Ranking Every Rockstar Game From Worst To Best

2. Bully

Proof positive that Rockstar do their finest work away from the big budget 'necessities' of "another GTA". Bully saw them apply GTA's engine and design philosophy to high school, replacing the gang violence, gunfire and vehicular carnage for jocks vs. nerds, slingshots and skateboards.

Though the game garnered monumentally incendiary impressions as something promoting violence between children, Bully (or Canis Canem Edit in the UK) was actually about keeping the peace. Yes, you could indulge your anarchic side and thwack a teacher with a wayward stink bomb, but this was more Little Rascals than Brick, and spud-faced Jimmy Hopkins was just as much being bullied by those around him as he was trying to establish a sense of place in the madness of hormone-fuelled elementary.

Ultimately this playfully used GTA's reputation and mechanics to springboard into another echelon of pure young adult escapism. The soundtrack was straight-up Harry Potter, whilst the game would recognise your system clock to ensure come Christmas you booted up with a snowball in-hand, ready to fight back against those pesky prefects.

Therein lies the genius of Bully and a game with an identity so loveable, Rockstar both need to do a sequel, but can also let it age with grace.