Bully

Bully, released by Rockstar in 2006 and developed primarily by Rockstar Vancouver, took the studio's open-world sensibilities and transplanted them from crime-ridden cities to the surprisingly cutthroat world of a boarding school. You play Jimmy Hopkins, a troubled teenager dumped at the run-down Bullworth Academy, who must navigate cliques, bullies, teachers and prefects to work his way up the school's rigid social ladder.

Despite its provocative name, the game is more mischievous than malicious. Instead of guns, your tools are slingshots, stink bombs, firecrackers and fists, and much of the humour comes from pranks and the sharply observed satire of school life. Attending classes actually mattered, unlocking new abilities and items, while the day-night cycle, curfews and the sprawling town beyond the school gates gave it the structure of a compact, character-driven open world with a genuine sense of place.

Bully holds up well as one of Rockstar's most distinctive and warm-hearted efforts, driven by strong writing and a memorable cast. It trades the shock value people expected for something more thoughtful about adolescence and belonging. The mission design and combat feel dated in places, but its wit, atmosphere and unusual setting keep it far more engaging than a simple description of the premise might suggest.