Founded in 1993, Take-Two Interactive is primarily known for publishing games through 2K Games and Rockstar Games. Even if the company’s name often remains in the background, Take-Two is indirectly associated with some of the most influential franchises of gaming history, includingGrand Theft AutoandBioShock.
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Take-Two also has a history of publishing games under its own name, with the company even developing some titles during the ’90s. Nowadays, Take-Two is primarily a publisher, although it still has amassed quite an impressive portfolio. Here are Take-Two Interactive’s highest-rated games onMetacritic!
Regardless of Take-Two’s subsidiaries, only games listed as published by Take-Two Interactive on Metacritic will be considered for this list. Franchises will also be limited to one entry.
10The Corporate Machine (80)
Developed by Stardock and published by Take-Two,The Corporate Machineis a strategy game with the goal to specialize in a market and become the primary manufacturer. The industries available are aircraft, computers, soft drinks, and automobiles. As tends to the case with strategy and sim games, the user starts out with limited fiscal and human resources but eventually sets out to expand their business into different regions.
The Corporate Machineis not going to appeal to everyone; that said, there is definitely a market for management games, even if this 2001 release plays somewhat antiquated compared to modern titles.
9Borderlands: Game Of The Year Edition (80)
Gearbox Software developed the originalBorderlands, which was published by 2K Games; however, Take-Two Interactive took over the reins for 2019’s PS4 and Xbox One remaster. Enhanced visuals are to be expected, but the main reason to play this version is due to a handful of quality of life improvements implemented fromBorderlands' sequel. A couple of newLegendary Weaponswere also added.
Obviously, Gearbox deserves most of the credit forBorderlands. While the remaster cannot do too much about the original’s dated shooting mechanics, 2019’s version is still the best way to experienceBorderlands.
8Duke Nukem Advance (81)
Developed by Torus Games and published by Take-Two,Duke NukemAdvancemanaged to transfer the FPS goodness of the console games onto the Game Boy Advance. Compared toDuke Nukem 3D,Advancehas a less intuitive control scheme, more repetitive level design, and ugly visuals. For an FPS on the GBA,Duke Nukem Advancecontrols surprisingly well, boasts an enjoyable single-player campaign with 19 levels, and respectable visuals.
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Torus Games did the most it could do with the technology on hand, creating a portableDuke Nukemthat is more than worthy of carrying the franchise’s storied name.
7DCS: Black Shark (82)
A flight simulator that puts users in the cockpit of a Ka-50 attack chopper,DCS: Black Sharkis solely for die-hard fans of flight sims. Making such a claim might seem redundant, butBlack Shark’s overwhelming tutorials and limited options to customize the difficulty means learning to properly handle this Russian helicopter is practically a full-time job.
That is not to sayDCS: Black Sharkis not worth the effort, as Eagle Dynamics crafted one of the most authentic flying experiences on the market. 2009’s game should just be left for veterans of the genre who are ready to settle down for the long haul.
6Major League Baseball 2K5 (82)
Long beforeMLB: The Showbecame the go-to game for baseball fans, 2K’sMajor League Baseballwas one of the genre’s biggest names. In terms of quality, the series proved to be rather uneven, with the last entry,Major League Baseball 2K13, taking the license out with a miss rather than a hit. Despite the name on the tin, Metacritic credits Take-Two Interactive asMajor League Baseball 2K5’s publisher, which is why it is included on this list.
Along with being the first entry, 2005’s edition arguably came the closest to delivering on the series' potential. For its time,Major League Baseball 2K5looked better than its contemporaries, offered a number of fun modes such as “Franchise” and “GM Career,” and played quite well. It was a step in the right direction that, sadly, did not lead anywhere too exciting.
5GTR Evolution (83)
Expanding uponRace 07,GTR Evolutionfocuses on the World Touring scene. With 20 tracks andmore than 45 carssplit into a dozen classes,GTR Evolutionwas one of the most complete sim racers on the market when it first hit the scene.
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More than a decade later, SimBin’s title is still among the most authentic sims on the market and its Nürburgring circuit remains one of the genre’s greatest achievements.
4Space Station Silicon Valley (83)
Developed by the studio that would eventually becomeRockstar North,Space Station Silicon Valleyimpressed critics but was slightly too weird for the buying market. A platformer that tasks players with controlling a robot’s dislodged microchip seeking to collect all its missing parts, the game’s central mechanic is that Evo - the microchip - can take control of animals that happen to be running around the environments.
Every creature can accomplish unique tasks, so it becomes a case of picking the right animal for the job.Space Station Silicon Valleydid a great job of implementing this system into a varied and well-paced adventure, and it is a shame not more people tried out this overlooked gem.
3NBA 2K16 (87)
Once again, we have a franchise primarily associated with 2K Sports; however, Take-Two Interactive is also credited as a publisher forNBA 2K16onMetacritic. Putting aside the game modes, which tend to be rather divisive among the player base,NBA 2K16shines incredibly brightly whenever the focus is on the court.
Graphically impressive and a thoroughly engrossing and refined basketball sim,NBA 2K16is fantastic in the areas that arguably matter the most.
2Tales From The Borderlands (88)
Developed byTelltale Gamesand co-published by Take-Two,Tales from the Borderlandsexplores a new story in Gearbox’sBorderlandsuniverse. Although the gameplay is largely similar to the studio’s other output,Tales from the Borderlandsis among Telltale’s best-written adventures, one packed to the brim with likable characters, unpredictable scenarios, and genuinely funny humor. As those who playedBorderlands 3can attest, the latter is far from a guarantee when it comes to this franchise.
Following numerous characters, including two Hyperion employees called Rhys and Vaughn, as their journeys intertwine,Tales from the Borderlandsshould be deemed a must-play for anyone remotely interested in the license.
1World Of Goo (90)
Coming in as Take-Two Interactive’shighest-rated published gameon Metacritic,World of Goo’s PC version is a tour de force of intricate and precise game design. A puzzle game split into five chapters featuring typically more than 10 levels each,World of Goo’s core mechanic revolves around accumulating balls of goo to construct the required structures to get through a level’s obstacles.
World of Goois primarily known for being arguably the best WiiWare game ever, but the PC version is also nothing short of brilliant.
