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How to Find and Play Dan Houser’s Games Beyond Grand Theft Auto

Dan Houser’s work beyond GTA includes Red Dead Redemption, Bully and Max Payne 3. Here’s how to find those games and what is known about Absurd Ventures’ projects.
Length4 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Start with Red Dead Redemption 2, Bully: Scholarship Edition and Max Payne 3: all are non-GTA Rockstar games associated with Dan Houser, and Rockstar’s store currently lists them. For PC, Rockstar’s Launcher support list includes all three. Check each title’s current listing for the platform and edition you want; catalog presence does not guarantee availability on every system or in every region.

Which Dan Houser games should you look for first?

Houser’s work extends well beyond Grand Theft Auto. The Guardian describes him as having worked on every GTA title from the third instalment and both Red Dead Redemption adventures. Simon & Schuster calls him lead writer on more than 20 video games, including Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption and Bully. These are team-developed games, so “worked on” or “lead writer” is more accurate than suggesting he wrote any one game entirely by himself.

The titles below offer a representative starting point, not a complete audited list of his credits. Rockstar’s current catalog is a practical place to check individual listings and editions: Rockstar Games.

Game What kind of game it is How to find it
Red Dead Redemption 2 A story-led western adventure and a strong choice for players interested in Houser’s narrative work beyond GTA. Listed in Rockstar’s store and Rockstar Launcher PC support list. Rockstar’s October 2018 release notice named PS4 and Xbox One as launch platforms, not as a complete current compatibility list. Check the current title listing for platform and edition. Rockstar catalog; Launcher supported titles; 2018 release announcement.
Red Dead Redemption The first of the two Red Dead Redemption adventures Houser is reported to have worked on. Currently listed in Rockstar’s store. Check its listing for current platform and edition details: Rockstar catalog.
Bully: Scholarship Edition A school-set action game that shows a different side of Rockstar’s catalogue. Listed in Rockstar’s store and PC Launcher support list. Confirm the specific edition and system on the relevant listing: Rockstar catalog; Launcher supported titles.
Max Payne 3 A crime-and-action story distinct from both GTA and Red Dead. Listed in Rockstar’s store and PC Launcher support list. Check the store entry for the platform and edition you need: Rockstar catalog; Launcher supported titles.
Midnight Club: Los Angeles A racing game from Rockstar’s catalogue. Rockstar’s game page lists Xbox One, PS3 and Xbox 360, and notes that some online features have been retired. That page is not a promise that every version can still be newly purchased; confirm regional access before choosing a copy: Rockstar game page.

Where can you play these games?

Check the Rockstar listing for the exact edition

For released Rockstar games, use the official game catalog to locate a title, then inspect its individual listing for the platform, edition and current purchase or access options. A title appearing in the catalog does not establish that every edition is available on every platform or in every country.

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Use the Launcher list as a PC support check

Rockstar’s supported PC titles page includes Red Dead Redemption 2, Bully: Scholarship Edition and Max Payne 3. The support page is dated October 22, 2024, so treat it as a support reference rather than a live inventory of every edition or region. It does not replace checking the current store listing.

Treat older console information carefully

Rockstar’s page for Midnight Club: Los Angeles lists Xbox One, PS3 and Xbox 360, but some online functions have been retired. A platform mention is not the same as confirmation that a new digital or physical copy is currently available. For older games, distinguish the system a page names from the ways you can obtain and play the game today.

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Is Dan Houser making a new game?

Yes: an A Better Paradise game has been announced, but it is not currently a released game. Other Absurd Ventures concepts have also been discussed, with less definite public status. Keep announced or explored projects separate from games you can play now.

A Better Paradise: a novel now, a game in development

A Better Paradise is a near-future science-fiction story world that began as audio fiction and also has a novel. The book, A Better Paradise: Volume One (An Aftermath), is a published work by Houser from Absurd Ventures, distributed by Simon & Schuster. See the publisher’s book listing for its format and publication details. It is a book, not a playable game.

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In a March 11, 2025 interview with Publishers Weekly, Houser said the game was already in development and would take several more years. In August 2025, Smilegate announced a global publishing agreement for the game and described it as being in early development. That announcement said platforms and schedule would be disclosed later, so it does not establish a release date or a platform list. See Publishers Weekly’s interview and Absurd Ventures’ announcement for the dated project details.

Absurdaverse: a comedy-satire project

Houser described a planned open-world Absurdaverse game as a “living sitcom” in a Guardian interview that also discussed animation projects. That phrase is his description of a project, not confirmation of a final design or a released game. The cited interview reports plans rather than an available game listing: The Guardian interview.

American Caper: a game concept under exploration

American Caper began as a crime-fiction comic-book project. Houser told the Guardian that its game concept was being explored as a story game rather than an open-world game. That is a description of an idea being explored, not evidence of a released title or confirmed launch plans. The Guardian interview.

How to choose what to play

  • For western storytelling: Begin with Red Dead Redemption 2, then consider Red Dead Redemption. Verify platform and edition in the current Rockstar listings.
  • For a very different Rockstar setting: Try Bully: Scholarship Edition.
  • For crime and action: Look at Max Payne 3.
  • For racing: Consider Midnight Club: Los Angeles, while checking which version you can access and remembering that some online features are retired.
  • If you want Houser’s newer story worlds: The A Better Paradise novel is available as a book; the game remains in development. Absurdaverse and American Caper game descriptions are reported plans or exploratory concepts, not playable releases.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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