3. Grand Theft Auto Vice City
This was a tough one. I switched back and forth between Vice City and the next game several times before settling on this decision. Vice City separated from the repetitive big-city vibe that the other GTA games had given off - including London - and introduced the players to a three-dimensional world of luxury and beauty. Rockstar managed a spot-on recreation of Miami with perfect characters, a flawless storyline, and an overall satisfying feeling of ocean-side gangster life. Tommy Vercetti is one of the most memorable GTA protagonists, perhaps for the reason that he is the first fully voiced protagonist in the series. As memorable as Claude is, Tommy is a pure badass. He has that cool voice that makes the players feel invincible, along with his stereotypical yet suave Miami appearance. The vehicles, the weapons, the environment, and the story all pull together to create the best GTA game in its 3D universe - and one of the best overall games in the Grand Theft Auto series.