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In 1997 a game was released that would change the open-world genre and spark debate about violence in gaming. That game was Grand Theft Auto, the first in what would become one of the most iconic and controversial franchises in entertainment history. Developed by DMA Design (now Rockstar North) and published by BMG Interactive, Grand Theft Auto—sometimes referred to as “Season 1” by fans looking back at the franchise’s humble beginnings—was released for MS-DOS, Windows and later the PlayStation. Although primitive by today’s standards, the core concepts would la foundation for a multi-billion dollar empire.
ALSO READ: GTA Game Series: History, Gameplay, and What Makes It a Global Phenomenon
The Game That Started It All
Grand Theft Auto (1997) presented players with a top-down, 2D view of sprawling urban environments inspired by American cities. Players took on the role of a small-time crook navigating a gritty underworld of car thefts, gang wars and illicit deals. The objective? Accumulate points by completing missions, causing chaos and evading the law. This freedom to cause mayhem in a living, breathing city was a novelty in a market dominated by linear gameplay experiences.
There were three cities in the game: Liberty City, San Andreas and Vice City—names that would later become the titles of individual blockbuster games. Each city had its own missions and criminal opportunities, giving the game a sandbox feel years before the term became cool.
Gameplay Mechanics and Style
Unlike the later 3D games in the series, GTA (1997) was 2D and pixelated with simple controls and basic sound effects. Players could steal any vehicle on the road, from sedans and buses to sports cars and tanks, and complete missions given by payphones scattered throughout the city. The missions ranged from delivering packages to assassinations or orchestrating heists.
The game also introduced the infamous wanted level mechanic. The more chaos a player caused, the more aggressive the police response. It was a simple yet effective system that added tension and strategy to the otherwise lawless gameplay.
A Controversial DebutWhen Grand Theft Auto was released it caused a media storm. Politicians and parents were outraged by the game’s encouragement of criminal behaviour and violence. Moral watchdog groups condemned the game, which only helped to make it more popular. Young gamers, drawn by the controversy and the promise of open-world freedom, made it a cult classic.
This notoriety worked in the game’s favour. By pushing the boundaries of what a video game could be GTA stood out from the crowd. It didn’t try to clean up its world—instead it went for chaos, satire and rebellion.
The original concept for Grand Theft Auto was very different indeed. That was Race ‘n’ Chase, where players could be either cops or robbers. (And, as you might expect, they much preferred playing as the bad guys.) That preference led to a pretty fundamental shift in direction. That shift defined the series’ DNA—and its future success.
GTA (1997) wasn’t an instant hit when it launched. But it laid the groundwork for a franchise that would go on to become one of gaming’s biggest—and most successful—franchises. Two expansion packs—GTA: London 1969 and GTA: London 1969 (yes, same year)—followed in 1999. They paved the way for the 3D revolution that Grand Theft Auto III brought in 2001.
Looking back, GTA (1997) is remembered as the raw, experimental first chapter of the franchise. Its limitations were overcome by its boldness, open-world ambition and willingness to break the rules. That was the moment when video games could be anarchic, unfiltered and socially provocative. Qualities that would define Rockstar Games for decades to come.
That first game may be overshadowed by its more advanced successors. But it deserves recognition as a groundbreaking title that challenged the status quo. What started as a pixelated crime simulator became the first chapter in a cultural phenomenon. For fans of the franchise, revisiting this original installment is like watching the pilot episode of a long-running series—rough around the edges, but full of the raw energy of something revolutionary.
Gameplay Mechanics and Style
Unlike the later 3D games in the series, GTA (1997) had a bird’s eye view and pixelated graphics, simple controls and basic sound effects. You could steal any vehicle on the road, from sedans and buses to sports cars and tanks and complete missions given by payphones scattered around the city. Missions ranged from delivering packages to assassinations to heists.
The game also introduced the infamous “wanted level” mechanic. The more mayhem you caused the more aggressive the police would be. It was a simple yet effective system that added tension and strategy to the otherwise lawless gameplay.
A Controversial Debut
When it was released Grand Theft Auto caused a media storm. Politicians and parents were outraged by the game’s encouragement of criminal behaviour and violence. The game was condemned by moral watchdog groups which ironically helped boost its popularity. Young gamers drawn by the controversy and the freedom of the open world made it a cult classic.
This notoriety worked in the game’s favour. By pushing the boundaries of what a video game could be GTA stood out from the crowd. It didn’t try to sanitise its world instead it leaned into chaos, satire and rebellion.
Development Backstory
The original concept for Grand Theft Auto was actually quite different. It was a game called Race ’n’ Chase where you could be either the cop or the robber. During testing the developers noticed players overwhelmingly preferred to play as the criminal which led to a fundamental design change. This was a turning point that defined the series.
Legacy and Influence
Not a commercial success at launch GTA (1997) laid the groundwork for a franchise that would become one of the most successful in gaming history. Its success spawned two expansion packs GTA: London 1969 and GTA: London 1961 in 1999 and set the stage for the 3D revolution of Grand Theft Auto III in 2001.Today GTA (1997) is seen as the raw, experimental first “season” of the franchise. Its technical limitations were overcome by its boldness, open-world ambition and refusal to play by the rules. It proved video games could be anarchic, unfiltered and socially provocative—traits that would define Rockstar Games for years to come.
Though it may be overshadowed by its more advanced sequels Grand Theft Auto (1997) deserves recognition as a game that pushed the boundaries. What started as a pixelated crime simulator became the first chapter in a cultural phenomenon. For fans of the series revisiting this original game is like watching the pilot episode of a long running, genre defining series— rough around the edges but full of the raw energy of something new.
FAQ’S ABOUT Grand Theft Auto
What is the 1997 film Grand Theft Auto
Players perform criminal objectives, steal automobiles, and wreak havoc in three made-up American-inspired communities in this top-down, open-world action game.
On which systems was Grand Theft Auto 1 first released?
First made accessible for:
Microsoft Windows
Windows-based computer
The original PlayStation was later redesigned as the Game Boy Colour.
In Grand Theft Auto 1, what are the names of the cities?
Liberty City is modelled by New York City.
San Andreas is based on San Francisco.
Miami served as the model for Vice City.
These would evolve into fully 3D cities in later Grand Theft Auto games.
Does GTA 1 have an open world?
Indeed. GTA 1 included open-world gameplay with mission freedom, exploration, and player-driven anarchy despite its 2D graphics and outdated technology.