There are 16 GTA games out there, each with its own protagonist, leading to the inevitable result that some of them would be underrated by the community.
Summary Five of the most underrated protagonists of GTA #5 - Franklin (GTA 5) #4 - Claude (GTA 3) #3 - Toni Cipriani (GTA Liberty City Stories) #2 - Huang Lee (GTA Chinatown Wars) #1 - Mike ( GTA Advance)
Most of the time, it will be the underrated games (aka the least selling GTA titles) that will also have the most underrated protagonists. It is not always the case. For example, Franklin from GTA 5 is popular, but overshadowed by the game's other two protagonists.
This list will not include the GTA protagonists of the 2D universe, as there are many, and all of them without Claude Speed lack personality. As they are nothing more than a few pixels, they lack the charisma that a silent protagonist like Claude can exude.
GTA 5 is by no means an underrated game. However, it's easy to overlook Franklin's involvement as the main protagonist when comparing him to Michael or Trevor. Michael De Santa is the anchor that ties the entire game's story together, and Trevor Philip's odd behavior is memorable in its own right.
Franklin's straight man's antics and more subdued demeanor are still a big part of GTA 5. He might not be the most interesting protagonist out there, but he does have his moments.