PSXENo game has been able to capture a mass global market in the way Grand Theft Auto has over the last 20 years. It’s a cultural phenomenon that began with the moment of the first free-roam game in Grand Theft Auto 3, and it has expanded into a universe that has become the best-selling game franchise of all time.
Across the UK, US, and Australia, the last instalment of Grand Theft Auto remains the biggest-selling game of all time. Despite its 2013 release, the game generates hundreds of millions of dollars in profit every year, mainly due to the enormous innovations and creativity that Rockstar has channelled through the online version of the game.
However, if we rewind the clock further, the early foundations of the game’s success stem from the phenomenon of the PS2 trio of GTA 3, Vice City and San Andreas, and out of this collection, which built on the initial success of the PlayStation 1 version. With that said, is Vice City still underrated within many gaming circles?
Is San Andreas The True #1?
For those of a certain age, the quintessential Grand Theft Auto game is San Andreas. It was a game that built on the considerable success of Vice City; it had more islands, more missions, more vehicles, the main character could swim, there were a greater number of songs and radio stations, and there was even an island which was littered with glittering casinos.
Since 2013, the landscape of gaming has changed enormously. While San Andreas might have had an array of casino and gambling options, there’s been a pivot toward more specific types of betting markets that are aimed at video gamers, such as eSports.
Now, whether the next Grand Theft Auto will develop some competitive eSports league remains to be seen. There’s clearly a tremendous amount of money in it, both from a player and tournament perspective, as well as the subdivisions like eSports betting markets, which have proven to be popular with gamers, especially since the start of this decade.
The size of eSports betting at Bovada has highlighted just how many games now fall into the bracket of professional video gaming betting, but you can pinpoint the first crossover of free-roam games and gambling with the incredible advances San Andreas brought out in 2004.
Measuring The Appetite For A Vice City Return
The great memecoin rotation of the 2025 bull run has showcased a real demand for digital assets. With Rockstar renowned for its pioneering approach to gaming, it will be interesting to see how they integrate it into the return to Vice City.
The fact that GTA 6 is going to be returning there after more than two decades is music to the ears of old-timers like me who were around when the original game hit shelves in 2002.
Perhaps this is through a lens of nostalgia, but for me, Vice City is definitely the most underrated GTA game. The less said about The Definitive Edition, the better. Reviewers weren’t impressed, not many gamers were either, the game was full of cracks, and it was clear that they hadn’t spent much time on perfecting it.
However, if you wanted that hit of nostalgia, like I did, I didn’t think it was as bad as everyone was making out, but it was undoubtedly a disappointment. Hopefully, GTA 6 can meet the dizzying expectations that people are already setting for it.
Some analysts believe the game will generate nearly $8 billion within the first 2 months of sales, but if you are somebody who has a soft spot for the original Vice City, we’re sure there will be a few easter eggs to find as you explore the enormous new map.
Does Vice City Take The Prize?
While Vice City might not get the fanfare that San Andreas does, it’s probably not fair to say it is the most underrated game. You only have to take to social media and speak to people in gaming communities to see that the game still has an enormous following, with many people ranking it as the best game of them all.
If we’re talking about underrated games, then the ones that get discussed the least are usually the earlier games, such as GTA London, and the spin-offs like Liberty City Stories. However, if we were to mention one of the mainstream ones, it would have to be GTA 4.
It’s amongst the highest-selling and most critically acclaimed games of all time, but in the GTA universe, where every instalment can boast both of these accolades too, it’s fair to say that GTA 4 is probably the most underrated, as it is the one that is talked about the least, despite being a fantastic game.