Summary
Rockstar Gameshasbeen at it since 1998, with their bread and butter being theGrand Theft Autoseries. That steadfast commitment to the franchise has shown to be beneficial, as mostGTAgames since 3 have done extremely well both critically and commercially. They’ve also been some of the most lucrative. In fact,Grand Theft Auto 5is one of the best-selling games of all time.
It hasn’t always been about open worlds forRockstar Games, though, having developed games likeMidnight CluborRockstar Games PresentsTable Tennis. Unfortunately, because ofGTA 5andRed Dead Redemption 2’s success, further exploration of genres by the studio will probably continue to fall by the wayside. But a gamer can dream, right?
A Genre Hyper-Focused On Story Telling
Games To Take Inspiration From:
Rockstar’s penchant for exploring heavy themes in their games is one that would fit well in an adventure game, a genre that incorporates many unique story beats and reveals because any big gameplay constraints don’t hold it back. A game likeTwelve Minutesis an example of one that is full oftwists and turnswithin its short but sweet runtime, something that would be a welcome change of pace to Rockstar’s often lengthy narratives.
Those narratives are typically peppered witha lot of ridiculous humorthat is used to emphasize their rough, satirical worlds. In that vein, Rockstar modeling a point-and-click after the ways that games likeGrim FandangoorTales From The Borderlandsuse humor to color their respective gritty worlds is a recipe for success.
A Simple Shift In Perspective Can Go A Long Way
Rockstar Games have dipped a toe into the FPS genre before with optional camera modes forRed Dead Redemption 2andGrand Theft Auto 5, but to have a fully-fledged FPS game from Rockstar would certainly be something special. Whether it’s within theGTAuniverse, or an entirely new one, a focused first-person shooter with the genre’s tried and true gameplay elements and themes would be a great fit for theMidnight Clubdeveloper.
After all, games likeThe Darkness(a game about a possessed hitman) have proven that out-of-the-box premises can fit inside the gaming staple of the FPS. The studio is also well-versed in creating living worlds for players to explore, so taking inspiration from games likeFar Cry 3andBorderlandswould make a lot of sense. This is especially true as they are two of themost influential shootersin their given niche, each with a focus on comedy.
Another Genre That Mixes Well With Comedy
Adult themes and homage-heavy story beats are par for the course in a Rockstar game, so it might be good to look toward 2001’sConker’s Bad Fur Dayfor guidance on how to bring those characteristics into the platformer space. It’s a game that doesn’t take itself seriously in the slightest but offers solid 3D platforming gameplay with amature, edgy flair.
Then there’sJak 2, which already took inspiration fromGTA, shown in the game’s vehicle thievery andseedy side characters, meaning that incorporating this game’s excellent platforming into a Rockstar game would be a great full-circle moment. This combined with an original premise like the one seen in Psychonauts, where every aspect of it colors the others, would make for an amazing take on the platform genre.
Lean Into What The Fans Are Clearly Clamoring For
GTA Onlinehas been a majorly successful venture, due mostly to its extremely customizable nature. In particular, the game allowed the creation of RP servers where players can take up various jobs likepolicing or taxi driving. It’s really not unlike an MMO like Final Fantasy 14 that lets players take up a job class or even own a home. While this idea was not created by Rockstar, it’s something that could be officially incorporated and expanded on in an MMO.
Rockstar also knows how to create a cast of characters within a world that everyday people don’t see every day. A game likeSecret World Legendsis an example of this in the MMO space, as players create a character within one ofthree secret societiesto battle the occult. Whether Rockstar sticks to what they’re used to in theGTAuniverse or creates a whole new one, it’s safe to say that they would be free to go wild in developing a living world.
A Type Of Game That Would Fit Surprisingly Well
A puzzle game is probably the most out-of-left field suggestion for a Rockstar game, but one that makes a lot of sense, simply because the genre has an impressive amount of variety. Trine, for instance, is a more action-oriented game, with an emphasis on environmental puzzles. WhilePapers, Pleaseis a game where players have to sort through documents to decide who can gain entry into a country.
However, it’s the Portal series that should be one of the main sources of inspiration. Both Rockstar and Valve already share the perfectionist DNA that makes their respective games so great, as well as their skill in creating some fascinating antagonists in Dutch and GLaDOS. What the Portal games do so well, though, is blur the line between gameplay and story to deliver a gripping experience. If Rockstar has it in them to emulate this, all that’s left is to find their groove and slot themselves in.
