10 Video Game Entries That Drastically Changed The Formula

5. Grand Theft Auto 3

Introducing a generation of gamers to a sandbox of mayhem, Grand Theft Auto III arrived in 2001 and revolutionised everything.

Prior to GTA 3, the series offered up enjoyable automotive chaos but it was the third instalment that set the standard for what the wildly popular series would come to be. Beyond that, it offered players a staggering game world to explore, so many different ways to engage with it, and voice acting and narrative elements that were a huge step above anything fans could have anticipated.

From the controls to the detail-rich map and the sheer scope of the game, it’s pretty fair to say GTA changed everything, not just for its own franchise but the gaming landscape as a whole.