price tag.

GTA Online, while chaotic at times, adds another layer of longevity. Building your criminal empire with friends or random players gives you a near-limitless sandbox to explore. Final Thoughts:

GTA 5 isn't just a game—it's an experience. Rockstar set a gold standard in storytelling, world-building, and sheer entertainment. Even years after its release, it remains relevant and engaging.

Whether you're a newcomer or revisiting it, GTA 5 earns its 5/5 rating with ease. It's a must-play.

The graphics were breathtaking back at release, and still hold up pretty well today.

There's nothing mind-blowing about the characters, but I do like the "each character represents a type of GTA player" concept. I never bought into the Trevor obsession and just found him kinda gross personally, but Michael and Franklin had their charming and funny moments. Background characters are all pretty one-dimensional and stereotypical, especially Michael's family, but that's par for the course with GTA.

Can't complain about the voice actors, they all did their jobs admirably, though nothing stands out to me as notable.

With the plot, again, nothing mind-blowing for me, but interesting and engaging enough to keep me playing through the story.

The gameplay was a little awkward/clunky at times in that typical Rockstar way, but it didn't frustrate me overly much.

It had and has a thriving online mode that is still being maintained to this day, and has a vast modding scene. The economy is absolutely screwed and it's difficult to get into now -- the griefers/hackers drain the fun out of it and unless you're playing with friends it gets boring fast when you can't really do anything because everything costs millions of in-game dollars in 2025.

Overall, it's fine, but overrated. It's been a decade, they need to stop milking GTA V and focus on the actual next game. If they re-release V on yet another platform they'd better get the same amount of mockery as Bethesda re-releasing Skyrim a dozen times.

What's to be said that hasn't already been said about Grand Theft Auto V, can't really think of anything.

Great game, had an absolute blast playing it.

Additional comments:

Played back in 2013/14/15 irregularly as I didn't own the game (or own a console until 2015) and only played the first two missions so I could mess around in the game.

I've 100% the game, just haven't 100% the achievements, sadly. The online achievements I haven't done as story mode has been where I've had the most fun. I've played roughly 10-15 hrs in GTA online, the rest of my hours in story mode.

5/5

Rockstar Games created one of the greatest video game cities in 2004, Los Santos is truly one of a kind and the revamped GTA V in 2013 version really shows. You can really see the love and passion put into the city and you begin to forget about the micro-transactions and ridiculously overpriced planes and cars in GTA Online. Frankly, it's sad. Never mind the rant! The city and state in general are not the only charms the characters are also fantastic, introducing, Michael, a ex-bank robber now a middle-aged millionaire who's in witness protection, Franklin, a teen off the streets of Los Santos caught up in dangerous repo work, and finally, Trevor, a psychopath who lives in the desert. Strange crew to say the least. Although I wouldn't like to spoil the story I can say, while it's not the most though-provoking thing ever, it's an absolute blast. Not just the main characters but even the side characters have fantastic voice-acting and amazing writing (as with all Rockstar Games). Over the roughly 20-25 of pure story I'd say 95% of missions were fun and creative while 5% weren't the greatest and probably could've been cut.

If I could on this site, I'd give it a 4.5/5 but a 5 will do.

GTA Online, little fun here and there with friends but overall it's there by Take-Two to sell shark cards to little kids 2/5

Dificilmente você vai encontrar alguém, amante de jogos, que jamais tenha ouvido falar em GTA. Uma das séries mais famosas dos últimos 20 anos já nos proporcionou títulos memoráveis como Vice City e San Andreas. Com GTA V não é diferente.

A história agora não é focada mais em um só protagonista (ponto pra Rockstar). A novidade pode estranhar no início, mas funciona muito bem ao longo do modo singleplayer. Franklin, Trevor e Michael são completamente diferentes, cada um com sua própria história, que aos poucos vão se entrelaçando. É bem provável que você acabe preferindo um aos demais (Michael pra mim), mas isso não vai impedir que você queira (e às vezes precisa) progredir com os outros personagens.

Ainda que o jogo se baseie na América, os três personagens são universais. Michael é o quarentão que se lastima do próprio passado e só quer paz, Trevor o maluco completo e fora do lugar, e Franklin um sonhador do subúrbio, aplicando seus pequenos golpes.

A ambientação de Los Santos, agora revisitada depois de quase uma década do lançamento de San Andreas é de cair o queixo. A cidade é bem viva, muito bem construída, dos distritos mais ricos aos mais pobres, dos residenciais aos mais comerciais. Pode ser que você sinta falta dos gyms de SA ou das diversas namoradas em cada cidade, além de alguns elementos de rpg que SA tinha mas o V não tem, de qualquer forma, Los Santos agora está muito melhor do que já era.

A propósito, graças a cidade incrível que foi construída, as missões, que são absurdamente divertidas (desde os golpes, até as mais clichês - mate fulano), fazem você imergir ainda mais na cidade. Não há nenhum momento em que você sinta que não passou em determinado local, há sempre uma coisinha ou outra nova a se descobrir em Los Santos.

As rádios estão melhores ainda, é difícil alguém não escolher uma ou duas e escutar o jogo inteiro, toda vez que entrar num veículo. Pode ser que não sejam tão nostálgicas como as de VC ou SA, mas ainda assim se encaixam perfeitamente no jogo e na época em que se passa a história. A Rockstar sabe muito bem como fazer uma boa seleção.

Não há nada que justifique não jogar GTA V. Vale a pena e vá até o fim!