Before GTA 6, Rockstar's most brutal, controversial game is now less than $4

Rockstar Games' penchant for graphic violence sometimes belies the scope of what it attempts to achieve through its narratives. Many of us have basked in the wanton destruction we're capable of after hopping into a Rhino tank in Grand Theft Auto, but if there's one game in the studio's repertoire that truly pushes the boundaries of acceptable brutality, even if it's merited, it's Manhunt.

While the likes of Mortal Kombat exist to showcase total bodily destruction in the most gruesome ways possible, Manhunt's take on violence digs much deeper. Death row inmate James Earl Cash is spared, only to be thrown into a deadly series of snuff films set in the heavily-surveilled Carcer City by the depraved Director. In one of the best stealth games to come out of the early 2000s, Cash has to carefully navigate this deadly game of cat and mouse, mercilessly killing the city's denizens as they try to hunt him down.

Manhunt is unabashedly nihilistic, plumbing the dingiest depths of the human psyche and making an uncomfortable display of what it dredges up. It explores the corruptive nature of power, questions what it means to be in control, and showcases what happens when we're completely disconnected from our humanity. Because of this, Manhunt remains a crucially important game, despite the controversy it stirred up at launch over its extreme cruelty.

If anything, the overwhelming response to Manhunt back in the day is a testament to how well-crafted it is. The gritty setting, liberal use of film grain and CCTV-style footage, and the nausea-inducing sound design all contribute to its depraved atmosphere; it sits in your throat like phlegm you can't clear. The way Cash skulks around his assailants is redolent of some of the best survival games like Dead By Daylight, and his executions are even more vicious.

As the GTA 6 release date is still a ways away, now is the perfect time to explore the darkest corner of Rockstar's gameography. You can grab it for just $3.49 / £2.09 right now at Humble Bundle, saving 65%. Not bad for less than the price of a coffee.

Once you're done maiming and murdering your way through Carcer City, settle down with some more of the best horror games you can get your blood-soaked hands on. Or, if you need to decompress, our best relaxing games list has you covered.

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