GTA Turns 28: The Original Grand Theft Auto Celebrates Its Anniversary

Today (November 28) marks the birthday of the original Grand Theft Auto. The game was released exactly 28 years ago. Initially, it was available only on MS-DOS and Windows, but it made its way to PlayStation in December 1997.

Grand Theft Auto is an action-adventure game developed by DMA Design (which would later become Rockstar North), and it laid the foundation for one of the most iconic video game franchises in history.

The game features a top-down perspective and offers an open world divided into six levels across three cities inspired by New York (Liberty City), San Francisco (San Andreas), and Miami (Vice City). Players take on the role of a criminal climbing the ranks of the underworld by completing missions for local gangs and earning points to progress through the story.

Progression is built around player freedom. Despite its simple graphics, the game stood out for its fast-paced action, memorable sound design, and a unique sense of freedom—a formula that would go on to define the entire series.

Did you play the original GTA? If so, what do you remember most about it? Share your memories and impressions in the comments!