7 things GTA 5 could have done better than GTA 4, but didn't

GTA 5 could have done several things better than GTA 4, but it failed to do so. Despite being a sequel, Grand Theft Auto 5 has several downgrades that may sometimes make it feel inferior to its predecessors, especially Grand Theft Auto 4. Whether it's GTA 5's map, its different gameplay elements, or even the story itself, this game often leaves a lot to be desired.

All these aspects were better in Grand Theft Auto 4, which is why we still have debates about which of these two titles in the HD Universe is better. With that in mind, here are seven things Grand Theft Auto 5 could've done better than GTA 4.

Note: This article is subjective and only reflects the writer’s opinions.

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Things in GTA 5 that could've been better than GTA 4

1) Map

Grand Theft Auto 4 had a smaller map than its predecessor, GTA San Andreas, which meant that this was a downgrade. Rockstar sacrificed the map size for detailing, as this was the first game in the HD Universe.

When Grand Theft Auto 5 came out, fans expected the map to be larger and offer similar or even more intricate details. However, the San Andreas map in GTA 5 is often considered the most bland in the Grand Theft Auto series and is a good example of the fact that bigger isn't always better.

There are lots of open areas in the game world, but not much to explore. This is one aspect where Grand Theft Auto 5 fails to do better than GTA 4.

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2) Interiors

Similar to the map, the number of explorable buildings in Grand Theft Auto 5 is also lacking. This is a major reason the game world feels lackluster in Grand Theft Auto 5, whereas the smaller Liberty City feels more immersive in GTA 4.

Some of the existing interiors remain locked outside of missions in the former title, whereas the restaurants seen in Grand Theft Auto 4 are no longer enterable.

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3) Story

Grand Theft Auto 5's story is less engaging (Image via Rockstar Games)

The story in Grand Theft Auto 5 is one of the most crucial aspects that most fans feel isn't better than GTA 4's narrative. While it's true that Niko Bellic's story is much darker and might turn off a few players, Rockstar wrote it quite well. Moreover, the game feels much more cinematic than its successor. Grand Theft Auto 4 has a cohesive story with a linear progression that is easy to follow.

With Grand Theft Auto 5, the story feels disjointed. This game's humor also feels forced and corny at times, whereas the serious aspects aren't explored that seriously.

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4) Minigames

Some minigames didn't return in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)

While Grand Theft Auto 5 has some cool minigames like Tennis and Golf, it lacks some good options its predecessors had, like Bowling or Air Hockey (from EFLC). As such, it's hard to say that the minigames in Grand Theft Auto 5 are better than in GTA 4 when it trades some very enjoyable activities with completely new ones instead.

The next game should focus on more minigames and bring back all the good ones from the past.

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5) Ragdoll

GTA 4's ragdoll physics is considered the best in the series (Image via Rockstar Games)

One Grand Theft Auto 5 feature that Rockstar definitely failed to make better was the ragdoll physics from GTA 4. In the two games, NPCs react to getting hit by melee weapons or vehicles.

Ragdoll physics also determines how they respond to being shot, which felt much more advanced in Grand Theft Auto 4. In GTA 5, NPCs often go limp when hit, instead of reacting to the hit realistically.

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6) Weapons

It's true that Grand Theft Auto 5 has more weapons than its predecessor and even allows you to customize them extensively. However, it often feels like they have no impact and function more or less similarly. Pistols have a much higher range than they should, the gunshots sound underwhelming, and NPCs don't react realistically when shot. All this leads to an underwhelming gunplay.

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7) Stealth

Stealth isn't as impactful in Grand Theft Auto 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)

Grand Theft Auto 4 doesn't really have stealth, but it's not that GTA 5 managed to make it any better. While a stealth mode exists in the latter, it's not very useful outside of a few designated mission sections. NPCs can still detect you quite easily, even when you're in this mode. As such, the next game should improve stealth by adding a proper detection meter or something similar.