Every The Getaway Game Ranked: Sony's Gritty Crime Saga
During the PlayStation 2 era, open-world crime action games were dominated by arcade-style sandbox mechanics. However, Team Soho and Sony's London Studio took a radically different approach with The Getaway series. Inspired by classic British crime films like Get Carter and Snatch, the franchise focused on photorealistic recreations of London, gritty cinematic storytelling, and a completely HUD-free gameplay design.
While the franchise was eventually shelved after the cancellation of its PlayStation 3 sequel, it remains a beloved cult classic among retro gaming fans. Below is the definitive ranking of every entry in The Getaway franchise, ordered from worst to best.
3. Gangs of London
Gangs of London was released in 2006 for the PlayStation Portable as a tactical spin-off to the main series. Developed by London Studio, the title attempted to adapt the franchise's realistic open-world formula into a portable format suited for handheld play.
Rather than featuring a single sprawling cinematic narrative, Gangs of London offered five distinct criminal factions for players to choose from, including the Cockneys, the Triads, the Yardies, the Russian Mafia, and the Pakistani Mob. The game introduced turn-based strategy map modes alongside third-person action missions, as well as pub mini-games like darts and pool.
While ambitious for the PSP, the third-person gunplay and driving controls felt clumsy and compromised by handheld hardware limitations. The overarching story lacked the emotional weight and iconic dialogue of the main games, making Gangs of London an interesting spin-off experiment, but ultimately the weakest title in the series.
2. The Getaway: Black Monday
Released in 2004 for the PlayStation 2, The Getaway: Black Monday faced high expectations as the direct sequel to one of Sony's biggest PS2 releases. The game expanded the narrative scope by introducing three playable protagonists with interconnected storylines: police officer Ben Mitchell, boxer Eddie O'Connor, and stealthy burglar Sam Thompson.
The Getaway: Black Monday addressed several criticisms of the original title. Vehicle handling was tuned to feel slightly more forgiving, stealth mechanics were introduced, and players gained access to motorcycles and black cabs to navigate an expanded map of London. Furthermore, the storyline featured branching narrative choices that altered the ending.
Despite these quality-of-life upgrades, The Getaway: Black Monday struggled with inconsistent mission pacing and a narrative that felt somewhat fragmented across its three protagonists. While it remains a memorable British crime thriller with excellent voice acting, it couldn't quite recapture the revolutionary impact of the first game.
1. The Getaway
The original The Getaway, released in 2002 on the PlayStation 2, stands as a groundbreaking achievement in cinematic game design. Team Soho spent years meticulously modeling 28 square miles of central London, complete with real street layouts, iconic landmarks, and licensed real-world vehicles.
The story unfolds through two compelling perspectives: ex-con Mark Hammond, forced back into criminal work after his wife is murdered and his son kidnapped by gang boss Beth Collins, and Detective Sergeant Frank Carter, a ruthless cop attempting to bring down the same underworld syndicate. The narrative delivered mature, realistic dialogue, exceptional voice performances, and motion-capture cutscenes that set new standards for its era.
What truly set The Getaway apart from contemporaries like Grand Theft Auto III was its uncompromising commitment to realism. The game featured no on-screen health bar, ammo count, or mini-map. Players relied on their vehicle's indicator lights to navigate through London traffic and leaned against walls to catch their breath and heal wounds. Despite its demanding difficulty, The Getaway delivered an authentic, immersive British crime experience that remains unmatched.
What Made The Getaway Franchise Unique?
The Getaway series stood apart from other open-world crime action titles of the 2000s due to several key design choices:
- HUD-Free Presentation: The complete absence of health meters and radar screens created an immersive, movie-like experience.
- Turn Indicator Navigation: Players used real-time car blinkers to find their way around the city without opening a map screen.
- Detailed London Recreation: Real streets, storefronts, and landmarks were photo-mapped to replicate early-2000s central London.
- Gritty British Gangster Cinema Aesthetic: Deeply influenced by classic British crime films, featuring mature themes and authentic dialogue.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many games are in The Getaway series?
There are officially three games in the franchise: The Getaway (2002), The Getaway: Black Monday (2004), and the PSP spin-off Gangs of London (2006).
Was The Getaway 3 ever released?
No, The Getaway 3 was in early development for the PlayStation 3 and featured tech demos demonstrating hyper-realistic models of London. However, Sony officially cancelled the project in 2008 to reallocate London Studio's resources toward titles like PlayStation Move Heroes and virtual reality experiences.
Can you play The Getaway on PS4 or PS5?
Currently, The Getaway games are not natively available on PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 via the PlayStation Store or PlayStation Plus classics library. They remain accessible primarily on original PS2 and PSP hardware.
Final Thoughts
The Getaway series remains a standout chapter in PlayStation history. By prioritizing realistic scale, cinematic presentation, and mature storytelling over pure arcade action, Team Soho created a gritty crime universe that still holds a fond place in the memories of action-adventure fans.
