Grand Theft Auto IV

Grand Theft Auto IV arrived on PC in 2008 and brought the series into a new generation thanks to the switch to the RAGE engine with the Euphoria physics system, which gave the movement of characters and vehicles a significantly more realistic and natural feel than previous entries. The story is set in Liberty City, modeled after New York, and follows Niko Bellic, an Eastern European immigrant with a dark military past, who is looking for a fresh start in America as well as revenge for a betrayal from the past. The tone of the game is darker and grittier than its predecessors, placing greater emphasis on characters, moral dilemmas, and the consequences of violence.

The open world was denser and more visually detailed than earlier entries, with elaborate modeling of traffic, pedestrians, and weather, as well as a mobile phone system through which the player arranges meetings, manages contacts, and decides on side activities with friends. The PC version had technical problems with optimization and copy protection at launch, which drew criticism from players and journalists alike, but thanks to later fixes, modifications, and high resolution it became a popular choice for players wanting the best available graphical quality. Multiplayer modes expanded the game with cooperative and competitive activities set in the same city.

GTA IV was received by critics upon release as a significant artistic and technical step forward, praised especially for its storytelling, voice performances, and atmosphere of a decaying American dream full of corrupt characters. Although its PC version had an inglorious technical start, it is now appreciated as one of the technically most demanding titles of its time, and complemented by the expansions The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, it offers rich and varied content. The game's influence on storytelling in open-world games, as well as the series' reputation as a vehicle for social commentary, remains apparent long after its release, and many later titles consciously referenced its melancholic tone.

Why play it: For players who appreciate strong storytelling and the melancholic atmosphere of a decaying American dream, further enriched by the expansions The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony.