Best Rockstar Video Game Covers, Ranked

While the quality of content within a Rockstar Games title is always very high, another aspect of their games that has stood the test of time as being some of the best in the industry is their art covers. Rockstar tends to get pretty creative when designing the covers of their games, allowing them to set the tone of the adventure, alongside introducing a few of the key cast members to players to give them an idea of who they will be getting to know along their journey.

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Still, while not every Rockstar game cover has blown players away, there are some that are truly impressive from a visual perspective, making them a joy to look at because of how detailed and intriguing they are. Seeing as Rockstar is no doubt cooking up yet another iconic cover for the hotly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6, it seems like a fitting time to reflect on the covers that have come before it to see how they each compare in terms of design and memorability. Before jumping in, it should be prefaced that this list will contain heavy spoilers for Red Dead Redemption 2.

8

Bully (Scholarship Edition)

The Intense Staredown Between Jimmy And Crabblesnitch Perfectly Sums Up Bully’s Core Gameplay Loop

While the original Bully cover was fairly basic and plain, the Scholarship Edition is a much better representation of the game’s characters and even its gameplay. Though all that is shown is Jimmy having an intense staredown with Dr. Crabblesnitch, this immediately lets players know that the protagonist is a huge troublemaker, while also highlighting the nature of the gameplay itself, which is all about being a troublesome school misfit.

When looking carefully, there are even a few panels in the background that are set out like comic book strips, adding even more charm to this iconic cover. While Bully would go on to have several front covers, this one is definitely the most captivating and informative from a design standpoint.

7

Red Dead Redemption

The First Red Dead Redemption’s Cover Showcases A Stunning Portrait Of John

While the cover of the first Red Dead Redemption is very minimalistic, this is arguably what makes it so captivating, since all the players’ eyes can focus on is the jaw-dropping portrait of legendary protagonist, John Marston. The image of John aiming a twin-barreled shotgun with a stoic look on his face is a piece of iconography that has become synonymous with the series.

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At the same time, this cover also says so much about John just from a still image, such as how his scarred and weathered face shows he’s been through his fair share of battles, or the bandolier running across his chest, which highlights that he’s always ready for action in case anyone tries to cross him.

6

Max Payne 3

A Cover Which Effortlessly Encapsulates The Game’s Setting And Mindset Of Its Main Character

Systems

Released

May 15, 2012

Developer(s)

Rockstar Studios

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

While Remedy would be the minds behind the first two Max Payne games, the third entry would be handed over to Rockstar, who decided to take Max’s journey to São Paulo, Brazil. Right off the bat, this cover sets the tone of this new environment with the intense yellow cue emphasizing the intense heat of the area, along with a small glimpse at the favelas, and the characters who occupy them.

The cover also features an incredibly detailed illustration of Max who can be seen with a stern look in his eyes and a cut across his face, reminding players just how much this guy has suffered up to this point, and how he continues to fight despite it all.

5

Midnight Club 2

A Stunning Visual Of The Intense Fast-Paced Action That Midnight Club Is Known For

Midnight Club 2

Systems

Released

April 9, 2003

Developer(s)

Rockstar San Diego

ESRB

t

Before Rockstar centered all of their focus on pumping out new GTA and Red Dead Redemption games, it would also release a few racing titles here and there too, including the immensely popular Midnight Club. Rockstar clearly wanted to showcase the high-speed gameplay of Midnight Club 2 by having the cover show a bright red car and motorbike cruising side by side through a glistening dimly lit city after dark, making for a stunning visual to look at.

At the very top are also a few of the game’s main characters, including Dice and Moses, who are introduced to players before they even press start. It’s essentially a cover split into two halves and one which is designed to get players excited about the high-speed hijinks that they can expect to be involved in after starting a new game.

4

Manhunt

Manhunt’s Eerie Cover Is A Lot Different From Rockstar’s Usual Designs

Systems

Released

November 18, 2003

Developer(s)

Rockstar North

The Manhunt series would be Rockstar’s first and only venture into the horror genre, and while the gameplay of both entries was a little divisive, one area where both of them excelled was their atmosphere. Nowhere is this more evident than on the front cover of the very first game, which is an example of how a cover can be terrifying without needing to be over the top in its overall design.

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All players get to see is a haunting image of a member of the Skinz gang, who are easily identifiable by their hockey masks, which tend to be covered in blood. The way half of the killer’s mask is blacked out, along with the static to make it look like a creepy video tape, ramps up the scare factor and makes this one of Rockstar’s most creative covers to date.

3

L.A. Noire

L.A. Noire’s Cover Does An Excellent Job At Setting The Dark And Mysterious Tone Of The Game

By the time L.A. Noire was released in 2011, Rockstar had become one of the very best in the industry when it came to graphics. L.A. Noire would be one of the very first games to use motion capture, allowing the characters to look and feel far more realistic, and Rockstar decided to show off the new technology, while also setting the tone of this game, with the intriguing front cover.

While Michael Phelps, the main protagonist, can be seen standing in the center with a concerned look on his face, there are also flashes of a crime scene with an intense red cue in the background, along with a distressed-looking woman on the other side who is covered in blue, as if underwater. All of this comes together to create an aura of mystery that gets players intrigued from the moment they take a look at it, with the realism of the cover taking it to a whole new level.

2

Grand Theft Auto 5

Undoubtedly One Of The Most Recognizable Covers In Video Game History, And For Good Reason

Systems

Released

September 17, 2013

Developer(s)

Rockstar North

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol

The Grand Theft Auto games have long shared a unique cover art style which is presented as several standalone panels all being packed onto the same page. While these covers always look great and are filled with detail, it feels as though Rockstar really nailed it with Grand Theft Auto 5, considering just how effortlessly it manages to convey the chaos and excitement of Los Santos.

There’s also just so much going on that it’s truthfully quite difficult to look away from this cover. Whether it’s Trevor holding a sniper rifle, a helicopter firing a pair of missiles, or even just a dog trying to escape its leash, everywhere you look there’s something new to gawk at, and that’s a testament to just how vibrant and diverse this cover really is.

1

Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead 2’s Cover Is An Artistic Portrayal Of The Gang Which Is Also Packed Full Of Symbolism

While Arthur may be the main protagonist of Red Dead Redemption 2, the story primarily focuses on the gang as a whole, and how they are slowly torn apart due to not only their own personal conflicts but also because of the surrounding society. The cover of the game perfectly encapsulates a lot of these ideas, ensuring players get a view of the main protagonist holding a gun toward an enemy, while the gang can be seen riding underneath him, ensuring Arthur doesn’t steal all the spotlight.

However, the small detail of the Stars of the American flag showing up at the bottom also feeds into this notion of how the country is modernizing, and the impact that has on the gang who are no longer wanted or needed in the new world. To top off this already jaw-dropping cover is the sun in the background, which could be seen as a reference to Arthur’s final few moments in the story where he gets to witness the sun rising, ushering in a new day which he, unfortunately, cannot be a part of.

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