The Grand Theft Auto games have been controversial for many years because they draw on material which is a standby of video games for all ages but also incorporate content that many parents do not want their children exposed to. For example, the Grand Theft Auto games have a number of car-racing challenges. This kind of content is attractive and exciting to young people. The popularity (and controversy) over the game can add a special allure.
The Grand Theft Auto games fall under the genres of action-adventure, car-racing, and first person shooter. The action-adventure and car-racing genres are favorites for people of all ages because it allows the player to engage in activities they may not be able to participate in their real lives. While the same holds true for the first person shooting genre-- most people do not engage in gunfire in their daily lives-- such gaming content can desensitize a player to the idea and image of gun violence.
Gun violence isn't the only content parents have been concerned about. The games reward players for engaging in a number of activities which are illegal in most parts of the world like paying for sex, physical assault, theft, and damage to property. Some depictions of violence are quite graphic, and the game has been criticized for its treatment of female characters.
Grand Theft Auto V has received a rating which recommends it only be played by people aged 17 (in some places 18) and older. This rating is intended to protect young people who may not fully understand the scenarios depicted in the game or come to associate it with something admirable. Still, many parents purchase the game for their teens without knowing the content of the game. It is not recommended that someone under the age of 17 years play this game, but it is ultimately a question of whether a parent or guardian is comfortable with their child playing a game with explicit content and violence.
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