I have a confession: whenever I load up a Rockstar game in 2026, I often ignore the main story for hours. I am not chasing the next heist, the next bounty, or the next high-stakes mission. I am looking for a pool table, a bowling lane, or a quiet dominoes table. That is the strange magic of Rockstar's open worlds. They make me want to stop saving the day and start wasting time.
And honestly, I am not alone. Ask any longtime fan about GTA 4, and someone will eventually say the word bowling. Ask about Red Dead Redemption 2, and you will hear about dominoes or duels. These side activities are not filler to me. They are the moments that make the worlds feel lived in. So here is my personal ranking of Rockstar's best minigames, written by someone who has played them far too many times.
| Rank | Minigame | Game |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | English Class | Bully |
| 7 | Pool | GTA: San Andreas and GTA 4 |
| 6 | Dominoes | Red Dead Redemption 2 |
| 5 | Boxing | Bully |
| 4 | Dueling | Red Dead series |
| 3 | Dodgeball | Bully |
| 2 | Golf | GTA 5 |
| 1 | Bowling | GTA 4 |
8. English Class in Bully 📚
I never expected to enjoy homework in a video game, but Bully proved me wrong. In Mr. Galloway's English class, you get a set of jumbled letters and a time limit. Your job is to make as many words as possible. It is not explosive. It is not cinematic. It is just quiet, brainy fun.
When I replayed Bully in 2026, I found myself genuinely focused on each round. There is a small rush when you spot a long word that you missed the first time. It makes you think, and it rewards you for paying attention. That is more than I can say for some modern side quests.
7. Pool in GTA: San Andreas and GTA 4 🎱
Pool is one of those minigames that game developers seem to understand instinctively. Rockstar's version in San Andreas and GTA 4 is simple, smooth, and weirdly addictive. It is 8-ball rules: pot your color, then sink the black ball. In San Andreas, CJ can play against strangers. In GTA 4, Niko can play against friends.
I spent a lot of time in GTA 4's pool halls, not because I needed money, but because the act of lining up a shot felt good. The controls are easy to learn, and the matches move quickly. It is the kind of minigame I can play for twenty minutes and forget what I was supposed to be doing in the story.
6. Dominoes in Red Dead Redemption 2 🁫
Dominoes is a simple game in real life, and Red Dead Redemption 2 captures it perfectly. You place your tiles by matching them with the ones on the table. The first person to run out of tiles wins. There are different scoring variations, but the core idea stays the same.
What makes it special in RDR2 is the company. Sometimes you sit across from Abigail, Tilly, or another member of the gang. The conversation is slow, the camp feels alive, and the game becomes less about winning and more about existing in that world. In 2026, that quiet pace feels more valuable than ever.
5. Boxing in Bully 🥊
Jimmy Hopkins is always ready for a fight, but not every brawl has to happen in a school hallway. The boxing club gives him a chance to put on gloves and fight in a more organized way. You dodge, block, and punch your way to victory. Land a few strikes in a row, and you unleash a brutal combo.
The goal is to drain your opponent's health and then finish with a knockout blow. It is not as deep as a dedicated boxing game, but it is a lot of fun. I love how it breaks up the usual Bully rhythm. One minute you are pranking a prefect, and the next you are trading hooks in a ring.
4. Dueling in the Red Dead Series 🤠
Dueling is a staple of the western genre, and the Red Dead series knows exactly how to use it. The concept appears in Red Dead Revolver, and it returns in the Red Dead Redemption games. You stand face to face with your opponent, waiting for the signal to draw.
When the moment comes, you must grab your gun and fire before the other person does. Every duel is tense. Every duel is satisfying. I have played these games for years, and my palms still sweat a little when the music drops and the camera closes in. It is pure western drama, and Rockstar nails it.
3. Dodgeball in Bully 🏐
Bullworth Academy has a beautiful gym with a basketball court, but you cannot play hoops. Instead, you can play dodgeball. The rules are classic: eliminate the other team by throwing balls at them. Jimmy does not fight alone, either. He teams up with the nerds, and you control them when they have the ball.
Your team faces off against different cliques in multi-round matches. It is chaotic, silly, and genuinely fun. I love how it turns a schoolyard game into a tactical battle. You have to dodge, catch, and throw at the right moments. It is one of the best reasons to revisit Bully.
2. Golf in GTA 5 ⛳
Golf has appeared in a few GTA games, but GTA 5 gives you a full nine-hole round. The mechanics are surprisingly deep. You control how hard you swing, account for the wind, avoid hazards, and choose the right club for each shot. It feels like a real golf game tucked inside a crime epic.
I have played rounds with Michael, with friends in GTA Online, and alone just to enjoy the quiet. In 2026, with so many games demanding my attention, GTA 5 golf remains a peaceful escape. It is slow, precise, and weirdly relaxing. Until you hit the ball into the water, anyway.
1. Bowling in GTA 4 🎳
Of course bowling is number one. Roman's constant calls made it a meme, but the joke only works because the minigame is actually great. You choose your starting position, roll the ball, and even adjust its trajectory after it leaves your hand. If you do it right, you rack up strike after strike.
Playing bowling with another main character is a blast. It is competitive, funny, and strangely wholesome in a game full of crime. I still load up GTA 4 in 2026 just to bowl a few frames. Roman may have been annoying, but he was right about one thing: bowling with a friend is a good time.
Rockstar's best minigames are not just distractions. They are proof that these worlds are more than missions and map markers. They are places to hang out, waste an afternoon, and make memories. And after all these years, I am still happy to pick up the ball, the cue, or the domino.